Description
These Pumpkin Spice Cutouts are soft, cake-like cookies flavored with warm pumpkin pie spice and real pumpkin puree. Perfect for fall and Halloween celebrations, they hold their shape well after chilling and baking, making them ideal for decorating with royal icing or glaze.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup vegetable shortening
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional
- Royal icing or glaze for decorating
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice to combine all dry components evenly.
- Cream Butter Mixture: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, vegetable shortening, and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for the dough.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Incorporate the pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla extract into the butter mixture, mixing until the ingredients are fully combined and smooth.
- Combine Dry and Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring gently until a soft dough forms without overmixing.
- Chill Dough: Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into disks, wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to firm up for easier handling and better shape retention during baking.
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Roll and Cut Shapes: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut into desired shapes and transfer them to the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies for 8–10 minutes or until the edges are set and just lightly golden, being careful not to overbake to maintain softness.
- Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate: Once completely cooled, optionally decorate the cookies with royal icing or glaze for a festive finish.
Notes
- Chilling the dough helps the cookies hold their shape better when baking.
- These cookies have a soft, cake-like texture, making them perfect for decorating.
- Store baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
