Pumpkin Cookies

Pumpkin Cookies:
2 cups (260 grams) all purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoons ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 1/4 cups (260 grams) light brown sugar
1/2 cup (120 ml) canola oil or corn oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup (215 grams) canned pumpkin puree

Cream Cheese Frosting:
4 ounces (115 grams) room temperature cream cheese, regular of low fat
2 tablespoons (25 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup (55 grams) confectioners' (powdered or icing) sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla

For Pumpkin Cookies:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) and place oven rack in the center of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, sift or whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, and salt.
In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the eggs and sugar until light and smooth (about 2 minutes). Beat in the oil, vanilla extract, and pumpkin puree. Add the flour mixture and beat just until incorporated. Using 1/4 cup of batter (can use a small ice cream scoop or measuring cup) place small mounds of batter onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches (5 cm) apart.
Bake for about 15 - 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cookie comes out clean. Remove from oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
Frosting: Beat the cream cheese and butter until soft and creamy. Beat in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla until the frosting is soft and creamy.

Makes about 18 cookies.

Sources:
Klivans, Elinor. Big Fat Cookies. Chronicle Books. San Francisco: 2005.Read more: http://www.joyofbaking.com/PumpkinCookies.html#ixzz12GCG45vJ

Maple Buttercream Frosting
1 cup Butter (Softened)
2 3/4 cups Powdered Sugar
2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
2 tablespoons Maple Syrup
2 tablespoons honey whiskey

Place softened butter in a large bowl. Beat with electric mixer for 30-40 seconds until whipped. Scrape sides of bowl. Sift the powdered sugar into the bowl. Beat with mixer for 30-40 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl and add the brown sugar, maple syrup, and whiskey. Beat for 2-3 minutes or until mixture is fluffy; scraping sides of bowl as needed.