Introduction
Pumpkin-Shaped Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing are a festive, fun, and delicious treat perfect for fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. These cookies are soft, buttery, and perfectly shaped like pumpkins, decorated with smooth royal icing for a professional, colorful finish. They’re ideal for parties, gifting, or simply enjoying as a seasonal snack.
The combination of soft sugar cookies and vibrant icing makes these cookies a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds. Decorating the pumpkins can also be a creative, hands-on activity for kids and adults alike, making them perfect for family or group baking sessions.
Why I Love This Recipe
I love this recipe because it’s fun, festive, and endlessly creative. The buttery sugar cookies are soft and flavorful, providing a perfect canvas for vibrant royal icing decorations. I enjoy making each pumpkin unique by adding details like stems, ridges, and cute patterns, turning simple cookies into mini works of art. This recipe is satisfying because it combines baking, decorating, and sharing—a full baking experience in one.
Why It’s a Must-Try Dish
- Visually Stunning: Perfectly shaped pumpkins with colorful icing make these cookies stand out on dessert tables.
- Delicious: Soft, buttery cookies paired with sweet royal icing are a flavor combination everyone loves.
- Creative and Fun: Decorating the cookies allows for artistic expression and customization.
- Perfect for Gifting: Individually wrapped or arranged in boxes, these cookies make great seasonal gifts.
- Kid-Friendly Activity: Fun and safe for children to help decorate, making baking interactive and festive.
Preparation Time and Total Cooking Time
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Chilling Time: 1 hour
- Baking Time: 10–12 minutes per batch
- Decoration Time: 30–40 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes (including chilling and decoration)
- Servings: 24 cookies
- Calories: Approximately 150–180 kcal per cookie
Cuisine and Course
- Cuisine: American / Dessert
- Course: Dessert / Snack / Holiday Treat
Ingredients
For the Sugar Cookies:
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp pumpkin spice (optional, for flavor)
For the Royal Icing:
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp meringue powder
- ¼ cup water (adjust as needed)
- Food coloring (orange, green, brown)
Optional Decorations:
- Edible glitter
- Sprinkles
- Chocolate or candy accents for stems
Simple Cooking Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Prepare sugar cookie dough, chill, and roll out.
- Cut out pumpkin shapes with a cookie cutter.
- Bake cookies for 10–12 minutes, then cool completely.
- Prepare royal icing and color it accordingly.
- Pipe and decorate pumpkin cookies with icing and optional details.
Step-by-Step Recipe Preparation Method
- Prepare Cookie Dough:
- In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin spice (if using).
- In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in egg and vanilla extract.
- Gradually add dry ingredients and mix until a smooth dough forms.
- Chill Dough:
- Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour to make it easier to handle.
- Roll and Cut Cookies:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Roll dough to ¼ inch thickness on a floured surface.
- Use a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes.
- Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake Cookies:
- Bake for 10–12 minutes or until edges are lightly golden.
- Let cookies cool completely on a wire rack.
- Prepare Royal Icing:
- In a bowl, mix powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water.
- Beat until stiff peaks form. Adjust consistency by adding more water (for flooding) or powdered sugar (for piping).
- Divide icing and color portions with food coloring.
- Decorate Cookies:
- Pipe orange icing for pumpkin bodies.
- Add green stems and brown or black lines for pumpkin ridges.
- Optional: sprinkle edible glitter or add candy accents.
- Allow icing to dry completely before handling.
How to Serve
- Arrange cookies on a festive platter for parties or family gatherings.
- Individually wrap cookies in cellophane for gifting.
- Display as part of a fall-themed dessert table alongside cupcakes and other treats.
Additional Recipe Tips
- Chill dough before rolling to prevent cookies from spreading.
- Use a toothpick to spread and smooth royal icing.
- For uniform cookies, roll dough between two sheets of parchment paper.
- Allow icing to fully dry for 1–2 hours before stacking or packing.
Variations
- Pumpkin Spice Cookies: Add more pumpkin spice or cinnamon to the dough.
- Chocolate Pumpkins: Add cocoa powder to dough for chocolate-flavored cookies.
- Mini Pumpkins: Use a smaller cookie cutter to make bite-sized pumpkin cookies.
- Alternative Decorations: Use colored sugar, edible markers, or candy eyes for fun designs.
Freezing and Storage
- Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: Unfrosted cookies can be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw before decorating. Frosted cookies are best stored in the fridge for 3–4 days.
Special Equipment Needed
- Pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter
- Rolling pin
- Parchment-lined baking sheets
- Piping bags and tips for royal icing
- Wire rack for cooling
Conclusion
Pumpkin-Shaped Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing are a festive, creative, and delicious treat perfect for fall and Halloween celebrations. The soft, buttery cookies paired with vibrant, smooth royal icing make them a joy to bake, decorate, and share. Perfect for gifting, decorating dessert tables, or enjoying with family, these cookies are a must-try for anyone looking to add whimsy, flavor, and seasonal charm to their baking repertoire.
Pumpkin-Shaped Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
Description
Pumpkin-Shaped Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing are a festive, fun, and delicious treat perfect for fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. These cookies are soft, buttery, and perfectly shaped like pumpkins, decorated with smooth royal icing for a professional, colorful finish. They’re ideal for parties, gifting, or simply enjoying as a seasonal snack.
Ingredients
For the Sugar Cookies:
For the Royal Icing:
Optional Decorations:
Instructions
-
Prepare Cookie Dough : In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin spice (if using). In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla extract. Gradually add dry ingredients and mix until a smooth dough forms.
-
Chill Dough : Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour to make it easier to handle.
-
Roll and Cut Cookies : Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll dough to ¼ inch thickness on a floured surface. Use a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
-
Bake Cookies : Bake for 10–12 minutes or until edges are lightly golden. Let cookies cool completely on a wire rack.
-
Prepare Royal Icing : In a bowl, mix powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water. Beat until stiff peaks form. Adjust consistency by adding more water (for flooding) or powdered sugar (for piping). Divide icing and color portions with food coloring.
-
Decorate Cookies : Pipe orange icing for pumpkin bodies. Add green stems and brown or black lines for pumpkin ridges. Optional: sprinkle edible glitter or add candy accents. Allow icing to dry completely before handling.
