Cozy Soft Pumpkin Sugar Cookies Recipe: Fall’s Sweetest Treat

These soft pumpkin sugar cookies whisper autumn’s warmest embrace, converting simple ingredients into a delectable seasonal delight.

Every baker dreams of creating that perfect, melt-in-your-mouth treat that captures fall’s magical essence.

Spices dance through delicate dough, promising a sensory experience that goes beyond ordinary desserts.

Baking becomes an art form when pumpkin rich, comforting flavors mingle with sweet, tender cookie textures.

Home kitchens will fill with irresistible aromas that beckon family and friends to gather around.

Subtle hints of warmth and nostalgia emerge from each carefully crafted bite, connecting generations through shared culinary memories.

Crisp edges and pillowy centers create a textural symphony that celebrates seasonal baking.

Why Soft Pumpkin Sugar Cookies Deserve a Year-Round Spot

• Capture Seasonal Comfort: These soft pumpkin sugar cookies wrap you in warm autumn flavors, delivering cozy comfort with every delightful bite.
• Create Effortless Elegance: The simple recipe transforms basic ingredients into impressive, bakery-style treats that look and taste professionally crafted, without requiring advanced baking skills.
• Indulge Sensory Delight: Each cookie offers a perfect balance of tender texture, rich pumpkin sweetness, and aromatic spices, creating a multi-layered sensory experience that tingles taste buds and warms hearts.
• Versatile Entertaining Magic: Perfect for fall gatherings, holiday parties, or casual weekend treats, these cookies easily transition from casual family snacks to elegant dessert platters with their cream cheese frosting and sprinkled cinnamon.

Ingredients to Make the Softest Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

• All-Purpose Flour: Essential base for soft and tender cookie texture, choose unbleached for best results.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create crisp cookie edges.
• Butter: Adds rich flavor and creates tender crumb, use high-quality unsalted butter.
• Pumpkin Puree: Brings moisture and signature pumpkin flavor, use pure canned pumpkin.
• Egg: Binds ingredients and provides structure, use large room temperature egg.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor profile, choose pure vanilla for best taste.

• Cinnamon: Warm spice that complements pumpkin flavor, use ground cinnamon.
• Ginger: Adds subtle warmth and depth, ground ginger works best.
• Nutmeg: Provides additional autumnal complexity, freshly grated preferred.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances other flavors.
• Baking Powder: Helps cookies rise and become light.

• Cream Cheese: Creates tangy, smooth frosting base, use full-fat variety.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and thickens frosting, sift to prevent lumps.
• Butter: Adds richness to frosting, use softened unsalted butter.
• Vanilla Extract: Rounds out frosting flavor, pure vanilla recommended.
• Salt: Balances sweetness in frosting.

Baking Steps for Warm, Pillowy Pumpkin Cookies

Step 1: Prepare Baking Setup

Warm up the oven to 350°F. Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.

Step 2: Create Butter Base

In a large bowl, whip softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy using an electric mixer. Mix for 2-3 minutes.

Step 3: Add Moisture Ingredients

• Pumpkin puree
• Egg
• Vanilla extract

Beat on low speed until blended smoothly.

Step 4: Mix Dry Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Cinnamon
• Salt
• Ginger
• Nutmeg

Whisk until combined.

Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures

Slowly add dry ingredients to wet mixture. Mix on low speed. Scrape bowl sides to ensure even mixing.

Step 6: Chill Cookie Dough

Cover dough with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to make handling easier.

Step 7: Create Cinnamon Coating

In a small bowl, mix granulated sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.

Step 8: Shape Cookie Balls

Scoop 2 tablespoons of chilled dough. Roll into balls. Coat each ball in cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Step 9: Arrange and Flatten Cookies

Place coated dough balls on prepared baking sheets. Space 1 inch apart. Gently press down to flatten slightly.

Step 10: Bake Cookies

Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges turn light brown.

Step 11: Cool Cookies

Remove from oven. Let cookies cool completely on baking sheets.

Step 12: Whip Cream Cheese Frosting

• Softened cream cheese
• Butter
• Vanilla extract
• Salt

Beat until smooth and creamy.

Step 13: Finish Frosting

Gradually add powdered sugar. Beat on low, then medium speed until fluffy.

Step 14: Decorate Cookies

Spread generous frosting on cooled cookies. Sprinkle extra cinnamon on top.

Step 15: Store and Serve

Keep cookies in airtight container in refrigerator. Enjoy within 5 days.

Tips for Fall Flavor in Every Bite

• Chill Dough Strategically: Refrigerate the cookie dough for at least 30 minutes to prevent spreading and create a tender, soft texture during baking.
• Measure Pumpkin Precisely: Use exact pumpkin puree measurements to maintain the perfect moisture balance and prevent overly wet or dry cookies.
• Roll with Gentle Touch: When forming dough balls, handle them lightly to keep the cookies tender and prevent dense, tough results.
• Check Baking Timing: Watch cookies closely during the last two minutes of baking to achieve a soft center with slightly crisp edges.
• Frost After Complete Cooling: Allow cookies to cool entirely before applying cream cheese frosting to prevent melting and maintain a clean, professional appearance.

How to Store and Reheat Pumpkin Cookies Without Drying Out

• Refrigerate: Place cooled cookies in an airtight container, layering between sheets of parchment paper to prevent sticking. Keep in the refrigerator for maximum freshness up to 5 days.
• Freeze: Wrap unfrosted cookies individually in plastic wrap, then store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before adding cream cheese frosting.
• Reheating: Warm refrigerated cookies briefly in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes to soften cream cheese frosting and restore original texture.

Beverages and Sides That Match Pumpkin Goodness

• Brew Cozy Autumn Chai Tea: Complement the warm spices of the pumpkin cookies with a rich, aromatic chai tea that echoes the cinnamon and nutmeg flavors.
• Pour Creamy Vanilla Latte: The smooth, sweet vanilla notes will beautifully balance the soft texture and subtle spiciness of the cookies, creating a delightful dessert pairing.
• Serve Spiced Apple Cider: A warm, slightly tangy apple cider with hints of cinnamon will enhance the autumn-inspired taste profile of these delectable pumpkin sugar cookies.
• Match with Salted Caramel Mocha: The deep, rich caramel and coffee undertones will provide a luxurious contrast to the soft, sweet pumpkin cookie, elevating the entire dessert experience.

Ways to Tweak the Classic Pumpkin Sugar Cookie

• Maple Pecan Crunch: Swap half the granulated sugar with maple syrup and add chopped pecans to the dough for a nutty, caramel-like flavor profile. Sprinkle extra chopped pecans on top of the frosting for added texture.
• Chocolate Spice Drizzle: Mix dark cocoa powder into the dry ingredients and drizzle melted chocolate over the cream cheese frosting. Dust with a light sprinkle of cayenne pepper for a subtle heat that complements the pumpkin spices.
• Salted Caramel Upgrade: Incorporate a tablespoon of caramel sauce into the dough and top frosted cookies with a light drizzle of salted caramel. Finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt to enhance the sweet and salty contrast.
• Chai Spice Remix: Replace traditional pumpkin pie spices with chai spice blend, adding cardamom, cloves, and a touch of black pepper. Top with a light dusting of chai spice mix for an aromatic and warming variation.

Soft Pumpkin Sugar Cookies Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 32 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Delightful pumpkin sugar cookies capture autumn’s warmth with a perfect blend of spices and sweetness. Crumbly edges and tender centers invite cookie lovers to savor seasonal comfort in each delectable bite.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 1 cup (226 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (120 grams) pumpkin puree
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 2 ½ cups (313 grams) all-purpose flour

Spices and Seasonings:

• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ⅓ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ginger
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Finishing and Frosting:

• ⅓ cup (67 grams) granulated sugar (for rolling)
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon (for rolling)
• 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
• 4 tablespoons (57 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 ½ cups (300 grams) powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Prepare the oven environment by positioning the rack in the middle and heating to 350°F. Cover two baking trays with parchment paper.
2. Cream butter and sugar together using an electric mixer until the texture becomes airy and pale, approximately 2-3 minutes.
3. Incorporate pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla extract into the butter mixture, blending thoroughly on low speed.
4. Sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, ginger, and nutmeg into a separate container, ensuring even distribution of spices.
5. Merge dry ingredients into wet mixture gradually, mixing gently to prevent overmixing and maintaining a smooth consistency.
6. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for half an hour to firm up and enhance flavor development.
7. Create a coating mixture by combining granulated sugar and cinnamon in a shallow dish.
8. Portion dough into small rounds, rolling each into a perfect sphere and generously coating with cinnamon-sugar mixture.
9. Arrange cookie spheres on prepared baking sheets, leaving minimal space between them, and gently flatten each slightly.
10. Bake cookies until edges transform to a delicate golden brown, approximately 10-12 minutes.
11. Allow cookies to cool completely on baking sheets, preserving their tender texture.
12. Whip cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and salt until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
13. Gradually fold powdered sugar into the mixture, beating until frosting becomes light and fluffy.
14. Once cookies have reached room temperature, lavish each with a generous layer of cream cheese frosting.
15. Dust frosted cookies with an additional sprinkle of cinnamon for enhanced visual appeal.
16. Preserve leftover cookies in a sealed container within the refrigerator, maintaining freshness for up to five days.

Notes

• Chilling the dough helps prevent spreading and ensures a soft, tender cookie texture during baking.
• Rolling cookies in cinnamon-sugar adds a delightful sweet crunch and extra flavor dimension before baking.
• Cream cheese frosting transforms these pumpkin cookies from simple to spectacular with its creamy, tangy richness.
• Gentle flattening of dough balls creates uniform cookies that bake evenly and look professionally made.
• Cooling cookies completely on the baking sheet prevents breaking and helps them set perfectly before frosting.
• Storing in the refrigerator maintains freshness and preserves the cream cheese frosting’s smooth consistency.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 236
• Sugar: 15 g
• Sodium: 138 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 35 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 2.5 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg