Description
These Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting are a perfect fall treat, combining soft, moist pumpkin-flavored cookies with a rich and tangy cream cheese frosting. Infused with warm pumpkin pie spice, these cookies are easy to make and perfect for holiday gatherings or cozy afternoons.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookies
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 1/3 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Ground cinnamon (for sprinkling)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready when your dough is prepared.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, blend together the melted butter, pumpkin puree, white sugar, egg, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and homogenous.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually mix in the all-purpose flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, and salt. Stir until a soft dough forms, ensuring all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Chill Dough: Cover the dough and refrigerate it for 25 minutes. Chilling helps the dough firm up, making it easier to shape and enhancing texture.
- Shape Cookies: Remove the dough from the fridge and form it into small balls, placing them evenly spaced on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for about 18 minutes or until the edges turn a light golden brown, indicating they are done.
- Prepare Frosting: While the cookies bake and cool, beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until creamy. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, and continue to beat until the frosting is smooth and fluffy.
- Frost and Garnish: Once the cookies have cooled completely, spread a generous layer of cream cheese frosting on each and sprinkle lightly with ground cinnamon for a finishing touch.
Notes
- For best results, use fresh pumpkin puree or canned 100% pumpkin without added spices.
- Ensure the cream cheese and butter are properly softened to achieve a smooth frosting consistency.
- Chilling the dough is crucial to prevent cookies from spreading too much during baking.
- You can store frosted cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- If desired, substitute pumpkin pie spice with equal parts cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
