Jack-o'-Lantern Cookies

 

2 1/2

cups packed brown sugar

1

cup butter or margarine, softened

1/2

cup shortening

2

eggs

4

cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour

4

teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

2

teaspoons baking powder

1/2

teaspoon salt

Assorted candies, nuts and miniature semisweet chocolate chips, if desired

6

cups powdered sugar

2/3

cup butter or margarine, softened

1/3

cup frozen (thawed) orange juice concentrate

Green, yellow and red food colors

• 1 Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, mix brown sugar, 1 cup butter, the shortening and eggs until well blended. Stir in flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder and salt.
• 2 On lightly floured surface, roll 1/4 of dough at a time to 1/4-inch thickness. (Keep remaining dough refrigerated until ready to roll.) Cut with 3-inch pumpkin-shaped or round cookie cutter. Place on ungreased cookie sheets.
• 3 Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light brown. Remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• 4 In large bowl, mix powdered sugar and 2/3 cup butter until smooth. Stir in juice concentrate. Place 1/3 cup frosting in small bowl; add green food color until desired color for stems. To remaining frosting, add 2 drops yellow food color for every 1 drop red food color for desired shade of orange. Generously frost cookies with orange frosting. Frost stems with green frosting. Make jack-o'-lantern faces with candies.