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Perfect Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Icing

chocolate chip pumpkin cookies with cream cheese icing - featured image
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These chocolate chip pumpkin cookies with cream cheese icing are crisp on the edges, soft in the middle, and perfectly spiced for fall. The secret is blotting the pumpkin puree to remove excess moisture, ensuring a chewy, bakery-style cookie every time.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (1 stick, 113g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • ¾ cup (150g) packed light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup (about 170g) pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 1 cup (about 175g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 4 oz (half a block) cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar, sifted if lumpy
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1–2 tablespoons milk or heavy cream

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  2. Prepare the pumpkin puree: Measure out ¾ cup of pumpkin puree and spread it on a paper towel-lined plate. Place another paper towel on top and press gently to absorb excess moisture. Let it sit while you prepare the dry ingredients.
  3. Whisk the dry ingredients together: In a medium bowl, combine 2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon baking powder, 1½ teaspoons cinnamon, ½ teaspoon nutmeg, ½ teaspoon ginger, ¼ teaspoon cloves, and ½ teaspoon salt. Whisk until evenly distributed. Set aside.
  4. Mix the wet ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the melted butter (cooled), ¾ cup packed brown sugar, and ¼ cup granulated sugar. Stir until smooth. Add the egg and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, then stir until fully incorporated.
  5. Add the pumpkin: Fold in the blotted pumpkin puree until evenly distributed. The batter will look thick and shiny.
  6. Combine wet and dry: Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in two additions, folding gently with a rubber spatula after each addition. Stop mixing as soon as no streaks of flour remain.
  7. Fold in the chocolate chips: Add 1 cup of chocolate chips and fold in with a few gentle strokes. Reserve a handful of chips to press into the tops of the cookies before baking.
  8. Chill the dough: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours.
  9. Scoop and shape: Once chilled, use a cookie scoop or two spoons to portion the dough into 1.5-tablespoon balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Press a few extra chocolate chips onto the tops of each dough ball.
  10. Bake: Bake one sheet at a time for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are set and lightly golden. The centers will look slightly underdone.
  11. Cool on the baking sheet: Let the cookies rest on the hot baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely before icing.
  12. Make the cream cheese icing: While the cookies cool, beat together 4 oz softened cream cheese and 2 tablespoons softened butter until smooth and fluffy. Add 1 cup powdered sugar and ½ teaspoon vanilla, then beat until combined. Add milk or heavy cream 1 tablespoon at a time until the icing reaches a spreadable consistency.
  13. Ice the cookies: Once the cookies are completely cool, spread or drizzle the cream cheese icing over the tops. Let the iced cookies set for about 15 minutes before serving.

Notes

Blot the pumpkin puree to remove excess moisture for best texture. Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes to prevent spreading. Bake one sheet at a time for even results. The cookies taste even better the next day.

Nutrition

Keywords: chocolate chip pumpkin cookies, pumpkin cookies with cream cheese icing, fall cookies, pumpkin dessert, easy pumpkin cookies

Find it online: https://blingbite.com/perfect-chocolate-chip-pumpkin-cookies-with-cream-cheese-icing/