This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
My favorite soft pumpkin cookies recipe, topped with the most heavenly cream cheese frosting. It’s the perfect fall dessert recipe!
Who’s ready for some fall baking? 🍁 🍂 🍃
I just officially stocked my pantry with its first round of pumpkin puree for the season (yesss), and whipped up a fresh batch of homemade pumpkin pie spice (just 5 ingredients!), and stocked the fridge with a very friendly stash of butter and cream cheese to have on hand (because…butter and cream cheese 😁).
Now the question is simply…what to make?!?
I’m feeling all of the baking vibes this year, and have a long list of new recipes that I’d like to try. But if you have any specific requests or favorite recipes to share, I’d love love love to hear ’em. (Seriously, your requests are my favorite recipes to share here!)
That said, I also have a long list of pumpkin recipes here on the site that I’m excited to revisit this fall, including these perfectly soft and delicious pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting that I first shared way back in my very first year of blogging (holla 2009!). I was cleaning out an old camera card this week and forgot that I had re-photographed them last year. So I thought I would bump this recipe back to the top of the blog today for anyone who might have missed them over the years. They have been my go-to pumpkin cookie recipe for literally a decade now, and they are seriously the best.
(This post contains affiliate links.)
To make them, simply whip up a quick batch of cookie batter featuring lots of pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice. Heads up that the batter for this recipe is super-soft (very different than, say, chocolate chip cookie dough batter), and tends to puff up a bit rather than flatten during baking. I like to use a cookie scoop to plop it onto a parchment-covered baking sheet, and then gently press the batter down with my fingers a bit to flatten.
Then, while those yummy cookies are baking in the oven, I highly recommend whipping up a batch of this heavenly cream cheese frosting. It’s indulgent and doesn’t cut corners…and it is THE BEST. 💛
Then once the cookies are ready to go, let them cool completely to room temperature before frosting. (<– Otherwise that delicious cream cream cheese icing will slide right off!) Then give them a quick frost…maybe an extra sprinkle of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice…
…and behold, these gorgeous soft pumpkin cookies will be yours to share and enjoy. (<– Key word: share, since I can vouch from personal experience that these cookies have a way of making everyone smile and feel all 😊 😊 😊 about fall.)
This soft pumpkin cookies recipe is my absolute fave! Soft spiced pumpkin cookies topped with a heavenly cream cheese frosting — what’s not to love? :)
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt until combined. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on medium-high speed for 1 minute until light and fluffy. Add in the pumpkin, egg, and vanilla to butter mixture, and beat on medium-speed until just combined. Fold in the dry ingredients until just combined.
Drop on cookie sheet by heaping tablespoonfuls (I like to use this cookie scoop), then use your fingers or a spoon to flatten then slightly. (These cookies tend to poof up slightly rather than flatten during baking, so shape them beforehand however you’d like. They won’t rise much.)
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cookies are cooked through and bounce back slightly if you touch them. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool until they reach room temperature. Then frost or drizzle with cream cheese frosting, and sprinkle with an extra pinch of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon if you’d like. Refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
To Make Cream Cheese Frosting:
With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla together on medium-high speed until smooth. Gradually add in the powdered sugar until it is all combined and the frosting is smooth. If it is too thick, add in a tablespoon or two of milk (or water) until it reaches your desired consistency. If it is too thin, add in more powdered sugar until it reaches your desired consistency.
Notes
Adapted from All Recipes. Updated in September 2017.
Love Pumpkin! I love anything made with pumpkin. In my previous, i eat many recipes that make with pumpkin but this recipe is different! Love to eat this. Thank you
I am sure these are going to be delicious and I am making this recipe now! I noticed in the directions it states to add the pumpkin, egg and vanilla to the butter mixture but the recipe for the cookie does not call for vanilla other then in the frosting.
These cookies were really simple and are made with things you always have on hand. They are my all time favorite fall cookie. There so good and there not extreamly sweet so you can eat one and then you think well I could have a nother but then you just keep eating them.
mmmm… these look so delicious. do you have any thoughts on the best natural sweetener to use in place of sugar? thank you!
Cheri —
I use beets and prunes (can use natural applesauce too) to sweeten them, I’ve also used honey and molasses. I like a little molasses in them even when I use prunes and beets as sweeteners. I add pecans to the recipe too.
As I followed the recipe, the cookies came out delicious! (Only one question came up: Did you mean for the batter, and the frosting, to have vanilla? Ingredients didn’t list it for batter, though the mixing instructions did.) ~ The yield was less as I baked each cake-like treat with 1/4 cup of batter. Instead of parchment paper, which wasn’t on hand, I cut paper bags to baking sheet size. Since the cookies were so soft, I left it on, cutting the brown paper to fit each cookie, and then easily frosted them with a butter knife. A sprinkling of the pumpkin spice on top, as recommended, was a fitting flourish. ~ When I made the pumpkin spice recipe, I was surprised at the ratio of ingredients. Compared to most recipe spice blends, I’d followed previously, the cinnamon was the main spice, whereas your recipe featured ginger in a larger amount. Since ginger is my favorite spice, and cinnamon is so common, I very much appreciated the variation. It tasted great to me!
Made these cookies today and they turned out great, but when I made the icing and iced the cookies the icing didn’t seem to get as hard as I wanted it to, felt a little sticky, was wondering what I did wrong? Also shouldn’t these be refrigerated?
Is the brown sugar supposed to be tightly packed, loosely packed, or just loosely measured into a measuring cup? I guess I “moderately” packed it and my butter and sugars aren’t creaming. It looks like sugar cookie dough just with the butter and sugar.
I absolutely love these cookies! They are delicious and already made them multiple times. The smell inside the house while baking them is also amazing.
I am making these for the 2nd time in a week and a half. I am not a baker! My mom who is 91 and literally on her death bed says they are the best cookies she has ever eaten. Thank you for helping me give her a little joy. Everybody else loved them too!
These are delicious. The cookies are melt in your mouth soft and the frosting is so creamy. I didn’t store them in the fridge, and the frosting stayed soft. They didn’t last long.
As well as a previous commenter, I put the frosting between two cookies to make a sandwich and they were great!! Almost like a little handheld bit of cake.
I would give this recipe 100/5 stars if I could. These cookies are the best dessert I’ve ever made, and I bake A LOT. They are moist and fluffy on the inside, just like a cloud. Perfect amount of pumpkin, spice, and sweetness but not too sweet. Amazing!!
This recipe turned out fantastic!!!
The granddaughters loved them!!!
I used fresh pumpkin for the purée… that I had left over from making homemade fresh pumpkin pies
I loved it! Although, the cookies did seem a bit dry. If you’re going for a more moist pumpkin cookie, I recommend using a full 15 oz can. Other than that, very good cookies!
So easy to make and delicious to eat! My family absolutely loved them! (and so did I!) Not overly sweet like the store bought ones. I made the pumpkin spice recipe, just quick and easy and now nice to have on hand. Thanks for sharing 💜
This recipe is excellent! The cookie is fluffy and cake-y. We chopped up some pecans and dipped the frosted cookies in the crumbs. This was a yummy addition if you like nuts. 😋
These were super yummy and turned out 3 large cookie trays. My son said they were addicting. I cut the sugar a little because my family prefers less sweet treats, added a bit more pumpkin puree (because I used the whole can and that came in a little more than recipe asked for), and tossed in some super dark chocolate mini morsels. Turned out like soft but chewy pumpkin chocolate chip cookies that had the perfect balance of flavor and texture. The extra pumpkin make the batter runny, but If you make it this way, and like a chewy cookie, don’t be alarmed, they came out perfect. I did add a little salt because I used unsalted butter. I did not add the frosting because I went the chocolate chip cookie route. I will make these again. Thanks for this recipe. I plan to try the pumpkin scones next.
★★★★★
Mary —
Also, almost forgot, I drizzled a little bit of honey on top of cookies when done and dusted with a confectioners sugar. But after tasting, not necessary.
I was going to try this recipe, but after reading the reviews, there were a lot of questions asked (which I had also), but none of them were answered! I would think that when you put a recipe up, you should check the reviews and ANSWER the questions that people have. Because of that, I am moving on to a different recipe
This recipe is amazing! I subbed maple instead of vanilla in the frosting and it was a fun twist. Also I followed another comment and made sandwiches with the frosting in the middle which was perfect and unique. Great recipe, thank you!
Excellent recipe! Made them today and they turned out perfect, exactly as described. The cream cheese icing was very light and fluffy – almost like whipped cream. I think I’ll use it on cupcakes or a cake next. Thanks!
Prep Time:
Yield:
Print
Pin
Love Pumpkin! I love anything made with pumpkin. In my previous, i eat many recipes that make with pumpkin but this recipe is different! Love to eat this. Thank you
★★★★★
I am sure these are going to be delicious and I am making this recipe now! I noticed in the directions it states to add the pumpkin, egg and vanilla to the butter mixture but the recipe for the cookie does not call for vanilla other then in the frosting.
Pingback: CORGI TRYING FRUIT FOR 1st Time is Very SATISFYING || Life After College: Ep. 571 – What You Found
I want it all! Looks soooo good!
Yay!
These cookies were really simple and are made with things you always have on hand. They are my all time favorite fall cookie. There so good and there not extreamly sweet so you can eat one and then you think well I could have a nother but then you just keep eating them.
★★★★★
Love that these are the thicker cookies, seems much more comforting for a pumpkin pie cookie than the flat ones – lol!
Pingback: HEARTBROKEN OVER DOG NEWS: Goodbye Bentley || Life After College: Ep. 572 | Animal Rescue
mmmm… these look so delicious. do you have any thoughts on the best natural sweetener to use in place of sugar? thank you!
I use beets and prunes (can use natural applesauce too) to sweeten them, I’ve also used honey and molasses. I like a little molasses in them even when I use prunes and beets as sweeteners. I add pecans to the recipe too.
Pingback: 25 Most Popular Thanksgiving Sides, Dessert and Drinks! | TheDirtyGyro
Pingback: 25 Most Popular Thanksgiving Sides, Dessert and Drinks! – Chow Hub
Pingback: Friday Favourites // 13
I put the frosting between two cookies for a mini whooped pie, love this recipe and the cookies!
I love the idea of making pumpkin sandwiches out of them. Maybe that would work but that would be four cookie in each packages and the limit is three
★★★★★
Pingback: Fairy Tales & Jack O’ Lanterns – ripevi
I just them today, they are delicious.
I just made them today, they are delious
★★★★★
I added these to my fall baking repertoire last year and they were a hit. The cookies are great, but the cream cheese frosting is the show-stealer!
★★★★★
As I followed the recipe, the cookies came out delicious! (Only one question came up: Did you mean for the batter, and the frosting, to have vanilla? Ingredients didn’t list it for batter, though the mixing instructions did.) ~ The yield was less as I baked each cake-like treat with 1/4 cup of batter. Instead of parchment paper, which wasn’t on hand, I cut paper bags to baking sheet size. Since the cookies were so soft, I left it on, cutting the brown paper to fit each cookie, and then easily frosted them with a butter knife. A sprinkling of the pumpkin spice on top, as recommended, was a fitting flourish. ~ When I made the pumpkin spice recipe, I was surprised at the ratio of ingredients. Compared to most recipe spice blends, I’d followed previously, the cinnamon was the main spice, whereas your recipe featured ginger in a larger amount. Since ginger is my favorite spice, and cinnamon is so common, I very much appreciated the variation. It tasted great to me!
★★★★
Made these cookies today and they turned out great, but when I made the icing and iced the cookies the icing didn’t seem to get as hard as I wanted it to, felt a little sticky, was wondering what I did wrong? Also shouldn’t these be refrigerated?
★★★★★
I’m a father of two awesome girl . Never made this cookie before so give a shot. Girls loves them ingredients was easy to understand I recommend this
★★★★★
These cookies are delicious! The husband and kids all loved them. Especially enjoyed them warm from the oven.
Is the brown sugar supposed to be tightly packed, loosely packed, or just loosely measured into a measuring cup? I guess I “moderately” packed it and my butter and sugars aren’t creaming. It looks like sugar cookie dough just with the butter and sugar.
I absolutely love these cookies! They are delicious and already made them multiple times. The smell inside the house while baking them is also amazing.
★★★★★
I am making these for the 2nd time in a week and a half. I am not a baker! My mom who is 91 and literally on her death bed says they are the best cookies she has ever eaten. Thank you for helping me give her a little joy. Everybody else loved them too!
★★★★★
Has anyone froze some of this cookie dough to use at a later time?
These are delicious. The cookies are melt in your mouth soft and the frosting is so creamy. I didn’t store them in the fridge, and the frosting stayed soft. They didn’t last long.
As well as a previous commenter, I put the frosting between two cookies to make a sandwich and they were great!! Almost like a little handheld bit of cake.
★★★★★
I would give this recipe 100/5 stars if I could. These cookies are the best dessert I’ve ever made, and I bake A LOT. They are moist and fluffy on the inside, just like a cloud. Perfect amount of pumpkin, spice, and sweetness but not too sweet. Amazing!!
★★★★★
This recipe turned out fantastic!!!
The granddaughters loved them!!!
I used fresh pumpkin for the purée… that I had left over from making homemade fresh pumpkin pies
I loved it! Although, the cookies did seem a bit dry. If you’re going for a more moist pumpkin cookie, I recommend using a full 15 oz can. Other than that, very good cookies!
★★★★★
So easy to make and delicious to eat! My family absolutely loved them! (and so did I!) Not overly sweet like the store bought ones. I made the pumpkin spice recipe, just quick and easy and now nice to have on hand. Thanks for sharing 💜
★★★★★
I am going to make these.
★★★★★
Made 18 big cookies! Around 286 cal each with frosting. I used Philadelphia 1/3 fat cream cheese. Great recipe :)
★★★★★
So stinking good!! You won’t regret making these. Came out perfect, taste great and not hard to make.
★★★★★
These were delicious!
★★★★★
Hello,
Can you make this dough ahead and freeze it?
This is an amazing recipe, the cream cheese frosting is a MUST for these pumpkin cookies! They are soft, moist, and just plain delicious.
★★★★★
This recipe is excellent! The cookie is fluffy and cake-y. We chopped up some pecans and dipped the frosted cookies in the crumbs. This was a yummy addition if you like nuts. 😋
★★★★★
These were super yummy and turned out 3 large cookie trays. My son said they were addicting. I cut the sugar a little because my family prefers less sweet treats, added a bit more pumpkin puree (because I used the whole can and that came in a little more than recipe asked for), and tossed in some super dark chocolate mini morsels. Turned out like soft but chewy pumpkin chocolate chip cookies that had the perfect balance of flavor and texture. The extra pumpkin make the batter runny, but If you make it this way, and like a chewy cookie, don’t be alarmed, they came out perfect. I did add a little salt because I used unsalted butter. I did not add the frosting because I went the chocolate chip cookie route. I will make these again. Thanks for this recipe. I plan to try the pumpkin scones next.
★★★★★
Also, almost forgot, I drizzled a little bit of honey on top of cookies when done and dusted with a confectioners sugar. But after tasting, not necessary.
I was going to try this recipe, but after reading the reviews, there were a lot of questions asked (which I had also), but none of them were answered! I would think that when you put a recipe up, you should check the reviews and ANSWER the questions that people have. Because of that, I am moving on to a different recipe
This recipe is amazing! I subbed maple instead of vanilla in the frosting and it was a fun twist. Also I followed another comment and made sandwiches with the frosting in the middle which was perfect and unique. Great recipe, thank you!
If I can make it right the first time and love it, it’s a success in my book.
★★★★★
I made these with roasted squash and they were divine!
★★★★★
Love these cookies. I make them each year in the fall and they are a big hit each time!
★★★★★
Excellent recipe! Made them today and they turned out perfect, exactly as described. The cream cheese icing was very light and fluffy – almost like whipped cream. I think I’ll use it on cupcakes or a cake next. Thanks!
I wish the number of carbs were posted. My son is Type 1 Diabeates