Raw Pumpkin Spice Cookies!
It is pumpkin time! Those beautiful orange globes that light up the halloween season are also very high on the “good for you” scale!
Pumpkins are full of caroteniods, a pigment which helps protect your cells from the damage of free radicals, are full of vitamin A, and enhance your imune system. They are also a great source of fiber, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium and zinc. They are anti-inflammatory and can help protect your joints from arthritis. Pumpkin is said to help with depression and in some cultures, is used to fight intestinal bugs. On top of everything else, pumpkin is a natural diuretic and helps with flushing out toxins.
When you take all of that into consideration, not only should we be carving them, we should be eating them! You want to make sure you buy a pumpkin that is a “cooking” pumpkin. The typical jack-o-lantern is not very good to eat. Sugar pumpkins (pictured above) are great. If you aren’t sure, just ask your grocer or pumpkin patch owner!
Today I have a tasty cookie recipe for you that stars pumpkin as the main ingredient! Bursting with flavor, and high in nutrients, it is the perfect after-school snack for kids and a great treat for adults, too!
Spicy Pumpkin Cookies
MAKES 2 DOZEN
- 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree from fresh pumpkin
- 1 cup dried unsweetened coconut
- 1/3 cup raw oat flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon cloves
- 1/3 cup coconut oil, softened
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup pecans
- To puree pumpkin: quarter small pumpkin, remove seeds and outer shell. Place flesh into food processor and pulse until smooth.
- Stir together all ingredients except dried cranberries and pecans.
- When well blended, mix in dried cranberries and pecans.
- Form into balls and dehydrate at 145 for 1 hour then reduce heat to 115 and dehydrate for another 10 hours.
Liz wrote on October 17, 2017
What would this be like without dehydration?
joeke wrote on April 4, 2017
Hello Susan, thank you for the recipe. Do you know how long you can store these cookies at room temperature? Thank you, best regards, Joeke
Susan wrote on July 13, 2017
Hi, Joeke, I think for around 5 days. Cheers!
joeke wrote on April 4, 2017
Dear Susan, thanks for the recipe. Do you know how long you can store these cookies at room temperature? Thank you, Best regards Joeke
Martha wrote on January 22, 2017
Just wondering if you could use canned organic pumpkin?
I am relatively new to eating raw…Thankful I found your site!
Thank you very much!
Susan wrote on January 30, 2017
Canned organic pumpkin is cooked. So if you want raw, it isn’t. It will also have a lot more moisture in it and will throw off the other ingredients. Cheers!
Dominique wrote on October 5, 2015
Hello, I’m not a fan of coconut. What could I replace it with?
Tatsiana wrote on September 1, 2015
115 is it F or C?
Susan wrote on September 3, 2015
Hi, Tatsiana, In the U.S. we use Fahrenheit. I hope that helps!
Nicole wrote on March 11, 2015
Hey!
I was wondering if the 10 hours after the first hour was actually suppose to be just 1 hour and the 0 was just a typo. 10 hours seems like a lot…
Thanks,
Nicole
Susan wrote on March 11, 2015
You are dehydrating at 115 degrees. Dehydration takes a lot of time. The numbers are correct. Yours might be done in 6 – 8 hours. Check as you go. Cheers!