2 months ago, as in mid-July/dead of summer, you may remember I got crazy and posted a recipe for pumpkin ice cream. I just couldn’t wait for the “appropriate” time for my all-time favorite flavor. Luckily for me, I think that once September hits and Starbucks starting pumping the pumpkin spice syrup, everyone agrees that it’s OK.
I’m very glad, because I have LOTS of pumpkin recipes planned for the next few months. I hope that’s OK with you, because that’s what’s happening in my kitchen.
This recipe is one I’ve been dreaming about for awhile: a pumpkin cookie that is crisp around the edges but still soft and fluffy in the middle, loads of warm spices, and a creamy cinnamon frosting. All those flavors together may have been my favorite cookie ever, but I know I think that a lot.
This cookie dough comes together in no time and you can make the frosting while they are cooling. Since these cookies are thicker than most, they seem like a more substantial dessert than most cookies, which means they are a perfect last-minute treat for a party or company. In fact- I made these last weekend when my Mom was visiting and we were having chili for dinner at my sister’s apartment next door. She mentioned I maybe make something for dessert, and by the time she went back to my sister’s and came over 15 minutes later, these were already in the oven and my whole place smelled like heaven. These were a huge hit with my family and I hope you love them too!
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- frosting:
- 1/2 cup softened butter
- 1/2 cup softened cream cheese
- 2-3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt; set aside.
- In a medium bowl, cream together the 1/2 cup of butter and white sugar. Add pumpkin, egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla to butter mixture, and beat until creamy. Mix in dry ingredients. Drop on cookie sheet by tablespoonfuls; flatten slightly.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven.
- Cream butter and cream cheese together. Slowly add powdered sugar and mix with an electric mixer until thick and creamy.
- Add vanilla and cinnamon.
- When cookies are cooled- spread frosting on top with an offset spatula.
recipe adapted from: All Recipes
I made three batches of these cookies to share with the enlisted Marines in his squadron not going home for the holidays. I haven’t heard their verdicts, but I was a HUGE. FAN. Love em. Thank you!
Hey, These are super tasty, but in my oven, 15-20 min was waaay too long. I put in the first batch of 12 for 15 min, and they were dark (but not too burned). I put the next two batches of 12 for 12-13 min, and they were perfect!
I’m sure it depends on how big your cookies are an your oven, but just make sure to check on them as they cook!
These definitely came out super tasty. The cookie itself is light, fragrant, and filling, and the cream cheese frosting adds additional sweetening to it. But your pictures show that your frosting came out white. Mine came out a bit closer to brownish/flecked due to the cinnamon! Is that normal?
These are really yummy! I used the reduced fat cream cheese and had to use a little more powdered sugar to make the frosting a good consistency. Really good flavor!
I’m going to freeze most of them (frosted). Will take some out for Thanksgiving. Hoping they are just as good as they are today.
Pampered Chef has a great tool for scooping and placing the dough on the cookie sheets. Its like a mini ice cream scoop. I love it.
I just made a batch of these today. I frosted them with the butter, creamcheese, vanilla and cinnamon. They are so soft and delicious.
Hey! Yes I recommend chilling them until you’re ready to serve.
Do these need to be refrigerated because of the cream cheese in the frosting?
Hello! I have no cloves, but I have pumpkin pie spice. If I use that, how much would you recommend?
Made them for work for Halloween and they were DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for posting such an awesome recipe :D
(Had no pumpkin puree here in Germany, so i used Trader Joe’s pumpkin butter instead and a bit less flour and sugar)
Thanks so much!
I do remember it being a sticky dough. I didn’t have a hard time flattening them though. Flour-ing your hands is probably what I have suggested!
Hello! I haven’t frozen these before, but I imagine they would last at least 2 weeks. I would always frost them after thawing though.
How long can these freeze for and should you frost them as you use them, or can you put them in the freezer frosted?
I just finished eating a batch and they were wonderful! Definitely satisfied my pumpkin craving! Thanks for the awesome recipe!!!!
I made these yesterday and they are all gone today…sofa king good
I made these last night, and they were delicious! My husband took them to work and his co-workers raved about them. My only question is, is the dough supposed to be really sticky? I had a hard time flattening them out. I ended up flowering up my hands and pressing them into circles, but is that normal?
Hi
Is pumpkin puree just mashed pumpkin? I haven’t seen pumpkin puree in stores here in Finland…
Yes it does stiffen a bit. To make an even stiffer frosting- use more powdered sugar- that’s what does it!
Does the frosting stiffen so you can stack in a container?
These look amazing, love your photo’s, looking forward to trying these for myself
Thanks!! skimming a recipe over a smart phone obviously isn’t a great idea lol Thanks for clearing it up :)
I have a New Favorite Cookie !!!! I was so excited when one of my friends posted this recipe !!! I made them today and they are Delicious very excited to share them at a meeting tonight,perfect for the Holidays !! Enjoy
Yes- sorry for the late reply. But it is just 1 cup of pumpkin. The size of the can doesn’t matter!
It says 1 cup of the pumpkin :)
I’ve been looking for this kind of recipe. Perfect.
Can you give me the measurement of pumpkin please? I have different size ‘cans’ of pumpkin available at our grocery store
Holly- if you want to cut it in half, beat one egg into a bowl and pour half of it into the batter. The rest should be easier to divide! :)
I’ve made these three times over the last few weeks, they are so great, everyone keeps asking for more. Great recipe, thank you!!!
I really want to try this, but I don’t want to make 3 dozen :\ How can I cut it down to about half that? or 1 dozen
Found this through pintrest. Just finished icing them. YUM. Talk about the smells and tastes of fall! Thank you for sharing!
Just made them, I was so impatient I took the first batch out too early. The rest I left in longer and I love them!!!! I’m taking some over to my motherinlaw this afternoon. And, the house smells sooooo good!
I just made them, and the frosting.. Delicious!!! Thank you!!
There goes the diet but I can’t resist pumpkin cookies. I’ll be making a batch of these today! Thanks for the recipe!
Sounds yummy! Quick question…is 1/2 cup of cream cheese same as 4 ozs. Or 1/2 of an 8 oz package of cream cheese?
Yummmmmmmm!
I just made a betty crocker packet of pumpkin cookies (my first ever) and I loved the so much I wanted to find a recipe to make my own… this looks perfect! I can’t wait to try it!
I like your thinking girl!
Yes! After frosting I would chill them until you’re ready to serve. :)
These are very good! Thanks for sharing! 5
These cookies are fantastic!! Especially that frosting….. Wow!
I will try these cookies. I love anything that is pumpkin.
Love the cookies! Quick question though, do you need to refrigerate the cookies because of the cream cheese in the frosting?
Hello! Thank you for this recipe! I just made a batch, and they turned out great. I switched half of the white sugar for brown sugar to add a little depth. Thanks!
Isn’t it SO easy? I’m glad you enjoyed them :)
Ooh- great additions. I’m glad you liked them!
Yay! I’m so glad you liked them too :)
I made these tonight and they were such a hit!! I think I found my new fall cookie! Thank you!!
I just made these and they came out great. I added a pumpkin flavored spice to the nutmeg & etc and also spinkled some cinnamon on top once they were frosted. very good recipe!
Just made these – they are phenomenal! The recipe made a bit more closer to two dozen, but I’m sure I was a little generous with portions. Great recipe.
Oh yummy. Yes, I will take a dozen for sure. These are on the fall to do list.
I just made these, and really enjoyed them. I’ve never made soft cookies before and this recipe was so easy!
a perfect and BEAUTIFUL pumpkin cookie to ring in the cooler fall weather, Audra! You just cannot go wrong with a soft pumpkin cookie in my world. The simplicity of them is unbeatable! That frosting is calling my name. Saving this one!
Oh goody! I can’t wait to start baking with pumpkin. I have a feeling I will be adding a million new pumpkin recipes to my To Bake list :)
I haven’t made pumpkin cookies in forever. These looks perfect. There are just so many great pumpkin recipes out there, I think I need October to be all pumpkin recipes!
I make a similar pumpkin cookie and I love them, these look perfect, love the frosting!
I love everything about these cookies… I will definitely be making them for Halloween and every other fall event that may come my way (and maybe even just to eat on a Saturday… by myself).
Love all the spices! I haven’t made soft cookies in ages, so maybe it’s time to do it. I also have to check out your pumpkin ice cream post. I’m obsessed with homemade ice cream and I haven’t had a really good pumpkin version in a while!! THANKS!
That’s a cookie to die for:-) Absolutely heavenly!
These cookies sound perfect! I love the soft center and that creamy frosting!
Yes! Bring on the pumpkin. So many pumpkin recipes popped up in my Google reader today, and it makes me so happy :)
These look delicious!
Finally my wish came true. I got to be in that itty bitty NYC kitchen and watch the master at work! And these cookies were yummy indeed!
You have no idea how excited this makes me!!
yes! I’m so ready for the pumpkin, bring it on :) these look amazing!
I’m totally a soft cookie gal so these are right up my alley. And that frosting looks so creamy and decadent! I think these would be so dangerous to have around the house!
I’m totally with you on the pumpkin recipes, these cookies look amazing!