Recipe#7408

Title: Butternut

From: Cindy@kamilche.wa.com (Cindy M. Carney) 
 Newsgroups: rec.food.recipes 
 Subject: Cindy's Butternut Cookies 
 Date: 22 Mar 1995 19:14:46 -0600 
 Organization: Kamilche Mac BBS, (206) 426-3262 
 Message-ID: <1762066430.1870456@kamilche.wa.com> 

I created this recipe last year in an attempt to emulate a cookie at a local
 cookie house that went out of business.  I feel I succeeded, but my family
 and friends say I EXCEEDED their recipe with this one!  It is truly terrific
 - note that browning the butter is the special secret in this recipe.  Do NOT
 neglect that step!  And, you MUST use butter - no margarine or butter
 substitutes will perform well its place.
 The dough is so rich, it tastes like praline candy.  But, just wait until you
 get it cooled and FROSTED!!!  (yum, yum, yum!)  After trying this terrific
 cookie, you may be tempted to send me money, but please - just e-mail me YOUR
 favorite baking recipe to Cindy@halcyon.com.  That will be sufficient
 recompense... (applause...) thank you... (bow...) thank you....
 Cindy's Butternut Cookies
 Serves: 36
 1 pound butter, browned (2 cups)
    (Reserve 1/2 cup browned  butter for frosting)
 2 cups brown sugar
 2 eggs
 2 tsp. vanilla
 1 tsp. baking soda
 1/2 tsp. baking powder
 1/2 tsp. salt
 3 cups flour
 1 cup pecans, chopped
     (2/3 cup if measuring chopped pecans)
 FROSTING:
 1/2 cup reserved browned butter
 2 tsp. vanilla
 3 cups powdered sugar
 1/4 cup hot water
 Brown butter in deep saucepan.  To brown butter, place butter in saucepan
 over medium heat for 5 to 8 minutes, or until nut-brown.  The butter will
 melt, then bubble, then foam, then turn nut-brown quickly thereafter.  Remove
 from heat.  Reserve 1/2 cup browned butter for frosting.
 Beat browned butter and  brown sugar together until the browned butter isn't
 hot any more.  Add eggs, vanilla, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; beat
 thoroughly.  Add 3  cups flour and chopped pecans, and mix well.
 Drop by tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees 10
 minutes.
 Combine frosting ingredients, beat well, and spread over cooled cookies.