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Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

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These Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting are soft, pillowy, and bursting with fall flavor. They combine the sweetness of pumpkin with warm spices and a creamy, tangy frosting. Perfect for cozy gatherings, they’re quick to make and taste just like bakery-style treats.

  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 30 cookies 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 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 (room temperature)

  • ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar

  • ½ cup (100 g) packed light brown sugar

  • 1 ¼ cups (305 g) canned pumpkin puree

  • 1 large egg (room temperature)

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (Alcohol-Free)

  • 8 ounces (226 g) cream cheese (softened but still cool)

  • ¼ cup (56 g) unsalted butter (softened but still cool)

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (Alcohol-Free)

  • 1 ¾ cups (210 g) confectioners’ sugar (sifted)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside.

  • In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.

  • Add pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla extract (alcohol-free). Mix until fully combined, scraping sides when necessary.

  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix gently until the dough forms. It should be soft and slightly sticky.

  • Scoop heaping tablespoons of dough onto the prepared sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart.

  • Bake for 13–15 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers are fluffy.

  • Cool the cookies on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

  • To prepare frosting, beat cream cheese and butter together on medium-high speed until smooth, about 30 seconds.

  • Add vanilla extract and confectioners’ sugar, and beat until creamy and spreadable.

  • Frost cooled cookies evenly with a spatula or butter knife.

  • Sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice and serve.

Notes

For a lighter version, skip the frosting and dust with powdered sugar. These cookies can also be made gluten-free or vegan with simple substitutions. Store frosted cookies in the refrigerator for up to five days.

  • Author: Layla
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes