Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

So I've always wanted to find a recipe that combined pumpkin and sugar cookies, as I love both quite dearly. It never occurred to me to figure it out on my own. So this recipe is an adaptation from my mother-in-law's super yummy sugar cookie recipe, which can also be found on this blog.

1 c. butter or margarine
4 to 6 c. flour (I usually end up using 5)
2 c. sugar
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 c. pumpkin puree
1/4 c. sour cream
1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. I like to line my baking sheets with parchment paper, but if you want to leave them plain, that's fine. You shouldn't need cooking spray.

Cream butter and sugar, then add vanilla and eggs. Slowly add pumpkin puree and sour cream, mixing until they combine well. You will probably need to scrape the sides at least once.

In a separate bowl, combine 4 cups flour, salt, soda, baking powder, and pumpkin pie spice. Slowly add to butter mixture, scraping from the sides as needed. Add flour as needed to form a slightly sticky, mostly firm dough. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.

Roll and cut cookies as desired. This dough will behave exactly like regular sugar cookie dough. Bake 8-10 minutes. (If you pull them out of the oven just before their edges start to turn brown and leave them on the pan for a couple of minutes, they stay really soft and yummy. If you like crispy sugar cookies, this recipe is not for you.) Transfer to rack to cool completely. Frost and decorate at will!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting
1 (8 oz.) package of cream cheese
1/4 c (1/2 cube) butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
3 cups powdered sugar
1-2 T milk (to thin as desired)

Combine cream cheese and butter and beat on high until fluffy, about 1-2 minutes. Add vanilla and pumpkin pie spice. Mix well, scraping sides to assure everything mixes well. Gradually add powdered sugar and milk until desired consistency is reached.

*blogger was not uploading photos when I posted this. I actually have a picture that I will happily post at a later date.*