When it comes to pumpkin pie cookies, the topping possibilities are endless! Some popular toppings for pumpkin cookies include cream cheese frosting, vanilla glaze, cinnamon sugar, chocolate drizzle, and chopped nuts. The type of topping you choose will depend largely on your own personal preferences. However, there are a few key factors to consider when picking the perfect topping for your pumpkin pie cookies.
Flavor Compatibility
First and foremost, you’ll want to select a topping that complements the already delicious flavor of the pumpkin cookie itself. Pumpkin pie flavors are warm and spice-filled, so you’ll want something that enhances that. Sweet, creamy, and cinnamon-y flavors tend to pair very well. On the other hand, toppings that have contrasting or overpowering flavors may cover up that signature pumpkin taste.
Texture
You’ll also want to consider the textures of both your cookie and your topping. Soft, chewy pumpkin cookies can support thick, rich toppings like cream cheese frosting or glazes. But if your cookies are crispier or crunchier, those heavy toppings may make them soggy. For brittle cookies, lighter toppings like dustings of powdered sugar or chocolate drizzle work better.
Presentation
Visual appeal is important too! The topping should look just as good as the cookie tastes. Fancier piping, pretty patterns, and carefully placed garnishes will make your pumpkin cookies look irresistible. But simplicity can be beautiful too. A light sprinkle of cinnamon sugar or chopped nuts still adds nice texture and color.
Popular Topping Options
Now let’s explore some of the most popular and delicious topping choices for pumpkin pie cookies:
Cream Cheese Frosting
This is a classic choice for pumpkin-flavored treats. Cream cheese frosting is thick, creamy, sweet, and tangy – all flavors that complement pumpkin perfectly. You can pipe it over the cookies in swirls or just spread a luscious layer. Feel free to add a bit of cinnamon or nutmeg to tie the frosting and cookie flavors together.
Vanilla Glaze
For a simple but elegant topping, vanilla glaze is the way to go. You can make it by mixing powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. The glaze will coat the cookies in a light, glossy sweetness without overpowering the pumpkin flavor. Drizzle the glaze artfully over the cookies or dip the tops in for full coverage.
Cinnamon Sugar
What better way to highlight pumpkin pie spice flavors than with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar? This classic fall topping adds a subtle crunchy texture and warm cinnamon taste. Simply mix together cinnamon and granulated or brown sugar, then sprinkle liberally over the cooled cookies.
Chocolate Drizzle
Rich chocolate and pumpkin are an unexpectedly perfect pair. Drizzle melted chocolate over the cookies in zigzags or spirals. Use dark, milk, or even white chocolate depending on your preferences. The chocolate adds lovely contrast against the pumpkin cookie base.
Chopped Nuts
For extra texture, decorate your pumpkin cookies with chopped nuts. Pecans, walnuts, and hazelnuts all pair wonderfully with fall pumpkin flavors. Sprinkle them over the cookies before baking or over cooled cookies for nutty crunch in every bite.
Candy Pieces
Have some extra fun by garnishing your pumpkin cookies with festive candy pieces! Mini chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peppermint candies, gummy bears – get creative with your choice of candies. The pops of color and flavor will make your pumpkin pies irresistible.
Factors to Consider
When deciding which topping to use for your pumpkin cookies, keep these factors in mind:
Cookie Texture
– Soft, chewy cookies can hold up to thick, heavy frostings.
– Crispier cookies pair better with lighter toppings like sprinkles.
Flavor Profile
– Choose toppings that blend well with pumpkin pie spices.
– Avoid overpowering toppings that will cover up the pumpkin flavor.
Preparation Method
– Frosting and glazes require more hands-on preparation.
– Dustings of sugar or sprinkles are quicker and easier to apply.
Visual Appeal
– Frosting can be piped into fancy patterns for a pretty look.
– Drizzles, sprinkles, and nuts add festive texture and color.
Season
– Pick seasonally appropriate toppings like cinnamon or candy corn.
– Save red and green sprinkles for Christmas cookies instead.
Cookie Recipe
To make delicious pumpkin pie cookies that would be perfect with any of these sweet toppings, try this recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 1⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1⁄2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 3⁄4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the pumpkin, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
- Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Roll the dough into 1 1⁄2 inch balls and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly browned around the edges. Allow to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, decorate the cookies with your desired toppings.
Topping Ideas
Once your pumpkin cookies are baked and cooled, it’s time to add the delicious toppings! Get inspired by these yummy ideas:
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
Blend together cream cheese, butter, cinnamon, and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy. Pipe or spread onto the cookies.
Maple Glaze
Whisk together powdered sugar, maple syrup, milk, and vanilla for a glossy maple glaze. Drizzle over the cookies.
Pecan Streusel
Mix chopped pecans, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Sprinkle the streusel over the cookies before baking.
Pumpkin Spice Caramel
Swirl store-bought or homemade caramel over the cookies and dust with pumpkin pie spice.
Chocolate-Hazelnut Spread
Smear hazelnut spread like Nutella over the cookies and add chocolate shavings.
Lemon Curd
Dollop tangy lemon curd onto the cookies for brightness.
Candied Pecans
Decorate with sugary sweet candied pecans for crunch.
Cookie Butter
Slather rich cookie butter spread over the cookies for more cookie flavor!
Candy Corn
Press colorful candy corn pieces into the dough before baking for a festive look.
Crushed Peppermint
Roll piping hot cookies in crushed peppermint candies for a cool, refreshing twist.
Nutrition Information
Here is the nutrition information per pumpkin cookie based on the recipe above:
| Nutrition Facts | Per Serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 182 |
| Fat | 8g |
| Carbohydrates | 27g |
| Sugar | 16g |
| Fiber | 1g |
| Protein | 2g |
The cookie portion itself is high in carbohydrates and sugar, but low in protein and fiber. Toppings will increase the sugar, fat, and calorie content depending on what you choose. Opt for lighter toppings like cinnamon sugar if you are concerned about nutrition and want to enjoy these cookies as an occasional treat.
Storing and Freezing
Properly storing your topped pumpkin cookies will help them retain texture and flavor. Here are some tips:
Room Temperature Storage
– Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.
– Soft cookies and moist toppings will become firmer.
– Crunchy cookies will soften slightly over time.
Refrigerator Storage
– Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 1 week.
– Allows soft cookies and frostings to firm up.
– Keeps cookies with milk or egg-based toppings fresher.
Freezer Storage
– Freeze topped cookies up to 3 months.
– Seal cookies in an airtight container with parchment between layers.
– Thaw at room temperature before serving.
– Frosting and glazed may need to be re-applied after thawing if absorbed into cookie.
Decorating Tips
Use these handy decorating tips and tricks get your pumpkin cookies looking their absolute best:
Outline First
Pipe a border of frosting around each cookie before filling in to keep your frosting neat and centered.
Start on the Outside
When drizzling glaze or chocolate over cookies, drizzle from the outside first and work your way into the center for even coverage.
Make a Well
Using an apple corer or small cookie cutter, cut out a circle in the center of the flat side of each cooled cookie. Fill with frosting or caramel.
Use a Pastry Bag
Spoon frosting into a plastic baggie, push into a corner and pipe onto the cookies for a no-fuss way to decorate.
Toast Nuts First
Quickly toasting nuts before topping brings out their oils and gives them more flavor.
Use a Fine Mesh Strainer
If your powdered sugar topping is clumpy, sift it through a fine mesh strainer for ultra-fine, smooth coverage.
Sprinkle from High Up
Hold your hand higher above the cookies when sprinkling on toppings for light, even coverage.
Presentation Ideas
Impress your friends and family with beautiful cookie presentations:
Wood Boards
Arrange cookies on long wooden cutting boards or charcuterie boards for rustic chic serving.
Tiered Platters
Display cookies on tiered platters so guests can easily see all the different toppings.
Clear Containers
Cookies topped with loads of candy and nuts look great in clear jars, boxes, or bags.
Fall Leaves
Scatter real or artificial fall leaves around plated cookies for seasonal flair.
Milk Bottle Bouquet
Tie your cookies up in bundles using twine and attach them to a fall bouquet in a milk bottle.
Washi Tape Labels
Identify different topped cookies by adding flags or labels made with coordinating fall washi tape.
Mini Pumpkins
Set your cookie platter on a bed of mini pumpkins for an adorable autumnal display.
Pairing with Drinks
What will you sip alongside your topped pumpkin cookies? Here are some delicious drink ideas:
Spiced Apple Cider
Warm spiced apple cider is a quintessential fall beverage that pairs wonderfully with pumpkin desserts.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
A foamy, pumpkin-y latte made with espresso and steamed milk is perfect for dunking autumnal cookies.
Hot Chocolate
Creamy hot chocolate provides a rich, chocolatey contrast to pumpkin’s warm spices.
Chai Tea
Strong black tea infused with fragrant spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and clove makes a fantastic cookie pair. Try it iced or steaming hot.
Spiked Coffee Drinks
For adults, spike your coffee or espresso drinks with rum, whiskey, or pumpkin liqueur for a tasty autumn twist.
Mulled Wine
Red wine infused with orange, cinnamon, star anise, and honey is delicious for dipping cookies alongside a roaring fire.
Eggnog
Sweet, thick, creamy eggnog is a seasonal classic to enjoy with your spiced holiday cookies.
Conclusion
With their incredible flavor, festive fall appeal, and endless topping possibilities, pumpkin pie cookies are sure to be a hit at any autumn gathering or holiday cookie exchange. Whether you prefer classic cream cheese frosting, sweet maple glaze, warm pecan streusel, or fun candy decorations, your personalized cookie creations will impress friends and family. Pair them with spiced cider, pumpkin spiced lattes, or mulled wine for a seasonal treat that looks and tastes amazing. Happy fall baking!