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Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Four soft, orange pumpkin cookie treats topped with thick, creamy white frosting.
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Create soft, cake-like pumpkin cookies bursting with warm spices, topped with a creamy, tangy cream cheese frosting. This is the ultimate fall baking recipe for an approachable yet elegant autumn dessert.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup powdered sugar (for frosting)
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened (for frosting)
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • 1–2 tablespoons milk (for frosting)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined. Mix in the pumpkin puree.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie.
  7. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers look slightly soft. They will firm up as they cool.
  8. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. Prepare the frosting: In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beating until creamy. Add milk one tablespoon at a time until you reach a smooth, spreadable consistency.
  10. Once the cookies are completely cool, spread or pipe the cream cheese frosting onto each cookie.

Notes

  • For the best soft texture, measure your flour by spooning it into the measuring cup and leveling it off.
  • Chill the dough for 30 minutes before scooping if your kitchen is warm; this helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much.
  • If you want a richer flavor, substitute 1/4 cup of the all-purpose flour with almond flour for a melt-in-your-mouth quality.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.unfoldrecipes.com/pumpkin-cookie-soft-cookies-with-frosting/