Now we're speaking my language! I love baking. Now I just have to decide which recipe to share first. Hmmm...how about:
Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Icing
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup ( 1 stick) butter, softened
1 15 oz can pumpkin (not the pie mix)
2 large eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans ( chop 'em, then measure 'em)
Preheat oven to 375 F. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and spices, blending well with whisk. In a seperate large bowl, beat butter on medium speed until it begins to lighten. Gradually add sugar and continue to beat until it becomes light and fluffy. Beat in pumpkin. Add eggs, one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Slowly stir in the dry ingredients, mixing well. Finally, fold in the nuts. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls (not measuring spoons but real teaspoons like you would use to stir tea) onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for about 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are set. (These cookies will not brown very much except on the tips of any peaks left over from dropping them. So, watch for them to puff and not look wet in the middle. If in doubt, you can use the toothpick test on them just like you would for cake. You want to have a few moist crumbs without the pick looking wet. If the pick comes out completely clean, then your cookies or cake are actually slightly overdone. They will continue to cook a little after being removed from the oven, so you don't want them too wet or too dry. Just a little extra tip, there. Lots of people have asked me how I get things to turn out moist but not underdone. That's how.) Immediately remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Makes about 3 dozen cookies, depending on how rounded your teaspoons were!
Now for that Cream Cheese Icing:
3 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar (sifted, so you don't get little clumpies in your icing)
about 1 tablespoon milk or cream
In medium bowl, mix the cream cheese until it begins to lighten. Then, add the vanilla. Slowly add the powdered sugar, blending smooth after each addition. Add up to 1 tablespoon milk or cream, if necessary, to reach desired spreading consistency. Spread on warm cookies for a glazed effect, or wait until the cookies have cooled for a thicker frosting.
I like to add a dash of cinnamon or a sprinkle of nuts on top as a little decoration, and...voila!
These are perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas, or any time. Plus, you don't have to feel as guilty about eating them thanks to all the vitamin A and fiber! Pumpkin pie in a cookie...it don't get much better than that! Enjoy!