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Pumpkin Sugar Cookies Recipe

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4.1 from 7 reviews

These delightful Pumpkin Sugar Cookies combine classic sugar cookie dough with festive orange and green food coloring to create charming pumpkin-shaped cookies perfect for fall or Halloween celebrations. The dough is carefully colored, shaped into pumpkin logs with green stem details, chilled thoroughly, then sliced and baked to tender, buttery perfection with a subtle vanilla sweetness.

Ingredients

Cookie Dough

  • 1 cup unsalted butter (softened but not melty)
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon salt

Food Coloring

  • Orange food coloring (preferably gel, such as Amerigel electric orange)
  • Green food coloring

Instructions

  1. Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the softened butter, granulated sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Using an electric mixer or stand mixer, beat the mixture until it becomes creamy, fluffy, and well-combined.
  2. Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to ensure even distribution of the leavening agent and salt.
  3. Incorporate dry into wet: Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, stirring on low speed. Pause occasionally to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl, continuing until all ingredients are completely combined forming the cookie dough.
  4. Separate dough portions: Remove about ¼ of the dough, approximately ¾ cup (220g), and place it in a separate bowl. From this portion, remove 1 tablespoon into another small bowl for coloring.
  5. Color the dough: Add orange gel food coloring to the ¾ cup dough and stir well, adding more coloring until achieving a vibrant pumpkin-like orange shade. Add green food coloring to the 1 tablespoon dough, stirring until it becomes a bright green. Leave the remaining majority dough uncolored.
  6. Chill colored dough if sticky: If the colored dough feels too sticky to handle, refrigerate it for 15-30 minutes until manageable.
  7. Shape pumpkin logs: Divide the orange dough into two equal pieces and roll each piece into a skinny log roughly ⅔ inch tall by 1 inch wide. Use a wooden skewer or knife to gently indent a line along the top of each orange log to create a groove for the green stem.
  8. Form green stems: Roll the green dough into thin strips and press them into the indents on the orange logs, simulating pumpkin stems. Place these pumpkin logs on a tray and freeze for 15 minutes to an hour to firm up. Meanwhile, refrigerate the uncolored dough.
  9. Wrap pumpkin logs with dough: Once firm, remove pumpkin logs from freezer and take the uncolored dough from fridge. Divide it into two equal portions, and wrap each pumpkin log with one portion, forming a smooth log with the pumpkin center encased. Wrap logs tightly in plastic wrap and place on a plush kitchen towel to avoid flattening. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or up to one week, to chill thoroughly.
  10. Preheat oven and prepare baking sheets: When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or use ungreased baking sheets.
  11. Slice and arrange cookies: Remove chilled dough logs from refrigerator and slice into ¼ inch thick slices. Space the cookies at least 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets to allow for spreading.
  12. Bake cookies: Bake in the preheated 375°F (190°C) oven for about 10 minutes, or until the edges start showing a light golden brown hue. Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool completely on the baking sheets to set their shape before serving.

Notes

  • Use gel food coloring for more vibrant and less sticky colored dough.
  • Chilling the dough logs is essential for preserving the pumpkin shape during slicing and baking.
  • Placing the logs on a plush towel while chilling prevents the bottoms from flattening.
  • Cookies can be stored refrigerated for up to a week before baking or frozen for longer storage.
  • Ensure butter is softened but not melted for proper creaming and dough consistency.

Find it online: https://glowcooks.com/pumpkin-sugar-cookies-recipe/