Recipe for Best Ever Pumpkin Date Cookies

Dates Are the Secret Ingredient in This Fall Favorite

© Jan Czech

Sep 22, 2009

The leaves are turning brilliant colors, the weather is brisk, the smell of wood smoke is in the air, farmers markets are brimming over with fall's bounty. Brightly colored mums and orange pumpkins grace front porch steps. Children prepare for Halloween but perhaps they will find the best treat right in their own kitchen.

Ingredients for Best Ever Pumpkin Cookies

• 2 cups sifted flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree, (or the cook can make her own from a fresh sugar pumpkin)
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• ½ cups nuts – walnuts or pecans work best
• ½ cup chopped dates
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder

How to Make Best Ever Pumpkin Date Cookies

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In medium bowl mix together flour, salt cinnamon, baking powder and baking soda.
3. In large bowl cream together shortening and sugar.
4. Add pumpkin and egg and beat until creamy .
5. Add vanilla, dates, nuts and dry ingredients.
6. Beat until smooth.
7. Drop by tablespoons full onto cookie sheet.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
9. Cool before frosting.

Ingredients for Frosting For Best Ever Pumpkin Date Cookies

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons milk
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla
• 1 cup confectioners sugar

How to Make Frosting for Best Ever Pumpkin Date Cookies

1. Combine butter, milk, brown sugar in sauce pan.
2. Bring to boil and boil slowly for 2 minutes stirring constantly to prevent sticking.
3. Remove from heat. Cool.
4. Add vanilla and confectioner’s sugar.
5. Beat until smooth.
6. Add more sugar and milk as needed to increase quantity.
7. Frost cookies and enjoy!

Cream cheese frosting,(recipe below), is also an especially yummy choice with these delicious cookies but the home cook can save time by using frosting that is already made.

Ingredients for Cream Cheese Frosting

• 4 ounces cream cheese
• 2 tablespoons cream - half and half works just as well
• 1 cup sifted confectioners sugar

Directions for Making Cream Cheese Frosting

1. Cream together cream cheese and cream.
2. Blend until light and fluffy.
3. Add sugar to cream cheese mixture and blend.

These cookies are a good choice for bake sales, church socials, class room treats, hay rides, tail gate parties, groumet club meetings, family get togethers and just about any fall event one can think of. They are a good compliment to coffee and a standout favorite paired with apple cider. Serve them frosted or unfrosted.

Let the Children Help Prepare Best Ever Pumpkin Date Cookies

With supervision children can help measure the ingredients. combine the ingredients and drop cookie dough onto the cookie sheet. Letting kids help in the kitchen gives them a sense of accomplishment and is both fun and educational.

With supervision

Use Sugar Pumpkins for Puree

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