Fluffy Autumn Soft Pumpkin Sugar Cookies Recipe

These delightfully pillowy pumpkin sugar cookies melt in your mouth with an irresistible autumn charm.

Warm spices dance through each tender bite, creating a sweet symphony of seasonal flavor.

Bakers love how simple ingredients come together to craft these mouthwatering treats.

The soft pumpkin sugar cookies capture the essence of cozy sweater weather in every golden-edged morsel.

Each cookie promises a delicate balance between subtle pumpkin richness and classic sugar cookie sweetness.

Sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, these cookies bring a comforting warmth that beckons you closer.

You’ll want to savor every last crumb of these delectable seasonal delights.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 2 minutes (including chilling time)

Calories: 154 kcal

Servings: 22

Ingredients in Soft Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation that gives structure and soft texture to your cookies, choose unbleached flour for the best flavor.
• Baking Powder: Magical rising agent that helps cookies become light and fluffy, ensure it's fresh for maximum lift.
• Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg: Warm spices that create a cozy autumn flavor profile, use freshly ground for more intense aromatics.
• Salt: Flavor enhancer that balances sweetness and brings out the richness of other ingredients.

• Butter: Creamy base that provides richness and helps cookies spread perfectly, use room temperature for smooth mixing.
• Pumpkin Puree: Adds moisture, subtle sweetness, and signature fall color, choose 100% pure pumpkin without added spices.
• Egg: Binds ingredients together and contributes to tender cookie texture, use large, fresh eggs at room temperature.
• Vanilla Extract: Deepens overall flavor complexity, opt for pure extract over artificial versions.

• Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create crisp cookie edges, use fine-grain for smooth mixing.
• Cream Cheese: Creates tangy, luxurious frosting with smooth spreadable consistency, ensure it's softened.
• Powdered Sugar: Gives frosting silky texture and sweetness, sift to prevent lumps.
• Ground Cinnamon: Final touch for garnishing, adds warmth and visual appeal.

Tools to Bake Soft Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

• Electric mixer: Essential for creaming butter and mixing cookie dough smoothly.
• Large mixing bowl: Perfect for combining wet and dry ingredients comfortably.
• Separate mixing bowl: Needed for whisking dry ingredients separately.
• Small bowl: Great for preparing cinnamon-sugar rolling mixture.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Critical for accurate ingredient quantities.
• Baking sheets: Necessary for baking cookies evenly.
• Parchment paper or silicone baking mats: Prevents cookies from sticking.
• Whisk: Helps blend dry ingredients thoroughly.
• Spoon or palm: Used for gently flattening cookie dough balls.
• Spatula: Helpful for scraping bowl sides during mixing.

Instructions for Soft Pumpkin Cookie Success

• Pumpkin Cookie Prep

Gather all ingredients and kitchen tools. Create a workspace that feels cozy and inviting for baking. Ensure your butter is softened and all ingredients are at room temperature for smooth mixing.

• Dough Creation

Blend butter and sugar until the mixture transforms into a silky, light texture. Add pumpkin, egg, and vanilla, creating a golden-hued batter that smells warmly of autumn spices.

• Flour Magic

Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl, whisking them together to distribute spices evenly. Gently fold these into the wet mixture, watching the dough come together with a soft, pillowy consistency.

• Chilling Rest

Tuck the dough into the refrigerator for a brief 30-minute nap. This helps the flavors meld and makes the dough easier to shape.

• Sugar Coating

Roll chilled dough into delicate balls, then tumble them in a cinnamon-sugar mixture that will create a sparkling, crisp exterior.

• Baking Moment

Place cookies on baking sheets, giving them room to spread. Bake until edges turn a gentle golden brown, filling your kitchen with a comforting aroma.

• Creamy Topping

Whip cream cheese frosting into a cloud-like texture. Once cookies have cooled completely, crown each one with a luxurious swirl of frosting.

• Final Touch

Sprinkle a whisper of cinnamon over the frosted cookies. Serve and watch faces light up with delight.

Fun Ways to Make Pumpkin Sugar Cookies Unique

• Use exact measurements for flour and spices to ensure consistent cookie texture and flavor every single time.
• Refrigerate dough for at least 30 minutes to prevent spreading and create perfectly shaped, soft cookies with clean edges.
• Pat pumpkin puree with paper towels to remove excess liquid, preventing overly wet dough and maintaining ideal cookie consistency.
• Allow cookies to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting and ensure a smooth, clean cream cheese topping.
• Experiment with additional spices like cardamom or swap cream cheese frosting for a maple glaze to personalize your autumn treat.

Serving Soft Pumpkin Sugar Cookies with Joy

• Autumnal Cookie Platter: Create a stunning seasonal display by arranging these soft pumpkin sugar cookies on a rustic wooden board with small decorative pumpkins, cinnamon sticks, and fall leaves for a cozy harvest-inspired presentation.
• Dessert Pairing Delight: Complement these cookies with a warm mug of spiced apple cider, chai tea, or pumpkin spice latte to enhance the seasonal flavors and create a comforting treat experience.
• Morning Brunch Companion: Serve these cookies alongside a creamy yogurt parfait or as a sweet addition to a weekend brunch spread, offering guests a delightful pumpkin-inspired morning indulgence.
• Gifting Gourmet Touch: Package the cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with autumn-colored ribbons, making them a perfect homemade gift for friends, neighbors, or holiday gatherings.

Smart Storage for Pumpkin Cookies

• Cookie Chilling Strategy: Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes to enhance texture and make rolling easier, preventing sticky mishaps during preparation.
• Frosting Fresh Factor: Keep cream cheese-topped cookies in sealed containers inside the refrigerator, maintaining optimal taste and preventing quick spoilage.
• Temperature Control Technique: Allow cookies to cool completely before adding frosting to avoid melting and maintain perfect decorative appearance.
• Smart Separation Method: Layer cookies between parchment paper when storing to prevent sticking and preserve individual cookie integrity during refrigeration.

Heavenly Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

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4.8 from 13 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour, 2 minutes (including chilling time)
• Yield: 22 1x

Print Recipe

Description

Homemade pumpkin sugar cookies deliver autumnal comfort with delicate spice notes and tender crumb. Warm cinnamon and nutmeg invite seasonal celebrations while providing delightful sweetness you’ll savor.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, room temp
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (120 g) pumpkin puree
• 1 large egg, room temp
• 2 ½ cups (313 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsps baking powder
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ⅓ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp ginger
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• 1 ½ tsps vanilla extract
• ⅓ cup (67 g) granulated sugar (for rolling)
• ½ tsp cinnamon (for rolling)
• 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, softened
• 4 tbsps (57 g) unsalted butter, softened
• ¼ tsp salt
• 2 ½ cups (300 g) powdered sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Preheat Preparation: Position oven rack in middle and heat to 350°F. Line two baking trays with parchment paper.
2. Butter Blending: Cream butter and sugar using electric mixer until light and airy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
3. Moisture Integration: Add pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla extract to butter mixture, blending thoroughly on low speed.
4. Dry Ingredient Combination: Sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, ginger, and nutmeg together, ensuring even spice distribution.
5. Dough Formation: Gently incorporate dry ingredients into wet mixture, mixing carefully to maintain smooth consistency. Chill dough in refrigerator for 30 minutes to enhance flavor and texture.
6. Cookie Shaping: Create cinnamon-sugar coating in shallow dish. Form dough into perfectly rounded spheres, generously rolling in coating mixture.
7. Baking Process: Arrange cookie spheres on prepared baking sheets with minimal spacing. Gently flatten each cookie and bake until edges turn golden brown, about 10-12 minutes.
8. Cooling and Frosting Preparation: Allow cookies to cool completely on baking sheets. Simultaneously, whip cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and salt until silky smooth.
9. Frosting Finalization: Gradually fold powdered sugar into cream cheese mixture, beating until light and fluffy. Once cookies reach room temperature, generously spread frosting on each cookie.
10. Finishing Touch: Dust frosted cookies with additional cinnamon for visual enhancement. Store leftover cookies in sealed container in refrigerator for up to five days.

Notes

• Chill for Flavor: Refrigerating the dough for 30 minutes intensifies the spice profile and prevents spreading during baking.
• Gentle Mixing Matters: Avoid overmixing the dough to maintain a soft, tender cookie texture that melts in your mouth.
• Sugar Coating Trick: Roll cookies generously in cinnamon-sugar mixture for a crisp exterior and extra flavor burst.
• Storage Wisdom: Cream cheese frosting requires refrigeration to keep cookies fresh and prevent bacterial growth.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 22
• Calories: 154
• Sugar: 14 g
• Sodium: 112 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 22 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg