Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 1/2 cups cooked or canned pumpkin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon lemon extract
• 2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup raisins (optional)
• 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees f. Grease a cookie sheet.
2. In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until smooth and creamy.
3. Add eggs, mixing well.
4. In a separate bowl, blend pumpkin with salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.
5. Fold pumpkin mixture into the butter mixture.
6. Add lemon extract; mix well.
7. Sift together flour and baking powder; add to batter and mix until smooth.
8. Add raisins and nuts; mix well.
9. Drop batter by teaspoonsful onto the prepared cookie sheet.
10. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, checking for doneness after 13 minutes.
11. Transfer to racks to cool.