Pumpkin Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting are the perfect sweet treats for autumn! With a soft, chewy texture and delightful pumpkin flavor, these cookies are wonderful for fall gatherings, cozy evenings, or simply enjoying with your favorite drink. The creamy, decadent frosting adds a touch of sweetness that takes these cookies to the next level. Easy to make and hard to resist, they’ll bring a smile to everyone’s face!
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Pumpkin Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Pumpkin Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting are soft, chewy, and packed with cozy fall flavors! The creamy frosting makes them an irresistible autumn dessert for gatherings, parties, or everyday treats.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
3. In another bowl, cream butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until fluffy.
4. Mix in pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla extract until combined.
5. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture; stir until just combined.
6. Scoop dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
7. Bake 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly golden.
8. Cool completely on a wire rack.
9. Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth to make frosting.
10. Frost cooled cookies and serve!
Notes
Allow cookies to cool fully before frosting.
Store at room temp in airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freeze unfrosted cookies for up to 3 months.
Add chocolate chips or chopped nuts for variation.
Sprinkle cinnamon on top of frosting for extra flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: pumpkin sugar cookies, cream cheese frosting, fall cookies, autumn desserts
Why Make This Recipe
These Pumpkin Sugar Cookies are not only delicious but also super simple to whip up. They combine the iconic flavors of fall—pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg—all in one delightful cookie. Plus, the homemade cream cheese frosting takes them from good to extraordinary!
⏱️ Time Breakdown
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Servings: About 24 cookies
How to Make Pumpkin Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
✨ Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress-free.
- Large mixing bowl
- Mixing spoon or spatula
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Wire rack
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). 🔥
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- In another bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth and fluffy. 🧈
- Stir in the pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla extract until everything is well combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined.
- Using a tablespoon, drop portions of dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. ⏲️
- Let cookies cool completely on a wire rack.
- For the frosting, beat together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until creamy and smooth.
- Frost the cooled cookies and serve immediately. Enjoy! 🎉
How to Serve Pumpkin Sugar Cookies
These cookies are best served fresh! Pair them with warm apple cider or a glass of cold milk. You can also sprinkle some extra cinnamon on top of the frosting for an added touch.
How to Store Pumpkin Sugar Cookies
Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, you can freeze the unfrosted cookies for up to 3 months. Just thaw and frost when you’re ready to enjoy! ❄️
💡 Pro Tips
- Allow the cookies to cool completely before frosting for the best results.
- If you don’t have pumpkin puree, you can substitute it with mashed bananas or applesauce.
- For an extra touch, add chopped nuts to the cookie dough if desired.
- Ensure your cream cheese is softened to make mixing easier.
Variation
Feel free to add mini chocolate chips or crushed pecans to the cookie dough for a fun twist!
FAQs
Q: Can I make these cookies ahead of time?
A: Yes, you can make the cookie dough ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 2 days. Bake them when you’re ready!
Q: How can I make these cookies healthier?
A: Use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour and reduce the sugar to make them a bit healthier.
Q: Do I have to frost the cookies?
A: No! You can enjoy them plain or dust them with powdered sugar for a simpler presentation.
