Pumpkin Pecan White Chocolate Cookies | Annie Tucker of take a bite

I have to be honest… I don’t typically like pumpkin flavored food. You’ll never see me waiting in line at Starbucks for a PSL. I don’t search through the aisles at Trader Joe’s for their seasonal pumpkin selections each fall. It’s never been on my radar. That’s why I surprised myself when I wondered if I could find a good pumpkin chocolate chip cookie recipe to share with you. Where did this thought even come from?! I don’t know, but I am definitely glad I had it.

When I asked the Insta-verse where they found their favorite pumpkin cookie recipe, my friend Annie Tucker answered the call. Annie is a fellow OKC girl (now Dallas, too) and her Take a Bite Blog is a foodie’s dream. She shares recipes galore as well as her favorite restaurants and food-related products. This continues on her Instagram, where I am a dedicated follower of her weekly grocery haul on Sundays. Trader Joe’s fans unite!

The Cookie

I have nothing to say except that you need to make a batch of these cookies. The pumpkin flavor definitely comes through, but it’s not overpowering. Is it just me, or does pumpkin pie spice give you that warm feeling on the inside? I think this is the key ingredient for keeping the cookies sweet. I found the cookies to be light and pillowy—totally soft. The chocolate chips make these cookies classic even with the added pumpkin flavor. This recipe is great for a crowd, as it yields around 30 cookies.

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I loved these cookies so much that I baked a second batch within two days of my first. Confession: I also ate A LOT of the dough before it made it onto the cookie sheet. There aren’t any eggs in this recipe so I didn’t feel bad, not that I ever would! These cookies are perfect exactly as Annie’s recipe reads, but I took her recommendation and used semi-sweet chips instead of white chocolate for batch #2. I liked these even better than the first! I also tested adding more than a cup of chocolate chips as the recipe calls for, and I never thought I would say this, but you really don’t need the extra chips. The dough is the star of this show, so let it shine. Neither of my batches had pecans because, as you may have learned, I’m #TeamNoNutsAllowed when it comes to cookies (or my diet in general). But if you like them, feel free to go for it! I’m under the impression that Annie is a baking genius and will not steer you wrong.

Click the button below to get the full recipe and bake these cookies!

Did you make these cookies? Tell me how you liked them! You could also take a peek at this pumpkin beauty from Suss Cookie Co. to satisfy your cravings.

HiVolt Coffee | New Orleans

At HiVolt Coffee, I’ve gotta say, they know their cookies, too.  I knew I would like this cookie from the moment I picked it up.  It sort of sunk into my hand because of its softness.  It’s a little crisp on the outside while maintaining its thickness throughout.  This cookie really goes into hi-volt when you find out it is full of both milk and semisweet chocolate chips with a little cinnamon or nutmeg to add some extra flavor.   HiVolt Coffee’s chocolate chip cookie is a must-eat when you’re in New Orleans.  

The Cookie Tour Stop

The cookie wasn’t the only thing I loved about HiVolt.  Let’s talk about the location.  It’s in the Lower Garden District, which is a very cool, non-touristy part of New Orleans.  It’s right by Magazine Street, which is home to countless one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants.  I will tell you we walked what was probably the entire length of Magazine Street, so maybe have your cookie, walk a little way, and then hop in a cab to get up the street.  

​HiVolt Coffee also displays the work of local artists, so you really get a taste for New Orleans’ culture (outside the coffee and cookies).  I was in to the whole aesthetic—artsy vibes, enviable tile work, beautiful pastries... What more could you want in a coffee shop? 

While You’re There

Like I said before, Magazine Street!  You’ve gotta go.  My friends and I had the best time popping in and out of shops.  We happened to walk down the street at sunset and got to enjoy the gorgeous scenery of old, windy trees and whimsical homes in the golden hour.  Couldn’t have planned it better.  

We walked a few more blocks over to peek into Lafayette Cemetery Number One, which is right across the street from Commander’s Palace.  I once had the best meal of my life at Commander’s Palace, but that’s a story for another day.  It’s a staple in the NOLA food scene, so make sure you snag a reservation before you leave for your trip.  

With so much to see and do in the Garden District, you’ll be happy you got out of the French Quarter and experienced a different side of New Orleans.  I can’t wait to hear about your trip!

Chek out another New Orleans cookie stop I found off the beaten path!  

Cuppies & Joe

Chocolate Chip Cookie | Oklahoma City

I love the simplicity of chocolate chip cookies and how they can make you feel warm on the inside because of their goodness.  For me, none can do this quite like the cookie from Cuppies & Joe.* 

*Your cookies do this, too, Mom.  Don’t worry - yours haven’t been replaced.  

The cookie from Cuppies & Joe is a classic.  It’s got the perfect level of sweetness.  It’s soft throughout.  And that chip-to-dough ratio?  Couldn’t be more ideal.  If you’re looking for a cookie that will give you the quiet comfort and delight that only a chocolate chip cookie can give, this is the Cookie Tour stop for you.

THE COOKIE TOUR STOP

Cuppies & Joe is the coziest coffee shop in Oklahoma City.  It’s nestled in a bungalow on 23rd Street and offers vintage furniture and beautiful arrangements of fresh flowers.  With plenty of natural light and a nook wallpapered in pages of old books, you’ll feel like grabbing a hot coffee, curling up with a good book (or some work on your laptop), and staying a while.  It’s a little jaunt down the street from the hot spots of Uptown 23rd, so you should venture to Cuppies when you’re ready to slow it down.  You’re also only a couple blocks away from Perle Mesta Park.  Named for America’s “Hostess with the Mostest,” Mesta Park boasts gorgeous homes from the early 1900’s and a prime place for a picnic.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE

You’ve GOTTA try the Boom Boom Pow.  It’s a vanilla bean cupcake with a dollop of salted caramel surrounded by a ring of chocolate buttercream icing.  Top it all off with a sprinkle of sea salt and WOW.    You’ve got a mind-blowing cupcake on your hands.  

Trying to Cookie Tour through Uptown 23rd? Don’t miss this stop!