Chocolate-Topped Pumpkin Pinwheel Cookies
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups (350 g) high-quality all-purpose gluten-free flour
1 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your blend already contains it)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Dash (1/8 teaspoon) baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup (150 g) sugar
8 tablespoons (112 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 extra-large egg at room temperature, beaten
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
5 ounces pure packed pumpkin
2 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 tablespoons (16 g) cornstarch
1/4 cup (2 fl. oz.) cream, at room temperature
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper and set it aside.
In a large bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar, and whisk to combine well. Add the butter, egg and vanilla, mixing well after each addition until the dough comes together. It will be thick, and a bit crumbly. Divide the dough into two portions, one about 10 ounces, one about 16 ounces, and set the larger portion aside.
Place the smaller portion of dough into a medium-sized bowl, and add the pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice and cornstarch, and mix to combine. Place the pumpkin dough in between two sheets of parchment paper, and roll into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick.
Place the larger portion of dough into a medium-sized bowl, add the cream, and mix to combine. Roll out plain vanilla dough in the same manner as the pumpkin dough. Place both pieces of rolled out dough on a large baking sheet, and place in the freezer for about 15 minutes, or until firm (but not rock solid, or it will begin to crack).
Once the dough has chilled, remove all but one piece of parchment paper from both pieces of dough. Place the one side still lined with parchment paper on the kitchen counter, parchment side down. Place the other piece of dough squarely on top of the first. Starting at a short end of the rectangle and using the bottom sheet of parchment paper to handle the dough, roll the dough away from you and into a cylinder that is as tight as you can manage. Remove the parchment paper, and wrap the roll tightly in plastic wrap.
If there seems to be a gap in the very center of the cylinder, roll the dough back and forth on the counter, from the center out, to fuse the center. Chill the roll of dough in the freezer for about 10 minutes, or until firm.
Remove from the freezer, slice in 1/4 inch cross-section. Place less than 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet, and bake for about 12 minutes, or until the cookies are set and just beginning to brown a bit. Allow to cool completely on the baking sheet.
While the cookies are cooling, melt the chocolate. In a small microwave safe bowl, place the chopped chocolate. Microwave on 70% power for 40 seconds. Stir. Microwave for another 30 seconds and stir again. Repeat in 30 second intervals until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Allow to cool slightly.
Once the cookies are cool, holding each cookie by the edge, dip it halfway into the melted chocolate and bob it up and down a few times. Carefully invert the cookie and place it, chocolate side up, on a clean piece of parchment paper. Allow to cool at room temperature until the chocolate is set.