Soft, chewy, and filled with warm fall spices, homemade pumpkin spice cookies are the perfect treat for cozy autumn days. Made with real pumpkin purée, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, these cookies have a tender texture and rich seasonal flavor. Enjoy them with a cup of coffee, pack them into lunchboxes, or serve them at your next fall gathering.
Easy Pumpkin Spice Cookies
These soft pumpkin cookies are simple to make and finished with an optional cinnamon cream cheese frosting for an extra-special fall dessert.
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup pumpkin purée
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Optional Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
3. Cream the Butter & Sugar
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and creamy.
Add the egg, pumpkin purée, and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.
4. Make the Dough
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
The dough will be softer and slightly stickier than traditional chocolate chip cookie dough.
5. Scoop the Cookies
Using a cookie scoop or spoon, portion the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie.
For a slightly flatter cookie, gently press the tops with the back of a spoon.
6. Bake
Bake for 11–14 minutes, or until the edges are set and the tops spring back lightly when touched.
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
7. Prepare the Frosting
If using the optional frosting, beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth.
Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon, then mix until creamy and spreadable.
8. Frost & Serve
Once the cookies have cooled completely, spread or pipe the cream cheese frosting over the tops. Finish with a light sprinkle of cinnamon if desired.
Why This Recipe Works
Pumpkin purée adds moisture and creates a soft, cake-like texture, while brown sugar contributes sweetness and a subtle caramel flavor. The combination of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves delivers the warm spice profile that makes pumpkin desserts so popular in the fall.
Creaming the butter and sugar helps create a lighter texture, while baking the cookies just until set prevents them from becoming dry.
Tips for the Best Pumpkin Spice Cookies
- Use pure pumpkin purée, not pumpkin pie filling.
- Measure the flour carefully to avoid dense cookies.
- Don't overmix the dough once the dry ingredients are added.
- Use a cookie scoop for evenly sized cookies that bake consistently.
- Let the cookies cool completely before adding cream cheese frosting.
- Store frosted cookies in the refrigerator in an airtight container and bring them to room temperature before serving.
Explore our selection of high-quality cookie scoops to portion evenly sized dough, achieve consistent baking results, and make homemade pumpkin spice cookies easier to prepare every time.
