Cookin' & Cussin'

PS - not L - Cookies

We are FULLY committed & FULLY in the throes of Fall aka Pumpkin Spice Szn. & I will not be stopped. I cannot be tamed. However, I’m the worst Basic Bitch ever because I don’t *particularly* enjoy a PSL. I knooooow. *insert Kristen Bell grimace face GIF here* but, whatever. I love the actual SPICE. I love the actual FLAVOR of Pumpkin. Luckily, so does my sweet husband!

And his birthday was just a couple of weeks ago so I monopolized on this joyous event to make him some life-style change friendly cookies. And the best part was because we have committed to this change, I had most of the ingredients already in house – EVEN BETTER?! You can swap these simple ingredients for your own shit so these will still be delicious & you won’t feel like you’re eating a “diet cookie” – because what fucking fun is that?

I love these cookies because they have the soft, chewy texture that I look for in a smooth cookie – i.e. not chocolate chip & not oatmeal raisin. The cream cheese REALLY hits it home too! The Pumpkin Spice is NOT subtle but I suppose you could adjust it if you’re not looking for a big hit.

Not L?

I thought about incorporating a TSP of instant coffee but I didn’t want to overwhelm any other flavors and let’s be forreal, Pumpkin Spice deserves to be the star of the show. Because I said so.

These are quick to make, quick to bake & perfect to throw together for an unexpected gathering or if you just need an easy dessert. I know Halloween is coming up & it makes my little black heart all fuzzy to think that everyone is finally getting into the spirit of sitting around with their neighbors outside during Trick or Treat hours…..ah. If only we didn’t live on a retirement-age golf course cul-de-sac.

I DIGRESS.

Kid-friendly, Diet-Friendly, ALL FRIENDLY. I’ll bet these cookies won’t be left at whatever table you set them on. The cream cheese is the *surprise* ingredient that most people won’t be able to put their finger on – I think it’s the absence of both butter AND flour that leaves people feeling happy, yet confused. Whatever it takes, amirite?

an important swap.

I personally opted for PBFit because of the powdered consistency. The research I had done before trying out my recipe wasn’t tedious so much as it was fact – regular peanut butter is oily & needs *something* to cling to – basically, flour. I was worried about my cookies being flat, ugly & super dense if I used regular peanut butter. So I said “fuck it”, whispered a prayer that I wasn’t wasting a bunch of ingredients and plowed on!

The powdered peanut butter was PERFECT. It allowed the raw texture of the cookie to be scoopable without being grainy. It clung onto the liquid in the egg & the Vanilla Extract. It’s Science. I guess? It really was the perfect gamble too! The silky cream cheese just smoothed everything out in this cookie – it really is perfect!

OK look, even I’m tired of waxing-poetic about my latest cookie obsession. Just make it & I’m sure you’ll be on the same weird wavelength as me. Let’s Get To It!

Ingredients

• 4 Oz reduced fat cream cheese, room temp

• ½ cup PBFit Powdered Peanut Butter

• ½ Cup Truvia Blend, low calorie sugar

• 1 egg, room temp

• 1 TBS Pumpkin Spice

• ½ TSP Baking Soda

• 1 TSP Vanilla Extract

Instructions, 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Cream together the cream cheese, PBFit & Truvia until smooth.

Add in the egg, Pumpkin Spice, Baking Soda & Vanilla Extract.

Beat on low for another minute or so.

Prepare a cookie sheet with tin foil & nonstick spray.

Using a small size cookie scoop, scoop the dough directly onto the cookie sheet.

I was able to get 14 cookies from this recipe.

((2 were wonky but that’s my business))

Once all cookies have been scooped onto the tray, place in the oven on the middle rack and bake for 12-13 minutes.

They won’t rise MUCH but they won’t be flat as pancakes either. ((that’s what the baking soda is for, friends!))

These cookies will be slightly chewy & soft – just the way I like them!

They won’t be overly sweet nor spicy from the Pumpkin Spice.

They will be juuuuuust riiiiiiiiight.

Allow to cool completely & store in a Tupperware container for up to 5 days! ((if they even last that long!))

Pumpkin is the Spice of Life

At least from August – November. *ba dum tsss*

No seriously, I know we content creators ALL go overboard when it comes to Pumpkin Spice but I can’t help it! There are SO MANY damn good ways to incorporate Pumpkin Spice and I do it every year – without fail & without shame. As much as I love Christmas, I just can’t get down with Mocha Peppermint or White Chocolate Candy Cane. It makes my skin crawl & my teeth ache.

I guess what I’m trying to say is – I’m SUPER lucky that my husband and I both agree WHOLEHEARTEDLY that we love to EAT all the fall things and we love to CELEBRATE all the Christmas things. It’s weird, but it works.

There’s still a couple of weeks left to celebrate ALL THINGS Halloween & ALL THINGS Pumpkin Spice -- unless you’re a total psycho like me and believes that Thanksgiving ALSO incorporates Pumpkin Spice. Stay tuned because I guess you’ll just have to see!

Stay Scary & Stay PSL loving – bye y’all!