Pumpkin Fluff Chocolate Chip Cookies

Did you know that Native Americans used to weave strips of pumpkin into mats?  The original pumpkin pie was litterally a pumpkin with the top sliced off and the seeds scooped out.  The pumpkin was filled with milk, honey and spices and cooked in the ashes of a fire.  I think todays version of pumpkin puree in a can is much much easier (thank you Libby).  Anyways today was my day off and I decided since it has been quite chilly(about 55 degrees here) it must be time to bake PUMPKIN GOODIES which happen to be some of my husband (and my) favorite treats.  Todays recipe was Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies.  I have to say that they aren't as good as I remember my mom's pumpkin cookies but good nonetheless.  These particuar cookies turn out to be like orange clouds and will please the doughy cookie fans in your household.   

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Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 cups (12-ounce bag) milk chocolate chips, not semisweet
• Nonstick cooking spray or parchment paper

Directions

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray

Using a mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Beat in the white and brown sugars, a little at a time, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time, then mix in the vanilla and pumpkin puree. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Slowly beat the flour mixture into the batter in thirds. Stir in the chips. Scoop the cookie dough by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared cookie sheets and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cookies are browned around the edges. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let them rest for 2 minutes. Take the cookies off with a spatula and cool them on wire racks.