PUMPKIN COOKIES WITH PENUCHE FROSTING

PUMPKIN COOKIES WITH PENUCHE FROSTING RECIPE

These caramel-frosted pumpkin cookies are as much a part of our holiday as mistletoe and carols! They are a great way to use our home-canned pumpkin. —Priscilla Anderson, Salt Lake City, Utah

MAKES: 84 servings
TOTAL TIME: Prep: 25 min. Bake: 10 min./batch + cooling


INGREDIENTS
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup canned pumpkin
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans

FROSTING:
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup 2% milk
2-1/2 to 3 cups confectioners' sugar

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, pumpkin and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in pecans.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake 9-11 minutes or until edges are light brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

For frosting, in a small saucepan, bring brown sugar and butter to a boil. Cook and stir over medium heat 1 minute. Remove from heat; cool 10 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl; beat in milk. Gradually beat in enough confectioners' sugar to achieve spreading consistency. Frost cookies. Yield: about 7 dozen.

Originally published as Pumpkin Drop Cookies in Country Woman Christmas Annual 2005, p44