These old fashioned soft pumpkin cookies with ginger Cream Cheese icing taste amazing and are perfect to bake in the fall. This recipe is easy to make and uses simple ingredients.
I have made these to take for my Thanksgiving gathering and everyone raved about how good they are. They are amazing plain but spread a little ginger cream cheese frosting on them and they are superb! The cookies also make a great gift to give during the holidays.
Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting: A Cozy Fall Treat
As the crisp fall air begins to settle in, there’s nothing more comforting than the aroma of pumpkin and spices wafting through your home. These soft pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting are the perfect way to celebrate the season.
They’re moist, flavorful, and topped with a silky cream cheese frosting that adds just the right amount of sweetness.
Whether you’re looking for a treat to share with friends or something to enjoy with a cup of coffee, these cookies are sure to become a fall favorite.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Cookies:
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 3/4 cup butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 3 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 4 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
- 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 to 2 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar, sifted
- 2 tablespoons water (or more, as needed)
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Dry Ingredients In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. This mixture will give your cookies that classic fall flavor with warm, cozy spices.
Step 2: Mix the Sugars and Butter In another large bowl, mix the dark brown sugar and butter together until well combined. The brown sugar adds a deep, rich sweetness that pairs perfectly with the pumpkin. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is evenly mixed.
Step 3: Add the Wet Ingredients Now, add the egg, canned pumpkin, and vanilla extract to the sugar and butter mixture. Beat everything together until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. The pumpkin will give the cookies their moist texture and beautiful orange color.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients With your mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Blend until everything is just combined, being careful not to overmix. Overmixing can lead to dense cookies, and we want these to be soft and tender.
Step 5: Add Raisins and Walnuts Fold in the raisins and chopped walnuts. The raisins add a burst of sweetness, while the walnuts bring a satisfying crunch. These mix-ins make the cookies extra special and perfect for fall.
Step 6: Bake the Cookies Drop the cookie dough by tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 20-24 minutes, or until the cookies are done when touched in the middle. They should be slightly firm but still soft.
Step 7: Make the Cream Cheese Frosting While the cookies cool, prepare the frosting. In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, and ground ginger together until smooth. Slowly add the sifted confectioner’s sugar, a little at a time, until the frosting reaches your desired consistency. If the frosting is too thick, add a bit of water until it’s smooth and spreadable.
Step 8: Frost the Cookies Once the cookies have completely cooled, spread a generous amount of cream cheese frosting on each one. The frosting will complement the soft, spiced cookies perfectly, adding a creamy sweetness that will have everyone reaching for seconds.
Step 9: Serve and Enjoy These soft pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting are best enjoyed with a warm beverage and good company. They’re perfect for holiday gatherings, fall festivals, or just a cozy night in.
Final Thoughts on Soft Pumpkin Cookies
These cookies capture the essence of fall with every bite. The combination of pumpkin, spices, raisins, and walnuts creates a flavorful, moist cookie that pairs perfectly with the creamy, tangy frosting. Whether you’re an experienced baker or just looking for a new fall recipe to try, these soft pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting are a must-bake. Enjoy the warmth and comfort they bring to your kitchen this season!
Pumpkin Cookies with Ginger Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 3/4 cup butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
Frosting
- 3 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- 4 tablespoons butter at room temperature
- 1/8 tsp ground ginger
- 2-2 1/2 cups confectioner sugar, sifted
- 2 tablespoons water (or more)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the first 4 ingredients.
- In another bowl mix the sugars then add the butter and beat well. Scrape down sides of bowl and mix again.
- Now add the eggs, pumpkin and vanilla. Mix until light and fluffy.
- At low speed, blend in the flour mixture.
- Add in the raisins and nuts and stir until combined.
- Drop by tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20-24 minutes or until cookies are done when touched in the middle.
Ginger Cream Cheese Frosting
- Beat the cream cheese, butter, and ground ginger together until light and fluffy. Add the confectioners' sugar and thin with water to proper spreading consistency. Spread a thin layer of frosting on each cookie.
If you love pumpkin desserts like I do, then try my Easy Pumpkin and Yellow Cake Mix Recipe (It’s So Good!) It is my favorite fall cake to make. Also try my moist Pumpkin Bread Recipe with Cinnamon Sugar Topping it’s amazing!
Thanks for dropping by friends! Be sure to leave a comment I would really appreciate it!
