Experience the irresistible allure of Pumpkin Cookies, a taste of pumpkin spice flavor you won’t want to miss. These cookies are popular for their soft texture and effortless, fuss-free preparation.
I can never get enough Pumpkin Spice flavor during the fall months, especially in desserts, which is why I have so many recipes like Pumpkin Sugar Cookies and Pumpkin Bread on my site. These cookies are the ones I make every year though!
Why You’ll Love These Pumpkin Cookies
- Texture: Different than my Pumpkin Sugar Cookies, which require ingredient adjustments to achieve a denser consistency, today’s cookies are wonderfully soft and cake-like, departing from the usual chewy and crumbly profile of traditional cookies, yet not quite reaching a fluffy texture.
- Taste: Their distinctive quality lies not in chewiness or density but in their remarkable flavor profile. Enriched with abundant Pumpkin Pie Spice, ground ginger, and a greater proportion of brown sugar than conventional pumpkin cookies, these treats are certain to outshine their traditional counterparts in the realm of taste.
- Easy to prepare: The simplicity of making pumpkin cookies adds to their appeal, offering a convenient and accessible baking experience suitable for all skill levels.
How to Make Pumpkin Cookies
- Whisk the dry ingredients. In a large bowl whisk the flour, cornstarch, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and ginger together.
- Mix the wet ingredients. Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a handheld mixer, beat, on medium speed, the butter, and both sugars together until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Turn the speed down to low and add the egg yolk, vanilla, and pumpkin making sure to scrape down the edges.
- Mix the dry and wet ingredients together. With the mixer speed still on low slowly add the flour mixture and mix until fully combined.
- Chill the dough. To keep the cookies from spreading too much during the baking process cover the mixing bowl and place it in the fridge for 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven. Prepare your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and preheat your oven to 350º F while the dough is chilling.
- Roll the dough in cinnamon sugar. In a small bowl combine the sugar and cinnamon for the cookie coating. Use a medium cookie scoop to scoop the dough out and then roll it into a ball. Roll the dough into the cinnamon sugar mixture and place it on the baking mat.
- Bake until the edges have set. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes and let cool on the pan for 10 before moving to a cookie rack to finish cooling. The longer you let them cool the stronger the flavor.
Storage and Freezing Information
- To Store: Store these pumpkin cookies in a sealed, airtight container at room temperature, where they’ll remain fresh for up to one week.
- To Freeze: After allowing them to cool completely, transfer the cookies into a freezer-safe bag and store them in the freezer for a duration of 2 to 3 months. You can also store the cookie dough in the freezer until ready to bake.
Pumpkin Cookies Recipe
Equipment
- Electric Stand Mixer or handheld mixer
- Silicone Baking Mats or parchment paper
- Medium Cookie Scoop
Ingredients
- 2½ cups Flour
- 2 teaspoons Cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon Cream of Tartar
- 3/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 1/8 teaspoon Ground Ginger
- 3/4 cup Unsalted Butter room temperature
- 3/4 cup Brown Sugar
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 1 large Egg Yolk
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla
- 1/3 cup Pumpkin Puree
- 1/4 cup Sugar
- 2 teaspoons Cinnamon
Instructions
- Whisk the dry ingredients. In a large bowl whisk the flour, cornstarch, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and ginger together.
- Mix the wet ingredients. Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a handheld mixer, beat, on medium speed, the butter, and both sugars together until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Turn the speed down to low and add the egg yolk, vanilla, and pumpkin making sure to scrape down the edges.
- Mix the dry and wet ingredients together. With the mixer speed still on low slowly add the flour mixture and mix until fully combined.
- Chill the dough. To keep the cookies from spreading too much during the baking process cover the mixing bowl and place it in the fridge for 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven. Prepare your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and preheat your oven to 350º F while the dough is chilling.
- Roll the dough in cinnamon sugar. In a small bowl combine the sugar and cinnamon for the cookie coating. Use a medium cookie scoop to scoop the dough out and then roll it into a ball. Roll the dough into the cinnamon sugar mixture and place it on the baking mat.
- Bake until the edges have set. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes and let cool on the pan for 10 before moving to a cookie rack to finish cooling. The longer you let them cool the stronger the flavor.
Notes
- It’s optional, but I recommend chilling the dough. For optimal results, allow the dough to chill and firm up, as this minimizes cookie spreading while they bake.
- Use a medium cookie scoop. This will save you time and ensure each cookie is the exact same size.
- Use silicone baking mats. These have made baking cookies so much easier for me and they result in a better textured cookie than parchment paper.