With the return of the cooler weather, I have been drawn back to cooking and baking more. Like the saying advises, when it’s hot in the kitchen, I get on out. But now, I feel like I could cook and bake for days, filling the freezer and our tummies with endless breads, jams, soups and sweet things.
Pumpkin treats are a fall time favorite of mine like these pumpkin bars and a whole host of pumpkin goodies I’ve found on Pinterest (you can follow me here). I honestly cannot remember how I came across this Better Homes and Gardens recipe for Melt-in-Your-Mouth Pumpkin Cookies. It was probably Pinterest but since I didn’t pin it, I just can’t be sure. Oh, if I only had a brain…
Nevertheless, it was a fabulous find. After staring with my mouth open at the amount of butter needed (2 cups!!), the cookies came together so quickly and easily and my, my, my were they tasty. I used my smallest cookie scoop and the size was just right. I didn’t frost them right away because they are perfectly sweet all on their own. Sweet J probably ate seven of the little buggers all by himself. Later, I did top them with the complimenting brown sugar frosting. Again, fabulous.
However, I noticed their perfect puffed tops and the fact that they didn’t spread out very much and thought they would be perfect for sandwich cookies. Since pumpkin sweets pair so well with cream cheese frosting and that brown sugar frosting was oh, so good, I Googled for a recipe that combined them together. Joy the Baker had it and it’s perfect.
It is really difficult to eat just one or two. You’ve been warned.
Pumpkin Cookie recipe from Better Homes and Gardens and Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting recipe from Joy the Baker
Ingredients
- 2 cups butter, softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1-15oz can pumpkin
- 4 cups flour
- 3/4 cups butter, softened
- 4oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/8 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- small pinch of salt
- 2-4 cups powdered sugar
- 1-2 Tbsp milk
Instructions
- With an electric mixer, cream the softened butter on medium/high for 30 seconds.
- Add in the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg and beat until combined.
- Scrape down the bowl. Then add in the eggs and the vanilla. Again, beat until combined.
- Beat in the pumpkin.
- Finally, add in the flour and combine well. If your mixer is looking really full, add in as much of the flour as you can and then use a wooden spoon to stir in the rest.
- On a parchment paper lined cookie sheet, use a small cookie scoop to measure out the batter and place on the parchment 2 inches apart.
- Bake at 350° for 9-11 minutes or until the tops are set.
- Allow them to cool slightly on the pan and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Using an electric mixer again, cream the cream cheese for 1 minutes.
- Add in the butter and beat for 1-2 minutes or until fully incorporated.
- Add in the brown sugar, salt and vanilla and beat to combine.
- Start by adding 1 cup of powdered sugar. Alternate adding more sugar with adding milk until you've reached your desired consistency.
Take care.
P.S. I had planned on posting these yesterday but after a day of travel and moving art and cuddling my poor feverish Sweet J, it just didn’t get done. But we had a great weekend, the art show is down and the art is stored and we are home and happy.
These look amazing Amy–and they better be with that amount of butter! Welcome back. Hope J feels better soon. We are a sick house over here too. :( Wonder if making these would make us all feel better?
‘Tis the season for pumpkin! These looks delicious.. mmm! If you can believe it, I made pumpkin bars today! They turned out fabulous! Might just have to try this recipe!
Oh wow. These sound absolutely amazing and I am in agreement that it’s probably very difficult to eat just one.
Might have to make these today…
These look so tasty! And, I love your new look – the leaves are perfect for fall.
Great cookies! Do they need to be refrigerated with the frosting?