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If you suffer from seasonal-cravings, then these cookies may cure your fall affliction! I don’t normally think about cookies all year long, but around Labor Day I realize the holidays will be here soon and I’ll be in “full-on-baking” mode. That doesn’t give me much time to try new things because everybody wants the same old fudge and toffee and decorated Christmas trees 🙂 But this year my holiday cookie recipients will be asking for these babies because they’re soft and full of amazing spices like cinnamon, ginger, cloves and pumpkin. My culinary consultants (a/k/a favorite taste-testers) actually said these are the best soft cookie they’ve ever eaten. They are often very kind with their praises but I’m told they devoured this entire batch of 40 sandwich cookies in record time.
Not only are these soft and delicious, they are so easy to make. Even if you don’t want to do the buttercream middle, make the cookies. You just might make a few new friends!
Don’t leave the windows open while baking these cookies. Your neighbors will be at your door in no time. They smell heavenly! I’m sharing three recipes with you today. The Soft Ginger-Molasses Cookies (you gotta make these!), the Pumpkin Butter (great on toast or bagels), and one for the Pumpkin Butter Buttercream frosting. Enjoy!
Here’s a PIN for your favorite cookie board!
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup unsulphured molasses
- 2 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 large eggs
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- coarse sugar for coating
- Pumpkin Butter Buttercream Frosting
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves and ginger. Whisk until blended. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat on medium until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the molasses and blend until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add about 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix on low until incorporated. Repeat until all flour is blended. Scrape down the sides and blend one more time, just to make sure. Cover and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Pour about 1/2 cup of the coarse or granulated sugar into a bowl for rolling.
- Scoop out some of the dough using a 1-inch cookie scoop or tablespoon. Roll the dough into a ball, then roll the ball in the coarse sugar.
- Place the cookies on the baking sheet at least 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 minutes. Leave the cookies on the parchment paper for at least 5 minutes to cool. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining dough until all cookies are baked. *
- Spread half the cookies with a about two teaspoons Pumpkin Butter Buttercream. Top with another cookie and gently press together.
- Store filled cookies in the refrigerator. Remove 30 minutes before serving. Unfilled cookies need no refrigeration.
* Don't let the raw cookie dough balls sit on a hot baking sheet. Use a cool baking sheet for each batch, or roll the cookies then place on a piece of parchment paper and set aside until read to bake.
This recipe makes about 80 (2-inch) cookies or 40 (2-inch) sandwich cookies
Adapted from a recipe on King Arthur Flour
A deliciously warm spiced buttercream frosting
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 1/2 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons Pumpkin Butter, store bought or homemade - see recipe below
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice (or DIY recipe in Notes)
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups sifted powdered sugar more or less as needed for desired consistency
In a small mixing bowl beat together the butter and cream cheese on medium until light and creamy. Add the pumpkin butter, vanilla and the pumpkin pie spice. Blend another minute until incorporated. Reduce the speed to low and slowly add the powdered sugar. Beat until smooth.
DIY Pumpkin Pie Spice: 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice and 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg. Blend or shake together in a small jar. Makes 2 teaspoons.
A smooth and creamy treat with tons of flavor!
- 1 (15 ounce) can pure pumpkin (puree)
- 2/3 cup unsweetened apple juice, plus extra for thinning if needed for desired consistency
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- Mix all ingredients together in a medium heavy bottom sauce pan. Cook on medium high until it comes to a soft boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally or until thickened. Add additional apple juice if needed.
I hope you’re enjoying lovely fall weather. We are in for a cool down this weekend – and I’m ready to bring out the fleece jackets and fuzzy slippers! I hope you have a great weekend – thanks so much for stopping by!
Tricia
John/Kitchen Riffs says
October 21, 2015 at 12:31 pmOfficially smitten. But when it comes to cookies, I’m easily smitten. 🙂 Love the buttercream flavor! Really nice. And I’m a sucker for ginger molasses cookies. Smitten by them, too. 😉 Terrific recipe — thanks.
Tricia Buice says
October 21, 2015 at 8:51 pmThanks John – if you are easily smitten with cookies, then I feel certain you would love these! Have a great week and thanks so much for stopping by!
Fareeha says
October 20, 2015 at 9:20 amThese look amazingly delicious. I feel like grabbing the cookies from the screen and eating it. You have presented it so well too.
Tricia Buice says
October 21, 2015 at 8:51 pmThank you Fareeha – have a great week! Thanks for stopping by.
Beth says
October 18, 2015 at 4:08 pmThat’s definitely high praise! Your cookies look wonderful.
Tricia Buice says
October 18, 2015 at 6:56 pmThank you Beth – they are tasty 🙂
2 Sisters Recipes by Anna and Liz says
October 18, 2015 at 2:29 pmThese look amazing! We never made these cookies -yet – but they are on our list ( of 100 recipes) to do!
Love the pumpkin-butter cream filling! YUM!
Tricia Buice says
October 18, 2015 at 6:56 pmYou are going to love these cookies! How cool that you have a list – that is way more organized than I ever hope to be. I do have a chalkboard and piles, and piles of cooks, magazines and printed recipes. Someday 🙂 Have a great week and thanks so much for stopping by!
cheri says
October 16, 2015 at 10:46 pmHi Tricia, Wow! I’m thinking that you really should write a cookbook, your baked goodies are amazing. Would love to be your neighbor.
Tricia Buice says
October 18, 2015 at 6:54 pmThank you Cheri – someday I hope I can do just that – write a cookbook! And I would love to be your neighbor too! Have a great week 🙂
Tara | Smells Like Home says
October 16, 2015 at 9:48 amCould these cookies be any more perfect? Seriously! Ginger and molasses has become two of my favorite fall flavors over the past few years and I’m a complete sucker for buttercream so these darlings couldn’t have just made me any happier. Thanks for sharing!!
Tricia Buice says
October 16, 2015 at 5:14 pmThanks so much Tara – and thank you for stopping by! Hope you have a lovely weekend.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
October 16, 2015 at 7:36 amOh I do understand about the holidays. Sadly, it’s not the family who expects the traditional recipes, it’s me. Being so far from family, I cuddle myself with memory food at the holidays. No experimentation allowed on the day. 🙂 That said, I’m DEFINITELY making these beautiful (and may I say perfect) cookies.
Tricia Buice says
October 16, 2015 at 5:14 pmI understand – if I was that far away from family I would probably want the traditional dishes too 🙁 I hope you get the chance to make these Maureen – so easy and tasty! Have a lovely weekend.
Mandy says
October 16, 2015 at 5:12 amOoo, perfect teatime treats.
Have a beautiful weekend Tricia.
🙂 Mandy xo
Tricia Buice says
October 16, 2015 at 7:36 amTea time sounds just lovely! Hope you have a gorgeous spring weekend! Our trees are changing colors and the air is crisp and thank heavens for the weekend!
Abbe @ This is How I Cook says
October 15, 2015 at 10:39 pmThis is like three recipes for the price of one! Hurray! I can’t begin to tell you how fantastic these look. These will definitely be on my cookie plate this year!
Tricia Buice says
October 16, 2015 at 7:35 amWe aim to please Abbe! These are a wonderful cookie – hope you love them too! Have a great weekend 🙂
Gerlinde/Sunnycovechef says
October 15, 2015 at 8:57 pmThese sandwich cookies look amazing and can just imagine all the flavors , from the pumpkin butter to the ginger
Tricia Buice says
October 16, 2015 at 7:35 amI love a good cookies Gerlinde – and fall flavors too! Hope you have a relaxing and beautiful weekend!
Susan says
October 15, 2015 at 4:53 pmI can already imagine how wonderful these would smell and taste! This must be a wonderful cookie recipe since, as Sue said, they stayed so perfectly round and puffed.
Tricia Buice says
October 15, 2015 at 8:20 pmI used a cookie scoop and that makes it so easy to get them more uniform. When sandwiching them together, it helps to have a similar match 🙂 These are very good cookies and the flavors are wonderful! Have a great weekend!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
October 15, 2015 at 10:59 amI’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to stop once I started on these — I love a great sandwich cookie, and those flavors are fantastic. I love how you got the ginger cookies to be so uniform and slightly puffy — I’m going to try these for sure 🙂
Tricia Buice says
October 15, 2015 at 8:21 pmI had to get them out of the house Sue – I adore that ginger-molasses flavor – have a great weekend!
Monique says
October 15, 2015 at 9:21 amThey look amazing!
Tricia Buice says
October 15, 2015 at 8:21 pmVery good Monique – hope you have another beautiful weekend 🙂
Chris Scheuer says
October 15, 2015 at 5:58 amOkay, I was smitten by the name before I ever saw them but now I’m totally sold. They are gorgeous! Of course I shouldn’t be surprised, they come from one of the finest bakeries in the blogosphere!
Tricia Buice says
October 15, 2015 at 8:23 pmYou are so sweet Chris – you blow me away with your gorgeous cakes and cupcakes and desserts – always picture perfect! Have a great weekend!
[email protected]'s Recipes says
October 15, 2015 at 4:15 amCould I have a few for the tea? I promise I won’t finish the whole basket…
I MUST make that pumpkin buttercream!
Tricia Buice says
October 15, 2015 at 8:23 pmI wish I could Angie – because I would! These would be great with tea – yummy 🙂 Have a lovely weekend!
Monica says
October 14, 2015 at 10:47 pmOh wow, Tricia! I do “suffer” from seasonal craving and I have totally been craving a soft ginger cookie. You can read minds! And these cookies look absolutely out-of-this-world! The soft texture of the cookies themselves, the flavor of the spices, and the crunch from the sugar coating on top – perfection! And looking at the recipe(s), I can see why they were quickly devoured! There’s a lot of love and attention in every bite of these. I’m looking forward to holiday baking but I plan to stick more to old favorites and take time to just enjoy the holidays this year. But then I see treats like this and it’s hard not to try something new! I think your cast of lucky taste-testers will surely be asking for this for the holidays!
Tricia Buice says
October 15, 2015 at 8:25 pmYou are so sweet Monica – hope you will give them a try. Everybody loved them and they are incredibly easy to make. Thanks so much!