Description
These pumpkin sugar cookies are soft, warmly spiced, and topped with cream cheese frosting. Perfect for fall gatherings or cozy nights at home.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment.
2. Cream butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Mix in pumpkin puree, egg yolk, and vanilla extract.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
5. Stir dry ingredients into wet until just combined. Do not overmix.
6. Scoop dough with a tablespoon or cookie scoop onto baking sheets.
7. Bake 10–12 minutes, edges set and tops matte. Cool on sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack.
8. For frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth.
9. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Beat until fluffy. Adjust with sugar or milk as needed.
10. Frost cooled cookies and serve.
Notes
- Use pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling.
- Cool cookies completely before frosting to avoid melting.
- Store frosted cookies in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freeze unfrosted cookies for up to 2 months.
- Optional: add white chocolate chips or chopped pecans for extra texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 145
- Sugar: 13g
- Sodium: 85mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: pumpkin sugar cookies, cream cheese frosting, fall cookies, pumpkin desserts