pumpkin spice cookies with cinnamon glaze

we love pumpkin recipes in the fall.  how could you not?  the other night after work, we realized that we still had an open can of pureed pumpkin in our refrigerator left over from another fall pumpkin recipe.  since we didn't want to let it go to waste, we decided to make pumpkin cookies.

if you're like us, you might feel just the slightest bit guilty about making an entire batch of cookies (36 cookies) just for two people.  so, it's good to know that this cookie dough will freeze well.  you can bake some of the cookie dough now, and then simply freeze the rest of the raw cookie dough in a ziploc freezer bag for later.  it's always a nice surprise to open your freezer and find a bag of cookie dough just waiting to be dethawed and baked.  perfect for those nights where you have cookie cravings but you don't feel like waiting for a stick of butter to soften before you can stand in front of your mixer, right?

these cookies are light and fluffy.  they are cute and orange.  they are filled with pumpkin goodness.  they have just the perfect amount of spice in them, and the addition of the cinnamon glaze is heavenly.

pumpkin spice cookies with cinnamon glaze
prep time: 10-15 minutes
baking time: 20 minutes
yields: 3 dozen cookies

cookie ingredients:
1/2 cup salted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

glaze ingredients:
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon milk

directions:
preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  to make the cookie dough: in the bowl of an electric mixer cream the butter and the sugar together.  add the pumpkin, egg, and vanilla extract, then beat well.  in a separate bowl, sift the flour to remove all of the lumps.  add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and spices to the batter and mix just until combined.  line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and scoop 1 tablespoon-sized balls onto the cookie sheet.  bake for 20 minutes.  allow the cookies to cool completely before drizzling them with the glaze.

to make the glaze: whisk together the powdered sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and milk.  drizzle over the cookies once they have cooled completely.

enjoy!

love, laurie