Halloween Pumpkin Cookies

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 4 1/2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups crisco
• 1 cup sugar or 1 cup sugar substitute, splenda
• 1 cup brown sugar or 1 cup brown sugar substitute, splenda
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon orange peel, zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 16 ounces pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
• icing sugar (optional)

Recipe

• 1 stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt in a bowl.
• 2 in a separate bowl beak crisco for 30 seconds.
• 3 add sugars to crisco and beat until fluffy.
• 4 add eggs, peel, vanilla and pumpkin to crisco mixture.
• 5 add dry ingredients and blend.
• 6 cool in refrigerator.
• 7 preheat oven to 375°f.
• 8 spoon batter onto cookie sheets, leaving some room between cookies.
• 9 bake about 10 minute at 375°f.
• 10 optional: sprinkle with icing sugar.
• 11 i haven't tried this, but these would likely really taste good with a cream cheese icing, and/or you could add two chocolate chips for "ghost" eyes to add to the festive spirit.