Welcome to a delightful autumn treat: Autumn Spice Pumpkin Cookies! These cookies harness the cozy flavors of fall in every bite, making them perfect for crisp weather and festive gatherings alike. The blend of spices with pumpkin creates a cookie that's irresistibly warm and inviting.
Sugar is the sweet backbone of these cookies, providing that essential sweetness and helping with the overall texture. Butter adds richness and moisture, creating that tender crumb we love in cookies. Pumpkin puree is the star, lending a natural sweetness and moistness while infusing the cookies with that iconic pumpkin flavor. Molasses deepens the flavor profile, adding a hint of earthiness and warmth. The egg binds everything together, ensuring the cookies hold their shape.
The combination of flour, baking soda, and baking powder gives the structure and rise, while salt enhances all the flavors. The trifecta of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves brings the spicy aroma and taste that make these cookies a fall favorite. A splash of vanilla extract rounds everything out, tying together the flavors beautifully.
These cookies are excellent on their own, but you can enjoy them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delightful dessert. Pair them with a warm mug of spiced chai or a pumpkin spice latte to enhance the autumnal experience. For a festive touch, drizzle a simple glaze made of powdered sugar and milk over the top after cooling.
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. This step ensures your cookies bake evenly and don't stick to the pan. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. You'll want to achieve a light and fluffy texture, which indicates that the sugar and butter have been well combined.
Next, incorporate the pumpkin puree, molasses, and egg into the creamed mixture. You should mix until everything is smooth and well-blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Gradually add this dry mixture to your wet ingredients, mixing gently until just combined. Overmixing can lead to tougher cookies, and we want them soft and tender!
Once your dough is ready, stir in the vanilla extract. Then, using a spoon, drop spoonfuls of dough onto your prepared baking sheet, spacing them about two inches apart to allow for spreading. Pop them into the oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the cookies look set. Let them cool on a wire rack before serving, if you can resist sampling one fresh from the oven!