Milk Chocolate Stuffed Jack-O’-Lantern Cookies

Introduction:

Milk Chocolate Stuffed Jack-O’-Lantern Cookies are a festive and delicious treat perfect for Halloween or Thanksgiving. These cookies feature a hidden center of creamy milk chocolate, surrounded by spiced cookie dough, and topped with a light dusting of cinnamon sugar.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 12 oz milk chocolate, chopped or use chocolate bars
• Cinnamon sugar (for dusting)

Directions

1. Make the Dough: In a large bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, and mix until well combined.
2. Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a dough forms. Divide the dough in half, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 30 minutes or until firm.
3. Preheat & Roll: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness. Use a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter to cut out as many cookies as possible. For half of the cookies, cut out Jack-O’-Lantern faces using a sharp knife or small cookie cutter.
4. Assemble the Cookies: Place the uncut cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place a piece of milk chocolate in the center of each. Top with the Jack-O’-Lantern cut-out cookies, pressing the edges to seal.
5. Bake: Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly golden. Once out of the oven, dust with cinnamon sugar and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Servings and Timing

• Servings: Makes approximately 24 cookies.
• Prep Time: 30 minutes (plus chilling time)
• Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
• Total Time: 45-60 minutes (including cooling)

Variations

• Different Fillings: Swap the milk chocolate for dark chocolate or white chocolate for a different twist.
• Additional Spices: Add a pinch of allspice or cloves for extra flavor complexity.
• Decorations: Use royal icing to add details to the Jack-O’-Lantern faces for a more festive look.

Storage/Reheating

• Storage: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. For longer storage, freeze the cookies in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
• Reheating: Warm cookies in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 5 minutes to restore their softness.

10 FAQs

1. Can I use different types of chocolate? Yes, you can use dark or white chocolate instead of milk chocolate.
2. How can I make the dough easier to roll out? If the dough is too sticky, lightly flour the rolling surface and rolling pin. If it’s too dry, add a teaspoon of milk at a time until the dough reaches the right consistency.
3. Can I use cookie cutters other than pumpkins? Absolutely! Feel free to use any shape you like for the cookies.
4. Why do I need to chill the dough? Chilling the dough makes it easier to handle and roll out, and helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking.
5. What can I use instead of a pumpkin-shaped cutter? You can use any cookie cutter shape you have, or simply cut the cookies into squares or circles.
6. How can I make the Jack-O’-Lantern faces more defined? Use a sharp knife or a small cookie cutter to carefully cut out the faces before baking.
7. Can I make the dough ahead of time? Yes, you can prepare the dough and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze it for up to 3 months.
8. How do I know when the cookies are done? The cookies are done when the edges are lightly golden. They will continue to cook slightly after being removed from the oven.
9. Can I make these cookies without eggs? Yes, you can use egg substitutes such as flax eggs or applesauce.
10. How should I store leftover cookies? Keep the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature or freeze them for longer storage.

Conclusion

Milk Chocolate Stuffed Jack-O’-Lantern Cookies are a delightful treat for the Halloween and Thanksgiving seasons. With their sweet chocolate center and spiced cookie exterior, these cookies are sure to be a hit with family and friends. Enjoy baking and indulging in these festive, chewy treats!

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