Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Glaze

With fall well underway, there has been no lack of pumpkin recipes floating around the blog world! There's always room for one more, though, right? Especially when they're completely delicious? These Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Glaze might just deserve to be right up there with all the classics like pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread. Maybe.

PUMPKIN COOKIES WITH CREAM CHEESE GLAZE RECIPE

Pumpkin Cookie Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract

Cookie Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.  In a separate bowl, beat together the butter and sugar and add in pumpkin, vanilla, and egg and blend until smooth. Gradually combine the dry mix to the liquid mixture. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto sheet and bake for 18 minutes.

Glaze Ingredients

1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp powdered sugar
2 tbsp cream cheese (Neufchatel cheese), softened
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
Pinch salt

Glaze Instructions

Combine powdered sugar, cream cheese, lemon juice, vanilla extract and salt until creamy. Sip a spoon into the glaze and lightly drizzle over cooled cookies.

I'm not going to lie.... I want to have these pumpkin cookies with cream cheese glaze hot and ready from my oven continually. What's your favorite pumpkin recipe?

All the Lost Things & No Yeti Yet {Children's Book Review}

Disclosure: I received a review copy of each book. No other compensation was received and all views expressed are my own. 

I used to work in a library, and I was always mesmerized by new children's books when they came in. It was a joy to find new stories to read and recommend to families with kids. I found a few of my favorite children's authors that way, and I was reluctant to give up that insider's access to new books when I quit my job to stay home full time. Thankfully, I have found many opportunities to review new books to hit the children's publishing market and that has been so much fun!

The latest titles I want to share with you are new from Peter Pauper Press for the fall.

All the Lost Things by Kelly Canby (this is her picture book debut) was released in August and is aimed at ages 4-8. This very unique tale has a fresh illustrative style, with the text working often as part of the image. It's about a little girl named Olive who is the only spark of color left in a drab city where the rest of the inhabitants have lost their sense of meaning and most importantly: their hope. Olive hears a mysterious noise and finds herself in an underground world, where she sifts through all the lost things and takes them out with her to make her world a better place. When I saw the title, I envisioned a book about actual things that people lost and never returned to retrieve (like shoes, toys, or umbrellas), but the twist of having the things be more meaningful - memory, eyesight, hope and more - made this story one that I am anxious to read over again with my kids. My kids are 4 and 2 and they thought this was a very fun read.

No Yeti Yet by Mary Ann Fraser (author of over 60 critically acclaimed children's books) is also aimed at ages 4-8 and was released in September.

This book is stinking adorable. My kids are obsessed with snow creatures (thanks to a certain classic Christmas film) and they giggled their way through multiple readings of this story about two brothers who set out on a mission to find a Yeti. Their adventures cover a lot of ground, plenty of sledding and skating, and even a spooky cave exploration. The two boys aren't aware that the very Yeti they seek helps them along their way. The relationship between the brothers is definitely the sweetest part of this story - it reminds me of listening to my son try to explain things that he doesn't completely understand to his little sister. Whether or not this big brother knows everything there is to know about a Yeti is irrelevant - he knows he wants to find one and that's good enough for the little brother, too. There's no way I will be able to put this story away with holiday books - the kids ask to read it all the time.

Both titles have been big hits around here and I can't wait to see what comes up next from Peter Pauper Press!

Thanks to Peter Pauper Press for my review copies. I received no other compensation and all views expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Disclosure Policy.

Dairy Free Salted Caramel Shake

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DairyFree4All #CollectiveBias

When I found out that my son had food allergies, I felt disappointed because I feared that he might never get to experience "normal" things like frozen treats, cheese-covered meals, and buttery, gooey rolls. Granted - these things may not be the healthiest, but in moderation I still love them. So whenever I have the chance, I try to find an allergen-free alternative to special treats for my kids to enjoy. We needed a treat last weekend, so I whipped up this Dairy Free Salted Caramel Shake for us, and it was a huge success!

So Delicious Dairy Free® is my go-to brand for dairy-free frozen treats. My kids love them, I love them... you just can't go wrong. I feel safe choosing So Delicious Dairy Free® because of their world-class allergen-testing program and the many products they offer that are made with organic incredients, plant-based, and Non-GMO Project Verified. For a family that avoids artificial colors, flavors, trans-fats, and hydrogenated oils, they fit the bill just right! I found the Coconut Milk Vanilla Bean and Cashew Milk Salted Caramel Cluster varieties needed for this yummy Dairy Free Salted Caramel Shake in the freezer section at my Walmart store.

Dairy-Free Salted Caramel Shake 
Ingredients

1 1/2 cups So Delicious Dairy Free® Cashew Salted Caramel Cluster
1/2 cup So Delicious Dairy Free® Coconut Vanilla Bean
1/3 cup So Delicious Dairy Free® CocoWhip
1/4 cup So Delicious Dairy Free® Coconut Milk
Dairy-Free Mini Chocolate Chips
Blender

Instructions

-Mix together the Cashew Salted Caramel Cluster and Coconut Vanilla Bean in the blender, with the 1/4 cup Coconut Milk. Note that if you prefer a thicker shake, you can use less coconut milk! 

-Blend for about a minute, or until smooth and bubbly.

-Pour into glass. Garnish with CocoWhip and chocolate chips. Pop in a spoon or a straw and enjoy!

It turns out that creating a delicious dairy-free shake is no more difficult than a "normal" shake! My kiddos were thrilled with this treat and keep asking for more.

I'm seriously drooling just remembering how delightful this shake tasted! Another trip to the store for more So Delicious Dairy Free® frozen treats may be in order! What's your favorite dairy-free snack?

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DairyFree4All #CollectiveBias

Mocha Fudge Brownies

My friends...this recipe could possibly change your life. Gooey chocolate, rich coffee flavoring, glorious consistency - all the elements necessary for an amazing brownie recipe. These mocha fudge brownies are a go-to when I need some sort of deliciousness for a party (or just for a late-night snack for myself).

Are you tempted yet? Make some for yourself - they may become a new favorite for you, too!

Mocha Fudge Brownies
Ingredients

-2/3 cup all-purpose flour
-1 cup sugar
-1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
-1/2 tsp baking powder
-1 tbsp instant coffee granules
-1/4 cup butter, melted
-2 tbsp water
-1 tsp vanilla extract
-1 large egg
-1 large egg white
-1/4 cup mini milk chocolate chips
-1/4 cup hot fudge chocolate topping

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease an 8x8 pan. Combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder and coffee granules in a large bowl and stir. In a separate bowl, melt the butter and combine water, vanilla, egg and egg whites. Stir in the dry mixture until smooth. Add the chocolate chips and chocolate topping and mix well. Pour in pan and bake for 32-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool and top with chocolate frosting and sprinkles if you wish.

Enjoy these delicious mocha fudge brownies!

#SpiceYourSlice with Frank's RedHot from Papa Murphy's

Disclosure: I was compensated for this post about Papa Murphy’s and their new Buffalo Chicken pizza featuring Frank’s RedHot. All opinions and statements remain 100% my own. #SpiceYourSlice #Ad

Sometimes, a little break from the "norm" is all you need to change up weeknight dinner monotony - am I right? My kids are on a special allergen-free diet, so our meal options are sometimes limited. So what does that mean? Sometimes, I have to spice it up after the kids are in bed with a late-night snack! When the kids are sleeping, I don't have the freedom to just hop in the car and grab takeout, but with a little advance planning and the take and bake pizza restaurant right around the corner, I'm able to have a yummy option waiting in my fridge at the end of the night.

Papa Murphy's has introduced a fresh pizza to their menu this fall: Buffalo Chicken. The pizza is made with a spicy buffalo sauce made with Frank’s RedHot sauce, grilled chicken, mozzarella, green
onions, provolone and cheddar cheese, and then drizzled all over with Creamy Garlic Sauce.

Normally, I'm not very adventurous with my pizza, but this option is definitely intriguing! The hot sauce is not as hot as I expected, and the garlic sauce adds a unique taste. The chicken is my favorite part...or maybe the cheese. Yum!

Papa Murphy's is now offering online ordering at many locations (awesome news), and they are the world's largest take and bake pizza chain restaurant. I love take and bake pizza, because I can pick it up early in the day and have it ready for whatever meal or event we have planned!

My perfect pizza usually just features cheese and pineapple, but trying out the new Buffalo Chicken pizza was a fun break from routine!

What do you think? Would you try the new Buffalo Chicken pizza from Papa Murphy's?

Giveaway

One reader will win a $25 Papa Murphy's gift card + a bottle of Frank's RedHot sauce! This giveaway will end on October 16 at 11:59pm CST. This giveaway is open to US readers only. Winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or prize will be forfeited.

To enter the giveaway, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below (you may need Javascript enabled to see the form and it may take a moment to load)! Once you complete the first entry, the other options will open up so that you can complete them as well. All of the "extra entries" are optional - you can do just one, or as many as you want! Winners will be contacted by email. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: Thanks to Papa Murphy's for sponsoring this post and providing the giveaway prize. All opinions expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Giveaway Policy and my Disclosure Policy.