Soft Pumpkin Cookies (Printable)

Tender, cake-like pumpkin cookies with warm spices ready in under 30 minutes.

# What you'll need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 tsp baking powder
03 - 1 tsp baking soda
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 2 tsp ground cinnamon
06 - 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
07 - 1/2 tsp ground ginger
08 - 1/4 tsp ground cloves

→ Wet Ingredients

09 - 1 cup granulated sugar
10 - 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
11 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
12 - 1 cup pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling)
13 - 1 large egg
14 - 1 tsp vanilla extract

→ Optional Add-ins

15 - 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped nuts

# How to make it:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.
03 - In a large bowl, cream together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and butter until light and fluffy.
04 - Beat in the pumpkin purée, egg, and vanilla extract until well combined.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until incorporated.
06 - Fold in chocolate chips or nuts, if using.
07 - Drop the dough by rounded tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart.
08 - Bake for 11–13 minutes, or until the edges are set and the tops look dry.
09 - Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They stay incredibly soft for days unlike other cookies that turn into rocks
  • The spice blend is perfectly balanced so you get warmth without being overwhelmed
  • One bowl cleanup is minimal when you are baking for a crowd
02 -
  • Real pumpkin purée is absolutely essential because pie filling has sweeteners and spices that will throw off the entire recipe
  • These cookies look done before they actually are so trust the time rather than the appearance
  • The dough will be much softer than typical cookie dough which is completely normal and necessary for the final texture
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients incorporate more evenly and create better texture
  • Measure flour by spooning it into the measuring cup and leveling off rather than scooping directly

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