Halloween Pumpkin Cookies

Every Halloween, I love baking something that makes the whole house smell cozy and sweet. These Halloween Pumpkin Cookies are my go-to treat for the season. They’re soft, cute, and full of warm pumpkin flavor.

I still remember the first time I made them—it felt like fall came alive in my kitchen. The mix of cinnamon and pumpkin made everything smell like a cozy October night. And honestly, decorating them is just as fun as eating them.

You can make them spooky or sweet, depending on your mood. The orange color and little faces make them perfect for parties or movie nights. I promise, once you try them, you’ll want to bake them every Halloween.

So, grab your mixing bowl and let’s make some magic in the kitchen. These pumpkin cookies are waiting to bring a little Halloween joy to your table. Ready to bake?

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Festive and Fun: Bring Halloween spirit into your kitchen with these adorably spooky cookies.
• Customizable: Decorate with icing, candy, or sprinkles to create unique pumpkin designs.
• Soft and Chewy Texture: These cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
• Perfect for Gifting: Package them for friends, family, or neighbors as a Halloween treat.
• Kid-Friendly: A fantastic activity for children to help decorate and enjoy.

Required Kitchen Tools

To make these cookies, you’ll need:

• Mixing Bowls: A set of large and medium bowls for combining ingredients.
• Hand or Stand Mixer: For creaming the butter and sugar.
• Baking Sheets: Two standard-sized sheets, lined with parchment paper.
• Pumpkin Cookie Cutter: To shape your cookies perfectly.
• Rolling Pin: To roll out the dough evenly.
• Piping Bags and Tips: For icing and decorating.
• Cooling Racks: To cool cookies evenly after baking.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make these festive cookies:

For the Cookie Dough

• Unsalted Butter: 1 cup (softened)
• Granulated Sugar: 1 cup
• Brown Sugar: ½ cup (packed)
• Eggs: 2 large
• Vanilla Extract: 2 tsp
• All-Purpose Flour: 3 cups (unsifted)
• Baking Powder: 1 tsp
• Salt: ½ tsp

For the Royal Icing

• Powdered Sugar: 3 cups (sifted)
• Egg Whites: 2 large (or 2 Tbsp meringue powder + 5 Tbsp water)
• Vanilla Extract: 1 tsp
• Orange Food Coloring: 2-3 drops
• Green Food Coloring: 1-2 drops

For Decoration

• Milk Chocolate M&Ms: ¼ cup (green for pumpkin stems)
• Pretzel Pieces: ¼ cup (for twig-like stems)
• Assorted Halloween Sprinkles: As desired

Variations for Halloween Pumpkin Cookies

• Pumpkin Spice Flavor: Add 1 tsp pumpkin spice to the dough for a cozy fall twist.
• Chocolate Cookies: Replace ½ cup flour with cocoa powder for chocolatey cookies.
• Gluten-Free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free baking mix in place of all-purpose flour.
• Vegan Option: Substitute butter with vegan butter and use flax eggs (1 tbsp flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg).

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the Cookie Dough

1. Cream the Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
2. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Mix in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.
3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Mix the Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until fully combined. The dough should be soft but not sticky.

2. Chill the Dough

• Divide the dough into two portions. Flatten each portion into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.

3. Roll and Cut the Cookies

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Roll the Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of dough to ¼-inch thickness.
3. Cut Out Shapes: Use a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes, placing them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.

4. Bake the Cookies

• Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Avoid overbaking to maintain a soft texture.
• Cool cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

5. Make the Royal Icing

1. Whisk the Icing: Beat powdered sugar and egg whites (or meringue powder mixture) in a clean mixing bowl until smooth and glossy.
2. Add Vanilla: Stir in vanilla extract and divide icing into bowls for coloring.
3. Color the Icing: Use food coloring to create orange and green icing. Adjust consistency with water (for flooding) or powdered sugar (for piping).

6. Decorate the Cookies

1. Pipe and Flood: Outline the pumpkin shapes with orange icing, then flood the center using a piping bag or squeeze bottle.
2. Add Details: Use green icing to pipe stems and vines. Attach M&Ms or pretzel pieces for added texture and fun.
3. Sprinkle Fun: Add Halloween-themed sprinkles while the icing is wet. Allow cookies to dry for at least 2 hours before handling.

Serving and Decoration Ideas

• Display on a Festive Plate: Arrange the cookies on a Halloween-themed platter for a party centerpiece.
• Gift Packaging: Place cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with orange and black ribbons for a thoughtful treat.
• Cookie Decorating Station: Set up a decorating station with icing, sprinkles, and candies for a fun Halloween activity.

Storing Halloween Pumpkin Cookies

• Room Temperature: Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
• Freezing Dough: Wrap unused dough tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before using.
• Freezing Cookies: Undecorated cookies freeze well. Store in an airtight container with parchment between layers for up to 2 months.

Nutrition Information (Per Cookie)

Calories	Fat	Carbs	Protein
150	7g	20g	2g

Conclusion

Halloween Pumpkin Cookies are a delightful combination of creativity, flavor, and festivity. They’re perfect for spicing up your holiday gatherings or simply enjoying with a cup of hot cider. This recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, whether you’re hosting a Halloween bash or looking for a fun baking activity with family.