At 26, I carved my way into my first pumpkin. It was a pretty damn good Angry Birds pumpkin, I might add. (Okay, so maybe I used a tracer, but don’t tell anyone!)
At 27, I played with Halloween sprinkles for the first time.
Now, at 28, I’m finally decorating cookies!
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the best dessert decorator. However, I wanted to come up with a fun cookie that kids will enjoy decorating for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is a non-profit organization founded by two OXO employees, Gretchen and Larry Witt. Inspired by their son’s battle with cancer, Gretchen and Larry decided to help raise money for research on cancers that were child-specific. It started with a massive cookie sale in 2007 and blossomed into a national non-profit that has granted over $7 million dollars to cancer research! Throughout the month of October, OXO is donating $100 to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer for each blog post dedicated to this campaign. When OXO asked me to join the campaign, I said, “es, yes, yes!” To get me started on the cookie fun, OXO sent me with a great half-sheet baking pan (which bakes cookies VERY well), a medium cookie scoop, and a cookie spatula.
It’s been a cookie extravaganza over here. (Insert cookie emoji here.) I baked 5 batches of these cookies already, and I will still devour them in a heartbeat. To make these cookies extra special, I’ve added some black pepper and Chinese five-spice powder. The black pepper addition is something I picked up from Sabrina, when I tried her amazing butternut squash cake last week. Her idea of adding savory spices to desserts was genius, and I wanted to give these cookies a bit of savory, too.
We’re going start with the basic googly eyed cookie recipe here, but there is nothing stopping you from jazzing these babies up with sprinkles and MORE sugar. Let the cookie bonanza begin!
MASTER MY MISTAKES + COOKING NOTES
- USING CANE SUGAR: With one of my test batches for these cookies, I used 1/2 cup turbinado (or demerara) sugar and 1/4 cup light muscovado, and they looked more brown and had a deeper flavor. I preferred the taste of the turbinado/muscovado mix to the cane/turbinado sugar mix. However, I went with the cane/turbinado combination because the cookies baked more evenly. Some of the cookies that were baked with the turbinado/muscovado blend cratered in the center or the edges.
- SHAPING THE DOUGH: During that same batch of cookies mentioned above, I decided to flatten the cookies with a glass. I put a piece of parchment paper on top of a ball of dough and used the bottom of a drinking glass to flatten it. It was more work, and I thought that flattening the cookies out with my fingers was much better.
- USING VEGAN BUTTERY SPREAD: I tried batches using whipped vegan buttery spread and a stick of vegan butter, and I noticed that the cookies will expand more if you use the whipped spread.
- GLUTEN-FREE FLOUR BLENDS: I tried these cookies with Minimalist Baker’s gluten-free flour blend, and a store-bought blend. I preferred the texture of the cookies using Minimalist Baker’s blend. I also want to note that I usually add a teaspoon of xanthum gum to that blend for binding purposes.
- MAKE A CAKEY VERSION: On one of my experimental batches, I used a softened stick of butter and added an egg the batter. I ended up with very soft, cakey cookies. Not exactly the cookie texture I was going for, but it felt like I was eating tasty muffin tops.
KITCHEN TIP #1: HOW TO MAKE BUTTERNUT SQUASH PUREE
KITCHEN TIP #2: HOW TO PEEL & CUT BUTTERNUT SQUASH
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Vegan Butternut Squash Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
Googly Eyes
- 1 cup (130g) powdered sugar (or icing sugar)
- 1 tsp tapioca starch, cornstarch works also
- 1 TBS brown rice syrup
- 2 tsp soy milk, or any non-dairy milk
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- vegan chocolate chips
Butternut Squash Cookies
- 1/2 cup (90g) vegan buttery spread, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (105g) organic cane sugar
- 1/4 cup (57g) turbinado sugar (regular brown sugar works also)
- 1/3 cup (90g) butternut squash puree*
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups (205g) gluten-free flour blend (all-purpose flour works also)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/8 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Icing
- 1/2 cup + 2 TBS, 80g powdered sugar (or icing sugar)
- 2 TBS unsweetened soy milk
- 1 tsp maple syrup
Instructions
Making the Googly Eyes
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- I used a sandwich bag to pipe the white part of the googly eyes, and it worked like a charm. If you’re using a zippered sandwich bag, cut off the zipper. Next, snip off the tip of one corner of the bag. Drape bag over a drinking glass.
- Mix all the ingredients of the googly eyes together. It will take a little stirring, but eventually, you’ll get a very thick paste. Spoon paste into the prepared sandwich bag. Remove bag from the glass and twist the top. Pipe about 1/4 tsp of the paste onto prepared baking sheet, and top each dollop of paste with a chocolate chip. Continue piping until all the paste is used up.
- Let the paste set overnight. You’ll end up with more googly eyes than you need for these cookies, so store them in an airtight container. As long as you store them in a cool, dry area, they will keep for a while.
Baking the Cookies
- Place buttery spread and sugars in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer at low speed, cream all ingredients for a minute. Add butternut squash puree and vanilla extract, and mix until everything is just incorporated. This should take no more than 10 to 15 seconds.
- In a separate bowl, mix the gluten free flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt together.
- Sift flour mixture into the bowl with the wet ingredients. Mix until all ingredients are just incorporated, and be careful not to overbeat the mixture.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and freeze for 30 minutes. Freezing the dough will make it easier for you to scoop and and shape the dough later.
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Position the oven racks to the top third and bottom third slots.
- Scoop out a heaping tablespoonful of cookie dough and shape into a ball. Place the dough onto a baking sheet and flatten with your fingers. Repeat for the rest of the cookie dough.
- Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges start to turn golden. I also like to swap the sheets around halfway through so that the cookies get the same amount of heat. Let the cookies sit on the sheet for 5 minutes before cooling them off on a rack.
Making the Icing
- While the cookies are cooling, mix the icing ingredients together until you get a runny mixture. Once the cookies have cooled, drizzle icing on the cookies. Top with sprinkles, more turbinado sugar, or googly eyes. It takes a few hours for the icing to set completely. To store these overnight, place all the cookies on baking sheets and cover with aluminum foil.
Notes
- Cookie recipe adapted from Minimalist Baker. Googly eyes recipe adapted from Fork & Beans.
- For the butternut squash puree, I blended the baked butternut squash with an immersion blender and strained it through a fine mesh strainer. Straining helps remove some of the stringy bits of the squash.
- There’s so many things you can do with your extra googly eyes! I recommend visiting Fork & Beans for inspiration!
- Don’t like the googly eyes? Decorate the cookies with sprinkles and turbinado sugar instead!
Here’s some more info about Cookies for Kids’ Cancer:
- Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is a recognized 501c(3) public charity duly incorporated under the laws of the state of New Jersey. Your donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. 100% of proceeds raised by Cookies for Kids’ Cancer fund pediatric cancer research.
- OXO will be donating $100 to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer for each blog post dedicated to this campaign in October (up to our $100,000 commitment*.)
- *In 2015, OXO will donate up to $100,000 to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer through product proceeds, bake sale matches and other fundraising efforts
- For more information about Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, visit their website!
Nadia's Healthy Kitchen says
They’re too cute! I need to try using butternut squash in baking, great idea 🙂
Lisa says
Thank you, Nadia!
heather @french press says
these are SO cute! and I am sure just as delicious
Lisa says
Thanks, Heather!
Sydney | Modern Granola says
How adorable! I love the mummy look with googly eyes. And I love that you included butternut squash in your recipe. That’s so creative! I bet these are amazing.
xx Sydney
Lisa says
Thank you, Sydney!! I’m sooo glad that you got how I was going for the mummy look! My husband had no clue what I was trying to do with the cookies, which is why I didn’t name the recipe “mummy cookies”!
Sam @ PancakeWarriors says
Ok these are adorable and I love the reason you are making these cookies!! Adding the Chinese 5 spice and black pepper sounds we some. What a depth of flavor!
Lisa says
Thanks, Sam! The Chinese five spice is definitely a bit unexpected, but it tasted so good in the cookies!
Sabrina Modelle says
These cookies are too cute! I am a big fan of butternut squash in sweet baked goods. Totally underutilized if you ask me.
Thanks for the shout out, too.
Lisa says
Thanks, Sabrina! I’m tempted to try making a squash pie for Thanksgiving now. Wish me luck! (And your cupcakes rocked!)
Catherine says
Dear Lisa, for someone who doesn’t play around much with decorating, these cookies look adorable and festive! They sound wonderful too. I love the creativity behind these. I wish I could try one right now. xo, Catherine
Lisa says
Thank you so much, Catherine!!
Leslie @ flora foodie says
These look SO good and SO creative! Perfect fall cookie 🙂 oh, and I totally carved an angry birds pumpkin too (thank you, tracers.)
Lisa says
Hahaha, we’re totally birds of a feather 😉
Zainab says
Ahhh I love these cookies. It’s so cute!! And yeah I am just embracing Halloween too in my early 30s lol! What a great cause 🙂
Lisa says
Thanks, Zainab!! And I’m so glad I’m not the only late bloomer with Halloween treats!
Liz says
These are too cute!! I’ve never used butternut squash in cookies but I’m LOVING the idea! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Lisa says
Thank YOU, Liz!!
Kelly // The Pretty Bee: Allergy Friendly Eats says
I love these! And my boys would love them, too! 🙂
Lisa says
Thanks, Kelly!!
rachel@ Athletic Avocado says
oh my these are so cute! These are a great way for kids to actually get some squash in their diet!
Lisa says
Thanks, Rachel!!
Erin says
gahhh these are too cute! I also love the idea of butternut squash in cookies! Super clever!
Lisa says
Thank you, Erin!!
traci | vanilla and bean says
What a fun and inventive recipe, Lisa and I must say your decorations are adorable. Most of the mummies look cross eyed! They’re just so darn cute! And the organization you’re supporting is worthy. Love how OXO is supporting their emplyees’ cause! Very cool! Thank you for this, Lisa!
Lisa says
Yes! I don’t know why, but I had a sudden urge to make these cookies remind me of Looney Tunes characters, so I made them cross-eyed!!
Sophie says
Can I freeze those once cooked?
Lisa Lin says
Hi, Sophie. I’ve never tried that before, but I probably wouldn’t freeze them because I don’t want them to get freezer burn. Alternatively, you can try sticking them in the refrigerator, and it might prolong the life of it for a few more days.
Britt says
The google eyes recipe dais too liquidy and does not set well. Need more than 1 cup of icing sugar. The cookies are very cakey, is that the idea? Wasn’t expecting that based on the pics provided as they look thin and crisp.