Walnut-Pumpkin Cookies

These pumpkin cookies are frosted with maple frosting. There has never been a person who has not LOVED these cookies, even those who do not like pumpkin cookies. It has been a family recipe for 35 years. It has won 1st prize at a cookie exchange and at a pumpkin contest at work. I usually triple the recipe!

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 30 mins
• Calories: 301 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (Optional)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 1 tablespoon milk, or as needed
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup shortening (such as Crisco®)
• 1 teaspoon maple extract, or to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Mix sugar and shortening together in a bowl. Mix in egg. Add pumpkin and vanilla extract; mix well. Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt and mix until well combined. Fold in walnuts.

Step 3

Use small teaspoons or a cookie scoop to drop rounded teaspoonfuls of cookie dough onto ungreased baking sheets.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until edges turn golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Allow to cool.

Step 5

Meanwhile, beat powdered sugar and butter together with an electric mixer until combined. Stir in milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until a frosting consistency is reached. Fold in maple extract until thoroughly combined.

Step 6

Spread maple frosting over the cooled cookies.