1. Preheat the Oven

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for easy cleanup.

2. Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. This ensures that the leavening agents and spices are evenly distributed throughout the flour.

3. Cream the Butter and Sugars

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. An electric mixer works great for this step.

4. Add Pumpkin, Egg, and Vanilla

Add the pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix until well combined. The pumpkin adds moisture and flavor, making the cookies tender and delicious.

5. Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients

Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps are perfectly fine.

6. Scoop the Dough

Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop rounded balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. These cookies will spread a little while baking, so give them some room!

7. Bake the Cookies

Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers will look slightly underbaked, but they’ll continue to firm up as they cool.

8. Cool the Cookies

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This cooling period helps them set up perfectly.

9. Prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting

While the cookies are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until combined. If the frosting is too thick, add a little milk to reach your desired consistency.

10. Frost the Cookies

Once the cookies have completely cooled, generously spread or pipe the cream cheese frosting onto each cookie. Feel free to get creative with your frosting style!