Iced Pumpkin Cookies

I discovered my love for pumpkin flavor while pregnant in South Africa.  I know, it seems odd that it would take me moving to a country highly lacking in pumpkin flavor to actually acquire a taste for it....but that's how it went for me.

And so we had friends and family mail and/or cart over cans of pumpkin to appease my pumpkin cravings.

Iced Pumpkin Cookies have become one of my favorites...they taste like the top of a muffin with cinnamon roll icing.  Oh my goodness.  Delicious.  A friend of mine recently referred to this cookie as "fall in a cookie!"  

And so, without further ado...the recipe:

You need (for the cookie):
-2 1/2 cup flour (I use half wheat and half all-purpose)
-1 tsp baking powder
-1 tsp baking soda
-3 tsp Pumpkin spice (OR 2 tsp cinnamon,1/2 tsp nutmeg and 1/2 tsp cloves)
-1/2 tsp salt
-1/2 cup butter, softened
-1 1/2 cup sugar
-1 cup pumpkin puree
-1 egg
-1 tsp vanilla

You do:
1- Preheat oven to 350* F.
2- Combine flour, baking powder and soda, spices and salt.
3- Cream together 1/2 cup butter and sugar.  Add pumpkin, egg and 1 tsp vanilla...beat until creamy.
4- Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto cookie sheet.
5- Bake 15-20 minutes in preheated oven.

WHILE THE COOKIES BAKE....

You need (for the icing):
-2 cup confectioners sugar
-3 Tbsp milk (maybe less, maybe more)
-1 Tbsp melted butter
-1 tsp vanilla

You do:
6- Combine confectioners sugar, melted butter and vanilla....add milk little by little until you reach desired icing consistency.

DING!  15-20 minutes have passed...
7- Remove cookies from the oven and place on cooling mat or rack.
8- Drizzle cookies with icing while they are still warm.

9- Enjoy "fall in a cookie!"