sugar & spice. [pumpkin cookies w. orange buttercream frosting]

October 10th, 2011 by | comments

Since Greg so generously made room for me on the pumpkin band wagon with my trifle, I figured I’d try sneaking another dessert on board.

I made these fluffy pumpkin spice cookies with orange buttercream frosting over the weekend. Upon each bite, the palette is hit with the slight tartness of the orange followed by the spice of the pumpkin. My brother took them to work today and said they were a hit with all of his co-workers. :)

Need more pumpkin inspiration? Head over to Maris’ site at In Good Taste for her baked pumpkin doughnuts. Check out Mary’s pumpkin cake with caramel icing over at One Perfect Bite. Also, Erin’s pumpkin spice hot apple cider at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts.


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pumpkin cookies w. orange buttercream frosting
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
 
Ingredients
  • Cookie recipe:
  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup cooked, pureed pumpkin (fresh or canned)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • ½ tsp. baking soda
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • ½ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
  • Orange buttercream frosting recipe:
  • 4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
  • ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, softened
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 6 tbsp. heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tbsp. fresh orange juice, pulp free
  • Zest of 1 orange, plus more for garnish
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. For the cookies: Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add pumpkin, egg and vanilla and mix well. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir into butter mixture until well blended.
  3. Drop by tablespoonful onto parchment covered baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.
  4. Bake 12-15 minutes, or until golden. Cool.
  5. For the frosting: Cream confectioners' sugar and butter. Add remaining ingredients and beat until smooth.
  6. Ice cookies, then garnish with additional orange zest.
Notes
Recipe adapted from The Food Network.

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109 thoughts on “sugar & spice. [pumpkin cookies w. orange buttercream frosting]”

  1. Omg, these look amazing! I made a pumpkin salad with an orange citrus dressing. We all have pumpkin on our minds. I have to try this recipe for the Thanksgiving holidays!

    1. The frosting was a refreshing change from the typical pairing of cream cheese or cinnamon/maple frosting with pumpkin. Thanks John!

  8. pumpkin bandwagon! giddy-up.

    these pumpkin cookies look fabulous, caroline. pumpkin must be the new black — we indulged in some pumpkin pancakes for thanksgiving day brunch today! :)

  11. They look gorgeous! Your description is so enticing! I think I must be the last blogger, who hasn’t made anything with pumpkin or squash this Autumn…

    1. Thank you Sissi! No worries, you’ve still got plenty of time. I’ve only made one pumpkin recipe, so you’re not too far behind.

  13. Now that’s a cookie I would love! Nice and thick and soft and the citrus with pumpkin sounds like a perfect match!! I love the grated zest on top. Beautiful photos compliment those cookies so nicely!

  15. Yum! Love the pumpkin bandwagon. I was thinking of making pumpkin chocolate chip muffins with a cream cheese frosting tonight… but these sure do look and sound tempting! I love pumpkin everything!

  16. These look amazing! I can just imagine how well the pumpkin flavors will complement the icing. Yum!!

  17. Pingback: pumpkin pancakes « yumyumyummers

    1. I only ate one and made myself leave the rest for my brother to take to work; otherwise, I would have easily eaten the entire batch. Ha!

  20. Ohhhhh no. It’s 3:55pm and I thought that I could make it through the day. Not after seeing these fluffy delights! I love nothing more than a pumpkin spice cookie that is chewy and delicious. In short, I am going to be dying at work for these last 35 minutes…YUM!

    1. Isn’t that the worst? I look at blogs in the morning then I’m hungry, look at them in the afternoon and feel like I need a snack, look at them after dinner and am hungry again, somehow. Thanks Chrissy! xx

  24. It is isn’t often that I look through a recipe and realize I have every single ingredient just sitting in my kitchen waiting to be used in a recipe. I was just contemplating what to do with my leftover pumpkin:) Very pretty!

    1. Isn’t that the most ideal situation? I love when that happens, especially since it’s pretty rare. Looks like you’ll just have to make these cookies. What a bummer. ;)

  25. These cookies look awesome! I have to try these as they combine so many ingredients I love. You have a great blog– gorgeous pictures and great tutorials! I look forward to reading. :)

  28. Oh man, I need to hop on the pumpkin bandwagon! They look really great, Caroline! That buttercream frosting … my mouth is watering.

    1. You’re so sweet, Kay. At least they’d be a bit healthier than candy? Well, not healthy, but at least they’re homemade/no preservatives, ha!

    1. I agree, homemade is much better. I’m so bad at the grocery store because when I walk by the baked goods, I often criticize them and always think I can make a better homemade version. Oh gosh, what’s gotten into me? I think I’m turning into a baking snob, ha!

  33. Stay on the bandwagon! I’m all for finding out new ideas of things I can do with pumpkins – I’ve never cooked with them at all and am loving seeing all these recipes this year! Beautiful cookies Caroline :)

    1. Yeah, I’m not sure if I’d make these cookies if I didn’t have the canned pumpkin. Too much work! I’m sure we can arrange a delivery. :)

  37. I have to admit I have never cooked with pumpkin before as they dont readily sell tinned pumpkin puree in the UK and I cant face cutting one up. However, these cookies look delicious, especially the orange buttercream frosting on top!

    1. Oh gosh, I wouldn’t want to face cutting one up either. The canned is just so much easier for cooking and baking. Thanks so much, Mandy!

  38. Oh, stop that Caroline, I’m gaining weight just visiting your blog!!! Lol. These look absolutely delicious. The orange zest is particularly smashing!

  41. Orange zest and buttercream with pumpkin?! You have my permission to jump all over the pumpkin bandwagon again and again and yes, again! I would love to be snacking on some of these right now! :)

  42. Oh Greg this and Greg that…make it a double…Gregg …Please…lol

    Just wanted to thank you for your comment on my recent post, which, apparently someone found the writer of to be an intriguer of his country… as at precisely 9 A.M. the following day, ( Yesterday morning )some program hop – scotched over my Max Security program, and shut my “Windows” , so I had no chance of reconfiguring the hard drive obliteration bug they sent me…Imagine that… seems it just doesn’t pay to chide the “Um Hum ” department…as this is my 3rd new computer this year….But, after all my frustrations…imagine my elation’s… I’m back on line…only to find that this last post… was my 2nd most popular viewed … Ever!!! Bless You
    paul

  48. I am so on that pumpkin bandwagon too, I can’t seem to get off! I’m making a bread/cake with pumpkin & chocolate chips today with a chocolate ganache, I have no idea how it’s going to turn out but if it’s anything like your cookies I’ll be really pleased, they look lovely!!

    1. It’s a great bandwagon to be on. Oh wow, that sounds like one deliciously decadent cake/bread right there. Can’t wait to see it on our blog! x

  50. these pumpkin cookies look exceptional, and I really like the touch of orange icing. there can never be too many pumpkin treats this time of year!
    thanks for visiting my blog; I know I shall enjoy exploring yours! Nancy

  51. I made these the other day and they were absolutely AMAZING!!! (I did cream cheese frosting though…next time totally going for the orange buttercream!)

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