Madwizard's Pumpkin Cookies

Total Time: 25 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 24
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1 cup land o' lakes butter, room temperature (or other high quality butter)
• 1 cup pumpkin (get the canned, trust me!)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla (preferably)
• 1 large egg (very fresh)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder (don't use the stale stuff guys!)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda (ditto!)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon (i use cinnabon's brand)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (no salt-subs use the real deal)
• 3/4 cup nuts, chopped (optional)

Recipe

• 1 optional: 3/4 cup chopped nuts also optional: a small dash of cloves and a tiny dash of all-spice (very optional--to your liking). preheat oven to 350°f
• 2 in a large bowl combine sugars; butter-beat until fluffy.
• 3 add pumpkin, vanilla and the egg; blend well.
• 4 add flour, baking powder and soda, and all spices; mix well.
• 5 if you have chosen to add nuts, add and stir.
• 6 as for the cooking you can do this one of 2 ways.
• 7 the first way if you like tiny little cookies (hah! not me! but some like 'em bite size) then you would drop them by rounded teaspoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet. bake these small ones at 350°f for 10-12 minutes.
• 8 don't forget to preheat the oven first! duh many of us forget that sometimes.um.ok. i admit it has happened before). now for those of us who adore larger cookies (oh joy!) then drop by hefty tablespoonfuls about 3 inches apart on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. bake at 350°f for 11-13 minutes.
• 9 secret: always use cookie sheets with no lips or edges.
• 10 get a really good quality sheet--its worth it! wilton's is very good.
• 11 (i use an insulated sheet, and i just tried the silverstone baking liners for the first time. good idea!) also, let sheets cool to room temp before second batch.
• 12 (or use freezer to cool sheets faster). or just use 2 sheets and alternate.) the cookies won't look done really but as they sit they solidify they are really cakey.
• 13 as an added treat you can whip up some cream cheese frosting as a dip, if if you don't mind them messier just squeeze a couple lines over finished cookies.
• 14 pure delight! from: ann and .topsecretrecipes.com.