The Perfect Holiday Treat

Giant sugar cookies w/ pumpkin cream cheese frosting

(not exactly healthy, but so good your family will love them!)

You will need: 1 stick unsalted butter

(for the cookies) 1 large egg

2 cups all purpose flour 1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking powder 1/4 cup sour cream (you can

1/2 tsp salt substitute tofu sour cream)

1/4 tsp baking soda 1&1/2 cups sugar

You will need:

(for the frosting)

8 oz cream cheese, softened (tofu cream cheese is delicious in this recipe!! you honestly cannot taste the difference in this or the cookies if you choose the tofu route)

1/4 cup pumpkin puree (i use the stuff in the can)

1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 tsp fresh orange juice (i prefer making some from frozen concentrate for this recipe, quicker and easier, but if you have a juicer then real fresh tastes wonderful also)

1 tsp grated orange zest (optional)

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

4 cups sifted powdered sugar

Cookie Instructions:

1.) preheat oven to 350°

2.) in a medium sized mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. set this bowl aside for now.

3.) using an electric mixer on medium to med-high beat butter and sugar together until they're light and fluffy looking (about 2-3 minutes usually) Add the egg and vanilla and beat well to combine. *Don't forget that if you have a little one who is allergic to eggs there are plenty of substitutes out there for eggs that work great in most recipes!

4.) w/ your mixer on low add half the flour mixture followed by the sour cream and mix well then add the remaining flour mixture. Mix just until smooth. If the dough gets to thick for your mixer don't be afraid to get your CLEAN hands dirty! Sometimes it's more fun that way :)

5.) Drop spoon fulls of dough equal to about 3 tbsp on your ungreased cookie sheet a couple of inches apart. Bake until the edges start to firm and the cookies are beginning to brown (20 minutes give or take a few)

6.) cool your cookies on a rack and either put in your second batch or get ready to make the yummy frosting!

Frosting Instructions:

1.) Don't put your mixer away yet! Beat together the cream cheese, pumpkin, butter, orange juice & zest, and the vanilla in a large bowl until they're smooth.

2.) Add the sugar 1 cup at a time and continue to beat at medium speed until you achieve the consistency you like or until it is light and smooth.

Once your cookies are cooled, frost them w/ your pumpkin frosting and serve.

Enjoy!