These Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting are soft, chewy, and lightly spiced. They make the perfect fall pumpkin dessert for holiday gatherings, bake sales, or a sweet treat at home. Also try my Loaded Fall Harvest Cookies for a salty sweet cookie option!
With fall baking in full swing, my house has been filled with the warm scents of cinnamon, pumpkin, and apple. I've been flying through cans of pumpkin puree-between my Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins, Pumpkin Spice Brownies, Libby's Pumpkin Bread, and now these soft pumpkin cookies with frosting, there's always a seasonal treat cooling on the counter.
Quick Look: Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 15 minutes
- 🔥 Baking Time: 13-15 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 28-30 minutes
- 🍪 Servings: 24 cookies
- 🥄 Calories: 220 calories per cookie
- 🍂 Flavor Profile: Little bites of autumn coziness- soft, cakey, and lightly spiced
- ✅ Difficulty: Easy, perfect for any Fall gathering or sweet tooth
Jump to:
- Quick Look: Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
- Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Ingredient Notes
- How to Make Easy Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Baking Tips
- Storing & Freezing
- Pumpkin Cookie Recipe FAQs
- More Fall Baking Recipes You’ll Love
- Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
These pumpkin spice cookies are soft, chewy, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious!
- No Chilling– Using simple ingredients and no chill time, the cookie dough is oven-ready fast.
- Freezer Friendly– Both the dough and baked cookies freeze beautifully.
- Fall Flavor in Every Bite– Real pumpkin and warm spices make these thick, tender cookies irresistible.
- Optional Frosting– Enjoy them plain, or take them over the top with tangy cream cheese frosting.
Love pumpkin desserts? Try my Soft Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies or Pumpkin White Chocolate Chip Cookies next!
Ingredient Notes
Using pantry staples, these frosted pumpkin cookies come together quickly. See the printable recipe card below for exact amounts.
Cookies
- All-Purpose Flour– Gives structure to your soft pumpkin cookies.
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda– Help the cookies rise perfectly.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice– Adds cozy fall flavor.
- Butter & Sugars– Keep the cookies sweet, soft, and chewy.
- Pumpkin Puree– I use Libby's Pumpkin Puree.
- Egg & Vanilla– Bind everything together and add flavor.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Cream Cheese & Butter– Make the frosting smooth and creamy.
- Vanilla Extract– Enhances the warm, cozy flavor.
- Powdered Sugar– Sweetens and thickens the frosting.
How to Make Easy Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Step 1. Line a baking sheet with parchment and preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin spice.
Step 2. In a separate bowl, beat butter, sugars, pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
Step 3. Add dry mixture to wet and stir until combined.
Step 4. Drop spoonfuls of dough on the baking sheet and bake for 13-15 minutes. Cool completely.
Step 5. Bake for 13-15 min, or 1-2 minutes longer for extra large cookies.
Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack.
Step 6. Beat cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla until creamy in a medium bowl. Spread over cooled cookies. PRO TIP: Sprinkle with extra spice or chopped walnuts if desired.
Baking Tips
- Cool Completely Before Frosting - Warm cookies will cause the frosting to melt.
- Blot Pumpkin Puree - If using a brand other than Libby's, blot excess liquid with paper towels to avoid sticky cookies. Just like in my Pumpkin S’mores Cookies.
- Don't Overbake - These are best as soft pumpkin cookies, so pull them once the edges are set.
Storing & Freezing
Store– Keep frosted cookies in the fridge (airtight container) for up to 5 days. Freeze Baked Cookies– Freeze unfrosted cookies for up to 3 months. Frost after thawing. Freeze Dough– Scoop dough, flash freeze, and store. Bake straight from frozen with 1-2 extra minutes.
Pumpkin Cookie Recipe FAQs
Yes, however, since homemade pumpkin puree tends to be more liquid filled, I recommend blotting it with paper towels before adding into the cookie dough.
Yes- because of the cream cheese frosting, store them in the fridge.
Extra liquid in the pumpkin puree can cause sticky cookies. Blot or use Libby's for best results.
More Fall Baking Recipes You’ll Love
These Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting are soft, sweet, and full of cozy fall flavors. Perfect for sharing with the family-or sneaking a few yourself!
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Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Pumpkin Cookies
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 1 ¼ cups pumpkin puree
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Make the Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.
- Mix in pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet, mixing until just combined.
- Scoop dough onto prepared sheet with space between cookies.
- Bake 13-15 minutes (slightly longer for larger cookies). Cool completely.
Make the Cream Cheese Frosting
- Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth.
- Add powdered sugar and vanilla, mixing until creamy.
- Spread frosting over cooled cookies. Sprinkle with extra pumpkin pie spice or chopped nuts if desired.
Notes
- Cool cookies completely before frosting to avoid melting.
- Blot extra moisture from homemade or non-Libby's pumpkin puree for soft, non-sticky cookies.
- Store frosted cookies in the fridge up to 5 days; freeze unfrosted cookies up to 3 months.
Carol Lee Rubeck says
These cookies were Delish!! Very hard to only have one!! Great flavor, moist & the icing made it!
Kristin Hayes says
Yay! Love hearing this! Glad you enjoyed!!
Tiffany says
These.cookies are ridiculously good! They are soft and not too sweet. If I wouldn’t regret it, I would eat them all!!!!
Kristin Hayes says
Yay! Love hearing this! Glad you enjoy them as much as my family! Hard to stop at just a few!!
Amy says
These cookies look like little bites of autumn. It’s soft, spiced, and that cream cheese frosting makes them irresistible.
Kristin Hayes says
Glad you enjoyed!! The perfect Fall treat!
Mimi says
I enjoyed making these soft pumpkin cookies. I love adding this yummy frosting!
Kristin Hayes says
Frosting is my fav part, glad you enjoyed!!
Sue Lau says
I love these soft pumpkin cookies! They reminded me when I was a kid. I hadn’t had them in years. Thanks for sharing!
Kristin Hayes says
Glad you enjoyed!! These are a Fall favorite in my house!
Cara says
These cookies are pillow-soft and full of seasonal flavor! Definitely don’t skip the icing, that’s the best part
Kristin Hayes says
So glad you enjoyed as much as we do! The frosting is my fav!!
Maria says
If this isn’t the most classic fall recipe in the world, I don’t know what is!
Kristin Hayes says
Couldn’t agree more! All the Fall yumminess in every bite!
Beth says
Ooh. It’s like pumpkin bars in a cookie form. I LOVE the frosting on top.
Kristin Hayes says
That’s my favorite part! Melt in your mouth cookies!! Glad you enjoyed!
Kristin Hayes says
These cookies are a Fall favorite in my house! We took them to my kids school party and everyone ate them up quickly!