Amazing Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Cinnamon Frosting

October 3, 2025 by Emily

It’s October in New York City, and that means one thing: pumpkin everything! While I adore a good pumpkin spice latte, nothing quite beats the warmth and comfort of homemade cookies.

These Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Cinnamon Frosting are my absolute favorite fall treat. From start to finish, you’ll be enjoying these in about an hour.

Get ready for a delightful baking experience with these soft pumpkin cookies!

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Why You’ll Love These Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Cinnamon Frosting

These cookies are a fall favorite for a reason, and I think you’ll agree!

They stay soft for days: Thanks to the pumpkin and shortening, these cookies remain delightfully soft, even a few days after baking.
Quick to make: From mixing to frosting, these cookies come together in under an hour, perfect for a cozy afternoon.
Cinnamon frosting perfection: The cream cheese frosting, with a hint of cinnamon, is the perfect complement to the spiced pumpkin flavor.
Simple ingredients: You likely already have most of these ingredients in your pantry, making it easy to whip up a batch whenever the craving strikes.

Ingredients for Soft Pumpkin Cookies

Here’s what you’ll need to create these little bites of autumn joy:

1/2 cup vegetable shortening (Sweet Cream Salted): The Sweet Cream Salted shortening adds moisture and a tender crumb to the cookies.
1 cup Granulated Sugar: Sugar not only adds sweetness but also helps with browning and texture.
1 cup Canned Pumpkin: Pumpkin puree adds moisture and a subtle pumpkin flavor, creating a soft and chewy cookie.
2 Large Eggs: Eggs bind the ingredients together and contribute to the cookie’s structure.
4 teaspoons Baking Powder: Baking powder is the leavening agent that helps the cookies rise and become light and airy.
1 teaspoon Salt: Salt enhances the flavors of all the other ingredients, balancing the sweetness.
2 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon: Cinnamon adds a warm, classic spice flavor that complements the pumpkin perfectly.
1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg: Nutmeg adds a hint of warmth and complexity to the spice profile.
1/4 teaspoon Ginger: Ginger provides a subtle zing and depth of flavor.
2 cups All-Purpose Flour: All-purpose flour provides the structure for the cookies.
1 Cup Chopped Walnuts or Pecans (optional): Nuts add a delightful crunch and nutty flavor.
1 batch of The Best Cream Cheese Frosting: The Best Cream Cheese Frosting adds a tangy sweetness that perfectly complements the pumpkin spice.

How to Make Pumpkin Cookies with Cinnamon Frosting: Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps to bake your own batch of soft pumpkin cookies.

Step 1: In a mixer cream the vegetable shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Creaming these ingredients together creates a light and airy base for the cookies.
Step 2: Add eggs and pumpkin and mix well. This ensures the wet ingredients are fully incorporated for a smooth batter.
Step 3: Sift flour, baking powder, salt and spices together and fold into cookie batter. Sifting ensures there are no lumps and evenly distributes the spices.
Step 4: Mix until well blended. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies.
Step 5: Drop a spoonful of the cookie batter onto a cookie sheet and flatten slightly with a spoon. This helps the cookies bake evenly.
Step 6: Bake in a 350 degree oven for approximately 12 minutes. Keep an eye on them to prevent overbaking.
Step 7: Allow to cool. Cooling is essential for the cookies to set properly.
Step 8: Frost with The Best Cream Cheese Frosting or Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting. Frosting adds a touch of sweetness and a beautiful finish.
Step 9: Sprinkle cinnamon over the frosting. The cinnamon adds extra flavor and a festive touch.

Baking Tips for Perfect Soft Pumpkin Cookies

Here are some tips to ensure your cookies come out perfectly every time!

Don’t overmix the dough: Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, resulting in tough cookies. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
Use a cookie scoop for uniform cookies: A cookie scoop ensures that all your cookies are the same size, so they bake evenly.
How to tell when the cookies are perfectly done: The edges should be set, but the center should still be slightly soft. They will continue to set as they cool.
Why cooling completely is essential: Cooling allows the cookies to firm up and prevents them from crumbling when you frost them.

Cinnamon Frosting for Pumpkin Cookies (Recipe)

For these pumpkin cookies, I like to start with my recipe for The Best Cream Cheese Frosting. To make it a cinnamon cream cheese frosting, add about 1-2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon to the frosting while mixing. You’ll want the frosting to be thick enough to spread easily without being too runny.

Other Delicious Frosting Variations

While I adore cinnamon cream cheese frosting, here are a couple of other options you might enjoy:

Brown Butter Frosting: Brown the butter in a saucepan until it turns golden brown and has a nutty aroma. Let it cool slightly, then add it to your favorite frosting recipe. This adds a rich, nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with pumpkin.
Maple Glaze: Mix maple syrup with powdered sugar until you reach a smooth, glaze-like consistency. Drizzle over the cooled cookies for a simple yet delicious finish.

Decorating Ideas for Your Soft Pumpkin Cookies

Let’s get creative with decorating!

Layer frostings: Create a swirl effect by layering cream cheese frosting and brown butter frosting.
Fall-themed sprinkles: Use fall-colored sprinkles or edible glitter for a festive touch.
Frosting patterns: Use a piping bag to create intricate designs on top of the frosting.
Chopped nuts: Sprinkle chopped walnuts or pecans over the frosting for added texture and flavor.

Here’s how to troubleshoot common cookie issues:

Flat cookies: This can be caused by using too much sugar or not enough flour. Make sure to measure your ingredients accurately.
Dry cookies: This can be caused by overbaking or using too much flour. Be careful not to overbake and measure your ingredients precisely.
Tough cookies: This is usually caused by overmixing the dough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
Cookies that spread too thin: This can be caused by using butter that is too soft. Make sure your butter is cold, but still pliable.

Serving Suggestions

These cookies are delicious on their own, but here are some ways to elevate the experience:

Beverage pairings: Pair them with a warm cup of coffee, tea, or apple cider. A great option to consider is Colombian Coconut Limeade for a refreshing pairing.
Fall-themed brunch: Include these cookies as part of a fall-themed brunch spread.
Dessert board: Add them to a dessert board with other fall treats like mini pies, caramel apples, and pumpkin bread.

Make-Ahead and Gifting Instructions

Here’s how to plan ahead and share the love:

Make-ahead dough: The dough can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Baked cookies: Baked cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Gifting: Package the cookies in cellophane bags, tie with a ribbon, and add a gift tag for a personal touch.

Storing Your Soft Pumpkin Cookies

To keep your cookies fresh:

Room temperature: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezer: Freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Prevent freezer burn by wrapping individually in plastic wrap before placing in the container.

Recipe Variations

Let’s mix things up:

Frosted Pumpkin Cookies: Use your favorite frosting recipe to add a touch of sweetness.
Caramel Pumpkin Cookies: Drizzle caramel sauce over the frosted cookies for a decadent treat.
Pumpkin Nut Cookies: Add more chopped nuts to the dough for extra crunch.
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies: Add chocolate chips to the dough for a chocolatey twist. You can find other great options in our treats and drinks category if you want other great ideas.

FAQs about Pumpkin Cookies With Cinnamon Frosting

Can I use pumpkin pie spice instead of individual spices? What is the equivalent?

Yes, you can use pumpkin pie spice. Use 2 1/2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice to replace the cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.

What kind of flour works best? (All-purpose, bread flour, etc.) What is the impact on the cookie texture?

All-purpose flour works best for these cookies. Bread flour will result in a chewier cookie.

Can this recipe be easily doubled or tripled for a large batch?

Yes, this recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a large batch.

How can I adjust the recipe for high altitude baking?

Reduce the baking powder by 1/4 teaspoon and increase the flour by 2 tablespoons.

How to adapt the recipe to be vegan or gluten-free?

For a vegan version, substitute the eggs with flax eggs and use a plant-based shortening. For a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.

Conclusion

These Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Cinnamon Frosting are the perfect way to celebrate the fall season. They’re easy to make, stay soft for days, and are bursting with warm, comforting flavors.

I hope you’ll give this recipe a try and share your results with me! Leave a comment below with any questions or feedback. Happy baking!

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