Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients:
2 cups Flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup pumpkin
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla



Directions:

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Begin by sifting the first 5 ingredients together in a medium-sized mixing bowl; set aside. In a large mixing bowl cream the sugar and shortening, then add the pumpkin; blend well. Add the egg; beat well.



Next, gently stir in the dry ingredients, a little at a time, to form a smooth batter. Finally, add the vanilla and stir to combine.



Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a cookie sheet and bake for around 12 minutes.



Once cookies are done, cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheet, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.


Verdict:

Laura - Thumbs Up - These were delicious. I gobbled them up. The batter is very fluffy and not like a regular cookie dough. The cookies are more like cake than a cookie.

Randy - Thumbs Up - Randy liked them.

Nathan - Thumbs Up - Nathan loved these cookies. He licked the batter from the bowl and couldn't wait for the cookies to come out of the oven. He said these reminded him of muffins.

Leftovers: Leftovers didn't last long. I keep them in a ziploc container in the pantry.

Chocolate Crinkles

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup low-fat sour cream
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup powdered sugar



Directions:

Beat brown sugar and oil in medium bowl with electric mixer. Mix in sour cream, egg and vanilla. Set aside.

Mix flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and pepper in another medium bowl.

Add flour mixture to brown sugar mixture; mix well. Refrigerate dough, until firm, 3 to 4 hours. ( I wrapped my dough in plastic wrap before storing it in the refrigerator.)

Preheat oven to 350F. Place powdered sugar in shallow bowl. Set aside. Cut dough into 1-inch pieces; roll into balls. Roll balls in powdered sugar.



Bake on ungreased cookie sheets 10 to 12 minutes or until tops of cookies are firm to touch. Do not over bake. Cool on wire racks.

Makes 6 dozen cookies

Verdict:

Laura - Thumbs Up - These cookies look fancy and are easy to make. They taste delicious. They would be great to give as a gift this holiday season.

Randy - Thumbs Up - Randy liked them and keep popping them in his mouth.

Nathan - Thumbs Up - Nathan loves all cookies.

Samantha - Thumbs Up - Samantha liked these cookies. They were great.

Leftovers: The leftovers were great. I stored them in a plastic container. After a couple of days the powdered sugar started to get gummy. Not sure why this happened. They still tasted great but were a little messy to eat.