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Pumpkin Cookie Recipe
Every year when October rolls around, the whole world shifts to pumpkin-flavored or pumpkin-spiced everything from Pumpkin Cheesecake to Pumpkin Pie. There’s a reason everyone is crazy about pumpkin recipes. Pumpkin has a comforting earthy-sweet flavor that is often deliciously paired with spices like cinnamon, and vanilla. The combination of all these flavors makes for the best of desserts — these cookies are the warm treat you need on a cold day.
Ingredients
These are essentially soft Sugar Cookies with pumpkin and cinnamon flavorings. The ingredients are pantry staples:
All-purpose flour – make a soft cookie with enough structure that it doesn’t fall apart. Baking powder and baking soda – leavening to help the cookies rise. Salt – balances the sweetness and adds depth of flavorCinnamon and vanilla – add warm spice and flavor to the cookiesButter – we use softened, unsalted butter to control the salt in the recipeSugar – sweetens the cookiesEgg – helps to hold the dough together Pumpkin puree – use storebought or homemade (see ‘Common Questions’ section below)
How to Make Pumpkin Cookies
Whether you are an expert at baking cookies or this is the first pumpkin cookie recipe you’ve tried, this recipe is a keeper. Use an electric mixer and cookie scoop to make this recipe a breeze. Pro Tip: This is a soft cookie which means the dough is also soft and sticky. I highly recommend using a small cookie scoop to portion the dough. If you don’t have a cookie scoop, try a Tablespoon and scrape the batter off with a second spoon onto the baking sheet. Pro Tip: A cooling rack is essential for cookies. If you leave them on the hot baking sheet, they are more likely to overbake. Cooling racks allow for the air to circulate around the cookie to cool the cookie faster. Be sure cookies are cooled completely to room temperature before applying Cream Cheese Frosting.
Tips for the Best Pumpkin Cookies
Here are a few tricks every cookie baker needs to know to make these cookies the best fall-tasting dessert you’ve ever made.
Adjust baking time: bake time depends on the size of your cookies. Ten minutes is average for a medium-sized cookie. Larger cookies may need slightly more time, but be careful not to overcook or they will be dry. For cookies to remain soft, they should be soft when taken out of the oven.Optional add-ins: For more of that quintessential fall flavor, add a teaspoon of nutmeg, allspice, or pumpkin pie spice to the cookie. For a chocolate surprise, mix in your favorite white, milk, or dark chocolate chips. Use canned puree pumpkin: These pumpkin cookies come out best with canned puree pumpkin. Fresh pumpkin contains more liquid/moisture that will negatively affect the consistency of the cookies. Properly measure the flour: Too much flour can make the cookies dry and crumbly, whereas too little flour can make them too moist.
Troubleshooting Pumpkin Cookies
Follow these tips and tricks to make the best, soft pumpkin cookies:
For a fluffy texture: Baking soda and baking powder work together to make cookies fluffy. Ensure your leavening is not expired. To ensure a moist cookie: For a perfectly moist cookie, don’t add too much flour or they will be dry. Don’t Overbake: To avoid dry, crumbly cookies, remove the cookies from the oven when they are still soft, but just turning golden on the edges. They will continue to bake and harden slightly as they cool.
To Serve Pumpkin Cookies
Like almost all cookies, the classic way to serve pumpkin cookies is with a glass of milk, tea, or coffee. Serve them slightly cooled after baking for the best flavor and texture. Make cookie sandwiches by adding a tablespoon of cream cheese frosting between the pumpkin cookies. Or, add a thin layer of cream cheese frosting and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top for fancy pumpkin cookies.
Common Questions
Soft, frosted Pumpkin Cookies are a real treat. Whether you are frosting them, enjoying them plain and soft out of the oven, or sandwiching them with frosting in the middle, I hope this Pumpkin Cookie recipe becomes a new favorite for you.
More Amazing Cookie Recipes
If you enjoy homemade cookies as much as we do, you are sure to find some new favorite cookies in this list. Keep these in mind for your holiday cookie platter:
Crinkle CookiesOatmeal Raisin CookiesRussian Tea CakesSoft Chocolate chip CookiesPalmiersMadeleine Cookies
