Chocolate chips enhance the flavor of the pumpkin and spices in these easy to make drop cookies.

Pumpkin Polka Dot Cookies

1/2 cup stick butter, softened
1 1/4 cups Equal® Spoonful*
3 tablespoons light molasses
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 large egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

1. Beat butter, Equal® and molasses until well combined. Mix in pumpkin, egg and vanilla until blended. Gradually stir in combined flour, baking powder, spices, baking soda and salt until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips.
2. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto sprayed baking sheets. Bake in preheated 350°F oven 11 to 13 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from baking sheet and cool completely on wire rack.
3. Store in airtight containers at room temperature.

Makes about 4 dozen.

* May substitute 30 packets Equal sweetener

Nutrition Information Per Serving (1 cookie): calories 57, protein 1 g, carbohydrate 7 g, fat 3 g, cholesterol 9 mg, sodium 51 mg.

Food Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1/2 fat.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of Merisant Corporation ® and the NutraSweet Company, makers of Equal®.

Click for more information on the artificial sweetner Aspartame.