Description
Get ready to create the most adorable little pumpkin army that’s going to make everyone at your Halloween party absolutely lose their minds with cuteness overload. These Spooky-Fun Pumpkin Jack-O’-Lantern Treats are basically what happens when soft, pillowy pumpkin cookies decide to dress up as the cutest jack-o’-lanterns you’ve ever seen. We’re talking tender, spiced pumpkin cookies that taste like fall in cookie form, covered in vibrant orange icing and decorated with the most expressive little faces that range from spooky to silly to downright adorable. Each one has its own personality, and they’re so much fun to make that you’ll find yourself creating entire pumpkin families with different expressions. Fair warning: these are almost too cute to eat, but the amazing pumpkin spice flavor will convince you to devour them anyway.
Ingredients
For the Pumpkin Cookie Base:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Orange Icing:
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup milk (more as needed)
- 4 tbsp butter, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Orange food coloring
- Pinch of salt
For the Face Decorating:
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips
- Black decorating gel or melted chocolate
- Green decorating icing (for stems)
- Small candies like mini M&Ms or candy eyes
- Pretzel sticks (for stems)
- Orange sprinkles (optional)
Optional Extras:
- Royal icing for more precise decorating
- Different colored icings for creative faces
- Edible markers for detailed expressions
- Halloween-themed sprinkles
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.
In a large bowl, cream together softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 3-4 minutes).
Beat in egg, then pumpkin puree and vanilla extract.
Gradually mix in the flour mixture until just combined. Don’t overmix.
Scoop dough into balls about 2 tablespoons each.
Place on prepared baking sheets, leaving space between cookies.
Gently flatten each ball slightly with your palm to create a pumpkin shape.
Use a knife or your finger to create subtle vertical lines on each cookie to mimic pumpkin ridges.
Bake for 12-15 minutes until edges are set but centers still look slightly soft.
Don’t overbake — you want them tender and soft.
Let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.
Cool completely before decorating.
In a large bowl, beat together powdered sugar, milk, softened butter, vanilla, and a pinch of salt.
Add orange food coloring gradually until you reach your desired pumpkin orange shade.
The icing should be thick enough to coat but thin enough to spread smoothly.
Add more milk if too thick, more powdered sugar if too thin.
Using an offset spatula or butter knife, spread orange icing evenly over each cooled cookie.
Work with one cookie at a time and smooth the icing to the edges.
If you want textured pumpkin ridges, use a fork to gently create vertical lines in the wet icing.
Let the base icing set for about 15 minutes before adding faces.
This is where the magic happens! Create faces using:
Eyes: Mini chocolate chips, candy pieces, or piped black icing dots Noses: Triangle-shaped pieces of chocolate or piped triangles Mouths: Use black gel to draw smiles, frowns, surprised expressions, or spooky grins Stems: Insert small pieces of pretzel stick or pipe green icing stems
Get creative! Make happy faces, scary faces, surprised faces, winking faces — each one can be unique.
While the face decorations are still wet, you can add:
Orange sprinkles around the edges for texture Small candy pieces for dimensional features Green icing leaves around the pretzel stems Extra details with different colored icings
Allow decorated cookies to sit for at least 30 minutes until all icing is completely set.
Store in airtight containers with layers separated by parchment paper.
These actually improve in flavor after sitting overnight.
Notes
Perfect centerpiece for Halloween party dessert tables.
Great alongside hot apple cider or pumpkin spice lattes.
Beautiful displayed in a pumpkin-shaped bowl or on fall-themed plates.
Wonderful for school Halloween parties or trick-or-treater rewards.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes per batch
Nutrition
- Calories: ~215 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Protein: ~3g