Pumpkin Cream Cheese "Mints"

I finally got around to trying this candy idea I had and I'm so excited that they turned out and tasted so good!    It's like a fall version of the homemade Junior Mints and orange mints (though there's not actually mint flavor in those or the pumpkin candies)  

You'll need:

• 2 ounces cream cheese
• 2 Tbs canned pumpkin
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 3 - 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• Chocolate for dipping (I like Hershey's milk chocolate chips 'cause they're not pricey but still tasty...use whatever you know you'll like.  White chocolate would probably be good too!)

Combine cream cheese, pumpkin, vanilla and spice with a hand mixer.  Add the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time.  You may need to transfer the mixture to a gallon zipper bag to knead by hand. It should be about the consistency of playdough and stick to itself very well but not stick to your hands.

Roll a section of the pumpkin mixture into a rope and cut into small pieces.  (Keep the rest covered with plastic) Then roll into small balls and flatten slightly between your palms.

Cover all the flattened mints with plastic so they don't dry out and melt about 1 cup of chocolate chips (I use 50% power in the microwave for a about 1 1/2 minutes)  Dip mints into chocolate and set on wax paper, then place in the fridge.  Once the chocolate is all hardened, peel off the paper and store in an airtight container in the fridge.  

So if you like pumpkin pie, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bread, pumpkin bread with chocolate chips...you get the idea...I hope you'll try these and let me know what you think!