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Pumpkin Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting are soft, spiced, and perfectly sweet treats that capture the cozy flavors of fall. Topped with rich, tangy frosting, they’re an irresistible seasonal dessert perfect for holidays, gatherings, or everyday indulgence.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 30

Ingredients
  

Pumpkin Cookies

  • 2 ½ cups 312 g all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice plus extra for sprinkling
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup 170 g unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • ¾ cup 150 g granulated sugar
  • ½ cup 100 g packed light brown sugar
  • 1 ¼ cups 305 g canned pumpkin purée
  • 1 large egg at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 ounces 226 g block-style cream cheese, softened but still cool
  • ¼ cup 56 g unsalted butter, softened but still cool
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 ¾ cups 210 g confectioners’ sugar, sifted

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
  • Mix the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside.
  • Cream the butter and sugars: In the bowl of a stand mixer (or using a hand mixer), beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  • Add wet ingredients: Add the pumpkin purée, egg, and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture. Mix until fully combined, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
  • Combine wet and dry: Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix just until combined. The dough will be soft and slightly sticky.
  • Scoop and bake: Using a medium cookie scoop or a spoon, scoop heaping tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
  • Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 13 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are set and the cookies are soft and fluffy. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Cream Cheese Frosting:
  • In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter together on medium-high speed until smooth, about 30 seconds.
  • Add the vanilla extract and sifted confectioners’ sugar. Mix again until just combined, about 30 more seconds.
  • Once the cookies are completely cooled, frost them using an offset spatula or a knife. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon, if desired, and serve.