I think if it was socially acceptable, I would give you pumpkin and apple recipes all year long. Pumpkin and pumpkin spice just make everything better. Including snickerdoodle cookies! These cookies are crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. They have the perfect pumpkin spice flavor.
Bringing Pumpkin Flavor to Snickerdoodles
The key to this recipe is to keep that tang that cream of tartar brings to snickerdoodle while also bringing in that classic pumpkin spice flavor. We do this in two ways.
Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Tips and Tricks
There are a few tips and tricks to making great cookies:
Make sure you are using baking soda and not baking powder. They are not the same thing.Fully whisk the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. It all needs to be well distributed.Make sure your butter is room temperature. You should be able to dent it easily with your finger without pushing your finger through.Use 100% pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling.
How to Measure Flour for Cookies
This tip deserves its own section. Measuring flour is easy, but it has to be done a certain way or the flour will pack, and you will end up with too much. Then your cookies won’t work.
Using a spoon, scoop the flour into a dry measuring cup. Then using the flat end of something like a spatula handle, level off the flour.
If you use the measuring cup to scoop the flour right from the bag you can end up with 25% more flour. That makes for some dry cookies.
Why Pumpkin Works in Cookies
Did you know that pumpkin puree can replace eggs? That is the reason it is so important to use pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling. You still need to use an egg yolk, but it’s a great way to incorporate pumpkin into cookies. We do this with Pumpkin Sugar Cookies and Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Freezing Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Dough
This cookie works to freeze as dough and then bake from frozen. To do this:
Freezing Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
You can also store these in the freezer after baking and cooling completely.
Store in an airtight container.Keep frozen for up to three months.
Other Great Pumpkin Desserts
If you can’t get enough great pumpkin recipes try some of these: My Pumpkin Peanut Butter Cookies are the perfect combination. You will love them. This Pumpkin Frosting is the absolute best. It is possible that it is my favorite frosting. You will love this Pumpkin Pie Dip, and be in love with the pie crust dippers that go with it. If you make any of these great pumpkin treats or my Pumpkin Snickerdoodles, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
Recommended Tools
Here are some great kitchen tools to make sure this recipe turns out perfect.
Hand Mixer: If you love to make cookies but a stand mixer isn’t in. your budget, then I recommend this hand mixer. It never fails.Measuring Spoons: These are my favorite measuring spoons! I love that they are double sided.Cookie Scoop: Using a cookie scoop means that your cookies are all uniform in size, which means they cook evenly.Rimmed Baking Sheets: These baking sheets are the best. They bake cookies so evenly.
