When autumn arrives and pumpkin spice fills the air, there’s nothing quite like the comfort of freshly baked soft pumpkin cookies topped with rich, creamy cinnamon frosting. These pillowy-soft cookies combine the warm flavors of pumpkin and traditional fall spices, creating the perfect treat for cozy evenings, holiday gatherings, or whenever you’re craving something sweet and seasonal.

The Ultimate Fall Cookie Experience

Soft pumpkin cookies represent the essence of autumn baking. Unlike their crispy counterparts, these cookies maintain a tender, cake-like texture that melts in your mouth. The secret lies in the perfect balance of pumpkin puree, which adds natural moisture and creates that signature orange hue, while a carefully measured blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves provides the warm spice profile that makes these cookies irresistible.

What sets these cookies apart is their incredibly soft texture. The pumpkin puree acts as a natural moisturizer, ensuring each cookie remains tender long after baking. This moisture content, combined with the right ratio of flour to wet ingredients, creates cookies that are substantial enough to hold their shape while remaining delightfully soft to the bite.

Ingredients

Cookie Dough:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons milk

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting:

4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2-3 tablespoons heavy cream or milk

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves until well combined.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter with brown sugar and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes with an electric mixer.
Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and pumpkin puree until the mixture is smooth and well incorporated.
Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix just until combined.
Using a cookie scoop or spoon, drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the cookies are set around the edges but still soft in the center. The tops should spring back lightly when touched.
Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon, beating until fluffy. Add cream one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
Once cookies are completely cool, frost each cookie with a generous swirl of cinnamon frosting.

Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Cinnamon Frosting

Incredibly soft, spiced pumpkin cookies topped with rich cinnamon cream cheese frosting, perfect for fall celebrations.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 25

Cook Time 15

Total Time 40

Servings: 24 cookies

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American, Autumn

Calories: 185

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

Cookie Dough

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
0.5 tsp baking soda
0.5 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
0.5 tsp ground nutmeg
0.25 tsp ground cloves
0.5 cup unsalted butter softened
0.75 cup brown sugar packed
0.25 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
0.75 cup pumpkin puree
2 tbsp milk

Cinnamon Frosting

4 oz cream cheese softened
0.25 cup unsalted butter softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
2-3 tbsp heavy cream or milk

Equipment

Large mixing bowls
Electric mixer
Baking sheets
Wire cooling racks
Cookie scoop

Method

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
In large bowl, cream butter with brown sugar and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
Beat in egg, vanilla extract, and pumpkin puree until smooth and well incorporated.
Gradually add dry ingredients alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix just until combined.
Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
Bake 12-15 minutes until edges are set but centers are still soft. Cool on baking sheet 5 minutes.
Transfer to wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon until fluffy.
Add cream one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached. Frost cooled cookies.

Notes

Store unfrosted cookies at room temperature up to 1 week. Frosted cookies should be refrigerated up to 5 days. Cookies freeze well for up to 3 months unfrosted.

Mastering the Perfect Texture

The key to achieving perfectly soft pumpkin cookies lies in understanding how each ingredient contributes to the final texture. Brown sugar adds moisture and creates a tender crumb, while the combination of baking powder and baking soda provides the right amount of lift without making the cookies too cake-like. The pumpkin puree not only infuses the cookies with flavor but also acts as a natural tenderizer.

Timing is crucial when baking these cookies. Overbaking will result in dry, hard cookies that lose their signature softness. The cookies are done when the edges are set but the centers still look slightly underbaked. They’ll continue cooking on the hot baking sheet even after being removed from the oven.

Frosting Techniques That Make a Difference

The cinnamon cream cheese frosting is what transforms these good cookies into extraordinary ones. The combination of cream cheese and butter creates a tangy-sweet balance that complements the earthy pumpkin flavors perfectly. The addition of cinnamon ties the frosting to the cookie’s spice profile, creating a harmonious flavor experience.

When making the frosting, ensure both the cream cheese and butter are at room temperature. Cold ingredients won’t cream properly and can result in a lumpy frosting. Beat the mixture thoroughly to incorporate air, which creates the light, fluffy texture that makes this frosting so appealing.

For the best application, wait until the cookies are completely cool before frosting. Warm cookies will cause the frosting to melt and slide off. Use a piping bag fitted with a star tip for professional-looking swirls, or simply spread the frosting with an offset spatula for a more rustic appearance.

Seasonal Variations and Creative Twists

While these cookies are perfect as written, there are numerous ways to customize them for different occasions or personal preferences. Consider adding mini chocolate chips to the dough for extra sweetness, or incorporate chopped pecans or walnuts for added texture and nutty flavor.

For those who prefer less sweetness, reduce the sugar slightly and add an extra tablespoon of pumpkin puree to maintain the moisture content. You can also experiment with different spice combinations – try adding a pinch of cardamom or ginger for a more complex flavor profile.

The frosting offers even more opportunities for creativity. Maple extract can replace vanilla for an autumn twist, or you can add a tablespoon of caramel sauce for extra richness. For chocolate lovers, a cream cheese chocolate frosting pairs beautifully with the pumpkin base.

Storage and Serving Suggestions

Proper storage ensures these cookies maintain their soft texture for days. Store unfrosted cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. If you’ve already frosted them, they should be stored in the refrigerator and can last up to five days. Allow refrigerated frosted cookies to come to room temperature before serving for the best texture and flavor.

These cookies freeze exceptionally well, making them perfect for advance preparation. Freeze unfrosted cookies in airtight containers for up to three months. Thaw at room temperature and frost just before serving. The frosting can also be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to one week – just let it come to room temperature and give it a quick whip before using.

Perfect Pumpkin Cookie Conclusions

These soft pumpkin cookies with cinnamon frosting represent everything wonderful about fall baking. They’re approachable enough for novice bakers yet sophisticated enough to impress at any gathering. The combination of tender, spiced cookies and rich, creamy frosting creates a dessert that captures the essence of autumn in every bite.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect addition to a holiday cookie platter, a cozy treat to enjoy with your morning coffee, or a special dessert to share with loved ones, these cookies deliver on all fronts. The recipe is reliable, the results are consistently delicious, and the warm spices create an atmosphere of comfort and joy that embodies the best of seasonal baking.

Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Cinnamon Frosting