Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup pumpkin puree (canned or fresh)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (or 1/2 cup coconut oil for vegan option)
- 2 large eggs (or 2 flax eggs for vegan substitute)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free version)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Sugars
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
Add-ins and Optional Ingredients
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips (or white chocolate chips for variation)
- Optional: 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- Optional: extra spices such as cardamom or allspice to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Gather all ingredients and preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Measure pumpkin puree, flour, spices, sugars, and butter precisely to ensure balanced flavor and texture.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, cream softened butter with both brown and granulated sugars until light and fluffy. Add pumpkin puree, eggs, and vanilla extract and mix until fully combined, creating a smooth, moist batter.
- Sift and Blend Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. Sifting helps prevent lumps and ensures even distribution of the leavening agents and spices.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry mixture into the wet batter, stirring gently just until combined to avoid overmixing and preserve tenderness.
- Fold in the Chocolate Chips: Gently fold chocolate chips evenly into the dough so every cookie has pockets of melty chocolate. Add nuts if desired.
- Scoop and Bake: Drop spoonfuls of cookie dough onto a lined baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set and tops are slightly golden but still soft.
- Cool and Enjoy: Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, allowing them to set while remaining soft and chewy inside.
Notes
- Don’t overmix the dough to avoid tough cookies.
- Use freshly ground cinnamon and nutmeg for more vivid spice flavors.
- Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before baking to prevent spreading and enhance flavor.
- Measure flour accurately by spooning and leveling or using a kitchen scale.
- For softer cookies, slightly underbake—they continue to set as they cool.
- Use room temperature butter and eggs for an even batter texture.
- Canned pumpkin puree works perfectly and keeps cookies moist and flavorful.
- Substitute gluten-free flour blend to make cookies gluten-free.
- You can reduce sugar slightly, but it may affect softness and caramelization.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days to keep them fresh and chewy.
- Freeze baked cookies in a single layer before transferring to a sealed bag or container for up to 3 months.
- Reheat cookies in microwave for 10 seconds or in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes to revive softness and warmth.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Can be gluten-free and vegan with substitutions
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
Keywords: pumpkin cookies, chocolate chip cookies, fall dessert, pumpkin spice, gluten-free cookies, vegan pumpkin cookies, autumn baking