No Time Like Halloween for Pumpkin Cookies!

Pumpkin cookies are the perfect fall dessert.

The optional frosting is a sweet addition. Fred Hardy/TCA

These super-tender pumpkin sugar cookies are perfectly spiced with just the right amount of pumpkin pie spice. Add just a touch of orange food coloring to the optional frosting to make these pumpkin sugar cookies pop. While you may be tempted to use all the dough, the cookies get tougher the more times you roll, so it’s best to re-roll the scraps only once.

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

Active Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Makes 30 cookies

For the cookies:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
• 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the frosting (optional):

• 1 to 1 1/4 cups unsifted powdered sugar, divided
• 1 tablespoon meringue powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• Orange liquid food coloring (optional)

To prepare cookies: Whisk all-purpose flour, pastry flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl until fully combined.