Pumpkin Maple Dreams

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 cup butter (no substitutions)
• 1/4 cup crisco shortening (plain)
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup raisins
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar (icing)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons milk
• 3/4-1 teaspoon maple extract
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup finely chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts are good)

Recipe

• 1 set oven to 350 degrees.
• 2 grease a cookie sheet.
• 3 in a bowl, combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.
• 4 in another bowl, beat butter, shortening and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, add in the egg; mix well.
• 5 add in the pumpkin puree and vanilla; mix very well.
• 6 slowly mix in the flour mixture until combined.
• 7 stir in raisins.
• 8 drop by tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheet.
• 9 bake until set (about 15 minutes).
• 10 cool on wire racks.
• 11 for frosting: in a bowl, cream butter and both extracts using an electric mixer.
• 12 gradually add in the icing sugar, alternating with milk, beating well after each addition, until smooth and fluffy, and the desired consistancy for spreading on cookies is achieved.
• 13 spread or pipe with a star-tipped pastry bag, a thin layer of frosting on top of each cookie.
• 14 sprinkle with nuts.
• 15 enjoy!