Two-tone cocoa and pumpkin cookies

I can guide you in preparing two-tone cookies with cocoa and pumpkin. A combination that brings together the sweetness of the pumpkin and the intensity of the cocoa, creating a pleasant contrast both for the palate and for the eyes. Let’s look at the ingredients and then the procedure.

Ingredients

• 120 g of cooked and mashed pumpkin (you can steam or bake it and then mash it with a fork)
• 250 g of all-purpose flour
• 125 g of sugar
• 1 egg
• 50 g of butter at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• A pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional)
• 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, mix the soft butter with the sugar until you have a creamy mixture.
2. Add the egg and continue to stir until it is well incorporated into the mixture.
3. Divide the mixture into two equal parts.
4. To one part, incorporate the mashed pumpkin and half of the previously sifted flour with half of the baking powder and, if you like, the vanilla extract.
5. To the other part of the dough, add the sifted cocoa, the rest of the flour, the baking powder, and the pinch of salt.
6. Work both doughs separately until they have a soft and non-sticky consistency, add a little flour if necessary.
7. Wrap each dough in plastic wrap and let them rest in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
8. After the resting time, take portions of the pumpkin dough and an equal amount from the cocoa dough, form long rolls and place them side by side.
9. Take the two-tone rolls and cut them into slices about 1 cm thick, thus obtaining your cookies.
10. Arrange the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, keeping a small space between each.
11. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 15-20 minutes, until the cookies are lightly golden.
12. Let them cool on the rack before serving.

Fun Fact

The combination of cocoa and pumpkin is not only pleasant to the palate but also rich in benefits. Pumpkin is a low-calorie vegetable and rich in vitamins, especially A and C, while cocoa, in addition to being a powerful antioxidant, stimulates the production of endorphins, the so-called “happiness hormones”. A cookie that’s good for the body and mood!