Pumpkin Sandwich Cookies - cooking recipe

Ingredients

For the cookies
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (may substitute 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup brown sugar, packed
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature (1 stick)
1/2 cup canned pumpkin (100-percent pure)
1/4 cup whole milk
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the filling
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 -4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted plus more for optional dusting

Preparation

For the cookies: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Have ready 2 ungreased baking sheets.
Whisk together the flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice blend, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
Combine the brown sugar and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand-held electric mixer; beat at medium speed for 3 minutes, until creamy. Stop to add the pumpkin puree, milk, egg and vanilla extract; beat on medium-low spead for 2 minutes, until all ingredients are incorporated. Reduce the speed to low; gradually add the flour mixture, beating until just combined.
Drop level tablespoonfuls of dough onto each baking sheet, spaced about 1 inch apart (the cookies do not spread much). Bake one sheet at a time, for 9 to 12 minutes or until set; they should spring back when lightly pressed. Cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheet; then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat to use all the dough, making a total of 60 cookies.
To make 2-inch cookies, drop 2-tablespoon amounts of dough on the sheets. Bake for 10 to 13 minutes, until set and springy to the touch. Cool as directed above; repeat to use all the dough, making a total of 32 cookies.
For the filling: Combine the cream cheese, butter, cinnamon and vanilla extract in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand-held electric mixer. Beat at medium speed 3 minutes until smooth, stopping often to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add 2 cups of the confectioners' sugar, or up to 4 cups as needed, beating well after each addition until the mixture is creamy. (More sugar means a stiffer filling.).
Turn half the cookies flat-sides up. Spread each one with 2 teaspoons of the filling, then top with the remaining cookies. If desired, dust the tops of the cookies with confectioners' sugar just before serving.