Healthy Pumpkin Cookies

Name: Healthy Pumpkin Cookies
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: ½ cup melted coconut oil; 1 cup coconut sugar; 2 tsp vanilla extract; ½ cup pumpkin purée; 2 cups gluten free 1 to 1 flour (or all purpose flour); ½ tsp cinnamon; 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or more cinnamon); 1 tsp baking soda; pinch sea salt; 1 cup chocolate chips

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by Addison LaBonte August 11, 2022

These healthy pumpkin cookies are warmly spiced and melt-in-your-mouth delicious! They are made with wholesome nutritious ingredients. This one-bowl recipe takes only 20 minutes in total. No need to chill the cookie dough. These cookies taste indulgent, but they are made with good-for-you ingredients. They are great for the fall season, but delicious all year long!

Healthy pumpkin cookies with chocolate chips.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These healthy pumpkin cookies are made with nourishing ingredients.
Everything is made in one mixing bowl.
No dough chilling is required.
Only 20 minutes from start to finish. This healthy cookie recipe is quick and easy.
The ingredients are pantry staples. You probably already have everything you need in your kitchen!
The spices are warm and flavorful.
These healthier pumpkin cookies are great for autumn.
Both kids and adults love them.
They are healthy enough for breakfast and snacks.
This recipe is gluten free, dairy free, egg free, nut free, Vegan, and refined sugar free.
Check out these Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies for another dessert!

Ingredients & Substitutions

These are the main ingredients and substitutions for healthy pumpkin cookies. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients list and instructions.

Use refined coconut oil for a neutral flavor. Unrefined coconut oil has a slight coconut flavor. If needed, replace melted coconut oil with melted butter.

Coconut sugar is a great refined sugar free sweetener. If needed, replace it with lightly packed brown sugar.

Vanilla extract adds great warmth.

Use pumpkin purée, not pumpkin pie filling.

Both gluten free 1 to 1 flour and all purpose flour work well. I do not recommend another flour for this recipe. Check out these Almond Flour Pumpkin Cookies!

Cinnamon pairs so well with pumpkin.

Pumpkin pie spice can be tough to find, so feel free to replace with more cinnamon if needed. In addition, feel free to add in a pinch of nutmeg or cloves.

Baking soda is the leavening agent.

Add in a pinch of sea salt if desired. Feel free to omit otherwise.

Any type of chocolate chips work. For Vegan, use Vegan chocolate chips. For refined sugar free, use unsweetened chocolate. Feel free to use chopped chocolate bars or chocolate chunks.

What Makes Them Healthy?

Although healthy is a somewhat subjective term, these cookies are made with wholesome ingredients. They are made without white sugar, without brown sugar, and without any artificial ingredients.

Coconut oil is beneficial for healthy hair and skin. In addition, it contains medium-chain triglycerides. This boosts good cholesterol.

Coconut sugar is refined sugar free. This recipe does not contain white sugar.

Pumpkin is rich in antioxidants and vitamins.

Cinnamon is also loaded with antioxidants. Additionally, cinnamon is anti-inflammatory.

Lastly, this healthy pumpkin cookie recipe is gluten free, dairy free, Vegan, and contains no refined sugars.

Taste & Texture

These healthy pumpkin cookies taste like pumpkin, cinnamon, and chocolate. They taste like fall in a cookie!

The texture is soft baked, slightly dense, and not chewy or crispy. They have a slightly different texture than traditional cookies. These cookies are more dense and soft.

How to Make

Step 1

First, preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking pan with parchment paper.

Step 2

In a mixing bowl, combine melted coconut oil and coconut sugar. Stir to combine.

Step 3

Then, add in pumpkin purée and and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.

Step 4

Add in all remaining ingredients except chocolate chips. Stir.

Step 5

Fold in chocolate chips.

Step 6

Use an ice cream scooper to scoop balls of dough onto lined baking pan. Use your hands to gently press down into cookie shape.

Step 7

Bake for 9 to 10 minutes.

Step 8

Finally, remove healthy pumpkin cookies from the oven. Allow them to cool on the pan for 5 minutes. Lastly, carefully place them on a cooling rack.

Expert Tips & Tricks

Carefully measure all ingredients for the best healthy pumpkin cookies.

Use melted coconut oil, not softened or hard coconut oil. Use refined coconut oil for a neutral flavor. Unrefined coconut oil has a slight coconut flavor.

Both gluten free 1 to 1 flour and regular all purpose flour work well. Otherwise, do not use almond flour, coconut flour, oat flour or anything else.

If the dough seems too greasy, feel free to pat dry with paper towels. Coconut oil tends to make things greasy.

Use an ice cream scooper to scoop dough. This ensures evenly sized cookies. Then gently press down with your hands into cookie shapes.

These cookies hardly spread while baking. You can space them somewhat close together while baking.

Bake these healthy pumpkin chocolate chip cookies until they are barely set in the middle. Do not bake too long. They will firm up slightly as they cool down.

How to Serve & Store

Serve healthy pumpkin cookies once cool enough to handle. They are not overly fragile.

Serve alongside these Healthy Pumpkin Muffins!

Serve with a tall glass of milk, mug of tea, cup of coffee, or hot chocolate.

They are also great served with this Paleo Ice Cream. A warm cookie with cold ice cream is truly the best dessert!

Store cookies covered at room temperature for up to 4 days.

These cookies chill and freeze well! In fact, my favorite way to eat them is straight from the fridge.

Freeze healthy pumpkin cookies for up to 2 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to chill the dough?

No, there is no need to chill the dough. These cookies do not spread much in the oven.

Can I use regular flour?

Yes, feel free to use regular all purpose flour. They would no longer be gluten free.

Are they Vegan?

Yes, this recipe is Vegan as written. Be sure to use Vegan chocolate chips. My favorite brands are Hu Kitchen and Enjoy Life. I bake with both every week!

Can I freeze them?

Yes. These cookies freeze well. Thaw slightly before eating.

Are they sugar free?

These healthy pumpkin cookies contain coconut sugar, but no white sugar or brown sugar. To keep them refined sugar free, use unsweetened chocolate chips.