Pumpkin Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies are soft, fluffy, and perfectly spiced, making them the ultimate fall treat. Each bite is warm with pumpkin flavor, topped with tangy cream cheese frosting for a cookie that’s festive, sweet, and totally irresistible. Perfect for Halloween parties, cozy weekends, or anytime your kitchen craves a little seasonal magic.

Why You’ll Love These Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies are unlike traditional sugar cookies. Instead of being crisp and plain, they’re soft, tender, and filled with pumpkin puree that keeps them moist for days. Pumpkin pie spice adds warmth and coziness, while the rich frosting gives each cookie a bakery-style finish.

These cookies bake up puffy instead of flat, which makes them perfect for holding a generous layer of cream cheese frosting. You can also drizzle or swirl the frosting for a lighter touch. They’re easy to make with pantry ingredients and come together quickly, even on a busy fall afternoon.

Compared to classic sugar cookies, these have a deeper flavor and a soft cake-like texture. That difference makes them stand out on holiday platters and ensures everyone comes back for seconds. If you love pumpkin desserts like soft and chewy pumpkin chocolate chip cookies or pumpkin cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese frosting, these will be your new favorite.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Cookies

Flour provides structure, while baking powder and baking soda give the cookies lift. Pumpkin pie spice is the flavor star, adding warmth and fragrance. Salt balances the sweetness. Butter creates richness, while both granulated and brown sugars bring sweetness and a hint of caramel. Pumpkin puree adds moisture and color. One egg helps bind everything together, and vanilla rounds out the flavor.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

Cream cheese adds tangy richness, while butter makes it smooth and spreadable. Vanilla extract deepens the flavor, and powdered sugar provides sweetness and body. This combination creates a creamy frosting that pairs perfectly with the spiced cookies.

How to Make Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

Prepare the Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. This step helps distribute leavening and spice evenly, so no bite tastes flat.

Cream Butter and Sugars

In another bowl, beat softened butter with granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy. This process adds air to the dough, which makes the cookies soft.

Add Pumpkin, Egg, and Vanilla

Mix in pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla extract. Stir gently so the mixture stays creamy without becoming too loose. Overbeating can make the dough heavy.

Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures

Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. The dough will be very soft, which is exactly how it should be.

Scoop and Shape the Cookies

Scoop heaping tablespoons of dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Flatten each scoop gently with your fingers or the back of a spoon. Because the dough puffs instead of spreading, shaping now ensures even cookies.

Bake to Perfection

Bake at 350°F for 15–20 minutes. Cookies are done when they feel set and spring back lightly when touched. If they look shiny, give them another minute or two.

Cool Completely

Cool cookies on a wire rack. Frosting too soon will cause it to melt and slide off, so patience here makes a big difference.

How to Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Slowly add powdered sugar, mixing until thick and spreadable. If the frosting is too stiff, add a splash of milk. If too thin, beat in more powdered sugar. The goal is a silky, spreadable frosting that holds its shape. This frosting adds just enough tang to balance the sweet pumpkin spice base.

Decorating and Serving Ideas

Spread the frosting thickly with a spatula or spoon for a rustic look, or pipe it neatly for a polished style. For extra flair, sprinkle cookies with pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon. You can also drizzle the frosting in thin lines for a lighter finish. These cookies shine on a Halloween dessert table, or paired with a mug of cider for an easy fall snack.

Storage Tips

Store Pumpkin Sugar Cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. The cool temperature keeps the frosting firm and the cookies moist. Serve them slightly chilled or let them rest at room temperature for a softer bite.

Recipe Notes & Tips

The dough is naturally soft and sticky, so flattening before baking is key. Expect cookies to puff slightly instead of spreading wide. This makes them perfect bases for frosting. Adjust pumpkin pie spice to taste—extra spice will give a stronger holiday feel, while less keeps the flavor mild. For variety, try drizzling instead of spreading frosting, or sprinkle festive toppings for seasonal celebrations.

Related Recipes to Try

• Soft and chewy pumpkin chocolate chip cookies
• Healthy pumpkin muffins with fall spices
• Pumpkin cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese frosting
• Easy pumpkin pie cupcakes
• Pumpkin streusel muffins for cozy mornings
• Irresistible pumpkin oatmeal cream pies

FAQ About Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

Conclusion

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting bring together everything we love about fall—warm spice, creamy frosting, and melt-in-your-mouth softness. They’re festive, fun, and surprisingly easy to make. Bake a batch for your family, share them with friends, or save them for a cozy afternoon treat. And if you love collecting seasonal bakes, you’ll find more inspiration on my Pinterest boards.

Print