These pumpkin spice cookies are melt in your mouth delicious! This quick and easy recipe takes just 20 minutes in total. These cookies are warmly spiced and so flavorful. They are perfect for fall. This recipe uses only pantry staple ingredients and requires no cookie dough chilling. They are absolutely delicious!

Pumpkin spice cookies.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • These pumpkin spice cookies are so cozy and comforting!
  • This recipe is quick and easy.
  • No dough chilling is needed.
  • From start to finish, these cookies only take 20 minutes.
  • They are great for autumn!
  • The combination of pumpkin and spices adds the best flavor.
  • This recipe is simple and straightforward.
  • I make these cookies every September and October. My friends and family love them!
  • No prior baking experience is necessary.
  • This recipe can be made with gluten free flour.
  • Feel free to add in chocolate chips, chopped nuts, oats, or coconut flakes. This recipe is adaptable.
  • Check out these Pumpkin Sugar Cookies and this Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread for another soft baked treat!

Ingredients & Substitutions

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

Use room temperature butter. This makes it much easier to cream together with the sugar.

Both white sugar and brown sugar add sweetness. Tightly pack the brown sugar when measuring.

Pumpkin purée adds the classic pumpkin flavor. In addition, it adds a soft and cake-like texture.

Only one egg is needed. For a vegan version, make these Healthy Pumpkin Cookies!

Vanilla extract adds a delicious warmth.

Use all purpose flour or gluten free flour. If you are gluten free, King Arthur Flour gluten free 1 to 1 flour works well. For a grain free option, make these Almond Flour Pumpkin Cookies!

Baking soda helps leaven these cookies.

A pinch of sea salt adds a balance of flavor.

Cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg make up the pumpkin spice. Each one adds a distinct and delicious flavor. If desired, replace with pumpkin pie spice.

Ingredients for pumpkin spice cookies.

Taste & Texture

These pumpkin spice cookies have a warm and cozy pumpkin flavor! The spices add so much flavor to each bite. These cookies are not overly sweet. They taste similar to a pumpkin sugar cookie.

The texture is soft and gooey! They have lightly golden edges.

How to Make

Step 1

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

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Beat until light and fluffy.

Butter, brown sugar, and white sugar.

Step 3

Then, add the pumpkin purée, egg, and vanilla extract to the mixing bowl. Mix until well combined.

Eggs, pumpkin, and butter.

Step 4

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg.

Pumpkin spices in bowl.

Step 5

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined.

Step 6

Drop spoonfuls of cookie dough onto the lined baking sheet. Space 3 inches apart.

Pumpkin spice dough on pan.

Step 7

Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden.

Step 8

Finally, remove the pumpkin sugar cookies from the oven. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then, transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Soft baked spiced cookies.

Expert Tips & Tricks

Make these pumpkin spice cookies exactly as written for perfect cookies!

Use either all purpose flour or gluten free flour. Do not substitute with another flour.

Beat the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until light and creamy. Use a stand mixer or hand mixer for this. Do not mix by hand.

Use pumpkin purée, not pumpkin pie filling.

If your dough is too sticky, chill in the fridge for 30 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld together and prevents excessive spreading during baking.

Adjust the spice quantities to suit your preference.

For a bolder spice flavor, increase the amount of cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves.

Soft pumpkin cookies.

How to Serve & Store

Serve your pumpkin spice cookies with a steaming cup of apple cider or a warm mug of chai latte tea to enhance the autumn experience!

These cookies are perfect for sharing during holiday gatherings or as a thoughtful treat for friends and neighbors.

To store, place the cooled cookies in an airtight container with layers of parchment paper between them to prevent sticking.

They can be kept at room temperature for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 2 months. Just remember to thaw them at room temperature before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you add frosting?

Sure! These pumpkin spice cookies pair well with cream cheese frosting and buttercream frosting.

Are they gluten free?

Use gluten free flour to keep these cookies gluten free.

What is their texture?

These pumpkin spice cookies have a soft and gooey texture. They are not crispy.

Do you need to use a stand mixer?

Use either a stand mixer or an electric hand mixer. Do not mix the butter and sugar by hand. They need to be creamed together.

Can you chill the dough?

Yes! This dough can be chilled for up to 24 hours before baking. If your cookie dough is too sticky, chill the dough for at least 30 minutes.

Pumpkin plate with cookies.

Equipment Needed

Hand Mixer: This hand mixer is easy to use and great for creaming butter and sugar.

KitchenAid Stand Mixer: I love this stand mixer for making cookies! I have owned a KitchenAid for over 20 years and use it regularly.

USA Pan 3 Piece Cookie Sheet Set: This cookie sheet set is heavy duty and great for baking. It evenly distributes the heat.

Pre-Cut Parchment Paper Sheets: Use parchment paper to prevent sticking. In addition, it makes clean up super easy!

Pyrex 3 Glass Mixing Bowls: These are my favorite mixing bowls.

Pyrex Glass Measuring Cups: I love these measuring cups.

Check out all of my kitchen favorites!

You May Also Like

If you make these pumpkin spice cookies, I would really appreciate a review! You can find me on InstagramFacebook, and Pinterest. Join my exclusive Facebook Group for a behind the scenes look. I would love for you to follow along!  For more ideas, check out these Dessert Recipes.

Pumpkin spice cookies.

Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Cookies

These pumpkin spice cookies are soft baked, warmly spiced, and so flavorful! This quick and easy recipe requires no dough chilling. They are the perfect dessert for fall!
5 from 45 votes

Ingredients

Instructions 

  • First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking pan with parchment paper.
  • In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Beat until light and fluffy.
  • Then, add the pumpkin purée, egg, and vanilla extract to the mixing bowl. Mix until well combined.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg.
  • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined.
  • Drop spoonfuls of cookie dough onto the lined baking sheet. Leave 3 inches between each cookie.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden. The centers may look soft, but they will firm up slightly as they cool.
  • Finally, remove the cookies from the oven. Cool on the pan for 5 minutes. Then, transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Notes

  • Both all purpose flour and gluten free 1 to 1 flour work well.
  • Since I am gluten free, I used King Arthur Flour gluten free 1 to 1 flour for these cookies.
  • Use pumpkin purée, not pumpkin pie filling.
  • Space the dough balls 3 inches apart.  These cookies spread while baking.
  • These cookies will be slightly soft when they come out of the oven.  Do not overbake.
  • Store these cookies in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
  • Freeze for up to 2 months.
Calories: 171kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.001g, Cholesterol: 5mg, Sodium: 79mg, Potassium: 92mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 15g, Vitamin A: 1279IU, Vitamin C: 0.3mg, Calcium: 15mg, Iron: 1mg

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