Thanksgiving Food – Pumpkin Meringue Cookies Dessert Recipe
Introduction
Looking to add a unique touch to your Thanksgiving dessert spread? These Pumpkin Meringue Cookies offer the warmth of spiced pumpkin paired with the airy sweetness of meringue, delivering a festive bite-sized treat that captures all the cozy flavors of the season. Simple to prepare but visually stunning, this recipe stands out in a sea of traditional pies and cakes, making it a surefire crowd pleaser.
Deliciously Unique Pumpkin Meringue Cookies
Perfectly spiced, these cookies blend pumpkin puree and fall spices into a soft cookie base, then top each one with a swirl of fluffy meringue. The delicate crispness of the meringue contrasts beautifully with the tender cookie, creating a light yet indulgent dessert ideal for ending your Thanksgiving feast.
Preparing the Perfect Meringue Topping
For the meringue, use fresh egg whites beaten to stiff peaks with sugar, ensuring a glossy, stable topping. Pipe or spoon the meringue onto the baked cookies, then brown gently with a kitchen torch or a brief stint in the oven. This finishing touch adds a marshmallow-like sweetness and irresistibly golden appearance.
Assembling Your Pumpkin Meringue Cookies
After your cookies have cooled, generously top each one with meringue and either bake for a few extra minutes or torch just until golden. Let them cool before serving – these bite-sized beauties will be the first to disappear from the dessert table!
Serving Suggestions for a Show Stopping Thanksgiving Dessert
Arrange your cookies on a festive platter, and consider sprinkling a little cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice on top for extra aroma and color. These cookies also pair perfectly with a cup of coffee or spiced cider for an unforgettable finish to your holiday meal.
Nutritional Information and Serving Size
This recipe yields about 24 cookies. Each cookie is approximately 70 calories, making it a lighter addition to the Thanksgiving dessert lineup and allowing room to sample more treats throughout the evening.
Pumpkin Meringue Cookies (Recap)
Pumpkin Meringue Cookies are an elegant yet approachable dessert that combines classic holiday flavors with an updated twist. With their tender spiced base and airy cloud of meringue, they make a memorable addition to any Thanksgiving spread.
Ingredients
💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically create an organized shopping list sorted by store section—making grocery shopping and meal planning for Thanksgiving stress-free.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.
- In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add pumpkin puree, egg yolk, and vanilla extract; mix until combined.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet, mixing just until combined.
- Drop rounded teaspoons of batter onto the baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart. Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until cookies are set and lightly golden around the edges. Cool completely on a wire rack.
- For the meringue: In a mixing bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, beating until stiff, glossy peaks form.
- Spoon or pipe meringue onto each cooled cookie. Lightly brown the meringue with a kitchen torch, or bake at 425°F for 3–4 minutes until golden.
- Allow cookies to cool before serving. Sprinkle with additional cinnamon or pumpkin spice, if desired.
Weekly Meal Planning
These cookies are an ideal component of a well-planned Thanksgiving menu. Save and schedule this recipe with CookifyAI to plan when to bake them and generate a smart shopping list that includes all your holiday meal ingredients.
Planning Benefits:
– Calculates ingredient totals across all your recipes
– Organizes shopping lists by store aisle so nothing gets missed
– Eliminates duplicate purchases, minimizing food waste
– Makes prepping your Thanksgiving meal efficient and calm
Pro tip: When plotting out your Thanksgiving recipes, schedule your desserts and sides together to optimize ingredient use—CookifyAI will calculate exactly how much sugar, eggs, or spices you need for all your dishes, streamlining both shopping and prep.
Cook and Prep Times
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes (plus cooling time for cookies)
