Description
These Halloween Pumpkin Spice Cookies are soft, spiced, and topped with creamy frosting—perfect for cozy, spooky celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cookies:
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1½ cups brown sugar
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Frosting:
- ½ cup (1 stick) softened butter
- ½ cup softened cream cheese
- 2–3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or vanilla bean paste for added richness)
Instructions
- Preheat & Prep
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. - Mix Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Set aside. - Cream Butter & Sugar
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar until fluffy, about 2–3 minutes. - Add Wet Ingredients
Mix in the pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla extract. Blend until smooth. - Combine Wet & Dry
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Stir just until combined—do not overmix. - Scoop & Bake
Drop tablespoon-sized scoops onto prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake for 10–12 minutes or until edges are set and tops look puffed. - Cool Completely
Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool before frosting. - Make the Frosting
Beat butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar until desired consistency is reached. Mix in vanilla. - Frost & Decorate
Once cookies are cool, spread or pipe frosting on top. Optional: add Halloween sprinkles, edible glitter, or candy eyes.
Notes
Use canned pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling (which contains spices and sweeteners).
Adjust frosting thickness by using more or less powdered sugar.
For extra spice, add ¼ tsp ground ginger to the dry mix.
Let the cookies cool fully before frosting to prevent melting.
Keywords: Halloween Pumpkin Spice Cookies