Ingredients

  • 34 cup golden raisin
  • 1 cup light butter or 1 cup regular butter, softened
  • 12 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 12 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 34 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 large egg
  • 34 cup canned pumpkin puree
  • 2 12 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 12 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 6 tablespoons reduced-fat cream cheese, softened (neufchatel)
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 12 teaspoon orange extract
  • orange food coloring
  • white multicolored sugar nonpareils

Method

  • Place raisins in small bowl; fill with hot water to cover.
  • Let stand 10 minutes to soften; drain and reserve raisins.
  • Heat oven to 350 degrees; lightly coat a baking sheet with nonstick spray.
  • Beat butter, sugars, spice, vanilla and baking soda in a large bowl with mixer on medium speed 3 minutes or until fluffy.
  • Beat in egg and pumpkin puree until well blended.
  • On low speed, gradually beat in flour until just blended.
  • Stir in reserved raisins.
  • Drop level tablespoons of dough 1 inch apart onto greased baking sheets.
  • Bake 14-16 minutes, until golden brown.
  • Remove to rack to cool completely.
  • For frosting, beat ingredients in a medium bowl with mixer on medium-low speed until smooth; tint pastel orange with food color.
  • Spread about 1 1/2 teaspoons frosting on each cookies.
  • Sprinkle frosting with nonpareils.
  • Refrigerate cookies to set frosting.
  • Storage tip: Store airtight in refrigerator with waxed paper between layers up to 1 week.