Pumpkin Cloud Cookies

Raise your hand if you ever played that "Guess the Shape" cloud game. You lie on a soft blanket with a pal, look up at the sky and form shapes out of the clouds. Your imagination runs wild, as you come up with all kinds of things these cloud shapes could be. Oo! That one looks like a car. And that one over there? I think it looks like a turtle. Ah, the joys of childhood, and for the lucky some, adulthood. Me? I always imagined just taking a cat nap in one of them. It's way better than a hammock! These days, I think I could nap standing up..

Yesterday I felt "fall-y" again despite the warm temperatures out. Come on, let's pretend together. The leaves are changing, the crisp bite of the air is upon us. We are planning pumpkin picking, play-dates, and fall hayrides at festivals. Sigh...so nice. Now if it could get here already! So because of these feelings I give into, I created the most amazing, light cookie, and added that blessed, craved pumpkin. Then I topped that beauty with a dollop of spiced brown sugar buttercream that was whipped so much, it's almost weightless. It's the perfect compliment to the cookies. When all else fails, eat/drink something pumpkin flavored. It's a day-maker. 

Pumpkin Cloud Cookies

2 cups butter, softened

2 cups sugar

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1.5 tsp cinnamon

1.5 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp cloves

2 eggs plus one yolk

2 tsp vanilla

1 (15oz) can pumpkin

4 cups flour

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, and yolk. 

3. Add baking powder, baking soda, salt, spices, and vanilla. Beat for 2 minutes on high. 

4. Add in pumpkin, mixing well. 

5. Lastly, add the flour. Beat for an additional 2 minutes. 

5. Drop on cookie sheet with a little more than a teaspoon full, and keep them about 1-2 inches apart. 

6. Did you notice there are two number 5's? Great job if you did. If not, I won't give you a hard time. You're focused on the important stuff. Like making these yummies. 

7. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the tops don't jiggle. Cool on wire rack. 

Look how fluffy the batter even is. Some cookies didn't make it into the oven, I'll be honest..

Fluffy Brown Sugar Buttercream

7 tbsp flour

1 + 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

2 tbsp vanilla

1 + 1/2 cup butter, room temperature

1 + 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1/8 tsp cloves

1. In a small saucepan, whisk the flour into the cream. Stir it frequently until it becomes thick, like waffle batter. 

2. Remove, add salt + vanilla, and let cool to room temperature. 

3. While the cream mixture is cooling, whip butter + sugar until light and fluffy..about 4 minutes. Add in spices. Mix well. Add cooled cream mixture. 

5. Beat the tar out of this..say 5 or 6 minutes. Basically, your end result should resemble whipped cream. There should be no ability to crunch the sugar. If you can, keep beatin'. 

6. Share only one of these. Eat the rest yourself. Then, take a nap.