After this weekend, summer has officially ended, Vikings.  The weather’s colder, the leaves are changing, and our tastebuds are craving all the sweet fall flavors: apple, cinnamon, and of course pumpkin.  Start the season off right with these pumpkin cookies- they’re super easy to make!

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 cup canned pumpkin puree

1 egg

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, ground cloves, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.

2. In medium bowl, mix butter and white sugar until creamy.  Add pumpkin, egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla to the mix.  Gradually add in dry ingredients and beat until a creamy, cookie dough consistency is achieved.

3. Place on cookie sheet.  Each cookie should be about the size of 1 tablespoonful when placed on sheet.  Insert into preheated oven.

5. Bake for 15-20 minutes.  If you like your cookies a little softer than usual (like I do!), I would recommend putting them in for 14 minutes.  Don’t forget the toothpick test before removing from oven.

4. Optional- mix confectioners’ sugar, milk, 1 tablespoon melted butter, and 1 teaspoon vanilla to make glaze as a decorative and yummy addition for cookies.  I added a glaze drizzle to my cookies (not pictured).