Easy Dessert Thanksgiving: Delightful Pumpkin Cookies!
Easy Dessert Thanksgiving: Delightful Pumpkin Cookies! is a practical, flavor-forward easy dessert thanksgiving recipe with clear ingredients and step-by-step instructions. - Oven Temperature: 350°F (175°C)
- Baking Time: 12-15 minutes
- Texture: Soft and tender (not cakey)
- Flavor Profile: Spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger
- Storage: Refriger
Equipment
- baking sheet
- mixing bowl
- whisk
Ingredients
- For the cookies: 1 cup butter (softened), 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 cup pumpkin purée, 1 large egg, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 3 cups flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp ginger
- For the cream cheese frosting: 1/2 cup butter (softened), 8 oz cream cheese (softened), 1 cup icing sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large bowl, beat softened butter, sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Stir in pumpkin purée, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
- Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring only until just combined to avoid overmixing.
- Place spoonfuls of dough onto a greased or lined baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack.
- While cookies bake, beat softened butter until smooth.
- Add softened cream cheese to the butter and beat until silky smooth.
- Slowly mix in icing sugar, vanilla extract, and salt, beating until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Once cookies are fully cooled, spread frosting generously on top. Optionally sprinkle with cinnamon.
Notes
- Ensure butter and cream cheese are fully softened before mixing for a smooth consistency.
- Do not overmix the dough after adding dry ingredients, as this can result in tough cookies.
- Allow cookies to cool completely before applying frosting to prevent melting.
- Use fresh or canned pumpkin purée; avoid pumpkin pie filling due to extra spices and sugars.
- Store cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To freeze, bake cookies without frosting, then thaw and fr
- Do not overmix the dough after adding dry ingredients, as this can result in tough cookies.
- Allow cookies to cool completely before applying frosting to prevent melting.
- Use fresh or canned pumpkin purée; avoid pumpkin pie filling due to extra spices and sugars.
- Store cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To freeze, bake cookies without frosting, then thaw and fr