Pumpkin Chocolate Cookies

Just in time for the holidays, these cookies are crowd favorites because they contain pumpkin, chocolate, and walnuts.  You can also make an icing for the cookies, which is included in the recipe.

Ingredients:
2 ½ cups flour
1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
15 ounces pumpkin puree (fresh or canned)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
24 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts

Vanilla icing (optional):
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl, set aside.
2. Add softened butter and sugar to a large mixing bowl, beat with a hand mixer until smooth. Beat in pumpkin, eggs and vanilla extract.
3. Gradually add flour mixture to the wet mixture, beat until well combined. The cookie dough will be similar in consistency to cake batter. If you think it’s too thin, add a little more flour. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts using a large spoon or spatula.
4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet (or two- it makes a few dozen). Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the cookie sheets. Don’t flatten them on the cookie sheet- leave them as little mounds so they can expand.
5. Bake cookies for 15-20 minutes, until edges are lightly browned. Let cool before removing to a plate or rack. Add icing if desired.

Icing directions: combine powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract. Add more sugar or milk to get desired thickness, then drizzle over cookies.