How to Make Easy Pumpkin Cookies
If you’re looking for a classic cookie for fall you need to try these easy pumpkin cookies. They’re one of the first cookies I bake for fall and they’re great for a beginner or advanced decorators. If you’ve been shopping lately, I’m sure you’ve seen the classic pumpkin orange colors among blue, lime green, and yellow. Once you find a pumpkin cutter you like, experiment with different colors of royal icing and see if you can make a new fun fall color palette.
How to Make Easy Little Pumpkin Cookies:
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Recipes:
Cookie Cutters:
- Sugarbelle’s Pumpkin Cookie Cutter-any pumpkin cutter will work
Royal Icing Colors:Â I used AmeriColor Soft Paste Food Gel Colors
- Electric Orange
- Lime Green
- Sky Blue
- Yellow-Mix a little Gold with Lemon Yellow
- Warm Brown
Tools:
- Decorating Bags, Bottles, or Tipless Bags –Couplers and #2 Decorating tips if needed
- Turkey Lacer or toothpick
- Food Safe Marker
- Mini Heat Gun to dry the royal icing (optional)
How to Make Easy Pumpkin Cookies:
Let’s make a pattern:
- Begin by baking your easy pumpkin cookies and letting them cool completely.
- If you need a pattern, trace the cookie cutter and draw the different sections of the pumpkin on a piece of parchment paper.
Transfer the pattern:
- Cut out the center section of the pumpkin and use a food-safe marker to trace it onto the cookies.
Time to outline:
- Outline the center of the pumpkin.
- Then, outline the side sections of the pumpkin.
Time to flood:
- Flood the outer sections and let them dry for about 20 minutes. I used a Mini Heat Gun to help the icing dry a little faster. It will make the royal icing dry with a shine and help prevent air bubbles and reduce craters.
- If you don’t have a Mini Heat Gun, don’t worry about it. Place your cookies in front of a fan once you flood them. This will help the topcoat of the royal icing dry quickly which will help it dry with a shine instead of looking dull. That makes a lot of happy little pumpkin cookies!
Add the stem:
- Outline the stem with the brown royal icing. I don’t know why, but I chose to leave a little hole in the stem just to add a little character.
Finish the flood:
- Next, flood the center section of the pumpkin.
Loving my heat gun!
- Here is the little Mini Heat Gun I was telling you about. Isn’t it cute!
- Let the cookies dry completely before you stack or package them.
If you make fun fall colors, share a link with me below and I’ll post them on my Pumpkin Cookies Pinterest Board.
Oh, how I love pumpkins!
I love to make these easy pumpkin cookies because they are a perfect way to welcome fall. Give them to your friends, co-workers, neighbors, and family, and make their day special! Don’t forget to share your pumpkin cookies links with me!
Bear hugs,
Hi Lisa,
I was just wondering about the heat gun. Have you used one on your cookies?
Hi Kimberly,
I use it when the humidity is high. I know it may seem like more work, but it really helps my cookies dry with a shine and it helps reduce color bleed and craters. If you don’t have high humidity you may not need to use one. Usually placing the cookies in front of a fan will help them dry with a nice shine. 🙂
If you have more questions, email me at lisa@thebearfootbaker.com and I’ll be happy to share more with you.
The heat gun dries the cookie faster? It seems like it would melt the icing……no?
Hi Jan,
It doesn’t melt the icing. I only dry it for a few seconds with the mini heat gun and then place the cookies in front of the fan to dry completely. If you dry the cookies with the heat gun for too long, it will make the icing crack. Less is best and you’ll have to practice to see what works best for you. 😉
I have been listening to your podcast and just found your videos. Oh my goodness!! I’m self taught and have been making cookies for about 3 years. I watched all 3 “101” videos and have taken notes! Â I have been mixing my royal icing for TEN minutes according to the recipe and tonight is my first batch I mixed for three minutes. Thank you ever so much for your contribution to us cookiers! Â My random question is – I use half sheet paper towels – dampened- to keep my piping bags fresh but I feel so wasteful. Any suggestions?
Thanks again!! Renee
I use a damp dishcloth. I place it on a plastic try I purchased at The Dollar General for two or three dollars so it doesn’t mess up my table. Just place your bags on the dishcloth and fold the end over the tips so they don’t dry out. 🙂 Hope this helps!