Description
These pumpkin oatmeal cookies are soft, chewy, warmly spiced, and finished with a rich cream cheese icing. Perfect for cozy fall baking, they’re easy to make, freezer-friendly, and customizable for dietary needs.
Ingredients
Scale
Spice Mix
- 2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups old-fashioned whole rolled oats
- 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Creaming Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1 egg yolk only
- 2 tablespoons unsulfured molasses
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup pumpkin puree (blotted dry)
Spiced Cream Cheese Icing
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon reserved spice mix
- 2–4 tablespoons milk (more as needed)
Instructions
- Prep the pumpkin: Line a plate with paper towels and spread pumpkin puree on top. Let sit 15–20 minutes. Blot dry with more paper towels.
- Mix spices: Whisk together the spice mix. Reserve 1 teaspoon for icing. Add oats, flour, pecans, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream base: In a mixer, beat softened butter and both sugars until fluffy. Add egg yolk, molasses, vanilla, and pumpkin. Mix just until combined.
- Combine dry and wet: Slowly add dry ingredients to the wet mixture while mixing on low. Do not overmix.
- Shape dough: Scoop 1½ tablespoon-sized balls. Slightly flatten. Place on lined baking sheets.
- Bake: Bake at 350°F for 11–13 minutes, or until edges are golden. If cookies don’t spread, gently bang the tray on the counter at minute 9.
- Cool: Let cookies cool completely on baking sheets.
- Make icing: Combine all icing ingredients and beat until smooth. Adjust milk for drippable consistency.
- Ice: Dip the tops of cooled cookies into the icing and let set before serving.
Notes
- For cakier cookies, leave pumpkin wetter. For chewier cookies, blot thoroughly.
- Swap pecans for raisins if preferred.
- Use vegan substitutes (vegan butter, flax egg, dairy-free cream cheese) for a plant-based version.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 25mg