Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients
For the cookies:
1 cup sugar
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons Maple syrup
2 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground all spice
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch ground cloves
2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
Pinch of salt

For the frosting:
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese
1 cup confectioners sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Zest of one lemon

For Garnish:
Whole pecans
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.


In a mixer, fitted with a paddle, cream the sugar and the butter
until light and fluffy.

Add the maple syrup and eggs.

Mix to incorporate.

Add the pumpkin and mix to incorporate.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon,
allspice, nutmeg and cloves.

Add the dry ingredients to the batter and mix well.

Drop rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 10 minutes, or until lightly golden brown around the
edges.

Cool on racks. When cool, ice with the cream cheese frosting.


For the Frosting: In a mixer, fitted with a paddle, add the
cream cheese.

Beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the powdered sugar until
smooth.

Add milk and vanilla. Beat until smooth.

If frosting is too thick, thin with a little more milk.

Fold in the lemon zest.

When cookies are cool spread with some of the frosting.

Garnish with a whole pecan.