Indulge in the warm and comforting flavors of fall with these soft and flavorful pumpkin sugar cookies. Made with real pumpkin puree, these cookies are moist, tender, and packed with the aromatic spices of the season. Topped with a sweet glaze, they are the perfect treat to enjoy with a cup of hot apple cider or pumpkin spice latte. Whether you're hosting a fall gathering or simply craving a sweet autumnal treat, these pumpkin sugar cookies are sure to satisfy your cravings.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- For the Glaze:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Orange food coloring (optional)
- Sprinkles or colored sugar, for decorating
Directions
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll it out to a thickness of about 1/4 inch.
- Using cookie cutters, cut out shapes from the dough and transfer them to the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- While the cookies are cooling, prepare the glaze by whisking together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl.
- If desired, add a few drops of orange food coloring to the glaze for a festive touch.
- Once the cookies have cooled, spread the glaze over the tops of the cookies and decorate with sprinkles or colored sugar.
- Allow the glaze to set before serving.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Interesting Facts
Pumpkins are a type of winter squash and are native to North America.
The tradition of carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns originated in Ireland.