Pumpkin Cookies

For years, my wonderful friend Alyssa has a tradition where she makes pumpkin cookies in October...I have had the benefits of eating those delicious cookies throughout my last few years in Winona. However, now that we do not live in Winona anymore, I made those cookies on my own this year to bring in October and the fall season.

For my birthday last year, Alyssa made me an awesome recipe box with some recipe cards inside. This was one that she was nice enough to share with me so I could continue this yummy cookie making on my own!

I posted some pictures on instagram, and several people have asked me for the recipe. So, here it is, enjoy! It is a two part process with making the frosting separate. 

Pumpkin Cookies

2/3 c sugar

2/3 c brown sugar

3/4 c butter or margarine, softened

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 c pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

2 eggs

2 1/4 c all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. In large bowl, beat granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter, and vanilla extract with electric mixer on medium speed, until well blended. Beat in pumpkin and eggs until well mixed. On low speed, beat in flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. 

2. On un-greased cookie sheets, drop dough by heaping teaspoonfuls.

3. Bake 10-12 minutes or until almost no indentation remains when touched in center.

4. Immediately remove cookies from cookie sheets to cooking rack. Cool completely, about 45 minutes before frosting.

Browned Butter Frosting

3 c powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3-4 tbsp milk

1/3 c butter (not margarine)

1. In medium bowl, place powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, and 3 tbsp of milk.

2. in 1 qt saucepan, heat 1/3 cup butter over medium heat, stirring constantly, until just light brown.

3. Pour browned butter over powered sugar mixture. Beat on low speed about 1 minute or until smooth. Gradually add just enough of the remaining 1 tbsp of milk to make frosting creamy and spreadable.

4. Generously frost cooled cookies. 

Some things I did/suggest:
-For the cookies, I used tablespoon size heaps of dough for a more larger cookie :) Also, because of this, my cookies needed to be in the oven for longer- I would say an addition 3 or 4 minutes so about 16 minutes total per cookie sheet.
-For the frosting, I did not end up needing to use an additional 1 tbsp of milk, as the frosting was already creamy for me!

Final product

Please make these at home :) I highly recommend! They are an absolute favorite, and I will continue this tradition year after year.  What is your favorite thing to do or make in the fall?? 

“Autumn...the year's last, loveliest smile.”- William Cullen Bryant