Chef John's Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles

The flavors of pumpkin spice work beautifully in these classic buttery, cinnamon sugar cookies.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 25 mins
• Calories: 144 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon milk, or as needed
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 0.5 cup white sugar
• 0.25 cup white sugar
• 0.5 cup unsalted butter
• 0.25 teaspoon ground cloves
• 0.25 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt
• 0.125 teaspoon nutmeg
• 0.5 teaspoon ginger
• 0.25 teaspoon allspice
• 0.33333334326744 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 0.25 cup confectioners' sugar

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.

Step 2

Place flour, salt, baking soda, and cream of tartar in a mixing bowl. Add cinnamon, ginger, allspice, clove, and nutmeg. Whisk until thoroughly mixed, 1 or 2 minutes.

Step 3

Place butter, sugar, and brown sugar in a separate mixing bowl. Cream together with a spatula or wooden spoon until mixture is smooth, 2 or 3 minutes. Add vanilla and egg. Stir until thoroughly combined.

Step 4

Pour flour mixture into butter mixture. Stir until just combined or until the flour disappears.

Step 5

Wrap bowl in plastic wrap. Chill dough in refrigerator for about 1 hour.

Step 6

Stir cinnamon and sugar together in a shallow bowl or plate.

Step 7

Scoop dough into 2 tablespoon balls. Roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat all sides. Roll into smooth ball and place on prepared baking sheet, 3 to 4 inches apart. Flatten slightly.

Step 8

Bake in preheated oven until browned, 10 to 12 minutes.

Step 9

Cool on baking sheet 5 minutes; sprinkle with additional cinnamon-sugar mixture, if desired. Transfer cookies to cooling rack to cool completely.

Step 10

If you'd like to add a bit of a shine to your cookies, you can brush them with a simple glaze. Mix confectioners' sugar with milk or lemon juice to achieve brushing consistency. Brush onto cookies. Sprinkle with more cinnamon sugar or pumpkin pie spice, if desired.