PUMPKIN SUGAR COOKIES

Nellie — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 13:16:42 +0000

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies are soft, spiced, and frosted with a creamy cream cheese frosting. These festive cut-out cookies are a fall favorite, combining the classic texture of sugar cookies with the cozy flavors of pumpkin and warm spices. Perfect for decorating, sharing, or enjoying with a hot drink on a crisp autumn day.

Recipe Highlights

Soft and tender texture: These cookies bake up thick, chewy, and perfectly soft thanks to the pumpkin puree and sour cream. The combination creates a dough that holds its shape beautifully while still giving you that melt-in-your-mouth bite that everyone craves.
Fall flavors in every bite: Cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice work together to give these cookies a warm, spiced flavor that pairs beautifully with the pumpkin. They taste like fall in cookie form, making them perfect for everything from Halloween to Thanksgiving dessert tables.
Cream cheese frosting: Rich, tangy, and sweet, this frosting balances the spiced cookies and makes decorating fun and delicious. The contrast of the smooth frosting with the spiced pumpkin cookie is what elevates these from simple sugar cookies to something truly special.
Perfect for gatherings: The cut-out shape makes these cookies ideal for holidays, parties, or cozy baking days with kids. They are sturdy enough for frosting and decorating yet soft enough to please even the pickiest cookie lovers.
Make-ahead friendly: The dough chills overnight, making it easy to prep ahead and bake fresh the next day. This also means you can break up the process, which is especially helpful if you’re baking with kids or preparing multiple holiday recipes at once.

Ingredients in Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

For the Cookies:

Butter: Use softened butter to give the dough richness and structure. It also helps create that light, fluffy texture when creamed with sugar.
Sugar: Granulated sugar provides the perfect sweetness and enhances the pumpkin flavor.
Eggs: Add structure, binding, and extra richness to the dough.
Vanilla extract: Enhances the overall flavor and rounds out the spice blend.
Pumpkin: Adds moisture, flavor, and a soft texture. Be sure to use pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling.
Sour cream: Keeps the cookies tender and adds a subtle tang that balances the sweetness.
Flour: All-purpose flour forms the base of the dough and helps it roll out smoothly.
Spices: Cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg give the cookies their cozy, fall-inspired flavor.
Baking powder & baking soda: Essential for lift and softness.
Salt: Enhances all the flavors.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

Butter: Softened butter provides a creamy base.
Cream cheese: Adds tang and richness for a perfectly balanced frosting.
Vanilla extract: Deepens the flavor.
Powdered sugar: Sweetens and creates a smooth, spreadable frosting.

Helpful Tips for Making Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

Complete instructions for making the cookies can be found on the recipe card below, but here are a few helpful tips.

Don’t skip chilling: Chilling the dough is essential for easy rolling and to prevent spreading. Skipping this step can result in flat cookies instead of neat cut-outs.
Keep the surface floured: Lightly flour your counter and rolling pin to prevent sticking, but avoid using too much flour, as this can cause the cookies to become dry.
Work in batches: Only take half of the dough out of the fridge at a time so it stays firm and workable. The colder the dough, the easier it is to handle. I love these Fall cookie cutters!
Cool completely before frosting: If the cookies are warm, the frosting will melt and slide off. Patience is key to keeping your cookies beautiful.
Decorate creatively: Add sprinkles, colored sugar, or tinted frosting for a festive touch on your cookies. These are great for kids to decorate and make fun holiday activities.

Storage Instructions

Room temperature: Store frosted cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Place parchment paper between layers to keep the frosting neat.
Refrigerator: Keep in the fridge for up to 5 days for best freshness. These cookies actually taste even better after sitting for a day because the flavors have time to develop.
Freezer: Freeze unfrosted cookies for up to 2 months. Thaw, then frost before serving. You can also freeze the dough before baking; simply wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies Recipe

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies are soft, spiced, and frosted with cream cheese icing. A festive fall treat perfect for baking, decorating, and sharing!

Course Cookies

Cuisine American

Keyword Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 10

Servings cookies

Calories 269kcal

Author Jessica & Nellie

Equipment

Fall Cookie Cutters

Ingredients

½ cup butter softened
1 ½ cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup pumpkin
2 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp allspice
½ tsp nutmeg
½ cup sour cream
5 cups flour

Cream Cheese Frosting

½ cup butter softened
4 ounces cream cheese softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ¼ cups powdered sugar

Instructions

Make the dough: Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes). Add the eggs and vanilla and mix again for another 2-3 minutes. Stir in the pumpkin, sour cream, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices until smooth. Gradually mix in the flour until just combined.
Chill: Divide the dough in half, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill overnight (at least 8 hours). Chilling ensures the dough is easy to roll and helps the cookies hold their shape.
Roll and cut: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Roll one portion of dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters and place them on prepared baking sheets.
Bake: Bake the cookies for 10–12 minutes, until they are lightly golden. Cool for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
Frost: Beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth, then add vanilla and powdered sugar. Mix until creamy. Frost cooled cookies and decorate as desired.

Nutrition

FAQs

Can I use fresh pumpkin instead of canned?
Yes, just be sure to puree it until smooth and remove excess moisture with paper towels so the dough isn’t too wet.

Do I have to use sour cream?
Sour cream keeps the cookies moist, but you can substitute with plain Greek yogurt.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes! You can chill the dough for up to 48 hours before baking, making it easy to prepare in advance.

Can I freeze frosted cookies?
It’s best to freeze them unfrosted, but frosted cookies can be frozen with wax paper between layers to prevent sticking.

What’s the best way to decorate these cookies?
Simple cream cheese frosting is delicious on its own, but seasonal sprinkles, colored sugar, or a drizzle of chocolate make them extra festive.

More delicious pumpkin cookie recipes to try:

Rolled in cinnamon and sugar, Pumpkin Snickerdoodles are soft, chewy cookies packed with pumpkin flavor—one of the best fall desserts!
Full of pumpkin flavor and oats, No-Bake Pumpkin Cookies come together in minutes without ever turning on the oven.
Soft, chewy, and topped with a sweet cinnamon sugar icing, Glazed Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies are the perfect fall treat.
Bursting with pumpkin and warm ginger spice, Soft Pumpkin Gingersnap Cookies are simple to make and loved for their chewy texture.
Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies are moist, flavorful cookies loaded with pumpkin, oats, and melty chocolate chips.

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies are festive, soft, and full of cozy fall flavor – perfect for baking, decorating, and sharing with friends and family during the holiday season!

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