The Best Snickerdoodles with Sweet Pumpkin Spice Glaze

Snickerdoodles are one of those cookies that definitely stand out on their own. They are a lightly crispy cookie with cinnamon and sugar on top, with a slightly chewy center. Snickerdoodles are truly delicious and some of my favorite cookies. This recipe takes a classic snickerdoodle and uses pumpkin spice instead of cinnamon and then the cookies are topped with a sweet pumpkin glaze that is also infused with pumpkin spice. These snickerdoodles are sweet, easy, and will be a fall favorite for sure.

The pumpkin glaze is reminiscent of pumpkin pie filling but is better in that you can whisk it all together in a few minutes and it does not need to bake at all! These snickerdoodles are truly a fall treat that you can make year round, they are so good! Co

Common Questions:

What is a Snickerdoodle?

• Snickerdoodles are a simple combination, with main ingredients including butter, sugar, and flour. The cookie dough is rolled in cinnamon and sugar before baking which gives it a slightly crispy top.

• For this version I substitute in pumpkin pie spice, which is comprised of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and a little allspice, so that I can get extra notes of fall flavor. You can just use cinnamon if you do not have pumpkin pie spice.

Why is Cream of Tartar In Snickerdoodles?

• Cream of tartar is a signature ingredient in snickerdoodles. It gives the cookies a slightly tangy flavor as well as the slight chewiness.

• Cream of tartar is an acidic by-product of grape fermentation for wine making. In snickerdoodles it reacts with baking soda as your leavening agent for the rise of the cookies. Cream of tartar is stronger than baking powder, which can replace cream of tartar in recipes if you do not have cream of tartar on hand.

• If you replace cream of tartar with baking powder, your cookies will not have the signature snickerdoodle flavor but will still taste good. You can use 1 1/2 tsp of baking powder for every 1 tsp of cream of tartar.

Why Didn’t My Snickerdoodles Flatten Out?

• Snickerdoodles are traditionally a flatter cookie with a crisp exterior and chewy middle. If you find that your cookies are puffy and round when baked there are a couple of reasons this could be. You may have added too much flour to your cookies. If you have a kitchen scale, definitely measure your flour so that you get a precise measurement. If you do not have a kitchen scale, be sure to fluff your flour prior to scooping it out.

• Check your oven temperature! If you measure your flour and cookie dough is soft when you place it into the oven, but your cookies still turn out mounded, your oven may be in need of a calibration. You can check if your oven is off temperature but preheating it and then using a kitchen thermometer to measure the actual temperature.

What is Pumpkin Glaze Made Of?

• Pumpkin glaze is a combination of pumpkin puree, powdered sugar, and spices. Though the glaze is optional, adding a pumpkin glaze is so good and truly celebrates the fall season. The pumpkin puree will never harden up completely, but instead will be a tasty, soft, icing-like topping for your snickerdoodles. Any leftover glaze makes a great syrup replacement for pancakes or Pumpkin Spice Waffles.

• This recipes calls for 1 cup powdered sugar, but I recommend having more on hand to add if needed. Your glaze should be smooth and the amount of powdered sugar will vary with how runny your pumpkin is or how much water or milk you put in. It will also vary on how thick you like your icing. I like mine to be a more curd-like texture so I use only 1 Tbs of water and more powder sugar. If you want to drizzle on your glaze, I recommend an extra tablespoon of liquid.

What Can I Use Instead of Pumpkin Spice?

• Buying pre-mixed pumpkin spice is an easy way to keep this flavor on hand. If you do not have pumpkin spice, you can easily mix a few spices together to achieve the same flavor. Pumpkin spice can be a mixture of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, cardamom, and mace. I suggest that the three most important spices to add would be cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. The others would taste great but are not necessary to make these delicious snickerdoodles with pumpkin glaze.

What Do I Do With Extra Pumpkin Puree?

• If you are like me, then you usually buy the cans of pumpkin puree which means you will have extra pumpkin leftover. Pumpkin puree will last in the fridge for about a week in a sealed container. With my extra puree I make my pumpkin spice waffles Or My Pumpkin Bread with Toasted Pumpkin Seeds! Let me know how you use your extra pumpkin puree in the comments below!

Ingredients For Snickerdoodles with Pumpkin Spice Glaze:

Details and Directions:

1. Make the Snickerdoodles

   1. Preheat the oven 350 F

   2. Cream together the butter and sugar

   3. Add in the egg and vanilla, and incorporate until the wet ingredients are well combined.

   4. In a separate bowl, measure out the flour using a kitchen scale.

   5. Mix in the salt, baking soda, and baking powder to the flour.

   6. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet until you have a smooth and consistent cookie.

   7. To a bowl or plate, mix together the granulated sugar and cinnamon for rolling your snickerdoodles.

   8. Using your hands create 1” dough balls and roll them in the cinnamon and sugar. Add them to a cookie sheet and lightly press them down.

   9. Continue to roll and press the snickerdoodle dough until you have used all your cookie dough.

   10. Bake until golden brown on the edges, fragrant, and just starting to crack on top, about 10-12 minutes.

2. Mix the Pumpkin Glaze:

   1. To a bowl, add the pumpkin puree, salt, and spices.

   2. Slowly add in powdered sugar, whisking with either a fork or whisk to incorporate the powdered sugar into the pumpkin puree.

   3. Continue to add powdered sugar until you have a smooth glaze. You may use more than the 1 cup called for depending on desired thickness.

   4. Add 1 Tbs of water or milk to help make your glaze uniform in consistency. If you want a runnier glaze, feel free to add in an extra tablespoon of liquid.

3. Glaze the Snickerdoodles!

   1. Using a spoon, add glaze to each cookie.

   2. Allow to cool and set for at least 30 minutes. The glaze will never fully harden but will thicken.

   3. Enjoy!