October Sweet: Pumpkin Chocolate Cookies & White Chocolate Hot Cocoa

Ideal for curling up with a ragged copy of Poe and listening to the murmurous wind tickle through the skeletal branches, this combo is frighteningly sweet and oh-so-scrumptious: a slightly spicy cake-like cookie studded with semi-sweetened chocolate, paired with a ghostly potion for your autumn enjoyment.


Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 c. pumpkin
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. oil
1 egg
2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. milk
1 c. chocolate chips
1 tsp. vanilla

Dissolve baking soda in milk; set aside. In large bowl add pumpkin, sugar, oil, and egg; stir. Add flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda mixture. Mix well. Stir in chocolate chips and vanilla. Spoon onto cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees 10 to 12 minutes or until done.



White Chocolate Hot Cocoa

4 ounces white chocolate, chopped
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
14 ounces milk
2 ounces cream
3 pieces star anise

Place the chopped chocolate and vanilla in a mixing bowl. In a saucepan heat together milk, cream and star anise until boiling. Pour over chocolate and whisk well to melt. Strain into mugs to remove star anise.

Enjoy!