Pumpkin cookies are the sweet spot between a cozy autumn dessert and an everyday cookie jar staple.
Real pumpkin puree keeps the crumb tender and moist, while cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves give every bite that warm, familiar fall flavor.
The best part is how versatile they are. Some batches turn out soft and cakey with a swirl of frosting, others bake up chewy and packed with chocolate, and a few go crisp, buttery, or sandwiched around a creamy filling.
Whether you bake for a weekend treat, a school bake sale, a Thanksgiving dessert table, or simply because the weather has turned cool, there is a pumpkin cookie for the occasion.
This collection of 20 pumpkin cookies brings together classic drop cookies, crinkles, snickerdoodles, shortbread, and more, so you can pick your favorite texture and start baking. Every recipe below is built around real pumpkin, so the flavor is front and center.
1. Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Pillowy and tender, these cookies get their fall flavor from cinnamon and nutmeg and need no dough chilling at all. A thick swirl of cream cheese frosting makes them a crowd favorite for parties.
2. Chewy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Crisp at the edges and soft and chewy inside, these are the opposite of cakey pumpkin cookies. A chilled dough and a clever stacking trick give them bakery-style thickness, with chocolate chips throughout.
3. White Chocolate Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
A soft, chewy pumpkin cookie gets rolled in cinnamon sugar for that classic snickerdoodle finish. White chocolate chips add creamy sweetness, and blotting the puree keeps the texture just right.
4. Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
A soft, chewy pumpkin cookie hides a creamy cheesecake center that surprises you with the first bite. The spiced sugar coating adds a light crunch on the outside.
5. Brown Butter Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
Old-fashioned oats give these cookies a hearty, chewy bite, while browned butter adds a nutty depth. A brown butter icing on top makes them feel a little extra special.
6. Maple Pumpkin Butter Cookies
Brown sugar, maple syrup, and spiced pumpkin butter build layers of caramel-like flavor in a soft, chewy cookie studded with chocolate. A maple glaze drizzled over the top is the finishing touch.
7. Pumpkin Cream Sandwich Cookies
Two pudgy, lightly sweet pumpkin cookies hold a fluffy filling of cream cheese and whipped cream. They are softer and more dessert-like than a standard frosted cookie.
8. Pumpkin Pie Cookies
These taste like a slice of pumpkin pie in cookie form, with a flaky pie crust base, a creamy pumpkin filling, and a buttery streusel topping. Every component can be prepped ahead, which makes assembly easy.
9. Pumpkin Gingersnap Cookies
Pumpkin joins molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves in a cookie that stays soft in the center while the sugar-rolled edges crackle. It is a cozy blend of two classics, perfect for cold-weather baking.
10. Pumpkin Crinkle Cookies
Soft, cake-like pumpkin dough is rolled in powdered sugar so each cookie cracks into a snowy, marbled pattern as it bakes. They look impressive on a dessert platter and take very little effort.
11. Pumpkin Shortbread Cookies
Browned butter and a small amount of pumpkin create a crumbly, buttery cookie with a gentle spice. A drizzle of chocolate on top makes them ideal with coffee or tea.
12. Pumpkin Peanut Butter Cookies
Creamy peanut butter and pumpkin make a surprisingly great pair in this soft, chewy cookie with a cinnamon-forward flavor. The classic crisscross fork pattern gives it a familiar look.
13. Double Chocolate Pumpkin Cookies
Rich cocoa and chocolate chips turn pumpkin into a fudgy, brownie-like cookie. Pumpkin seeds and flaky sea salt on top add crunch and a sweet-salty finish.
14. Pumpkin Spice Cut-Out Sugar Cookies
These decorated sugar cookies are flavored with pumpkin pie spice, hold their shape well, and need no chilling. Ice them with the included spiced royal icing for a festive fall cookie platter.
15. Pumpkin Pecan Cookies with Spiced Icing
Thin, crisp, and lightly sweet, these cookies get their nutty flavor from toasted pecans and a blend of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. A simple icing tops them off, and the crisp texture sets them apart from the usual cakey kind.
16. Pumpkin Thumbprint Cookies
Small, buttery cookies are pressed with a thumb and filled with a spiced pumpkin center before baking. A chocolate drizzle is optional, and they pair beautifully with an afternoon cup of tea.
17. Chewy White Chocolate Pumpkin Cookies with Cranberries
Sweet white chocolate, tart cranberries, and crunchy pecans fill this chewy pumpkin cookie. Because the dough has no eggs, the texture stays dense and chewy instead of cakey.
18. Pumpkin Cookies with Caramel Frosting
Fluffy, cake-like pumpkin cookies are covered with a glossy homemade caramel frosting made from brown sugar and cream. A great choice for anyone who likes their cookies soft and generously frosted.
19. Pumpkin Biscotti
Pumpkin puree and warm spices go into a twice-baked Italian cookie that turns out crisp and perfect for dunking. A drizzle of white chocolate gives it a bakery-worthy finish.
20. Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Made with oat flour and maple syrup, these soft cookies contain no eggs or dairy and come together in a single bowl. They deliver pumpkin spice and melty chocolate in a lighter-feeling cookie.
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