Time of Our Lives: Pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting

Monday, November 12, 2012

Pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting

I know this is a very unpopular thing to even think, let alone say outloud, but I do not like pumpkin pie. I do however, like pumpkin bread and pumpkin cookies, so I try to find some yummy recipes in those areas so my family won't completely miss out on pumpkin desserts.

I found a definite keeper recipe for pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting. They are so good! I found a couple of different recipes on line, and added and tweaked til I came up with this version.

Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Makes 72 cookies

Cookie Ingredients:

1 c. shortening

3 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 large can pumpkin (30 oz)

1 t. vanilla

5 c. flour

2 t. cinnamon

2 t. nutmeg

2 t. baking soda

1 t. baking powder

1 t. salt

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Frosting Ingredients:

2 (8 oz) pkgs cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. butter, softened

2 c. powdered sugar

1 t. vanilla

mini chocolate chips

Before making the cookies, take the cream cheese and butter, and sit them out in room temperature while you make the cookies. That will get them soft enough to use later on in the frosting.

To make the cookies, cream together shortening, sugar and eggs. Mix in pumpkin. Add vanilla and flour and mix well. Finally, add cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder, and salt and mix until smooth and all mixed in.

Scoop the cookie dough using a 1-3/4 diameter cookie scoop. (Obviously you can make the cookies any size that works for you, but with this size of scoop, the cooking time and the number of cookies is accurate). Place on cookie sheets.

Bake at 350 for 11-1/2 minutes. Let cool while making the cream cheese frosting.

To make the frosting, combine your softened cream cheese and butter in your mixer. Mix in powdered sugar and vanilla til smooth. Spread on cooled cookies. The frosting covers exactly 72 cookies. You don't need tons of frosting on each cookie.