I realize that just about everyone makes pumpkin shaped sugar cookies this time of year, decorates them with orange and green frosting, M&M eyes, a candy corn nose and a licorice smile, but these aren't sugar cookies... these are actually pumpkin cookies. My mom made them for my class parties all through elementary school. The recipe is actually for Pumpkin Cookie Pops, you know, with a wooden stick in them... I'm not that good.
Halloween Pumpkin Cookies
Ingredients:
1 1/3 cup each shortening and butter or margarine
1 ½ cup each packed brown sugar and granulated sugar
4 eggs
4 tsp vanilla
7 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
5-6 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Assorted candy decorations
Directions:
Beat together the shortening, butter and sugars until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until blended. Stir together the flour, baking powder, salt and pumpkin pie spice; gradually add to the creamed mixture, beating well to blend. Cover dough and chill until easy to handle.
Roll our dough (a portion at a time) on a floured surface about 3/8 inch thick. Cut with Pumpkin shaped cookie cutters. Transfer cookies to ungreased baking sheet, placing them about 2 inches apart. If dough becomes too soft, wrap and chill.
Bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes (10 on stoneware, 9 on darker sheet), or until very lightly browned. Cool. Spread with orange icing and decorate with candy corn eyes/noses, licorice mouths, etc.
Icing: 1 cup powdered sugar and about 3 tsp milk. Tint with orange and green (stems) food coloring. 2 boxes of powdered sugars ices about 35 large cookies.
