- 16
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 (15-ounce) can pure pumpkin (not pie filling)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 tablespoon water
- 1/2 cup pecans
- 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
- Pinch of salt
- 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1 tablespoon bourbon (optional; substitute 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)
- Special equipment: 2 large baking sheets; parchment paper; 1-ounce round ice cream scoop (optional; see Cooks' Notes)
Preparation
Step 1
Makes 16 sandwich cookies
Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, soda, salt, and spices in a bowl.
Whisk together sugar, oil, pumpkin, egg, and vanilla in a separate large bowl until well combined, then stir in flour mixture.
Using a 1-ounce ice cream scoop or tablespoon measure, drop a scant scoop's worth of batter or 2 scant tablespoons of batter onto a lined baking sheet to form 1 mound. Make 15 more mounds, arranging them 2 inches apart until baking sheet is full (you will have batter left over).
Stir together sugar, salt, and 1/2 tablespoon water in a small saucepan. Heat over moderate heat until sugar dissolves, then bring to a boil. Stir in pecans.
Spread mixture on lined sheet pan and bake until coating is bubbling and golden brown, about 10 minutes.
While cookie-cakes are baking, beat cream cheese, butter, and salt in a bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add confectioners' sugar and bourbon and mix on low speed until smooth.
If you want perfectly round cakes, a 1-ounce ice cream scoop is a worthwhile investment, because you can use it for so many other baking projects, in addition to ice cream.