Pumpkin Squares

Every time we make these pumpkin squares I have to take a plate to my neighbors.  They absolutely love them!  I made them for my bake sale and they were a hit.  Some people even asked to buy a whole tray!

Looks like someone sampled these already...

Yes, my neighbor was one of those people.  I saved him two (large!) pumpkin squares too!  Obviously that wasn't enough...

...don't mind if I do!

His obsession with pumpkin squares started about a year ago.  While we were on vacation, he offered to watch our horses and cats and get the mail.  How sweet :) To thank him for coming over, my mom and I made his family a tray of pumpkin squares. 

Pictures took a little too long

Now let me tell you...one batch makes quite a few pumpkin squares.  They're great to make for large groups, parties, or bake sales.  I think they returned the tray in two days...completely gone!  They're that addictive.  BEWARE!

Pumpkin Squares

by Simple and Sweet Creations

6071077

Ingredients

Cake

• 1 cup oil
• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 15 ounces canned pumpkin
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting

• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 ounces cream cheese
• 3/4 stick butter
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

Combine first eight ingredients in the bowl of a standing mixer. Pour into a greased floured jelly roll pan.

Bake at 350* F for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.

Beat remaining five ingredients in a standing mixer. Add more powdered sugar if frosting seems too runny.

Frost cooled cake and cut into squares.

VARIATION

Omit frosting and sprinkle cooled cake with powdered sugar.

Powered by Recipage

Snicker Doodles

If you haven't guessed it already, I absolutely love Christmas! Not because I get presents and go shopping (well...those are pretty great too) but mostly because I get to give everyone gifts. Really. I look forward to it all year.

But since I have so many teachers it's hard to get them something they'll use that's not too expensive. Last year I may have given my teachers the best gift yet.  Everyone gives baked goods or little homemade treats. But unbaked goods? Now we're talkin!

Yep that's exactly what I did!  I gave each of my teachers a box of cookie dough balls. They loved it too! Why? Because who wants more sweets over the holidays? Since these were unbaked they could be saved for later.

Just one thing...make sure you include baking instructions...

Snicker Doodles

:Ingredients:

1 cup butter flavored Crisco shortening

2 eggs

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon cream of tarter

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 1/4 cups flour

Cinnamon Sugar

:Directions:

In the bowl of a standing mixer, combine the first six ingredients.

Stir in flour, adding more if batter is too sticky.

Roll balls in cinnamon sugar mixture.

Bake at 350* for 8 to 10 minutes.

Copyright © 2014, Grace George. Simple and Sweet Creations. All Rights Reserved.

Click for printable recipe.

Cut Out Sugar Cookies

These are my aunt's favorite cookies!  When we make them for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner she swears she could eat them all.  Sometimes she even makes us hide them from her!  Yes, they're that delicious.

I made these for my bake sale last week (red, white, and blue stars for Veterans) and they were a hit.  An elementary teacher came over and bought (not lying) at least a dozen.  By Saturday night she said they were all gone.  So much for freezing them for the holidays...

I'm pretty picky when it comes to cookies.  Nothing too crunchy, too sweet, too dry, too soft.  Let's just say I'm pretty hard to please.  (You can blame my mother for that one!  I've been spoiled since day one with delicious homemade cooking!)

These may be the only sugar cookies I'll eat.  They're firm, but not too hard.  Soft, but not fall apart in your hand.  Sweet, but not that you can't finish the whole cookie.  (You could will easily eat more than one!)  

Oh...and don't forget to sample the dough!  You can always tell if a cookie is going to be good by tasting the dough. :)

Cut Out Sugar Cookies

by Simple and Sweet Creations

6071080

Ingredients

Cookie

• 1 cup margarine
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons cream of tarter
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting

• 3 cups confectionery sugar
• 1/4 cup margarine
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a standing mixer.

Cover and chill several hours before rolling.

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Roll and cut out on a generously floured surface.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes.

Allow to cool before frosting.

Powered by Recipage