🎃 Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting – A Cozy Autumn Treat

Fall baking is a magical ritual—when the scent of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves fills the kitchen, and every warm bite tastes like a hug. If you’re ready to embrace the season’s best flavors, these Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting are everything you need.

Soft and cakey with just the right hint of chewiness from old-fashioned oats, these cookies are rich in autumn spices and topped with a silky cinnamon cream cheese frosting that makes them utterly irresistible. Whether you’re baking for a fall party, a Thanksgiving dessert table, or just a cozy weekend in, these cookies will become a staple in your seasonal recipe box.

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🧾 Ingredients

This recipe is wonderfully straightforward and uses pantry-friendly ingredients. You’ll find yourself coming back to it time and time again.

For the Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies:

• ½ cup softened butter
• ¾ cup white sugar
• ¾ cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 cup old-fashioned oats

For the Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting:

• ½ cup softened cream cheese
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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🧁 Directions – How to Make These Fall-Inspired Cookies

1. Preheat the Oven

Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper for easy release and cleanup.

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2. Prepare the Cookie Dough

In a large mixing bowl, cream together:

• Softened butter
• White sugar
• Brown sugar

Beat until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes. Add the pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and fully incorporated.

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3. Add the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together:

• Flour
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Cloves
• Pumpkin pie spice
• Old-fashioned oats

Slowly add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Don’t overmix.

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4. Shape and Bake

Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto your parchment-lined baking sheets, leaving some space between each one. Use the back of a spoon to flatten each cookie slightly—these are soft-bake cookies and won’t spread much.

Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. The centers should still be soft. Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

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5. Make the Frosting

While your cookies cool, prepare the frosting. In a medium bowl, beat together:

• Softened cream cheese
• Softened butter

Once smooth, gradually add:

• Powdered sugar
• Ground cinnamon
• Vanilla extract

Beat until the frosting is creamy, thick, and spreadable.

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6. Frost the Cookies

Once cookies are completely cool, frost each one using a knife or pipe the frosting on for a more decorative touch. If you like, dust with a sprinkle of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice for extra flair.

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🍂 Tips for Success

• Don’t skip the oats: They add texture and heartiness, turning a soft cookie into something you can truly sink your teeth into.
• Pumpkin puree, not pie filling: Make sure to use plain canned pumpkin without added sugar or spices.
• Chill if sticky: If your dough feels too soft to handle, refrigerate it for 20–30 minutes.
• Storage: Keep frosted cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze unfrosted cookies and add the frosting fresh when ready to serve.

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⏱️ Quick Recipe Summary

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10–12 minutes
• Total Time: ~30 minutes
• Servings: 24 cookies
• Skill Level: Easy
• Perfect For: Fall gatherings, dessert tables, lunchbox treats, cozy weekend bakes

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📌 Why You’ll Love These Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

• 🎃 Seasonal Favorite: The warmth of pumpkin spice in every bite
• 🧁 Decadent Frosting: The cinnamon cream cheese topping is a showstopper
• 💡 Flexible: Skip the frosting for a less-sweet treat or add chocolate chips for extra fun
• 🍁 Make Ahead Friendly: Perfect for prepping ahead of time and frosting later
• 👩‍🍳 Beginner-Friendly: No fancy equipment or techniques needed

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🧡 Make It a Fall Tradition

Pair these cookies with a mug of warm apple cider, a chai latte, or a pumpkin spice coffee and you’ve got yourself a cozy afternoon treat. They also make a thoughtful gift—stack a few in a parchment-lined gift box tied with twine and you’ve got a sweet seasonal surprise for neighbors or coworkers.

🍽️ Hosting tip: These cookies look lovely on a wooden board or ceramic platter garnished with cinnamon sticks, mini pumpkins, or scattered oats for a fall-themed dessert table.

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💬 Reader Love

“Best pumpkin cookies I’ve made in years! That frosting is addictive.”
— Julia W.

“So soft and flavorful. We made them for a school bake sale and they were the first to go!”
— Carlos L.

“I doubled the recipe and froze half. Worked perfectly!”
— Rebecca D.

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🍪 Final Thoughts

These Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting are the epitome of autumn baking. They’re soft, cozy, fragrant, and completely irresistible. Whether you’re baking for loved ones or just indulging your own seasonal cravings, this recipe checks every box.

Get ready to make these your new favorite fall cookie tradition. Just be warned: once you try one, you’ll be reaching for another—and another.

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