Pumpkin Spice Cutout Cookies
Many of the delicious foods I associate with fall have one thing in common… fall spices. Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and allspice add that special fall touch to pies, cakes and breads. In addition to the wonderful flavor… spiced baked goods smell oh so good!
These cookies are a delicious variation of traditional roll-out sugar cookies, and are just perfect for fall!
The title “Pumpkin Spice Cookies” might be a tad bit deceiving, because the recipe does not contain any pumpkin… simply the delicious spices often paired with pumpkin treats.
Pumpkin Spice Cutout Cookies
The addition of fall-inspired spices and brown sugar turn tradional sugar cookie dough into an extra flavorful treat.
Yield: About 2 dozen moderate sized cookies
Ingredients:
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated if possible
1/4 teaspoon allspice
(*optional- replace individual spices with 2 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice)
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2/3 cup granulated (white) sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar (light or dark)
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (best quality available)
Directions:
In a large bowl bowl, add flour, baking powder and spices. Stir with whisk to combine.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Add both sugars and beat until fully combined and fluffy.
Add egg and vanilla and beat to combine.
Scrap down the sides of your bowl with a spatula.
While the mixer is running on low, add the flour mixture, slowly.
Mix until all of the flour is incorporated, and the mixture begins to ball up and pull away from the sides of the bowl.
Dump out the dough onto a clean work surface, kneed in any extra bits of flour or dough, and divide the dough into two large balls. Place balls of dough in a plastic bag (or plastic wrap) flatten dough into large disks and place in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
When the dough has chilled, roll out onto lightly floured surface and cut out desired shapes.
Bake cookies in a pre-heated, 350*F oven, on ungreased baking sheets 9-11 minutes, depending on the size of the cookies.
Recipe Source- Glorious Treats (a slight variation of my regular Sugar Cookie recipe ).
Recipe Notes- For tips on rolling out the dough, please see my original Sugar Cookie recipe post.
I prefer to place the full baking sheet of unbaked, cutout cookies in the freezer about 5-10 minutes before baking, to help the cookies keep their shape.
These cookies will remain fresh and delicious at least 5-7 days. Keep undecorated cookies sealed in an airtight container. Layer decorated cookies (after they’ve dried 8-12 hours) between waxed paper or parchment paper in an airtight container, or wrapped in cellophane bags (for gift giving).
When your cookies are baked and cooled, and you’re ready to decorate, make up a batch of Royal Icing.
Along with the royal icing recipe is a basic decorating tutorial, if you’ve never decorated cookies before.
In addition, Sweet Sugar Belle has an easy tutorial for decorating pumpkins similar to the ones shown above.
Happy fall baking!
This sounds so yummy! Perfect for fall
I will have to give them a try!
They are beautiful! I can almost smell them from here! Spiced cookies are my favorite and I have about 5 recipes. Thanks to you, I now have 6!
Beatiful cookies!
I was just planning some fall themed cookies for next week. I think I’ll have to give this a try!
These sound and look absolutely awesome! I love how you decorated those pumpkin ones. How can I possibly resist the idea of a Fall-flavored sugar cookie?
Beautiful cookies, as always. Thanks for brightening my evening. Wish you a sunny and rich autumn.
These look good did you bake @ 350
thanks
Glory replied: — October 11th, 2012 @ 8:35 pm
Haha! I guess that might be helpful info! I just updated it now, and yes, 350 degrees. Thanks!
Beautiful cookies!!!! Perfect for fall!!
Really beautiful and autumn flavoured, I lov them!
X
Aurélie
I’m like Lisa…I have several but I’m dying to try more!
Those have to be the prettiest fall cookies I’ve ever seen!
Your cookies always look like pieces of art! I was wondering, how did you decorate the tops of the acorn cookies?
Glory replied: — November 12th, 2012 @ 8:04 pm
Lisa, For the acorns, I outlined and flooded the cookies in the brown base color, then let them dry a day (8 hours or so). Then, using a lighter brown icing, pipe a crisscross pattern, and immediately sprinkle with gold sanding sugar.
These are adorable! Perfect for fall!
Okay those cookies are making me seriously reconsider my current unhappiness with royal icing! I really need to try it again. Thanks for sharing.
How in the world do you get those beautiful muted colors? I feel like all I can get is either pastels or brights, but not a dusky orange or red.
Glory replied: — October 22nd, 2012 @ 4:09 pm
I use Americolor brand gel colors. I can’t recall exactly the combos I used here, but I’m sure I used orange, egg yellow, and warm brown. Try adding ivory to colors to mute them a bit.
Those are by far some of the most elegant and beautiful pumpkin cookies I have ever seen. They’re so clean and yet their impact is incredible!
I just wanted to say Thank You!!! for sharing your creativity and your love for baking. I have a big family (my mom has 21 siblings) and so I’ve had fun trying your cupcakes for them. I have always been afraid of cookies…I just burn them but by reading your post I’m inspired to attempt them. Once again thank you