Cookie Friday: Scarecrow Cookies

Confession:  I hate making sugar cookies.

I feel like they're a 3 day long process.  One day to make the dough, one to roll and cut out and another to frost and decorate.  I'm much more of a drop and bake kind of gal.

So, when my son saw these adorable cookies on Pinterest, my heart sunk a little bit.  But.  It is scarecrow season, and it is close enough to a holiday to merit making sugar cookies, so I agreed.

Technically, there is supposed to be "hair" on that scarecrow, but it was just one too many steps for me.  He would be a cute Frosty for Christmas too, don't you think?

And, they're fun for little hands to design exactly how they wish!

Anyway.  You really could use any sugar cookie recipe to make these, or even get store bought cookie dough.  However, here is our favorite sugar cookie recipe:

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

6 c. flour (save 1 c. for the end)
1 t. basking soda
1 t. baking powder
1 c. butter (room temperature)
2 c. sugar
3 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 c. sour cream

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes).  Add eggs, vanilla and sour cream at low speed until combined.

Add dry ingredients at low speed just until combined.  Add remaining cup of flour as needed for correct consistency.  Roll out and cut into shapes as desired.  Bake at 425 for 7-8 minutes.

Pumpkin Spice Bars

I feel like the biggest slacker on this blog lately, but my sweet little miss is really trying to drag out these last few days of pregnancy.  So to make myself feel a little less guilty, I whipped up one of my all time favorite fall baked goods to share with all of you today!  I wanted to blog about these last year, but for whatever reason, never got around to it.

Pumpkin Spice Bars

Preheat oven to 350.  Line a 11x15" pan with foil.

Mix together:

2 c. crushed graham crackers or gingersnap crumbs
7 T. melted butter
1/4 c. sugar

Spread mixture into baking pan and flatten/smooth out to make an even crust.
(**Side note: I have used 1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs, and it still works.  So if you have little hands at your house that steal graham crackers like I have at mine, you'll be fine.  Also.  7 tablespoons of butter is 1 tablespoon short of one stick, so I generally just use an entire stick of butter)

Bake for approximately 6 minutes; or until fragrant.  Cool completely.

Then, mix together:

2 c. flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 2/3 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Add:

4 eggs
1 can (15oz) pumpkin puree
1 c. vegetable oil

Pour on top of graham cracker crust and bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.  Cool completely and frost with your favorite homemade OR store bought cream cheese frosting.  Feel free to sprinkle with any fall/Halloween sprinkles, or just leave plain.

These are delicious and perfect to take to any gathering this fall!!