Farmer John's Favorite Pumpkin Cookies

I don't know who Farmer John is, but I love him!  I found this recipe in the San Jose Mercury news several years ago, and just now looked it up online and discovered that there actually IS a Farmer John in Half Moon Bay (CA), with his own website, even.  www.farmerjohnspumpkins.com.

These cookies have "Jonathan Stewart" written all over them due to their bounteous use of BUTTERSCOTCH chips and frosting. Maybe they should be called "Farmer Jonathan's Favorite Pumpkin Cookies" instead?

Yield: 8-10 dozen.

Cream:

2 Cups Shortening

3 Cups Sugar (1.5 Cups Dark Brown, 1.5 Cups Granulated)

Add:

3 Cups Pureed Pumpkin

2 Eggs

Combine:

4 Cups Unbleached Flour

2 tsp. Baking Soda

2 tsp. Cinnamon

1 tsp. Salt

.5 tsp. Ground Nutmeg

.5tsp. Ground Cloves

.5 tsp. Ground Allspice

 

Stir in:

2 Cups Butterscotch Chips

2 Cups Nuts (I use half walnuts, half pecans)

1 cup Raisins

Spoon onto ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake: 10-12 minutes at 375º

Penuche Frosting:

Combine 3/4 stick Butter, 8 tsp Milk, and 1 Cup Brown Sugar in a pan. Cook until sugar is dissolved. 

Let cool, then stir in 2 Cups powdered sugar and 1.5 tsp. Vanilla.  

Mixture will stiffen when it cools, so I like to keep the pan on the stove on VERY low, to keep the frosting creamy as I frost the cookies.

Lightly glaze the tops of each cookie.  Top with chopped pecans if you like nuts.  Enjoy!