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These are the easiest, softest, chewiest Pumpkin Cookies!! All it takes is a box of pumpkin cake mix, cream cheese, butter, eggs & powdered sugar.
Soft pumpkin cookies are one of our weaknesses. This version is extra soft just like our pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and iced pumpkin cookies.
Pumpkin Cookies with cake mix
I’m calling this next recipe Gooey Butter Pumpkin Cookies. They’re a spin off of my Gooey Butter Cookies. I brought them to a church function Saturday night, and they were gone in no time. The best part about them is they are so soft and gooey and are perfect for this time of year!
These are some of the easiest cookies to make because you use a boxed cake mix, plus just a few additional ingredients. Those other ingredients include cream cheese (and BUTTER!!), so you know it has to be good. 😀
I found this Pillsbury Perfectly Pumpkin Cake Mix in the Halloween section at Target. I’ve seen it each fall for the past few years so I’m hoping they keep making it because there are so many great treats that can be made with it.
How to Make Pumpkin cake Cookies:
I love how quickly these cookies come together! It only takes about 5-10 minutes of prep work. You do have to chill the dough for 30 minutes, so plan ahead. But other than that, they are so quick and so easy. See for yourself!
MIX + CHILL. Beat butter, vanilla, egg and cream cheese until fluffy. Mix in the pumpkin cake mix. Chill the dough for 30 minutes.
ROLL. Once the dough is chilled, roll into balls and dip in a bowl of powdered sugar.
BAKE. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes, and sift powdered sugar on top once they come out of the oven, if desired.
Is there a pumpkin cake version? We have a few versions of this Ooey Pumpkin Cookie. The versions are equally delicious and easy to make.
Notes: Sprinkle with powdered sugar or top with a vanilla glaze
how to store pumpkin cake cookies
Storing. Once cool, place gooey pumpkin cookies into an air-tight container and store on the counter for up to 3 days. They should stay soft during that time period and although they have butter and cream cheese, they do not need to be refrigerated.
You can also freeze the cookies in dough form, or after they have been baked.
- Dough: Roll the dough into balls. Place them on a baking sheet and then into the freeze. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw before baking.
- Baked: Once the cookies have cooked. Place them in a freezer safe container, separating the layers with parchment paper. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Pretty much any recipe with cream cheese and butter is a keeper in my book. This pumpkin cookie recipe is one I hope to make every year in the fall when the seasonal Pumpkin Cake Mix is out. 🙂 Once you make pumpkin cookies with cake mix, you want to do it any other way!
For more pumpkin recipes, check out:
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
- Homemade Pumpkin Pie
- Pumpkin Waffles
- Easy Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
Pumpkin Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 box Perfectly Pumpkin Cake Mix
- 1/2 c butter softened
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 egg
- powdered sugar
Instructions
- Beat butter, vanilla, egg and cream cheese until fluffy. Mix in cake mix.
- Chill for 30 minutes.
- Roll into balls and dip in a bowl of powdered sugar.
- Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes, and sift powdered sugar on top if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These are the best cookies. I love serving them during the holidays. They are a crowd favorite.
Can pumpkin spiced bread mix replace the pumpkin cake mix?
You know, I have never tried using a bread mix for this instead? I’m not sure how well it would work. You could certainly try it and see. But not sure if it would yield similar results. You’ll have to let us know how it turns out if you do end up using that.
Ill have to stock up on the seasonal cake mix so I can have these all year long!
A simple but great taSting cookie tAkes no effort.
I have made butter cookies before, but not pumpkin butter! Amazing! They really are so easy to make!
We love the cake mix cookies!! We have used many of your recipes using this base. I love the addition of the pumpkin cake. It’s the perfect pumpkin flavor.
On your gooey butter cookie recipe video it shows two sticks of butter and the written recipe calls for one stick. Which is right?
Hi, this is Sally again…………I think it was me as the cookies did turn out great after all, and I never bake anything unless it is from scratch, but now these will always be a regular for me as being 74, it help save me many steps………………….so thanks for the reply, but they did turn out well after all. Merry Christmas, sally
Hi, how much cream cheese do you use? 1.8 oz or 1/8 of the cream cheese bar
Thanks
You use one 8 oz. bar. 😉
What if u can’t find that cake mix??
Hello! I accidentally bought perfectly pumpkin cookie mix. Do you think that will work?
Unfortunately, I don’t think it will, although I’ve never tried. :/
How many cookies does this batch make?
Depends on how big you make them… if smaller then close to 3 dozen. If a tid bigger, then about 2 dozen. 🙂
Do you think a cream cheese icing would be good on these.. I want to make them for an upcoming dinner party.
I definitely think Cream Cheese frosting would go great on these. I would just make sure to pat them down a bit so they’re not so curved on top so they’ll be easier to frost. 🙂
What brand was the cake mix? I’m having a hard time finding it. I found a pumpkin creme Pillsbury mix?
Never mind, I just realized there is a picture of it 🙂 for some reason the pictures were not loading when I looked at it the first time! I still cannot find the mix, so I may try it with the pumpkin creme one and it may be a huge fail! We will see. Thanks!
Let me know how it goes if you use the Pumpkin Creme. I’ve seen the mix at Target and Walmart with other seasonal baking products. 🙂
Wanting to make these for a fundraiser. Does anyone know what the shelf life is on these? Thanks
These cookies usually only stay good for 2-3 days max. Hope that helps. 🙂
Ok these look delicious! I was wondering if you could tell me what store sells that cake mix? I would love to make these and looked at one grocery store with no success!
I’ve seen them at Target and Walmart. 🙂
These were great. I couldn’t get the right cake mix so I used “spice cake” instead. It gave them a real gingerbread flavor. Very good…
Oooooh, Spice Cake would be great!! Glad you liked them. 🙂
I’m trying spice cake and, added some pumpkin…smells good in the oven right now!
Great idea!!
Hi, I HAVE to make these cookies! They are calling my name. Do you think one could freeze this dry cake mix. Since its limited edition it won’t be on the shelves long so I thought I would stock up and freeze it. What is your opinion on this?
Thanks so much!
Man alive, Krystin! These look unbelievably delicious! You always have the best desserts!
By the way, I linked to this in my own blog. Loved it soooo much! Thanks!
Thank you so much, Laurie! I definitely have a thing for desserts, lol. 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
I’m sorry if it sounds stupid but…. what makes them gooey? Like, when you bite into the cookie, is it just a little wet inside? (Wet is a bad word, I know.) I’m trying to picture. thanks!
LOL!! Not a dumb question at all!! They are gooey because they are very soft and moist (hate that word :/). The butter and cream cheese make them that way and instead of calling them SOFT and MOIST PUMPKIN COOKIES, GOOEY describes them better. Plus, that was what the recipe was called when my mom first found it years and years ago. 🙂
hummmmm…..delicious!!!from Spain. I love your blog. 😉
Yay for readers in Spain!! SO glad you like the blog. 🙂
These look delicious! I’m definitely going to have to try them soon! 🙂
-S
http://libertyonless.wordpress.com/
Thank you!! They were so tasty and easy to make (my fav kind of recipe!) Thanks for stopping by. 🙂