Abby's Magical Pumpkin Cookies

My son is obsessed with a board book called YUMMY COOKIES: Baking with Kids.  Any guess which children's character decorates the cover?  Andrew pages through until he finds his favorite Sesame Street cast members-Cookie Monster and Big Bird are the ones that get the loudest yells. Now, that he's figured out I can make the pictures in it...I've been busy.

We picked this recipe because I had an open can of packed pumpkin from some experimenting in the kitchen trying to make my own pumpkin pudding.  It's a keeper!  My kids loved helping measure the dry ingredients.  They also helped add the oats and cranberries; each taking turns stirring.  These cookies got high praise from my kids and husband.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 t ground cinnamon
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/2 t ground nutmeg
• 1/4 t baking soda
• 1 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 stick butter (1/2 cup), softened
• 1 egg
• 1 t vanilla
• 1/2 cup solid-pack pumpkin
• 2 cup old fashioned oats, uncooked
• 1 cup Craisins

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2. Sift the flour, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and baking soda into medium bowl. 
3. Beat brown sugar and butter in mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy (5 minutes)
4. Beat in the egg and vanilla.  Add pumpkin; beat at low speed until well blended.  Add dry mixture; mix until just blended.  Add oats; mix well.
5. Stir in cranberries.  Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto cookie sheets.  
6. Bake for 12 minutes.  Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute; transfer to rack to cool completely. 

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 20 minutes prep; 12 minutes baking time
Source:YUMMY COOKIES: Baking with Kids, copyright 2008