Gf + Df Fluffy Pumpkin Loft House Cookies

Fluffy magical pumpkin sugar cookies that require no chilling, no rolling out, no cookie cutters?? It’s hard to believe such a thing could exist. But here we are. HERE WE ARE!

We worked hard on this recipe to get it JUST right. The goal as always to make sure they didnt taste gluten free and we nailed the texture! They really are just so fluffy and tender.

The buttercream frosting is completely optional. I included it since loft house cookies from the store ALWAYS have buttercream in them. But they really do taste wonderful on their own too.

The secret ingredient to these cookies is Gluten Free Pillsbury Yellow Cake mix. It makes the cookies soft and fluffy while giving them a bit of a cake batter flavor. They are DELICIOUS.

If you wish to make the cookies Dairy Free just sub in Earth Balance buttery sticks in the cookie dough and frosting. Other brands of dairy free butter may work as well- but they all seem to have different melting points which can change how much the cookies spread. I have found that earth balance butter sticks perform the closest to real butter.

What if you cant find pillsbury yellow cake mix- then what? Well- unfortunately all gluten free cake mixes are not the same. I would recommend looking up the Sugar and Carb count on the pillsbury box and find a cake mix with similar nutrition info. The amount of sugar a cake mix has dramatically effects how much cookies spread.

But hey- feel free to experiment too!

Using orange food coloring is completely optional. The cookies will have a bit of an orange color just from the pumpkin puree- BUT if you want to up the boldness you can use a drop or two of orange food coloring or gel. (Add as much as you want really- it wont mess up the cookies texture at all.).

If you wish to change your membership tier this can be done at any time! If you are not a plus member and wish to have access to all current and future classes you may do so in your little member area when you first log in. If you choose to try out the plus level- and want to switch back to basic the system will automatically pro-rate the remaining leftover balance towards your future payments. I will be adding 3-4 classes per month to the plus membership.

Gluten Free Fluffy Pumpkin Loft House Cookies

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Yield: 18 Cookies

Author: Brittany Angell

Prep time: 25 MinCook time: 26 MinTotal time: 51 Min

Ingredients

• 12 Tbsp salted butter room temperature (or vegan butter)
• 1/2 Cup (88 g) Brown Sugar 
• 1 1/2 Tsp Pumpkin Spice
• 1 Large Egg
• 1/4 cup (50 g) pumpkin puree
• 1 1/4 Cup ( 200g ) Pillsbury Gluten Free Yellow Cake mix
• 1 1/4 cup (164 g) Tapioca Starch 
• Orange Food Coloring (optional) 

Buttercream Frosting

• 12 Tbsp Salted Butter, Softened
• 2 Cups Confection Sugar
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla
• Food Coloring Optional

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 and line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper.
2. Using a hand mixer, cream the butter, brown sugar & pumpkin spice. Once fully mixed add in the Pumpkin Puree, Egg, cake mix, tapioca starch  and a little orange food coloring if you wish and beat until the dough forms.
3. If your butter was melty- and the dough is too sticky to handle place it in the fridge to chill for 1-2 hours OR in the freezer for 30-40 minutes. 
4. Scoop the cookies out and roll them into a smooth ball. Make sure that the cookies have a smooth surface to achieve the loft house look. Flatten each cookie until it is 3/4 inch thick. Place 9 on each tray spaced apart. Bake on the middle rack. 
5. Place the cookies into the oven one tray at a time for 11-13 minutes or until the edges are golden or the cookie looks fluffy and the top looks baked.
6. While the cookies are cooling begin the butter cream. Combine the butter, vanilla, and confections sugar until it is throughly mixed. Fold in the food coloring into the butter cream using 1 drop at a time to achieve the pastel color.
7. Pipe the butter cream onto the cookies and use a butter knife to smooth the creases of the butter cream.

Notes:

Oiling your hands slightly (just a tiny bit) can make rolling the cookie dough in your hands easier.

Use a cookie scoop that holds about 1.5 tbsp of cookie dough.