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These pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting are a little sweet, a little spicy, and chock-full of cozy fall flavor.
Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
You probably already have most of the ingredients you'll need to make these pumpkin cookies. If you don't, here's what to add to your grocery list:
· For the cookies: all-purpose flour, leaveners (baking soda and baking powder), spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger), butter, white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, egg, and pumpkin puree
· For the frosting: cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar
How to Make Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's what you can expect when you make this top-rated pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting:
1. Make the dough: Whisk the dry ingredients together in a bowl. In a separate bowl, beat the wet ingredients. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
2. Bake the cookies: Drop the dough in teaspoonfuls two inches on a prepared baking sheet. Bake in a preheated oven until the cookies are lightly browned.
3. Make the frosting: Beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in a bowl until it's soft and creamy. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time. Continue beating until the frosting is smooth.
4. Frost the cookies: Allow the cookies to cool completely. Spread the frosting over the cookies.
How to Store Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
The best way to store these cookies depends on whether they have or have not been frosted. Unfrosted cookies will last for about a week in an airtight container at room temperature. Frosted cookies, meanwhile, should stay refrigerated. They'll last for about three days (in an airtight container) in the fridge.
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Can You Freeze Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting?
You can freeze unfrosted pumpkin cookies — it's best to frost the cookies after thawing, as cream cheese frosting does not freeze well.
Flash freeze the cookies on a baking sheet for a few hours or up to overnight. Transfer the now-frozen cookies to a zip-top freezer bag or another freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to two months and thaw in the fridge overnight. Allow the cookies to come to room temperature before frosting and serving.
Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise
"Made these last weekend and my family ate most of them before I could even get them frosted," says CJulienAZ. "Wonderful, soft, cake-like texture. I followed the recipe and loved them that way!"
"A very 'grown-up' kind of cookie," according to Regina Mastillo. "Not too sweet, and the cream cheese icing gives the right amount of tang that is very complimentary to the cookie! Goes well with Mexican (Abuelita) hot chocolate or coffee."
"This cookie is the best!" says another reviewer. "The balance of flavors is what I look for in any recipe and these are perfect! My family loves pecans so I loaded them with chopped pecans and some in the icing as well. Wonderful for anytime of year!"
Editorial contributions by Corey Williams
Ingredients
Cookies:
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2 cups all-purpose flour
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1 teaspoon baking powder
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1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
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½ teaspoon baking soda
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½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
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½ teaspoon ground ginger
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1 cup unsalted butter, softened
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¾ cup white sugar
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¾ cup brown sugar
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2 teaspoons vanilla extract
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1 large egg
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1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
Frosting:
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1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
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¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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2 cups powdered sugar
Directions
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease two baking sheets.
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To make the cookies: Whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, and ginger together in a bowl.
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Beat butter, both sugars, egg, and vanilla with an electric mixer in a separate large bowl until smooth. Beat in pumpkin puree. Gradually stir dry ingredients into pumpkin mixture until combined; batter will be moist.
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Drop teaspoonfuls of batter about 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets.
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Bake in the preheated oven until cookies are lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes, switching racks halfway through.
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Remove from the oven and let cool on the sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and cool completely, about 25 minutes.
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While the cookies are cooling, make the frosting: Beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in a bowl with an electric mixer until soft and creamy. Beat in powdered sugar, about 1/2 cup at a time, until frosting is smooth and spreadable.
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Spread frosting over cooled cookies.
Cook’s Note
As far as the spices go, less is more; this is not a full-on pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, or pumpkin cake. Sprinkle frosted cookies with chopped walnuts or pecans if desired.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
152 | Calories |
8g | Fat |
21g | Carbs |
1g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings Per Recipe 36 | |
Calories 152 | |
% Daily Value * | |
Total Fat 8g | 10% |
Saturated Fat 5g | 24% |
Cholesterol 25mg | 8% |
Sodium 115mg | 5% |
Total Carbohydrate 21g | 7% |
Dietary Fiber 1g | 2% |
Total Sugars 14g | |
Protein 1g | 3% |
Vitamin C 1mg | 1% |
Calcium 20mg | 2% |
Iron 1mg | 3% |
Potassium 44mg | 1% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.