Pillowy, spiced, and fall-inspired
If you’re searching for the ultimate fall cookie, look no further than these soft pumpkin cookies with cinnamon frosting. They’re fluffy, tender, and warmly spiced, topped with a creamy cinnamon glaze that makes them taste like autumn in dessert form. Perfect as an easy healthy recipe option for pumpkin season and a fall baking idea for gatherings, these cookies are just the right balance of cozy and sweet. Enjoy them fresh from the oven, share with friends, or serve at holiday parties—they’ll disappear fast!
⏱️ Time Breakdown
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Servings: 24 cookies
📝 Ingredients List
For the Cookies:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
For the Cinnamon Frosting:
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp milk (or almond milk)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
✨ Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress-free.
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Hand or stand mixer
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Wire cooling rack
- Whisk or spatula
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Beginner-Friendly Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add egg, pumpkin puree, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
- In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture.
- Drop spoonfuls of dough (about 2 tbsp each) onto prepared baking sheet. 🍪
- Bake 11–13 minutes, until cookies are set and slightly golden. Cool completely on a wire rack. ✨
- Make frosting: beat butter until creamy, then whisk in powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon until smooth and spreadable.
- Frost cooled cookies generously and enjoy! 😋
💡 Pro Tips
- Storage: Keep cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days or refrigerate for 5 days.
- Freezer Option: Freeze unfrosted cookies, then frost after thawing.
- Substitutions: Swap nutmeg and cloves for pumpkin pie spice if that’s what you have on hand.
- Serving Ideas: Serve with hot apple cider, chai tea, or a pumpkin spice latte for the perfect fall pairing.
📊 Nutrition Table
| Serving Size | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat | Fiber | Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cookie | ~160 | 2g | 25g | 6g | 1g | 14g |
Conclusion
These soft pumpkin cookies with cinnamon frosting are the ultimate fall treat—fluffy, spiced, and topped with a sweet, cozy glaze. They’re simple enough for weekday baking yet elegant enough to share at holiday gatherings. Whether you enjoy them fresh with a warm drink or bring them to a party, these cookies will become a seasonal favorite you’ll want to bake year after year.
Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Cinnamon Frosting
Ingredients
For the Cookies
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened Bring to room temperature
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
For the Cinnamon Frosting
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, softened Bring to room temperature
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp milk (or almond milk)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add egg, pumpkin puree, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
- In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture.
- Drop spoonfuls of dough (about 2 tbsp each) onto prepared baking sheet.
Baking
- Bake 11–13 minutes, until cookies are set and slightly golden. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Frosting
- Make frosting: beat butter until creamy, then whisk in powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon until smooth and spreadable.
- Frost cooled cookies generously and enjoy!