Deliciously Soft Pumpkin Spice Cookies with Glaze
These Deliciously Soft Pumpkin Spice Cookies are the perfect treat to embrace the spirit of fall. Inspired by a memorable outing to a corn maze, these delightful cookies quickly became a family favorite. They are incredibly soft and tender, reminiscent of little breads, ensuring they appeal to everyone—even those who prefer non-chewy desserts! The combination of warm spices, creamy pumpkin puree, and a sweet glaze makes these cookies not only a delicious dessert but also a seasonal staple. Ideal for sharing with friends and family during the harvest season, each bite is a celebration of autumn's flavors.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
16
Ingredients
Ingredients
all-purpose flour
2.5 cups (measure and sift before adding to the mixture)
baking soda
1 teaspoon (sifted)
baking powder
1 teaspoon (sifted)
ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon (sifted)
ground nutmeg
0.5 teaspoon (sifted)
salt
0.5 teaspoon (sifted)
granulated sugar
1.5 cups (measured)
butter, softened
0.5 cup (softened to room temperature)
pumpkin puree
1 cup (canned or homemade)
large egg
1 (beaten)
vanilla extract
1 teaspoon (measured)
nuts (optional)
0.5 cup (chopped)
confectioners' sugar
2 cups (sifted)
milk
3 tablespoons (measured)
melted butter
1 tablespoon (melted)
vanilla extract
1 teaspoon (measured for glaze)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease your baking sheets with butter or line them with parchment paper.
2
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
3
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together using an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy.
4
Add the pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture, and mix until everything is smoothly combined.
5
Gradually incorporate the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined. If desired, fold in the nuts at this stage.
6
Using a rounded tablespoon, drop dollops of the cookie batter onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
7
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the cookies are set around the edges but still soft in the center.
8
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 2 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
9
While the cookies are cooling, prepare the glaze by combining the sifted confectioners' sugar, milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract in a small bowl. Mix until smooth.
10
Once the cookies have cooled completely, drizzle the glaze over each cookie generously, allowing it to set before serving.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Deliciously Soft Pumpkin Spice Cookies?
These are soft, tender cookies infused with pumpkin puree and seasonal spices, finished with a sweet glaze, making them a perfect fall treat.
What is the texture of these pumpkin spice cookies?
The cookies are incredibly soft and tender, similar to small breads, rather than being chewy.
At what temperature should I bake these cookies?
The cookies should be baked at 350°F (175°C).
How long do the cookies need to bake?
They should bake for 15 to 18 minutes until the edges are set but the centers remain soft.
What ingredients are needed for the cookie dough?
You will need all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, granulated sugar, softened butter, pumpkin puree, a large egg, and vanilla extract.
Can I add nuts to the recipe?
Yes, you can optionally fold in 0.5 cup of chopped nuts before baking.
How do I prepare the baking sheets?
Grease your baking sheets with butter or line them with parchment paper.
What is the first step in making the dough?
Whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl.
How should I mix the butter and sugar?
Beat the softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy.
When do I add the pumpkin puree?
Add the pumpkin puree along with the egg and vanilla extract to the creamed butter and sugar mixture.
What type of pumpkin should I use?
You can use either canned pumpkin puree or homemade pumpkin puree.
How should I combine the wet and dry ingredients?
Gradually incorporate the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined.
How do I portion the cookie batter?
Drop rounded tablespoons of the batter onto the prepared baking sheets.
How much space should I leave between cookies?
Space the dollops of batter about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.
How long should the cookies cool on the sheet?
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 2 minutes before moving them to a wire rack.
What are the ingredients for the glaze?
The glaze consists of sifted confectioners' sugar, milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract.
How do I make the glaze?
Combine the ingredients in a small bowl and mix until the texture is smooth.
When should I apply the glaze?
Drizzle the glaze over the cookies only after they have cooled completely.
Should the confectioners' sugar be sifted?
Yes, sifting the confectioners' sugar ensures the glaze is smooth and free of lumps.
How much flour is required?
The recipe calls for 2.5 cups of all-purpose flour.
How much pumpkin puree is used?
The recipe requires 1 cup of pumpkin puree.
Is the butter for the dough melted or softened?
The butter for the dough should be softened to room temperature, while the butter for the glaze should be melted.
What spices give the cookies their flavor?
Ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg provide the signature pumpkin spice flavor.
How much granulated sugar is in the cookies?
The recipe uses 1.5 cups of granulated sugar.
Can I use an electric mixer for this recipe?
Yes, an electric mixer is recommended for beating the butter and sugar until fluffy.
How many eggs are in this recipe?
This recipe requires one large, beaten egg.
What is the yield of the recipe?
While not explicitly stated as a count, the recipe uses 16 ingredients to make multiple batches based on rounded tablespoons spaced 2 inches apart.
Is vanilla extract used in both the dough and glaze?
Yes, vanilla extract is added to both the cookie batter and the glaze for extra flavor.
Should the glaze set before serving?
Yes, allow the glaze to set on the cookies before serving them.
What inspired this recipe?
This recipe was inspired by a family outing to a corn maze during the autumn harvest season.