Just in time for Halloween.


Yummy spice cookies and pumpkin dip...

Lately Brian's been doing most of the cooking and has posted some great recipes that we've enjoyed. However, we had a hay-ride to go to on Saturday night and I decided to make this fun dessert. (Actually it was a gay-ride. I ask you, can you get more wholesome and midwestern than a 30 fags on a big trailer full of hay?)

Spice Cookies with Pumpkin Dip

Cookies:
1 1/2 c. butter, softened
2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1/2 c. molasses
4 c. flour
4 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. salt
additional sugar for rolling

Dip:
1 pkg (8 oz.) cream cheese
18 oz. pumpkin pie mix
1 c. confectioner's sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add molasses; mix well. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Chill overnight. Shape into 1/2 inch balls; roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes, or until edges begin to brown. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to a wire rack.

For dip, beat cream cheese in a mixing bowl until smooth. Add pumpkin pie mix; beat well. Add sugar, cinnamon and ginger; beat until smooth. Serve with cookies. Store leftover dip in the refrigerator.

Notes: The original dip recipe called for 2 cups of confectioner's sugar. One cup was plenty, I think. I also used less pumpkin than it said. This recipe makes about 120 cookies if you make them the size recommended. Also the original recipe said to bake for 6 minutes which was not nearly enough time, but of course the amount of time will depend on how accurate your oven is. Also, I only chilled the dough for about 2 hours, which was all the time I had, and they turned out just fine. A little fresh nutmeg grated into the dip is good, too. This dessert would go great with whiskey -- say, two cookies and whiskey chaser.

Posted: Tue - October 25, 2005 at 10:00 AM        

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