Name: Pumpkin Cookies with Brown Butter Icing
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 13 min
Total time: 53 min
Ingredients: 3/4 cup canned pumpkin; 1 egg; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 cup salted butter (softened); 1 cup brown sugar; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1/2 tsp cinnamon; 1/2 tsp nutmeg; 1 tsp baking powder; 1 tsp baking soda; 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup salted butter; 1 tsp vanilla; 4 Tbsp milk; 3 cups powdered sugar

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pumpkin cookies on a plate with text overlay that reads the bet pumpkin cookies ever plus brown butter icing

Easy Pumpkin Cookies with brown butter icing

These addicting pumpkin cookies are like a pumpkin pie in cookie form! If you are a fan of pumpkin pie or anything pumpkin spice, you have to try these cookies!

The brown butter icing adds just enough flavor to make these the best pumpkin cookies you will ever try.

close up image of homemade pumpkin cookies with brown butter icing

How do you make brown butter?

A key ingredient to this brown butter icing is the brown butter. Here's what you need to do to brown butter:

Place butter in a small frying pan and cook on medium heat until melted.
After the butter has melted, start stirring it occaisionaly, until it begins to foam.
Then, start looking for an amber brown color under the foamy butter. If you see this brown color, its done!
Let it cool down before adding it to your recipe.

Best pumpkin cookies with brown butter icing on top.

Best Pumpkin Cookies with Brown Butter Icing Ingredients

Here's what you need to make these soft pumpkin cookies:

Pumpkin Cookies

¾ cup canned pumpkin
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup salted butter (softened)
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

Brown Butter Icing

½ cup salted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 tablespoon milk
3 cups powdered sugar

How to make the best pumpkin cookies

collage of four images showing how to make pumpkin cookie dough

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, you will add the pumpkin (¾ cup), brown sugar (1 cup), granulated sugar (½ cup), and the 1 egg to your mixing bowl. Mix until thoroughly combined.
Next, you will add the cinnamon (½ tsp), nutmeg (½ tsp), baking powder (1 tsp), and baking soda (1 tsp).
Then, you will add the softened butter (1 cup) and mix on medium speed until the butter appears to be well distributed.
Finally, add the flour (2 ¾ cups). Start with ½ cup at a time until the dough starts to come together. It will look almost like thick peanut butter.

collage showing pumpkin cookie dough on baking sheet, baked and with frosting on top

5. Scoop dough into round balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 13-16 minutes until edges start to look golden brown.

6. Let cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.

7. Top with brown butter icing, and serve!

How to make Brown butter icing

Add the butter (½ cup) to a small frying pan on and turn the heat to low. The butter will melt and then start to foam. You will know it's done when you stir and see brown bits in the bottom. Remove from heat and let cool.

collage of butter being browned in a frying pan

Next, pour the browned butter into your mixing bowl and add the vanilla (1 tsp), and milk (4 Tbsp). Then, add the powdered sugar (3 cups). Start by adding in ½ cup at a time of the powdered sugar until it has all been added. Mix after each addition.

Scoop the icing into a large ziploc bag and snip just the tip of the corner off or if you have one, use an icing bag and tip.

Brown butter icing in a ziploc bag to drizzle or pipe onto cookies.

After the pumpkin cookies have cooled, drizzle the icing onto them.

Pumpkin cookies that have been drizzled with homemade brown butter icing.

This recipe makes 24 pumpkin cookies with brown butter icing.

Thanksgiving might be a ways off, but that doesn't have to stop you from enjoying the pumpkin desserts that usually accompany it.

More pumpkin recipes:

5 from 1 vote

Pumpkin Cookies with Brown Butter Icing

These pumpkin cookies cookies are soft and just melt in your mouth. Then, you add the brown butter icing which really makes these cookies one of a kind!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword brown butter icing, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin cookies with brown butter icing

Prep Time 40 minutes

Cook Time 13 minutes

Total Time 53 minutes

Servings 24 cookies

Calories 271 kcal

Author Joanna Stephens