Capture the essence of fall with these delightful Autumn Leaf Cookies! These spiced cutout cookies combine the rich, buttery tenderness of a sugar cookie with the warmth of fragrant spices, without the sharpness of ginger found in traditional gingerbread.
A delicate blend of cinnamon, allspice, and cloves creates a comforting aroma that fills your kitchen and delights your senses. The dough is easy to work with, making it perfect for creating festive leaf shapes using cookie cutters. For a truly seasonal touch, decorate the cookies with a mixture of sparkling sugars in autumnal shades like red, orange, yellow, and brown.
These cookies are perfect for Thanksgiving gatherings, fall festivals, or simply enjoying with a hot cup of cider or tea on a crisp autumn day. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a beginner, these cookies are sure to become a favorite in your fall baking repertoire!
Ingredients
2 cups sifted flour, less if possible
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon cream
extra granulated sugar, cinnamon sugar, and a mixture of fall-colored sanding sugars
Directions
- Stir together 1 cup flour, baking powder, salt, and spices, set aside. In another bowl, beat together butter and sugar until creamy. Beat in egg, vanilla, and cream. Stir in flour mixture, then add enough of the remaining 1 cup flour to make the dough stiff enough to roll. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill several hours. Preheat oven to 375F. Place on a lightly floured cutting board, or between two sheets of waxed paper, and roll to 1/8″ thickness. Use floured leaf-shaped cookie cutters to cut into shapes. Place on an ungreased baking sheet, and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar or a mixture of different fall-colored sanding sugars. Bake 8 minutes, and remove to wire racks to cool. Yield will depend on the size of your cookie cutters.
Notes
- For the prettiest cookies, get a set of leaf-shaped cookie cutters that have an embossing feature to stamp the vein features into the leaves. There is a nice set on Etsy (and a second one on Etsy here) and also a smaller one on Amazon.