Pumpkin Paximadia

Greek biscotti

By: Eleni Saltas

Paximadia, a Greek twice baked cookie, gets a fall twist with loads of pumpkin flavor. Depending on the size of your cuts, the recipe makes 40 or so cookies, enough to treat to friends and family—or just keep all for yourself. With such strong flavor, these pumpkin paximadia are delicious as is or dipped in a hot cup of coffee.  

Prep Time:

10min

Total Time:

80min

Makes:

~40 cookies

Good For:

Breakfast/Dessert

Ingredients

  • 1 stick of butter (8 Tablespoons), melted
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice*
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 3 ½ – 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup chocolate chips (if preferred)

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a baking sheet and set aside.

Step 2

Add butter, vanilla, and sugar to a medium mixing bowl. Beat well with a whisk or mixer until light and fluffy. Mix in pumpkin puree.

Step 3

Add the dry ingredients (pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, baking powder and flour) to a separate bowl and combine well. Slowly incorporate into the wet ingredients until a soft, but sticky dough forms. You may need to knead with your hands.
Fold in the chocolate chips if using.

Step 4

Divide the dough in half or thirds (depending on how long your baking sheets are) and place on baking sheets. Shape the dough into long loaves, that are about 2 ½ inches wide and 1 inch thick. Smooth the tops and the sides of the dough with your hands or a wet bowl scraper. Score the loaves with a serrated knife (I like this so it is easier to cut through later). Cut the logs crosswise or at a diagonal into ½ or ¾ inch slices.

Step 5

Bake for 25 minutes and remove from the oven.
Let the loaves cool for 5 minutes, and cut through the precut slices. Lay the cookies cut side down and bake for another 20-25 minutes, turning the cookies over at the halfway mark. The cookies will get crispier the longer they bake—so this is all preference! I like mine a bit softer so I don’t bake as long. The cookies will harden even more as they cool as well.

Step 6

Once ready, take out of the oven and cool. Enjoy! Store in an airtight container at room temperature. Paximadia will keep for 2 weeks.

Recipe Notes

If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice, per teaspoon of pumpkin spice follow these ratios: ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ginger, and ¼ teaspoon nutmeg or allspice, or a combination of the two.