Halloween Cookie Tradition

We started making these pumpkin cookies at our "annual family home evening Halloween Party" when I was in Jr. High. I think my mom found the recipe in a magazine. They are some of my favorite cookies. I think I've made them every year since. The picture of Tom above is 1994--the first Halloween we were married, living in our Provo apartment. He was a good sport to put up with my cookie tradition. :)

Ashley 2000

Courtney 2000

Here's the recipe. We make 'em big and then frost them with buttercream & add candy decorations so one is kind of a meal.
(It does included your vegatable & grain servings :)

Pumpkin Cookies

4 cups flour
2 cups uncooked quick oats
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 (16 oz.) can solid pack pumpkin
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and add sugars beating until light and fluggy. Add egg and vanilla. Alternate adding dry ingredients and pumpkin mixing well. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop 1/4 c. dough on greased cookie sheet-spread out. Bake 20-25 minutes at 350 until cookies are firm. Makes about 32 large cookies. Cool, frost with buttercream icing and decorage to look like pumpkins.
(We use candy corn, m&m's, chocolate chips & any small halloweenish candy)

Buttercream Frosting

4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter flavor crisco
1/2 cup butter
pinch of salt
3-4 Tbsp. milk
1-2 tsp. vanilla

Place powdered sugar in large mixing bowl. Add shortening, salt flavoring and milk beginning with 2-3 Tbsp. milk at first and add more later if necessary. Tint orange with yellow & red food coloring. Blend about 5-10 minutes at medium to high speed until fluffy.