Everyone will fall head-over-heels for these soft Pumpkin Sugar Cookies! They are irresistible with creamy brown sugar cream cheese frosting on top, creating the perfect tang with these sweet cookies. Both are filled with this season's favorite pumpkin spice. You won't be able to get enough!
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, pumpkin spice, and cinnamon. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, or in a mixing bowl using a hand mixer, cream together room temperature butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar for 1-2 minutes on medium speed, until light and fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
Add vegetable oil, pumpkin puree, and vanilla extract. Mix until combined. Then, add the egg until fully incorporated. Add in the dry ingredients and stir until incorporated, being careful to not overbake.
Optional: chill for 30 minutes for a slightly fluffier cookie. See the post for more details.
Dollop a scoop or 1 1/2 tablespoons of batter about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Dampen a flat-bottomed glass with water, then dip in a small bowl of granulated sugar. Gently press each cookie dough ball with the bottom of the glass until approximately 2 inches wide, or 1/4 inch thick. Press the glass back in the sugar between each cookie to recoat.
Bake the cookies for 9-12 minutes until the edges are set and gently bounce back when lightly tapped. Let cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
Brown Sugar Frosting
In the bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, combine the cream cheese and butter. Add the brown sugar until combined. Then, whisk in the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and pumpkin spice until smooth and completely combined.
Once the cookies are completely cooled, spread approximately 1 1/2 teaspoons of frosting on each cookie. Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon or pecans as desired.