Pumpkin Pie Cookie Recipe

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If you’re searching for a delightful twist on classic fall flavors, this Pumpkin Pie Cookie Recipe will quickly become your new favorite treat. Imagine tender, buttery cookies bursting with warm pumpkin spice and a luscious pumpkin filling nestled right in the center, creating a perfect balance of soft and creamy textures. It’s the ultimate comfort in cookie form, capturing the essence of everything we love about pumpkin pie but in a hand-held, shareable delight. Whether you’re baking for a cozy afternoon or impressing guests at a festive gathering, these cookies are sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face.

Ingredients You’ll Need

These ingredients are straightforward but play essential roles in making the Pumpkin Pie Cookie Recipe come to life. Each component brings flavor, texture, or color that blends together beautifully to create cookies that are soft, flavorful, and absolutely irresistible.

• All-purpose flour (2 ⅔ cups / 337g): The foundation of the cookie dough, providing structure and tenderness.
• Pumpkin spice (1 tablespoon): A warm blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves that gives the cookies their signature autumnal aroma.
• Salt (½ teaspoon): Balances sweetness and enhances depth of flavor.
• Cream cheese (3 oz / 86g): Adds richness and a slight tang, making the dough luxuriously soft.
• Unsalted butter (12 tablespoons / 6 oz): Key for tender crumb and that iconic buttery taste.
• Granulated sugar (½ cup / 110g): Sweetens the dough and helps with a light texture.
• Brown sugar, packed (½ cup / 112g): Brings moisture and a subtle molasses note.
• Egg yolk (1 large): Binds ingredients and enriches the dough.
• Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon): Adds a fragrant sweetness that complements pumpkin perfectly.
• Coarse sugar (⅓ cup / 78g): For rolling the dough balls to add a delightful sugary crunch.
• Egg (1 large): Used in the filling to help create a creamy texture with body.
• Brown sugar, packed (¼ cup / 56g): Sweetens the pumpkin filling with warmth.
• Pinch of salt: Enhances all the subtle flavors in the filling.
• Pumpkin spice (½ teaspoon): Fine-tunes the filling’s flavor to match the dough’s seasoning.
• Whole milk (¼ cup / 2 oz): Adds creaminess and balances thickness of the filling.
• Pumpkin puree (½ cup / 122g): The star ingredient, delivering that unmistakable pumpkin flavor and moist texture.
• Vanilla extract (¼ teaspoon): Subtle lift for the filling’s sweetness.
• Whipped cream (optional): The perfect finishing touch for serving, adding a light, creamy contrast.

How to Make Pumpkin Pie Cookie Recipe

Step 1: Preheat and Prepare Your Baking Surface

Start by heating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lining a cookie sheet with parchment paper. This ensures the cookies bake evenly and don’t stick, making cleanup a breeze. It’s a foundational step that sets you up for success!

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients for the Dough

In a bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, pumpkin spice, and salt. This dry mix evenly distributes the spices and seasoning throughout the cookies, ensuring every bite is packed with cozy flavor.

Step 3: Cream the Butter, Cream Cheese, and Sugars

Using a mixer, beat the room temperature cream cheese, butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on medium-high speed until fluffy and light—about 3 minutes. This process aerates the mixture, creating the tender texture you want. Remember to scrape down the sides for an even mix.

Step 4: Incorporate Egg Yolk and Vanilla

Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture and blend until fully combined. These ingredients introduce richness and flavor depth, rounding out the dough’s taste beautifully.

Step 5: Combine Dough Ingredients

Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture in three parts, mixing gently between additions. Folding a few times with a spatula helps avoid overworking the dough while ensuring no dry pockets remain. The dough will be thick and ready for shaping.

Step 6: Prepare the Pumpkin Filling

In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, brown sugar, salt, pumpkin spice, whole milk, pumpkin puree, and vanilla extract until smooth. This creamy filling balances the dough’s texture, giving the cookies a luscious center.

Step 7: Shape and Coat the Cookie Dough

Use a cookie scoop to portion the dough into 2-tablespoon balls. Roll each one in coarse sugar to create a sweet, sparkling crust when baked. Place them about 2 inches apart on your prepared cookie sheet. This technique ensures cookies don’t spread into each other and get that beautiful outer crunch.

Step 8: Create Wells and Fill

Press down gently with a tablespoon measuring spoon to form small wells in the center of each dough ball. Carefully fill each well with 1 tablespoon of your pumpkin filling. This step transforms simple cookie dough into a show-stopping treat.

Step 9: Bake Until Set

Bake the cookies for 14 to 17 minutes, or until set and the bottoms turn a light golden brown. Let them cool on a wire rack before handling. This allows the filling to firm up just right while maintaining that delightful softness.

Step 10: Repeat and Decorate

Once the cookie sheet is cool, continue baking the remaining dough. When ready to serve, add a dollop or pipe whipped cream on top of each cookie and sprinkle with a pinch of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon for extra flair and flavor.

How to Serve Pumpkin Pie Cookie Recipe

Garnishes

Whipped cream is a classic choice to crown these cookies, adding a luscious, airy quality that complements the dense filling. For an extra touch, sprinkle a little cinnamon or additional pumpkin pie spice over the top. Chopped pecans or a drizzle of caramel sauce can also elevate the presentation and texture beautifully.

Side Dishes

Pair these cookies with a warm cup of spiced tea, rich coffee, or even a creamy chai latte for a cozy treat. They also work wonderfully alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a warm apple cider, playing up the luscious fall flavors for a complete dessert experience.

Creative Ways to Present

Serve the Pumpkin Pie Cookie Recipe on a festive platter garnished with autumn leaves or mini pumpkins for seasonal charm. You can also arrange them in small decorative boxes or mason jars as thoughtful gifts or party favors. For an interactive touch, set up a mini topping bar with whipped cream, nuts, and sprinkles for guests to customize their own cookies.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Place cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh and soft for up to 3 days, perfect for enjoying over a few cozy mornings or afternoons. If you want to keep the filling extra moist, add a slice of bread in the container to retain moisture.

Freezing

If you need to save them for later, freeze the baked cookies by placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet until solid. Then transfer to an airtight freezer-safe container or bag. They can be stored up to 2 months this way. When ready to eat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Reheating

To revive their fresh-baked warmth, reheat cookies in a 300-degree Fahrenheit oven for about 5 to 7 minutes. This softens the cookie and creamy filling so they taste just like the moment they came out of the oven. Alternatively, a quick 10-second zap in the microwave works in a pinch, but the oven method is best for texture.

FAQs

Can I use canned pumpkin puree for this recipe?

Absolutely! Canned pumpkin puree works perfectly in the Pumpkin Pie Cookie Recipe. Just be sure to use pure pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling to keep the sweetness and spices under your control.

What if I don’t have pumpkin pie spice? Can I make my own?

Yes, you can easily blend your own pumpkin pie spice using cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. It gives you control over the flavor and freshness for this Pumpkin Pie Cookie Recipe.

Can these cookies be made gluten-free?

To make a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend. Just ensure your blend contains xanthan gum for proper texture and structure.

Why does the dough require cream cheese?

Cream cheese adds a wonderful tang and richness that keeps these cookies extra soft and moist, distinguishing them from typical pumpkin cookies and making this Pumpkin Pie Cookie Recipe truly special.

Can I prepare the cookie dough or filling ahead of time?

Yes! The dough can be made up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated, and the filling can be mixed a day ahead and chilled. This makes baking day stress-free and allows flavors to meld nicely before assembling.

Final Thoughts

These Pumpkin Pie Cookie Recipe cookies are a warm hug in dessert form, perfect for sharing and savoring throughout the fall and winter months. The blend of soft dough, spiced pumpkin filling, and optional whipped cream topping creates an unforgettable treat everyone will ask you to make again. I can’t wait for you to try this recipe and discover how wonderfully festive and comforting pumpkin cookies can be!

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