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Spooky Ghost Brown Butter Pumpkin Cookies

Soft, spiced pumpkin cookies made with rich brown butter and decorated as spooky ghosts with white icing—perfect for Halloween treats.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Halloween
Calories: 180
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cookies
  • 1 cup unsalted butter browned
  • 1 cup pumpkin purée not pie filling
  • 1.25 cups brown sugar packed
  • 0.5 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs large
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.5 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 0.5 tsp salt
Icing
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2-3 tbsp milk
  • mini chocolate chips or decorating gel for eyes and mouths

Equipment

  • Saucepan
  • Mixing bowls
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Wire rack

Method
 

  1. Brown the butter in a saucepan until golden and nutty. Cool slightly.
  2. Whisk browned butter, pumpkin purée, sugars, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
  3. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in another bowl.
  4. Combine wet and dry mixtures into a soft dough. Chill for 30 minutes.
  5. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Drop dough onto parchment-lined sheets. Bake 10–12 minutes. Cool on wire rack.
  6. Mix powdered sugar with milk for icing. Spread or pipe over cookies as ghost shapes.
  7. Add chocolate chips or gel for eyes and mouths. Let icing set before serving.

Notes

For extra fun, use glow-in-the-dark plates or black food coloring details for spookier ghosts.