From soft and cakey to chewy and spiced, there’s a pumpkin cookie recipe for everyone. You’ll find many tasty options to try in this collection of pumpkin cookie recipes.
These recipes offer different textures and flavors to suit your taste. Some use pumpkin puree, while others rely on pumpkin pie spice for that classic fall taste.
Get ready to fill your home with the warm scent of freshly baked pumpkin cookies.
Pumpkin snickerdoodles are a tasty fall twist on the classic cookie. These soft, chewy treats combine the warm spices of snickerdoodles with pumpkin flavor.
To make them, mix flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. In another bowl, beat butter and sugars until fluffy.
Add egg yolks, pumpkin puree, and vanilla. Combine the wet and dry ingredients to form a dough.
Chill it for 30 minutes. Roll the dough into balls and coat them in cinnamon sugar.
Bake at 350°F (177°C) for 8-9 minutes. The result is a batch of perfectly spiced pumpkin cookies with a crisp exterior and soft center.
Pumpkin oatmeal cookies are a tasty fall treat. They combine the warm flavors of pumpkin with hearty oats for a satisfying snack.
To make these cookies, mix flour, oats, baking soda, and spices like cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice. In another bowl, blend butter, sugar, and pumpkin puree.
Combine the wet and dry ingredients to form a dough. Chill it for 30 minutes before baking.
Drop spoonfuls of dough onto lined baking sheets. Bake at 350°F (177°C) for about 10 minutes until golden brown.
These cookies stay soft and chewy for days. You can store them at room temperature or freeze them for later.
These cookies blend the fall flavor of pumpkin with sweet chocolate chips.
To make them, mix pumpkin, sugar, oil, and egg in a bowl. In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and stir well. Fold in chocolate chips.
Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a greased baking sheet. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes.
The cookies will be soft and chewy. Let them cool before serving. You can adjust the spices to your taste by adding pumpkin pie spice or extra cinnamon.
Pumpkin molasses cookies blend fall flavors in a soft, chewy treat. To make these, you’ll mix flour, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice in a bowl.
In another bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, molasses, and pumpkin puree. Add an egg and mix well.
Slowly add the dry ingredients to form the dough. Chill the dough for at least an hour.
Then scoop, roll into balls, and coat in sugar. Bake at 350°F until the edges are set but centers are still soft.
These cookies have a rich, complex flavor from the molasses and warm spices. They’re perfect with a cup of tea on a cool autumn day.
Pumpkin peanut butter cookies blend two favorite flavors into one tasty treat.
You’ll start by mixing peanut butter, butter, sugar, and pumpkin puree. Next, add flour, baking soda, salt, and spices like cinnamon and ginger.
Roll the dough into balls and press them with a fork to create the classic criss-cross pattern. Bake the cookies at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-12 minutes.
They’ll come out soft and chewy with a perfect balance of pumpkin and peanut butter flavors.
These cookies are great for fall gatherings or as an after-school snack. You can even make them healthier by using whole wheat flour and natural peanut butter.
Pumpkin ginger cookies blend the warmth of fall spices with the rich flavor of pumpkin. These treats are soft, chewy, and packed with seasonal goodness.
To make them, mix flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves in a bowl. In another bowl, cream sugar and butter.
Add pumpkin, molasses, egg, and vanilla. Combine wet and dry ingredients.
Scoop the dough onto baking sheets and bake at 350°F. The result is a batch of cookies that are crisp on the outside and tender inside.
You can enhance these cookies with brown butter icing for extra indulgence. The spicy-sweet combo makes them perfect for autumn gatherings or cozy nights at home.
Pumpkin crinkle cookies are a tasty fall treat. To make them, you’ll mix butter, sugar, egg, and pumpkin puree. Then add flour, spices, and leavening agents.
Roll the dough into balls and coat them in powdered sugar. As they bake, cracks form on the surface, creating a crinkle effect.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Bake the cookies for about 12-15 minutes until set.
These cookies have a soft texture and warm pumpkin spice flavor. They’re perfect for autumn gatherings or as an after-school snack.
Nutritional Benefits of Pumpkin in Cookies
Pumpkin adds a boost of vitamins and fiber to cookies. It makes them more nutritious without changing the taste too much.
Vitamin Content
Pumpkin is rich in vitamin A. This vitamin helps keep your eyes healthy and supports your immune system. Just one cookie with pumpkin can give you a good dose of vitamin A.
Pumpkin also has vitamin C. This vitamin helps your body heal cuts and scrapes. It also keeps your skin looking good.
You’ll find vitamin E in pumpkin too. This vitamin acts as an antioxidant in your body. It helps protect your cells from damage.
Fiber and Digestive Health
Pumpkin adds fiber to cookies. Fiber helps you feel full longer. This can stop you from eating too many cookies at once.
Fiber also helps your digestion. It keeps things moving through your system. This can prevent tummy troubles.
The fiber in pumpkin cookies can help control your blood sugar. It slows down how fast sugar enters your blood. This is good for everyone, not just people with diabetes.
Pumpkin cookies can be a tasty way to get more fiber in your diet. They’re a sweet treat that’s also good for your gut health.
Baking Tips for Perfect Pumpkin Cookies
Making great pumpkin cookies takes some know-how. These tips will help you bake delicious cookies with the right texture and flavor.
Selecting the Right Pumpkin
Choose canned pumpkin puree for convenience and consistent results. Make sure it’s 100% pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling.
If using fresh pumpkin, pick small sugar pumpkins. They have better flavor than large carving pumpkins.
Roast fresh pumpkin to bring out its sweetness. Cut it in half, scoop out the seeds, and bake cut-side down until soft. Puree the flesh in a food processor.
Pat canned or fresh pumpkin puree dry with paper towels. This removes excess moisture that can make cookies cakey.
Achieving the Perfect Texture
Use room temperature ingredients for smoother mixing. Take butter and eggs out of the fridge 30 minutes before baking.
Don’t overmix the dough. Stir just until ingredients are combined. Overmixing can make cookies tough.
Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking. This helps cookies keep their shape and prevents spreading.
Use a cookie scoop for evenly-sized cookies that bake uniformly. Press dough balls down slightly before baking.
Bake until edges are set but centers are still soft. Cookies will continue cooking as they cool.
Flavor Pairings
Add pumpkin pie spice for classic fall flavor.
You can also make your own blend with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice.
Try mix-ins like chocolate chips, nuts, or dried cranberries.
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
