Description

These Halloween Pumpkin Spice Cookies are a delightful vegan treat perfect for fall celebrations. Made with pumpkin puree and warm spices, these soft, flavorful cookies are topped with cinnamon sugar for a festive finish. Easy to prepare and bake, they are a wonderful way to enjoy seasonal flavors while keeping the recipe plant-based.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

1/2 cup vegan butter, softened
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup organic cane sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt

Topping

1 tablespoon cinnamon sugar, for topping

Equipment

Halloween Cookie Cutters
Parchment Lined Baking Sheet
Rolling Pin (or similar object like a can or wine bottle)

Instructions

Gather Your Equipment: Make sure you have Halloween cookie cutters, a parchment-lined baking sheet, and a rolling pin or similar tool ready for use. This will help shape and bake your cookies perfectly.
Cream Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, cream together the softened vegan butter, pumpkin puree, brown sugar, cane sugar, and vanilla extract until the mixture is light and fluffy. This ensures even sweetness and moisture throughout the dough.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, cornstarch, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and spices.
Mix Dough: Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing on low speed to combine just until there are no visible flour streaks. Avoid overmixing to keep cookies tender.
Chill Dough: Cover the bowl with the dough and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight. Chilling helps solidify the dough and enhances the flavors for better shaping and baking results.
Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C), setting the stage for even baking.
Prepare for Rolling: Place a large piece of parchment paper on a flat work surface. Scoop half of the chilled dough onto the center of this parchment, then cover with a second piece of parchment paper.
Roll Out Dough: Roll the dough between the two sheets of parchment paper until it is about 1/4-inch thick, which ensures even thickness for baking.
Cut Cookies: Use your Halloween cookie cutters to stamp shapes from the dough. Transfer the cookies onto the parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them a couple of inches apart to allow for slight spreading.
Firm Up Soft Dough: If the dough is too soft or the shapes are falling apart during transfer, freeze the cut cookies on the tray for 10 minutes or more to help them hold their shape.
Bake Cookies: Place the baking sheet on the center oven rack and bake the cookies for 6 to 8 minutes. Bake until the edges are set but the center remains soft.
Cool and Finish: Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheet to firm up. Once cooled, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar for a sweet, spiced finish. Enjoy your festive, vegan pumpkin spice cookies!

Notes

Chilling the dough is essential to achieve the correct texture and flavor development, so don’t skip this step.
If you do not have Halloween cookie cutters, you can use any cookie cutter shapes or simply cut dough into squares or circles with a knife or glass.
Storage tip: Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze for longer storage.
For more pumpkin spice flavor, consider adding a pinch of ground cloves or nutmeg if desired.
The cinnamon sugar sprinkle adds a delightful crunch and extra spice sweetness, but you can omit or substitute with powdered sugar or vegan glaze.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Halloween cookies, pumpkin spice cookies, vegan cookies, fall dessert, pumpkin puree recipes