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Pumpkin Sugar Cookies With Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin sugar cookies with cream cheese frosting are tender, pumpkin-spiced cut-outs baked until just set. Chill the dough for easy rolling, then frost generously and finish with cinnamon sugar for a classic cozy flavor.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
chilling 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 42 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 210
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For cookies
  • 3 cup flour
  • 0.5 tsp baking powder
  • 0.25 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 0.25 cup pumpkin blotted dry
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
For cream cheese frosting
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 0.25 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 3 cup powdered sugar
  • 1.5 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 1 cinnamon sugar for finishing

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Make and chill dough
  1. Preheat the oven to 350F and prepare for baking. Make the pumpkin sugar cookie dough, then chill it for 1 hour so it firms up for easy rolling.
Roll and cut
  1. Roll the chilled dough to 1/4-inch thickness and cut into circles or pumpkin shapes. Keep the shapes even for consistent bake time and clean edges.
Bake and cool
  1. Bake for 10-12 minutes, just until the cookies are set. Transfer to a rack and cool completely before frosting.
Frost and finish
  1. Beat the cream cheese frosting ingredients until smooth. Pipe or spread a thick, generous layer onto each cooled cookie.
  2. Dust the frosted cookies with cinnamon sugar for finishing. Let the topping set briefly before serving.

Notes

Chill time is key: if the dough feels sticky, extend chilling in 15-minute increments until it’s firm enough to roll. Store cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days; for best frosting texture, let them sit at room temperature 10 minutes before eating. Freeze unfrosted cookies (up to 2 months) and frost after thawing; if you need a dairy-light option, use a dairy-free cream cheese substitute for the frosting.