Gather the kids and make the cutest, easiest pumpkin cookies this Halloween! No piping or advanced decorating—just circle cookies, orange frosting, and a few mini M&M’s to create adorable pumpkin faces.
I love making cut-out sugar cookies, but most of the time I don’t feel like doing detailed decorating. Piping faces can be tricky and messy, especially when baking with kids, so this year I simplified the process. These pumpkin cookies use a round cutter (or a jar lid or cup), tinted orange frosting, and a few mini candies to form faces—no pumpkin-shaped cutter required. The result is charming and kid-friendly, and the whole family can help.
What You Need to Make Easy Halloween Pumpkin Cookies
- Cut-out sugar cookie dough (homemade or a pre-packaged dough)
- Frosting (buttercream or your preferred store-bought frosting), tinted orange
- Orange food coloring
- Small round cookie cutter (about 2–2.5″ or a spice jar lid)
- Mini M&M’s
- Mini chocolate chips (optional; good for smaller eyes)
How to Make Easy Halloween Pumpkin Cookies
Step 1: Cut Out Cookies & Bake
Roll your sugar cookie dough to about ½” thick. Use a small round cutter, a spice cap, or a cup to cut out circles. Place cookies on a prepared baking sheet and bake according to your cookie dough recipe or package directions. For larger cookies, use a larger cutter and full-size M&M’s.
Step 2: Let Cool Then Frost
Allow the cookies to cool completely to room temperature before frosting. Use a spreadable buttercream or your preferred frosting, tinting it a light orange. A spreadable frosting is easiest when decorating with children.
Step 3: Decorate
While the frosting is still soft, press two mini chocolate chips (or mini M&M’s) into the cookie for eyes. Add two orange mini M&M’s for cheeks, and a brown mini M&M for the mouth. To vary expressions, cut some brown M&M’s in half for small smiles and use whole brown M&M’s for open mouths for a “BOO!” look.
Tip: When slicing M&M’s in half, use a sharp knife and press straight down. Not every piece will be perfect, but a few good halves will give you the look you want.
Easy Pumpkin Halloween Cookies
Ingredients
- Sugar cookie dough
- Frosting, dyed orange
- Mini M&M’s
- Mini chocolate chips (optional)
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Instructions
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Cut Out Cookies & Bake
Roll dough to ½” thickness and cut circles with a 2–2.5″ cutter or spice lid. Bake according to your recipe.
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Let Cool Then Frost
Cool completely, then spread orange-tinted frosting.
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Decorate
Press two mini chocolate chips or mini M&M’s into each cookie for eyes, two orange mini M&M’s for cheeks, and one brown mini M&M for the mouth. Cut some brown M&M’s in half for different mouth shapes.
Notes from Melissa
Can I just use M&M’s and skip the chocolate chips?
Yes—mini chocolate chips are optional. They give smaller, cuter eyes, but mini M&M’s work perfectly too.
What size cutter did you use?
I used a spice jar lid about 2.5″ in diameter. Wine or champagne glasses also make good mini cookie sizes. If you prefer, use a pumpkin-shaped cutter or apply this face technique to ghosts, cats, or even apple cookies with red frosting.
Nutrition
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes. Mini chocolate chips make the eyes smaller and slightly cuter, but mini M&M’s work just as well.
I used a spice jar lid about 2.5″ in diameter. Any small round cutter or a wine/champagne glass rim works, and you can certainly use a pumpkin-shaped cutter if you have one. The same face technique can be used for ghosts, cats, or other seasonal designs.
A spreadable buttercream is easiest for kids to help with. For a smoother finish that dries firmer, you can use royal icing or an easy sugar cookie icing.
