Description
Soft and warmly spiced, these Pumpkin Sugar Cookies are topped with tangy cream cheese frosting, making them the perfect fall dessert. Easy to make with no long chilling time, they’re ideal for autumn gatherings or a cozy treat.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 ¼ cups pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
- In a large bowl, cream together softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Mix in pumpkin purée, egg, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until incorporated. Dough will be soft.
- Use a cookie scoop or spoon to drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto lined baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Lightly press down if desired.
- Bake for 13–15 minutes, until tops are set and edges lightly golden.
- Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
- To make the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add vanilla, then gradually mix in powdered sugar until creamy.
- Frost the cooled cookies by spreading or piping the cream cheese frosting on top.
Notes
- Dough will be soft due to pumpkin; chill briefly if needed.
- Let frosted cookies come to room temperature before serving for best texture.
- Unfrosted cookies can be frozen for up to 2 months.
- Try variations like adding nuts, chocolate chips, or flavored frostings.
- Make sandwich cookies by spreading frosting between two cookies.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 13–15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie (frosted)
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 85mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
