There’s something magical about baking Chewy Pumpkin Spice Cookies (Easy Fall Cookie Recipe) as autumn leaves swirl outside. These cookies are plush, buttery, and filled with the warm notes of pumpkin spice and brown butter, making them the quintessential dessert for sweater weather. Whether you’re sharing them at a fall gathering or saving a few just for yourself on a chilly night, this recipe brings cozy seasonal flavor to your kitchen with every comforting bite.

Chewy Pumpkin Spice Cookies (Easy Fall Cookie Recipe) Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

Gathering your ingredients is like assembling a team — each one plays a crucial role in creating the chewy texture, warm color, and irresistible taste of these cookies. Simple pantry staples join forces with a few key players to deliver all the autumnal magic in every batch.

Unsalted Butter: Browning the butter sets the flavor base, lending a deep, nutty caramel note to your cookies.
Granulated Sugar: Adds essential sweetness and a bit of structure, helping with those crisp, golden edges.
Light Brown Sugar: For moisture and extra chewiness, plus a subtle molasses flavor that’s perfect for fall.
Pumpkin Puree: The star of the show, it imbues the cookies with beautiful color, tenderness, and unmistakable autumn flavor.
Egg: Binds everything together and enriches the dough for just-right chewiness.
Vanilla Extract: Rounds out the spice flavors and adds a comforting warmth.
All-Purpose Flour: The backbone that gives your cookies structure without making them dry.
Baking Soda & Baking Powder: These leaveners keep the cookies light and just puffy enough.
Kosher Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances those lovely pumpkin spice tones.
Pumpkin Pie Spice: A blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves brings the signature flavor we all crave when fall arrives.
White Sugar & Ground Cinnamon (for rolling): This cozy duo makes the outside of every cookie sparkle with sweetness and spice.
Flaky Sea Salt (optional): A pinch on top after baking wakes up all the flavors and provides a lovely contrast to the sweetness.

How to Make Chewy Pumpkin Spice Cookies (Easy Fall Cookie Recipe)

Step 1: Brown the Butter

Begin by melting your butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly, watching for it to foam, turn golden, and release the most amazing nutty aroma. As soon as you see brown flecks and smell that toasted scent, pour it into your mixing bowl and let it cool for a minute. This step really elevates your Chewy Pumpkin Spice Cookies (Easy Fall Cookie Recipe), infusing each bite with deep caramel notes.

Step 2: Make the Batter

Whisk both sugars into the browned butter until it’s smooth and glossy. Next, add the pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla extract. Working these in thoroughly gives you a silky base that will hold onto all the spices and flour.

Step 3: Add Dry Ingredients

Directly over the wet mixture, sprinkle in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Mix gently with a silicone spatula, folding until no dry streaks remain. You want a cohesive dough, but avoid overmixing; this keeps the cookies tender instead of tough.

Step 4: Chill the Dough

Cover the bowl and slide it into the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This crucial rest period lets the flavors meld and stops the cookies from spreading too much as they bake. Use this time to preheat your oven and prep your baking sheets — anticipation makes the cookies even sweeter!

Step 5: Form Cookie Balls

Once chilled, use a cookie scoop or your hands to portion the dough into about 30 even balls. Line them up on your parchment-lined baking sheet, giving each enough space for a little puff and spread in the oven.

Step 6: Roll in Cinnamon Sugar

Mix up a bowl of white sugar and cinnamon, then roll each dough ball in this fragrant mixture. Coating each cookie ensures those classic crinkled tops and a little sparkle in every bite.

Step 7: Bake the Cookies

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the cookies are just set and their edges are barely golden. If you’re baking in batches, keep the remaining dough chilled so every batch comes out perfectly chewy. If you can’t wait, remember you can also freeze some dough for future cravings!

Step 8: Cool and Serve

Finishing touches matter: Once out of the oven, sprinkle with flaky sea salt while the cookies are still soft. Let them rest for five minutes so the flavors settle and the texture becomes irresistibly chewy. Now, go ahead and savor your Chewy Pumpkin Spice Cookies (Easy Fall Cookie Recipe) before anyone else gets to them!

How to Serve Chewy Pumpkin Spice Cookies (Easy Fall Cookie Recipe)

Garnishes

The right garnish can turn a humble cookie into a showstopper. For these cookies, add a sprinkle of flaky sea salt while they’re warm from the oven to create pops of flavor. You could also drizzle them with white chocolate or sprinkle with a dash more pumpkin pie spice for visual appeal and spicy aroma.

Side Dishes

Pair your cookies with a hot drink to round out the experience. Steaming mugs of chai, pumpkin spice lattes, or even a simple glass of cold milk bring out the spice and richness. If you’re hosting, a fruit platter or a bowl of spiced nuts will round out your dessert spread without overwhelming these stars of the show.

Creative Ways to Present

Think beyond the cookie jar! Stack a few cookies with parchment squares and tie with twine for adorable gifts. Crumble them over vanilla ice cream to make an autumnal sundae, or sandwich a little cinnamon buttercream between two cookies for a festive treat. Serve on a rustic wooden board for a charming, cozy vibe that’s perfect for autumn gatherings.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep Chewy Pumpkin Spice Cookies (Easy Fall Cookie Recipe) fresh by storing any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll maintain their softness for up to four days, but around here, they rarely last that long!

Freezing

If you want a taste of fall anytime, freeze some baked cookies or even the unbaked dough. Freeze individual dough balls on a tray, then transfer to a zippered bag for longer storage. Bake them straight from the freezer, adding one or two minutes to the baking time, and enjoy freshly baked cookies whenever you like.

Reheating

To recapture that just-baked goodness, pop a cookie in the microwave for 8 to 10 seconds before serving. Warmed, the textures and spices practically leap from each bite, making leftovers taste like they came straight from the oven.

FAQs

Can I substitute homemade pumpkin puree instead of canned?

Absolutely! Just make sure your homemade puree is thick, not watery. Strain or blot excess moisture for best results, since too much liquid can make the cookies cakey instead of chewy.

What can I do if my dough is too sticky?

If the dough feels too sticky to handle after chilling, add a sprinkle of flour and cool it for a bit longer. Pumpkin varies in moisture, so a little extra flour or chill time brings the dough together nicely.

Can I make these cookies gluten free?

Yes, use your favorite 1-to-1 gluten free flour blend in place of all-purpose. Be sure to check that your baking powder and other ingredients are gluten free too, and remember the texture may differ slightly from the classic version.

What if I don’t have pumpkin pie spice?

No problem! Mix your own by combining cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Start with 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon each ginger and nutmeg, and a pinch of cloves for a homemade blend that works beautifully in this recipe.

How do I get really chewy cookies?

Browning the butter, using brown sugar, and not overbaking are all key. Follow the chill time to prevent spreading, and take the cookies out while the centers look soft; they’ll finish setting up as they cool, delivering that sought-after chewy texture.

Final Thoughts

If you love all things cozy and crave classic fall flavors, these Chewy Pumpkin Spice Cookies (Easy Fall Cookie Recipe) are about to become your new favorite. Whip up a batch, share the autumn joy, and delight in the warm, chewy goodness that makes fall baking so special. I promise, you’ll want to make this recipe again and again!