These Soft Pumpkin Cookies are a fall favorite around here. I think these pumpkin cookies are the perfect way to celebrate the fall season!
We just recently realized we’d never shared them with you all on Lovely Little Kitchen. Time to change that, friends!
We both thought for sure they were on here somewhere… If I remember correctly, these Soft Pumpkin Cookies even won first place in a cookie baking contest at church years ago! They are loved by many, for sure.
These are probably the softest, fluffiest pumpkin cookies I’ve ever tasted. They are like little pumpkin-y pillows that melt in your mouth.
I think they probably do fall into the category of a more “cake-like” cookie, which I think some baker’s try to avoid, but to me they are so tender and light, the texture is just perfect.
They are a cross between a cookie and the top half of a muffin.
I love how rolling the dough in powdered sugar gives them that crinkle cookie look, and their resemblance to a snow-covered mountain peak makes them decidedly wintery and cozy.
Sometimes the powdered sugar melts into the dough before you bake it, and won’t be as visible when they come out of the oven. You can roll them in powdered sugar twice if you’d really like to see that powdery crackle.
Does Soft Pumpkin Cookie dough need to be chilled?
The dough for Soft Pumpkin Cookies will be pretty sticky. If you have a cookie dough scoop, you may be able to unload the dough straight from the scoop into the powdered sugar so you don’t have to roll them in your hands. Chilling the dough will help, but they are a little messy, as are most good things!
Can I use fresh pumpkin rather than canned?
Some of us love the convenience of keeping a can of pumpkin puree in the pantry and pulling it out to make Soft Pumpkin Cookies, or the Best Ever Pumpkin Muffins when the craving strikes. But it you have fresh pumpkins available to roast and use in your baking, this is a great recipe to try.
This is the easiest way to roast a pumpkin. Sometimes a freshly roasted pumpkin will have more liquid than a can, so make sure you strain out as much of the liquid as possible. You can set the pumpkin puree in a fine mesh stainer over a bowl for a few hours to catch the drips.
What is the difference between pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie filling?
A can of pumpkin puree will only list pumpkin for the ingredients. Look for 100% pure pumpkin puree on the front of the label.
Pumpkin pie filling is often right next to the pumpkin puree on the grocery store shelf and looks similar but is a very different ingredient. It is already spiced and much sweeter. Because of this they are not interchangeable in recipes.
Did you make this recipe?
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Soft Pumpkin Cookies
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Total Time: 32 mins
- Yield: 3 dozen 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Soft Pumpkin Cookies are the softest, fluffiest, most tender pumpkin cookies I have ever tasted! They will absolutely melt in your mouth!
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup pure pumpkin
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper or spray with non-stick baking spray.
- Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl.
- Beat granulated sugar and butter with mixer on medium high speed, then blend in pumpkin, egg, and vanilla until incorporated.
- Gradually mix in flour and dry ingredients. Refrigerate dough for 3-4 hours.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Scoop dough into one inch balls. Roll in powder sugar, place dough balls on baking sheet (12 per sheet) and bake for 11-13 minutes.
- Remove from baking sheet to a cooling rack. When completely cool, store cookies in an airtight container.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cookie
- Calories: 103
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 101mg
- Fat: 2.8g
- Saturated Fat: 1.7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.9g
- Trans Fat: 0.1g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1.2g
- Cholesterol: 12mg
Melanie says
These cookies are amazing! Almost too good. I get asked to make them ALL the time by anyone that I’ve made them for before. Even my SIL who is an experienced baker thought these were incredible.
When rolling the cookies in the powdered sugar I like to put them in a small bowl and shake in a clockwise rotation. it helps round out the balls and get good coverage with minimal mess.
These are a dessert staple in my family – even people that don’t love pumpkin love these cookies.
Chey says
Has anyone tried this recipe with almond flour? Did affect the the way it baked or tasted?
April says
I hope so because we are trying that tonight. Didn’t work for you?
Claudia says
I have made this cookies and they were delicious however I was wondering if I can make the dough , chill it, scoop it into balls then freeze them so I can bake them another day?
Sue B Goodrich says
What altitude are these cookies best for? I live at 6,200 ft elevation.
Thank you for the information.
Lois says
These cookies are the best cookies I have ever baked. The only thing I changed was I used 1 1/3 cups sugar and just use 1/2 tsp cinnamon and did not use other any other spices. I did use Vanilla.
Kathy Willis says
Hi! I need some help! I used fresh pumpkin and my cookie batter is so thin! I added flour then had to add more pumpkin! I refrigerated it overnight ND still seems thin but I don’t want to keep adding flour. Any suggestions?
Julie says
Hi – I think I would just try to bake them as is. If you add more flour they will taste bland. The cookies might have a different texture but still taste good. In the future, strain fresh pumpkin puree over cheesecloth to remove excess liquid. It should be the same thickness as canned pumpkin before using to bake.
Dez says
I have been making these cookies ever since I found this recipe, it has been a HUGE hit at home. I also share these with friends and family and they wanted the recipe. I also add Tollhouse Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chip Chunks to do them and it’s just perfect. I’d recommend trying it!