Pumpkin Crinkle Cookies

If you’re looking for a soft, chewy, moist, pillow-y, pumpkin-spiced cookie, then you’ve come to the right place! Pumpkin Crinkle Cookies are all of those things and more – like, delicious and addicting. Seriously, I dare you to try eating just one!

When it comes to cookies, I’m of the belief that soft and chewy is better than hard and crispy – with one exception!  The only exception to the rule is a ginger snap; that particular cookie needs to be crispy, crunchy, and really, really thin. Pumpkin Crinkle Cookies are the complete opposite of a ginger snap.  These cookies are puffy, light, soft, pillow-y, moist, and very flavourful.  And that confectioner’s sugar you see on the top; it adds just the right amount of sweetness to every single bite.

In addition to sweetness, the confectioner’s sugar (powdered sugar to some!) helps to create that crinkle effect.  Before baking, you will dust the cookie quite generously with the confectioner’s sugar.  During the baking process, the cookie will puff up and create crinkles in the layer of confectioner’s sugar.  So pretty!

THE BEST PUMPKIN COOKIE!

These Pumpkin Crinkle Cookies have to be – hands down! – my favourite pumpkin cookie yet.  I’ve tasted a lot of pumpkin cookies in my days, and this one has to be the best.

I’m not just saying that because I made them.  No, I’m not that vain.  I’m saying that, because I truly believe it, and so does some of John.e’s workmates.  He took them to work and reported back that they were a great success.

The cookies that could not fit into the container sent to John.e’s work, were loaded into McKenna’s school lunch bag.  She reported back that they were delicious and she shared them with her friends.

Now, Dear Reader, even though I am watching what I eat – like I have been for most of my life – I couldn’t resist trying these Pumpkin Crinkle Cookies a time or two or three – oh, who cares!?  I tried them a lot!  But, I had to try them; Lord Byron’s Kitchen needed me to make such sacrifices.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR THIS RECIPE

The following is a list of the ingredients needed to prepare this recipe. For exact amounts and measurements, refer to the printable recipe card located near the bottom of this post.

• Flour – No need for anything special. Just use regular all-purpose flour. I have not tried this recipe with any other type of flour.1 teaspoon baking soda
• Baking Powder – This is used to increase the volume of the batter and to add texture as well.
• Pumpkin Spice – This is a blend of ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves.  Depending on the brand, allspice is sometimes absent, but I think the flavour is better with it.
• Salt – This is a common ingredient in baking and cooking.  In baking, it helps to enhance and balance the sweetness. 
• Sugar – Sugar will caramelize when baked, which will help to brown cookies and cakes.  In cookies, the sugar will help the dough to spread and will create a crispness to the bottom of the cookie.

• Butter – Make sure your butter is at room temperature! To be perfectly honest, I have made these with both salted and unsalted butter and there’s no difference in taste or appearance once all is said and done. Use what you have on hand.
• Pumpkin Puree – Most of us buy this in a can, but you can make it yourself.  It is peeled and cooked pumpkin that has been pureed without the addition of any other ingredients.
• Egg – One large egg is all you need. Whenever you set out to bake, make sure your eggs are at room temperature too – just like your butter!
• Vanilla Extract – Probably the most common extract and the most common flavouring used in cakes and cookies. 
• Confectioner’s Sugar – This superfine sugar is sometimes called powdered sugar.  It is used in frostings quite often.  When dusted lightly onto cakes and cookies, it adds just a touch of sweetness, but more importantly, it looks very visually appealing!

THIS COOKIE BATTER IS REALLY STICKY!

Let’s talk about the making of the cookie.  In most cookie recipes, the cookie dough batter is firm enough to roll into balls, scoop with a spoon, or press into a round/disk shape.  The cookie dough in this particular case is not like that.

The cookie dough for Pumpkin Crinkle Cookies is extremely wet and sticky.  If you think you’re going to roll this cookie dough into balls, or if you think you’ll flatten them to get a perfectly formed circle, then you best think again.

I’m sure it can be done, but homemade cookies are not about perfection; they’re about simple and rustic and homey flavours.  There’s no room or any need for perfection here.

HOW TO MAKE PUMPKIN CRINKLE COOKIES:

To transfer the cookie dough to the cookie sheet for baking, I highly recommend you use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop, otherwise known as an ice cream scoop or a mashed potato scoop.  Do you know the kind with the lever and the spring?  These types of scoops make mounding the cookie dough so easy.

Because the cookie dough is wet, the confectioner’s sugar will easily stick to it.  When you have scooped the dough onto the baking sheet, and have lined filled the sheet, liberally shake or sift the confectioner’s sugar over the top of each dough mound.  Be generous – you’ll still make lovely crinkles.

It’s also important to bake these in batches.  Don’t overcrowd your oven.  Bake one cookie sheet at a time on the center rack.  Once baked, remove from the baking sheet immediately and onto a wire cooling rack.  This will help to stop the baking/browning of the bottom of the cookies and will help to stop the cookie from sweating on the bottom.

Lastly, do yourself (and me!) a favour.  Wait for about five to ten minutes after you have transferred the cookies to the cooling rack.  Then, take a big bite of one while they are still warm.  Tell me that that’s not the best thing you’ve ever tasted!  Enjoy, Dear Reader; I did!

QUESTIONS?

If I have not answered all of your questions in the text above, don’t hesitate to reach out to me! You can contact me by sending me a message in the comments section further down the page. I will try my best to answer as soon as possible! You might reach me even faster by following me on Facebook and sending me a private message. Scroll down below the recipe card to find my Follow Me on Social Media box and never miss another recipe!