Description
These Pumpkin Spice Cutouts are soft, flavorful cookies infused with warm autumn spices and pumpkin puree. Perfect for fall gatherings or holiday decorating, they offer a delightful balance of sweetness and spice with a tender texture that holds beautifully for cutout shapes. Decorate with royal icing or cream cheese frosting for a festive touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional
- Royal icing or cream cheese frosting for decorating
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves to evenly distribute the spices and leavening agents.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, incorporating air for a tender cookie texture.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the egg, pumpkin puree, and vanilla extract until the batter is smooth and uniform in color.
- Combine Dry and Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a cohesive dough forms without overmixing to ensure a tender result.
- Chill the Dough: Divide the dough in half, flatten each into a disk, wrap with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to firm up for easier handling and cleaner cookie cutouts.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
- Roll and Cut Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness, then cut out desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place cutouts on the prepared baking sheets with slight spacing.
- Bake Cookies: Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden, avoiding overbaking to maintain softness.
- Cool Cookies: Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, preparing them for decorating.
- Decorate (Optional): Once cooled, decorate the cookies with royal icing or cream cheese frosting as desired for a festive presentation.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is crucial for easier rolling and cleaner cutout shapes.
- For added festive flavor, sprinkle cookies with cinnamon sugar immediately after baking.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
