Best Pumpkin Cookie recipe!

Something about fall makes me feel warm and fuzzy...and I just want to bake! As soon as the air gets that cool crispiness to it, and the leaves start to change and fall...I have an urge to bake all things pumpkin! Pumpkin bread, soup, muffins, and of course...cookies! I have a recipe that I have been using for the past couple years. I've tried several other recipes, but I always come back to this one. The cookies are just so fluffy and tasty. They also make the house smell fantastic while they're baking! (I'm a smell person...nostalgia) My children love eating them right out of the oven when they're still warm and the chocolate chips (you have to add chocolate) are gooey. There's nothing like wearing a hoodie to play outside in the leaves and then coming back into the warm spice smelling house to have a pumpkin cookie. It makes you feel like you're in a Hallmark movie!

If you have allergies, like my Teeny, you can substitute the ingredients. I have used unsweetened applesauce in place of the eggs and butter. You can also use whole wheat flour (or any other flour). I like to add mini chocolate chips, but you can add oatmeal, almonds, walnuts, raisons, or whatever your little heart desires!

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour                                1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder                                  1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon baking soda                                       1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Combine all dry ingredients and set aside. (I like to whisk them together with a little hand whisk)

Cream together the butter and sugar. Add the pumpkin, vanilla and egg. Beat until creamy. Mix in dry ingredients. (This is where you can add chocolate chips or whatever else you want to add)
Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Bake 15 minutes.

you can also make a glaze that tastes really good. 
Combine 2 cups of confectioners' sugar, 3 Tablespoons of milk, 1 Tablespoon of melted butter and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Add milk as needed to achieve drizzling consistency.

These cookies are so good on their own that I don't ever make the glaze, but knock yourself out!

That's all there is to it! Fall is only a few weeks long, so it must be enjoyed to the fullest! Have some apple cider with your pumpkin cookies to get that real fall feeling! Enjoy!!! and Happy Fall!