Pumpkin Currant Cookies
A couple of weeks ago my friend Becky asked if I knew any good vegan baking recipes. Her daughter, who has just gone off to college, is starting a baking business in her dorm but most of the residents are vegans so – what to do? I had a few nut-based ideas but then Becky told me that nuts were also off the table because too many people were allergic to them. Geez, now I was stumped.
I recommended my favorite vegan blog, Vegan Yum Yum, and promised to go through my cookbooks in search of that magical trifecta: something baked, vegan and nut free. Not to mention scrumptiously suited to late night dorm room munching. This was going to be a challenge for my dairy-loving taste buds.
When I was a child my mother used to tell me that if you thought about something hard enough anything was possible, and this past Thursday she was proven correct (yet again) when the Cumberland House fairy delivered two copies of Olive Oil Baking to my doorstep. Coincidence? I must have been obsessing about vegan baking to an extraordinary degree, because how else would the perfect book – the one with dozens of dairy-free and even a few vegan recipes – find it’s way to me? Just like that, out of the blue. I swear my mind connected with the cookbook universe, bending the space-time continuum to my baking needs. It was all very Twilight Zone meets Food Network.
Even with Olive Oil Baking in hand I have to tell you – I was skeptical. Baking without dairy or nuts? Hmm. Then I began trying the recipes and, with a few adaptations (see recipe below for examples) created flavorful butter/milk/egg/nut free goodies like spiced raisin cake and dark chocolate zucchini brownies (this recipe was already vegan). Upon tasting, each one produced the same question, which wasn’t really a question: “Can you believe these are – insert missing ingredient here-?!” So now I’m convinced – delectable vegan baking is a definite reality, though I won’t be converting anytime soon. 
Luckily “Olive Oil Baking” isn’t a vegan book but an olive oil book, so I still have the likes of hazelnut sables, almond poppy seed muffins and lemon chiffon cake with blueberry sauce to keep me occupied.
With cool Autumn weather at my window one recipe in particular caught my eye, paying homage to my favorite Fall squash – pumpkin. The Pumpkin Currant Cookies pictured above are super yummy, not to mention healthy with their blend of whole wheat, wheat germ, brown sugar, currants and olive oil. I used walnuts when I made them the first time, then tried the recipe again sans nuts – either way these truffle sized morsels were compulsively munchable. This evening I decided to enjoy a few with a cup of mulled apple cider, which shares spices like cinnamon, ginger and cloves with the cookies. Excellent combination.
One more thing before the recipe: Since Cumberland House sent two books to me, and I obviously only need one, I’ve decided to give away the extra copy. If you would like to win it answer the following question in the comments section of this post and I’ll randomly select a winner on Saturday October 20th. Comments that don’t answer the question will not be entered into the book raffle.
Answer this question for a chance to win a free copy of this book: What is your favorite Autumn food?
Pumpkin Currant Cookies
Adapted from Olive Oil Baking by Lisa Sheldon.
Ingredients: Makes about 2 dozen large cookies or 3 dozen small cookies.
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
- 2 tablespoons wheat germ
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 egg (Vegan sub: 1/2 a small, ripe banana, mashed. Or 1/4 cup apple sauce. You can also use a vegetarian egg substitute like Ener-g Egg Replacer.)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup currants or raisins
- 1/2 cupped chopped walnuts (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a small bowl, combine the flours, wheat germ, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. In another bowl, blend the egg, vanilla, olive oil, pumpkin and brown sugar with a whisk. Add the dry ingredients and stir until combined. Stir in the currants or raisins, then the walnuts.
Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets. (I used a tablespoon.) Bake for 12 -15 minutes or until just the top is firm to the touch. Tranfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:99 Responses to “Pumpkin Currant Cookies”
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My favorite autumn food is butternut squash.
These look fantastic, and I am spending next shabbat with a vegan friend so I might just give them a try! My favorite fall food (well, dish) is roasted root vegetables – any combination that includes beets. The color, flavor, and texture are so fall to me.
kuri kamameshi (rice, chestnuts and some veggies cooked with seasonings)
I love Butternut squash soup with shelled pumpkin seeds and pumpkin seed oil.
Without a doubt, my favorite fall food is apple crisp.
I’ve been seeing a lot of pumpkin recipes around recently and am excited to try them. Pumpkin is definitely an underrated ingredient.
Ari, excuse please but my vegan son won’t eat eggs. Since he’s not here, I’m going to try these for me.
Is pumpkin a fall color, that would be my favorite.
Sure like the looks of this cookie.
My favorite fall food is three fruit crisp, something which I have made for a number of years when autumn rolls around. With pears, apples, and cranberries…it is a colorful dessert worthy of such a colorful season.
My favorite autumn food is pumpkin bread. It doesn’t seem to taste as good the other months of the year!
These cookies look really good and I love the ingredients in them!
My favorite fall food…hmmmm…isolated to a food I guess apples. My favorite thing to bake in the fall is a cake I’ve dubbed Harvest Pecan Cake…it’s super easy, moist, and yummy! I also love soup!
Ooh, that book looks great. Well, my favorite autumn food, the one I begin craving every time pumpkins reappear at the greenmarket, is Kaddo Bourani (Pumpkin with Yogurt and Meat Sauces).
Those cookies look pretty good, Ari, but I don’t think I’m fond enough of pumpkin to give them a try. As for my favorite Autumn food—that would be spiced apple cider. The two are intertwined in my memories since childhood.
My favorite fall food-homemade stuffing!
Definitely something with butternut squash- maybe a risotto or a pizza!
The cookies look fab! I am a recent convert to the vegan diet.Will definitely be trying these.
Can you tell me where you found the stunning blue mug it is gorgeous!
Thank you
P.S. Fave fall food would have to be roasted vegetable soup.
My favorite autumn foods are root vegetables such as squash, parsnips, carrots, beets and not a root vegetable apples. I love to cut-up all the vegetables into big chunks and toss with olive oil and balsamic vinegar salt and pepper to taste. Then chop up the apple and sprinkle on top. Toss on some whole garlic cloves and roast in the oven. Yum! Nothing says fall like a bunch of roasted roots!
Hi Ari,
Ooh, you’re cookies look delicious!
My favorite Autumn food is pumpkin pie…that counts doesn’t it?
My favorite Autumn food is Minetrone. I make a big pot of it and, because I’m from the South, serve it up with cornbread.
Apples! Picked fresh from the tree!
apple pie, baked in a brown bag, with sharp cheddar. these cookies look fantastic; i’m excited to try them.
Apple spice cake, hands down favorite food! The original of our family’s favorite spice cake appeared in a New York Times cookbook (I think), at least 20 years ago. We’ve been making it ever since.
I love your photo and the recipe. The finished product looks amazing, I’m convinced it tastes really good too!! I made this weekend chocolate chip cookies, I had such a craving for something sweet…. I gave away most of it… I don’t need any more weight gain then necessary
I don’t have a favorite item. I love them all, pears, apples, all kinds of different squashes etc. I can’t wait to make my spaghetti squash that is currently in my fridge.
Thanks for the egg sub!
lovely lovely cookies: going into the recipe box!
as for fall foods for me:
the warmth from a bowl of hearty homemade soup with seasonal ingredients (butternut squash!) seems to do the trick on these cooling days. especially since they haven’t turned on the heat in our apartment!
i love toasted salty pumpkin seeds…mmmm!
By far, my favorite autumn food are the apples, especially honeycrisp. Can’t beat ‘em
Oh, my current favorite would have to be turnips in almost anything. Fall is definitely the season for root vegetables and various types of squash.
I know you can get them year round these days but there is something about autumn that makes me crave turnips.
The current favorite, pears baked with maple syrup, served with whipped cream. Winter squash — want to try it with lime (Epicurious). Just got a can of pumpkin to make pumpkin empanadas (Nava Atlas); there’ll be enough for these tempting cookies! Fall has to be the most energizing season and the food possibilities are recharging.
My favorite Fall food is anything with pumpkin……muffins, pie, bread, scones, pancakes, lattes, cookies, pudding, trifle, roll cake……I just adore pumpkiny baking!
My favourite autumn food (without any doubts whatsoever!) is a classic British pie. Myself and my partner perfected our favourite pie last year – a chicken pie with a few secret ingredients! I must post the recipe soon……I think pies are just sooooo comforting – and they are baked, which is so autumnal.
The best autumn food ever is oven-toasted chestnuts. You have to pick them during a walk in the wood, first, or they won’t taste half as good. And to fight with those terribly hard skins that get under your fingernails… it’s all part of the pleasure!
my favorite automn food is butternut squash soup! but your cookies look like they could come in a close second! i’ve been reading your blog for a while now, and have ben enjoying seeing what you’re making. I hope you’re having a great year back at JTS – as much as I am loving Israel, I miss everyone at home.
Those cookies look amazing. It is really difficult to pick just one dish, but I would probably go with my mum’s apple and blackberry sponge, with lots of vanilla custard!
Simple, roasted butternut squash with butter, salt, and pepper … and sometimes a drizzle of maple syrup (taste of spring mixed with fall – couldn’t be better!).
Thanks for sharing your recipes, there are so many I just HAVE to try when I get a chance!!!
Your cookies look so yummy. Never imagine pumpkin in cookies. I will definitely try it if I could find the whole wheat pastry flour here.
For me, my fall fav. food is always associated with anything baked with apple and cinnamon, especially when the aroma from the oven fills the kitchen : )
My favourite autumn food is roasted butternut squash soup with percorino cheese on top! Baking at it’s best!
They look fabulous! A very original recipe! I love pumpkin, but I haven’t tried that kind of cookie yet…
Cheers,
Rosa
My favorite fall food is my mom’s cornbread, cranberry, sausage stuffing. I only get to eat it once or twice a year (she sometimes makes it for Christmas), so I really look forward to it.
I have to say I have way more than 1 favorite autumn food! Acorn squash, butternut squash, cider, apples, pumpkins – pretty much anything fall!!!! it is amazing that this time of year, all the good things go together wonderfully – apples with squash baked and roasted..mmm….
Oh, I love fall! I was just telling my husband that it felt like I could finally breathe again with all the cool air. I’m not sure if this is an autumn food, but I associate with the fall and that is STUFFING!! There is nothing better than stuffing to go with turkey or chicken on crisp fall nights.
Ari, the cookies look so good!
There’s a website here (too bad it’s in Portuguese) that has loads of recipes with olive oil. Some sounds really nice.
Sweet Potatoes — roasted, baked, mashed — they just say autumn to me!
squash- especially when mixed with sage, toasted garlic, and margarine. yum! (butternut,delicata, and acorn are my favs)
Love your blog! It’s so much fun to read
Fall being my favorite season, I love it all, but my all-time favorite is butternut squash. In particular, butternut squash soup. My husband’s is delicious, and it doesn’t hurt that I can enjoy it without having to lift a finger.
Happy Fall!
Your blog is so beautiful – I check it everyday for updates! And I love all your challah recipes:) My favorite autumn food is pumpkin – anything with pumpkin, but especially pumpkin soup and pumpkin pie. Can’t wait to make your cookes!
Definatly my cheesy scalloped potatoes with a hint of chipotle chili powder to get me warmed up!
It’s hard to pick just one, but anything that requires having the oven on for a while to allow for the amazing smells to emanate from the kitchen. For example – roasted veggies such as various squashes, root vegetables, zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, etc. And, my all time fave is apple crisp- the smell?…to die for! Especially loved hot, topped with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream! Love your wonderful blog!!
These look really interesting! I’ll have to give them a try. As for favorite fall food…I think I have to go with apple cider doughnuts. When I was a little kid, my parents would take my brother and I apple picking, and our favorite part was buying a hot sack of apple cider doughnuts to eat on the car ride home. To this day, I can’t eat one or think about one without picturing my younger brother stuffing his little face.
My favorite fall food seems to change from year to year, but this year it is definitely pumpkin. I want to try these cookies right away!! I have already gone on a pumpkin baking spree this month, and have several savory recipes I will be trying in the next few weeks.
You rose to the challenge really well, they look fab!
My aunt’s Spinach casserole. No kidding. And it just may be due to the fact that we only have it Thanksgiving Day. So we really look forward tot it. Sure, I have the recipe and *could* make it anytime I want, but it wouldn’t be so special anymore.
My favorite autumn food is muffins.
Great post!
Let’s see, my favorite autumn food? Well I’d have to say turkey with stuffing. There’s nothing tastier.
I love split pea soup! It’s my favorite autumn food, even better when followed by a warm slice of banana bread! I need to give this pumpkin currant cookie recipe a go!
My favorite autumn foods are pumpkin soup and pumpkin pie.
My favorite autumn food is a hot bowl of chicken soup followed by goooey brownies!
I think I’m going to start a dorm room bakery too! I can’t resist! I miss baking so much!
My favorite Autumn food is warm, fresh apple cider doughnuts. YUM YUM YUM, especially after a day of apple picking!
Fuyu Persimmons (the tomato shaped, crunchy ones)
My favorite autumn food is vodka.
Those cookies look amazing. I went to a vegan pot-luck this weekend and would have loved to make these. As it is I’ll just save the recipe for the next (or maybe use it for some sweet snacking in between).
My favorite fall foods are anything with pumpkin or other squash and any kind of soup (pumpkin or butternut squash soups being the obvious winners).
My favorite fall food is winter squashes, just like everyone else has said.
Apparently those are popular. I also love that all the apples are ripe in fall. We have some delicious local apples here in Wisconsin, and I can’t get enough of them. They’re like candy.
Can’t wait to make these cookies.
Yes, I love the roasted veggies (yams, beets, parsnips with rosemary–nice). But fall makes me crave my mom’s English muffin bread with jam and tea. And leek and potato soup with fresh parmesan…
No question. My favorite autumn food is Apple Cider. Does that count if it’s a beverage? There’s something about Apple Cider in the fall that just makes it taste better than having it any other time of the year. With that said, a nice bowl of Chili on a crisp fall day comes in a close second to the cider.
favorite? hmmm. anything with cranberries. cranberry upside cake is pretty yummy.
i just saw a squash and apple soup recipe – could be my new favorite, i have to try it out!
hmm, My favorite autumn food is homemade cranberry sauce.
But as I’m cooking more I’m discovering new recipes and adding to that list.
My favorite fall food is roasted vegetables. I can do this several times a week and still have variety every time. The house gets all cozy with the oven on and the smell is delightful, all those veggies and herbs just roasting away together. I vary the protein I serve with it–shrimp or chicken or beans or pork–but really the veggies are the star attraction!
My favorite fall food is cranberry pumpkin bread. I often make it to take for potlucks or to work to share. It is something people can’t seem to get enough of, and I just made it vegan for the first time this week – just as yummy as ever!
gotta be pumpkin soup! yum
Aileen – I bought it at a little pottery shop in Jerusalem, not sure what the name was, but I could probably find out the name of the street for you.
You all have such mouth watering fall food favorites!
Sweet potatoes, of course! I love baking them and eating them plain.
My favorite autumn food’s gotta be pumpkin (in all ways possible)!!!
These look delicious – almost scones, rather than cookies. I’m imagining them paired with hot apple cider.
My favorite? Sweet potato casserole – mashed with butter and nutmeg, then baked with crumbled ginger snaps on top.
I have so many favorites from this season. Apples come to mind but I am just beginning to explore the possibilities of pomegranates and I’m looking forward to making my own pumpkin filing this year so I know I’ll either love or hate the squash based on the experience.
My favorite fall recipe is a potato soup recipe that has been passed to me by my husband’s grandmother. My husband and I always chop the veggies together and the recipe can be modified about about a zillion different ways. We made it this weekend because with a steaming hot bowl of potato soup topped with sharp cheddar, a crusty loaf of bread, and a fireplace to sit in front of, IT WAS HEAVEN!
I actually wanted to compliment you more on your yummy-looking cookies than try to score the book, but I’ll share my favorite autumn dish anyway: apple and pear crisp warm from the oven with a dollop of ice wine ice cream. Made it once and it was soo delicious!
Good for you for attempting vegan baking! I’m always intimidated by vegans…
My favorite autumn food is French Onion soup. Obviously, you can have it at anytime, but Fall seems like the most appropriate.
ok maybe not vodka.
i would have to say my favorite fall food is pasta. yes. pasta and peanut butter cookies. not together. after. cookies 1st, pasta after.
Thos look and sound delicious! I love pumpkin and this time of year, in fact.
My favorite autumn food is carmel apples. I also love carmel apple cider–a recipe I copied from Starbucks. Put a squirt of carmel on the bottom of a coffee cup, add apple cider, microwave for a minute or so, (whatever your microwave will do to make it warm) top with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon or nutmeg (whichever you prefer). You can also use a cinnamon stick for a stir-stick–if you don’t have the stick, use a small, coffee stir (straw). I look forward to getting fresh apple cider every year so I can make this. : )
With a bumper crop of pumpkins and squash I need all the recipes I can get. So glad I stumbled across your blog….thanks Di
My favorite fall food, or more a favorite “cool weather” food, is a good Minestrone soup. It hits the spot on a cool evening.
Those look great!
Good ol’ pumpkin pie. Great Blog btw
my favorite autumn snack is apple cider and fresh doughnuts. yum!
Those cookies look so yummy! I wouldn’t mind trying one…or five! Especially with some of your mulled apple cider!
We don’t have an autumn here so I don’t know if I can join your raffle…although there are dishes I like that are considered “autumnal”…so if this counts my favorite fall dish is butternut squash soup (made with ham stock)!
My favorite Fall food is definitely roasted butternut squash soup. But I also love a good bowl of chili and some good cornbread all other “cold” times of the year.
In the autumn I crave Scallop Chowder. And Boeuf Bourguignon. And Spaghetti Carbonara.
i was looking for something just like this to bring in to a meeting. thanks ari!
Oh, these cookies are fabulous, and walnuts are my favorites! As for my favorite autumn food, it would have to be roasted butternut squash. Plain, with butter, with dates, with cinnamon and sugar, any way, I can’t get enough of it!
Hmmmm…my favorite autumnal food…such a difficult question..!
I must say pumpkin is my favorite of all. Just the other day I went to the store and I saw an entire rack of maple pumpkin butter set up! Mmmm… Its taste just fills me up with this warm nostalgic feeling; it must be the quintessential fruit associated with this season, what with Halloween and Thanksgiving and others! Plus it’s got that lovely orange color too, looks great in desserts and dishes.
Can’t wait to try these cookies, thanks for the oppurtunity and the recipe!
Those look so delicious! My favorite autumn food are baked apples, but specifically when cooked on a campfire. YUMMY!!!
Ari, this is a must-try! Thanks for the recipe.
Wow..and no eggs huh? I’ll have to try this, thanks for the idea!
my favorite fall food is italian prune plum crumble, the recipe from the new york times.
i love pumpkin too, i recently had leftover canned pumpkin which i threw in with my morning oatmeal, DELICIOUS.
My favorite autumn food is warm home made apple pie (with vanilla bean ice cream). Made from apples that were hand picked by me, I get a little crazy with the spices and make sure that the whole house smells like autumn: ground cloves, Jamaican allspice, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg are my fave 5!
My favorite autumn food is fried potatoes with mushrooms and onions
Roasted vegetable soup. The vegetables are roasted then pureed with chicken stock. It has just a hint of cayenne pepper to give it a little heat. Super tasty.
My favorite autumn food is sweet potatoes. You can use them in pies, pancakes, soups, roasted and… I bet you could substitute them for the pumpkin in this recipe if you feel so inclined.
Thanks for the recipe by the way. I am going to try them out this weekend, they look delicious!
Well, I just made these – they’re tasty, but a bit too cakey for me, I think. Were they very cakey for you, too, or did I just do something differently without realizing it when making them?
Kabocha (japanese pumpkin) beats any other squash out there. It’s sweet and delicious just steamed and eaten in wedges. In fact, it’s so good, it tastes like pumpkin pie! (you should all try it) the texture is like mashed potatoes or baked jams and the nutritional values are better then most superfoods. It’s some serious squashy goodness.