Best Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

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In my kitchen, where family traditions are both cherished and deliciously evolved, I’ve discovered that the mellow sweetness of pumpkin blended with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg creates a cookie that is irresistibly soft and comforting as if each bite encapsulates the warmth of a cozy blanket by the fire. Yet, the addition of the decadent cream cheese frosting elevates these cookies from simply homemade to utterly gourmet.

For those who share in the sentiment that pumpkin is not merely a seasonal fling but a true culinary romance, this Best Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting recipe is an ode to your autumnal cravings.

How to make the Best Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting are a delicious fall treat! The cookies are typically made with pureed pumpkin, which gives them a soft and moist texture, along with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger for a warm, autumnal flavor.

Ingredients

For the Pumpkin Cookies:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Optional: A pinch of cinnamon or pumpkin spice for added flavor

Instructions

Making the Pumpkin Cookies:

1. Preheat the oven and prepare baking sheets. Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease them.
2. Combine dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
3. Cream the butter and sugar. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
4. Add pumpkin and wet ingredients. Beat in the pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla extract until well combined.
5. Incorporate the dry ingredients. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. Do not overmix.
6. Drop cookie dough onto prepared sheets. Use a cookie scoop or spoon to drop heaping tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving room for the cookies to spread.
7. Bake. Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes or until the cookies are lightly browned around the edges and set in the center.
8. Cool. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Making the Cream Cheese Frosting:

1. Beat cream cheese and butter. In a bowl, beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy.
2. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, continue beating until the frosting is smooth and reaches your desired consistency.
3. Frost cooled cookies. Once the cookies are completely cool, use a knife or piping bag to spread or pipe the cream cheese frosting onto the cookies.
4. Add optional spices. If desired, sprinkle a touch of cinnamon or pumpkin spice on top of the frosting for a festive look and extra flavor.

Tips for the best Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting:

• Make sure all your ingredients, especially butter and cream cheese, are at room temperature to ensure a smooth frosting.
• For a brighter pumpkin flavor, you can add a pinch of pumpkin spice to the cookie batter.
• Don’t overmix the batter; stop as soon as the ingredients are just combined to keep the cookies tender.
• Let the cookies cool completely before frosting to prevent the cream cheese frosting from melting.
• If piping the frosting, chill it slightly beforehand to ensure it holds its shape well.

What to serve with

Serving your Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting is an experience that can be enhanced by pairing them with various drinks and treats that complement the flavors and the cozy fall theme.

Warm Beverages

• Hot Cinnamon Spiced Tea: Brew a pot of cinnamon spiced tea to enhance the warm spices in your cookies. The tea’s natural warmth and complementary spice profile will bring out the flavor of the nutmeg and cinnamon in your cookies.
• Chai Latte: The creamy richness and spiced notes of a chai latte go wonderfully with the sweet and tangy elements of the Pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting. It’s a comforting beverage that aligns with the seasonal theme.
• Pumpkin Spice Latte: For a double dose of pumpkin, serve these cookies alongside a homemade or café-bought pumpkin spice latte. The flavors marry well together and the textures are quite complementary.
• Apple Cider: A hot or cold glass of apple cider is a classic fall drink that pairs well with the earthy tones of the pumpkin. The sweet and tangy flavors of the apple will provide a delicious contrast to the creamy sweetness of the frosting.

Cold Beverages

• Milk: A classic pairing, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as the combination of cookies and milk. Choose from whole milk, skimmed, or even almond or soy milk, depending on your preference.
• Iced Coffee: The strong and slightly bitter taste of iced coffee can be the perfect complement to cut through the richness of the cream cheese frosting.

Alcoholic Beverages

• Dessert Wines: Serve a sweet dessert wine, such as a Riesling or a late-harvest wine, to balance the sweetness of the cookies with notes of fruit and acidity.
• Spiked Cider: A hard cider or a cider with a splash of bourbon can offer a boozy, adult twist to the apple cider pairing, perfect for a fall gathering.

Ingredients Substitutes

Making Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting can be a delightful baking project, but sometimes you may miss an ingredient or need an alternative due to dietary restrictions.

Pumpkin Cookies Ingredients and Substitutes

Pumpkin Puree:

Substitute: Sweet potato puree or butternut squash puree can be used in a 1:1 ratio. These alternatives will maintain the moist texture and provide a similar sweet, earthy flavor profile.

Flour (All-purpose):

• Gluten-Free Option: A gluten-free all-purpose flour blend can replace regular flour in a 1:1 ratio. Be sure to choose one that is intended for baking.
• Whole Wheat Flour: You can use whole wheat flour for half of the all-purpose flour to add fiber, which might make the cookies denser.

Granulated Sugar:

• Coconut Sugar: Use coconut sugar for a less refined option. Note that this will change the flavor profile slightly, adding a caramel-like taste.
• Brown Sugar: For a deeper flavor with hints of molasses, you can use brown sugar in the same amount as white sugar.

Eggs:

• Flaxseed Meal: For a vegan option, mix 1 tablespoon of flaxseed meal with 3 tablespoons of water to replace one egg. This will keep the cookies moist but might slightly alter the texture.
• Applesauce: Use ¼ cup of unsweetened applesauce to replace one egg, especially if you aim for lower cholesterol.

Butter:

• Coconut Oil: Use coconut oil as a 1:1 substitute for butter to achieve a similar texture. This option is dairy-free, though it may impart a slight coconut flavor.
• Margarine: Use margarine instead of butter if you’re looking for a non-dairy alternative. Make sure it’s suitable for baking.

Spices (Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves):

• Pumpkin Pie Spice: If you’re missing any of these spices, use pumpkin pie spice mix as a substitute. Approximately 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice can replace the individual spices in most recipes.

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients and Substitutes

Cream Cheese:

• Vegan Cream Cheese: Use a plant-based cream cheese for a dairy-free or vegan version of the frosting. Keep in mind the texture and taste may vary slightly.
• Mascarpone Cheese: For a richer frosting, mascarpone can be a delightful alternative, lending a creamier and slightly sweeter taste.

Butter:

The substitutes mentioned for the cookies (coconut oil or margarine) apply here as well, keeping the consistency in mind for the desired frosting texture.

Powdered Sugar:

• Coconut Sugar Powdered: You can blend coconut sugar in a blender until it’s very fine and then use it like powdered sugar. It will give a caramel-like flavor and a slight color to your frosting.

Vanilla Extract:

• Maple Syrup: In a pinch, you can use an equal amount of maple syrup to replace vanilla extract. This will add a slight maple flavor, which complements the fall theme.

Final Thoughts

When planning what to serve with your Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting, consider the occasion, the preferences of your guests, and the overall harmony of flavors and textures.