Description
Delight in these Simple Pumpkin Pie Cookies, perfect for bringing the warm, cozy flavors of pumpkin spice into a soft, tender cookie form. These cookies combine creamy cream cheese and pumpkin purée with classic fall spices to create a subtly sweet treat that’s easy to make and ideal for the autumn season or holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 3 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 6 oz unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
- 1/4 cup pumpkin purée
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Topping
- Coarse sugar for coating dough balls
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare baking sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to ensure cookies bake evenly and do not stick.
- Cream butter and cream cheese: In a mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese and unsalted butter until the mixture is smooth and creamy. This creates a rich, tender base for the cookies.
- Add sugars and mix: Gradually add granulated sugar and brown sugar to the creamed mixture. Beat until the mixture becomes fluffy, incorporating air for lightness.
- Incorporate egg yolk and vanilla: Mix in the egg yolk followed by vanilla extract to bind ingredients and add flavor depth.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, pumpkin pie spice, and salt to evenly distribute the spices and salt throughout the flour.
- Mix dry ingredients into wet: Gradually add the dry ingredient mix into the wet ingredients, stirring gently until fully combined to form a smooth dough.
- Form dough balls and coat: Roll the dough into one-inch balls, then gently coat each ball with coarse sugar to add a crunchy, sweet exterior to the cookies.
- Bake cookies: Place the sugar-coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets and bake for about 14 minutes or until the edges turn lightly golden.
- Cool and serve: Allow cookies to cool on wire racks before serving to achieve the best texture and flavor experience.
Notes
- Ensure cream cheese and butter are at room temperature for easier mixing and better texture.
- Use fresh pumpkin purée for best flavor; canned pumpkin purée can also be substituted.
- Do not overbake cookies to keep them soft and tender inside.
- Coating with coarse sugar adds a lovely crunch and presentation flair to each cookie.
- These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
