These crisp Pumpkin Shortbread Cookies are topped with a sweet glaze. They’re the perfect coffee dunkers!

pumpkin shortbread cookies on a cooling rack

Pumpkin Shortbread Cookies

These are such a fun cookie to make during the fall season. Everyone seems to love pumpkin everything when autumn arrives. They’re very much a simple shortbread cookie. They’re not too sweet, so the sweet glaze drizzled on top is a perfect addition.

ingredients displayed for making pumpkin shortbread cookies

🛒Ingredients needed:

  • unsalted butter
  • granulated white sugar
  • all purpose flour
  • pumpkin pie spice
  • salt
  • unsweetened pumpkin puree
  • vanilla extract
  • orange food coloring (optional)
  • powdered sugar
  • milk
four photos showing how to make pumpkin shortbread cookies

✏️How to make Pumpkin Shortbread Cookies:

*The complete, printable recipe with all ingredients and instructions is at the end of this post.

  1. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter until creamy. Add the sugar and mix until incorporated. Mix in the flour, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Add the pumpkin puree and vanilla. Beat until everything is mixed well. Add a few drops of orange food coloring too if you’d like the cookies to look at a little more orange! (The dough may end being a bit sticky.)
  2. Scoop the shortbread dough onto a floured surface. Sprinkle a bit more flour on top, split into two portions and gently roll into logs. Place the logs in plastic wrap or parchment paper, wrap and refrigerate for several hours until the dough is firm (can refrigerate overnight).
  3. When ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat mats.
  4. Using a non-serrated knife, slice the dough into ¼-inch-thick discs. If you’re not getting the shape you want, gently shape the edges into a rounded shape with your fingers as you place the cookies on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly browned on the edges. Immediately move the cookies to a wire rack; and let cool completely.
pumpkin shortbread cookies just iced on baking sheet

In a medium bowl, whisk the powdered sugar and spice with enough milk to create a thick glaze. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cookies, and let them cool.

➡️Recipe Tips:

  • Don’t melt the butter for this recipe. It’s really important that’s it’s just at room temperature and not too soft.
  • If you find the dough to be too sticky to work with while rolling, just sprinkle on a little more flour until it’s not so sticky.
  • Topping alternative: combine the powdered sugar with the spice and just dust the cookies in spiced powdered sugar instead of glaze.

✔️What to do with Pumpkin Shortbread Cookies:

  • Plan to dip pumpkin shortbread cookies in milk, coffee or tea.
  • Use these cookies to display at a party or festive Halloween gathering.
  • Bake these cookies to include in your kid’s lunch boxes during the fall months.
stack of three pumpkin shortbread cookies on a cooling rack

★How to Store:

Let the glaze on these cookies set, and then store them in a covered container with wax paper between layers. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days, and freeze for up to 3 months.

hand picking up pumpkin shortbread cookie

❤️Why I love this recipe:

  1. Pumpkin shortbread cookies are the perfect fall dessert!
  2. I love a good dunker for my tea or coffee, and these are good dunkers.
  3. They are not overly sweet.
stack of three pumpkin shortbread cookies with the top one a bite taken out
pumpkin shortbread cookies on a cooling rack
4.50 from 2 votes

Pumpkin Shortbread Cookies

This recipe turns out a lightly sweetened cookie, perfect for dunking in morning coffee or tea.
Prep: 25 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Chill Time: 3 hours
Total: 3 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 36 cookies (1 per serving)
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Ingredients

COOKIES:

GLAZE:

Instructions 

MAKE THE COOKIES:

  • In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter until creamy. Add the sugar and mix until incorporated. Mix in the flour, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Add the pumpkin puree and vanilla. Beat until everything is mixed well. (The dough may end being a bit sticky.)
  • Scoop the shortbread dough onto a floured surface. Sprinkle a bit more flour on top, split into two portions and gently roll into logs. Place the logs in plastic wrap or parchment paper, wrap and refrigerate for several hours until the dough is firm (can refrigerate overnight).
  • When ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat mats.
  • Using a non-serrated knife, slice the dough into ¼-inch-thick discs. If you're not getting the shape you want, gently shape the edges into a rounded shape with your fingers as you place the cookies on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly browned on the edges. Immediately move the cookies to a wire rack; and let cool completely.

ADD THE GLAZE:

  • In a medium bowl, whisk the powdered sugar and spice with enough milk to create a thick glaze. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cookies, and let them cool.

Notes

  • Don’t melt the butter for this recipe. It’s really important that’s it’s just at room temperature and not too soft.
  • If you find the dough to be too sticky to work with while rolling, just sprinkle on a little more flour until it’s not so sticky.
  • Topping alternative: combine the powdered sugar with the spice and just dust the cookies in spiced powdered sugar instead of glaze.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 114kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 14mg, Sodium: 34mg, Potassium: 25mg, Fiber: 0.4g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 1224IU, Vitamin C: 0.3mg, Calcium: 6mg, Iron: 0.5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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4.50 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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