Pumpkin Vanilla Chip Cookies

¾ cup butter at room temperature
1 8-oz block cream cheese, softened
2 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp nutmeg
¼ tsp ginger
1 ½ cups pumpkin puree
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
(I added 1/8 tsp salt, but was not in recipe)
1 12-oz package vanilla chips
½ cup nuts OR ½ cup mini chocolate chips
½ cup chopped dates (optional)

Mix butter, cream cheese, vanilla, and sugars with electric mixer until well blended. Add egg and mix. Add spices and pumpkin. Mix well. In separate bowl, combine flour, baking, powder, and salt, if using salt. Pour into wet mixture and mix just until blended. Stir in chips and nuts and anything else you are adding. Drop by teaspoonfuls on parchment-covered baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes (in my oven, 12 minutes). Cool on wire rack. Makes about 8 dozen 2-inch cookies.