The Ultimate Chewy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies: Your New Favorite Fall Baking Obsession

As the leaves begin to turn and a crispness fills the air, nothing signals the arrival of autumn quite like the aroma of freshly baked goods. And when it comes to fall treats, these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies reign supreme. This incredible recipe is so incredibly simple and quick, you can have a batch of these soft, moist, and utterly delicious cookies ready in under 30 minutes. Each heavenly bite is a delightful fusion of warm pumpkin spice and rich, melty chocolate chips, making them an irresistible snack for any time of day.

We absolutely adore Pumpkin Dessert Recipes, and these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies are a true showstopper that never disappoints. They boast a wonderfully soft and chewy texture, yet are incredibly easy to prepare, making them a perfect cookie recipe for bakers of all skill levels. The combination of sweet pumpkin and generous chocolate chips creates a truly decadent experience that everyone in the family will adore.

If you’re a fan of pumpkin flavor, these cookies are destined to become a staple in your recipe collection and quickly rise to the top of your favorite cookie list. The abundance of semi-sweet chocolate chips elevates these treats from simple to sublime, providing a delightful contrast to the warm, earthy pumpkin notes. While they are undeniably a quintessential fall treat, their deliciousness knows no season – I find myself baking these throughout the year. It’s become a cherished family tradition, with my children eagerly helping me prepare them for many years. Beyond these scrumptious cookies, we also enjoy making other seasonal favorites like our Easy Pumpkin Cake Recipe and delightful Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars Recipe.

For even more festive fall baking fun, I also love to whip up charming Oreo Turkey Cookies and classic Pecan Pie Cookies. And if you happen to have any leftover chocolate chips, don’t let them go to waste! Give our Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies a try for another delightful twist on a classic.

Why You’ll Love These Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

These delightful pumpkin cookies are the epitome of fall comfort, instantly transporting you to cozy autumn evenings. What makes this recipe so exceptional is its incredible simplicity and the use of everyday pantry staples. You won’t need any fancy equipment or hard-to-find ingredients to create these from-scratch pumpkin cookies that taste like they came straight from a gourmet bakery. The recipe is not only incredibly delicious but also wonderfully frugal, making it an accessible dessert for anyone to enjoy. The texture is truly remarkable – a perfect balance of soft, cake-like lightness with a satisfying chewiness that makes these pumpkin chocolate chip cookies an absolute dream to eat. Their rich flavor profile is deepened as they sit, often tasting even better the next day!

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Cookies

Gathering your ingredients is the first step to baking these fantastic pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need and why each component is important:

• Pumpkin Puree (canned) – For the best results in this recipe, canned pure pumpkin puree is highly recommended. It provides consistent moisture and flavor. Be absolutely sure to buy pure pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling, which already contains spices and sugar that would alter the cookie’s taste and texture.
• Granulated Sugar – This classic sweetener provides the necessary sweetness and contributes to the cookie’s delightful texture. If you prefer a slightly chewier cookie with a hint of caramel note, you can easily substitute with brown sugar.
• Vegetable Oil – Oil keeps these cookies incredibly moist and tender. Feel free to substitute with canola oil or melted coconut oil, depending on what you have on hand or your preferred flavor profile.
• Egg – A large egg acts as a crucial binding agent, helping to hold all the ingredients together and giving the cookies structure. It also aids in leavening, ensuring a light and airy result.
• Vanilla Extract – A generous amount of vanilla extract enhances all the other flavors, adding a beautiful depth and warmth to the cookies. Don’t skip this essential ingredient!
• All-Purpose Flour – I typically use unbleached all-purpose flour for a reliable and consistent texture. It provides the main structure for the cookies.
• Baking Powder and Baking Soda – Both leavening agents are used in this recipe to ensure the cookies rise perfectly and achieve that desirable soft, slightly cakey texture. Baking soda reacts with the acidic pumpkin puree to create lift, while baking powder provides additional aeration. You can find helpful tips on Best Baking Soda Substitutes if needed.
• Cinnamon – Ground cinnamon is a must-have for any fall dessert! It infuses the cookies with a warm, inviting spice that perfectly complements the pumpkin.
• Pumpkin Pie Spice – This blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves amplifies the authentic fall flavor. If you’re a true spice lover, feel free to add an extra ½ teaspoon to intensify the aroma and taste.
• Salt – Just a pinch of salt is essential to balance the sweetness and bring out all the complex flavors of the other ingredients.
• Milk – A small amount of milk helps dissolve the baking soda and contributes to the overall moisture of the dough. Almond milk or cream can also be used as substitutes, offering slight variations in richness.
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips – My personal preference for this recipe is semi-sweet chocolate chips, as their slight bitterness beautifully balances the sweetness of the pumpkin. However, milk chocolate chips would also be a fantastic choice for those who prefer a sweeter, creamier chocolate note.

For a precise measurement list, refer to the complete Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients section at the bottom of this page in the recipe card.

Delicious Additions & Variations

While these pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are perfect as is, they also serve as a wonderful canvas for creative additions. Feel free to experiment and customize them to your liking:

• Add-ins. Boost the texture and flavor by folding in a variety of nuts or dried fruits. Try adding chopped walnuts, pecans, plump raisins, tart cranberries, or even diced dates to the cookie batter.
• Other Chocolate Types. Experiment with different chocolate varieties like white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chunks, or even a mix of several for a multi-layered chocolate experience.
• Frosting or Glaze. For an extra touch of indulgence, consider drizzling the cooled cookies with a simple cream cheese glaze or a caramel sauce.
• Extra Spices. If you love a bolder spice profile, consider adding a pinch of ground ginger, nutmeg, or allspice along with the cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice.
• Toppings. Before baking, sprinkle a little turbinado sugar on top for a delightful crunch, or a few extra chocolate chips for visual appeal.

Easy Step-by-Step Baking Instructions

Baking these pumpkin chocolate chip cookies is a straightforward process, ensuring delicious results every time. Follow these simple steps for perfectly soft and chewy treats:

• Step 1. Prepare Your Workspace. Begin by pre-heating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C). Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. This crucial step prevents sticking, promotes even baking, and makes for incredibly easy cleanup.
• Step 2. Mix Wet Ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, vegetable oil, egg, and vanilla extract. Use an electric mixer on low speed or a whisk to blend these ingredients together until the mixture is smooth and well-combined. Ensure there are no lumps of sugar.

Step 3. Prepare Dry Ingredients. In a separate, smaller bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Make sure these dry ingredients are thoroughly mixed to ensure even distribution in the dough. Separately, dissolve the baking soda in the milk, then stir this mixture into your wet ingredients. This method helps activate the baking soda effectively.

Step 4. Combine Wet and Dry. Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the pumpkin mixture. Stir gently with a spoon or a mixer on the lowest setting until just combined. It’s important not to overmix the batter at this stage, as overmixing can lead to tough cookies. Stir only until no streaks of dry flour remain.

Step 5. Fold in Chocolate Chips. Now, it’s time for the star of the show! Gently fold in the chocolate chips by hand using a spatula. Stir just enough to distribute them evenly throughout the dough without crushing them. This gentle mixing prevents overworking the dough, which is key for soft cookies.

Step 6. Scoop and Bake. Use a cookie scoop to form uniform balls of dough, placing them about 2 inches apart on your prepared cookie sheet. For an extra visual appeal, I often like to press a few additional chocolate chips onto the tops of the cookie dough balls before baking. Bake for 10-11 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the edges are lightly golden. The cookies will still be soft in the middle, which is exactly what you want for that perfect chewy texture. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents them from breaking and helps them set.

Expert Baking Tips for Success

Achieving bakery-quality pumpkin chocolate chip cookies is easier than you think with these expert tips:

• Use a Cookie Scoop – This is a game-changer for uniform baking! Using a cookie scoop ensures that all your cookies are the same size, which means they will bake more evenly and finish at the same time. It also speeds up the process of portioning the dough, making baking more efficient and enjoyable.
• Utilize Parchment Paper – Always line your baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. This simple step is invaluable for easy cleanup, as it prevents the cookies from sticking to the pan. More importantly, it ensures that the bottoms of your cookies bake perfectly without getting too dark or burnt, contributing to that desirable soft texture.
• Do Not Overmix – Overmixing is the enemy of tender cookies! Once you add the dry ingredients to the wet, mix only until just combined, with no visible streaks of flour. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can lead to tough, dense, and flat cookies instead of the soft and chewy kind you desire. Hand-mixing the dry into the wet ingredients is often recommended to avoid this.
• Choose Pumpkin Puree Wisely – This is a critical distinction! Always make sure you are using pure pumpkin puree, not “pumpkin pie filling.” Pumpkin pie filling already contains spices and sweeteners, which will drastically alter the flavor, texture, and sugar balance of your cookies. Many readers have made this mistake, and the results are never the same. Double-check the label!
• Room Temperature Ingredients. Ensure your egg is at room temperature. This helps it emulsify better with the other ingredients, resulting in a smoother, more uniform dough and a better cookie texture.
• Don’t Overbake. Pumpkin cookies are meant to be soft. They might look slightly underdone in the center when you pull them out of the oven, but they will continue to set as they cool on the hot baking sheet. Overbaking will result in dry, crumbly cookies.
• Chill the Dough (Optional but Recommended). If you have time, chilling the dough for 30 minutes to an hour can improve the cookie’s texture and flavor. It helps the flavors meld, prevents excessive spreading, and results in a thicker, chewier cookie.

Storing Your Delicious Pumpkin Cookies

Once your glorious pumpkin chocolate chip cookies have cooled completely, proper storage is key to maintaining their freshness and deliciousness. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5-7 days. To prevent them from drying out, you can even place a slice of bread in the container with the cookies; the cookies will absorb moisture from the bread, keeping them softer for longer.

Interestingly, the flavors in these cookies often enhance and deepen as they sit. Many people find that they are even better the day after they are baked, as the pumpkin and spices have more time to meld together.

Freezing Baked Cookies and Dough

Yes, these versatile pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are perfect for freezing, allowing you to enjoy fresh-baked goodness whenever a craving strikes! You have two excellent options:

1. Freezing Baked Cookies: Once the cookies have fully cooled, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for about an hour until solid. Then, transfer the frozen cookies to a freezer-safe bag or an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. To enjoy, simply defrost the frozen cookies at room temperature for an hour or two, and they’ll be ready to eat. For a warm treat, you can also gently reheat them in a microwave for a few seconds.
2. Freezing Cookie Dough: For the ultimate convenience, you can also freeze the cookie dough prior to baking. To do this, use your cookie scoop to portion out the dough balls onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Freeze the dough balls on the sheets for about 1 hour until they are firm. Once firm, transfer the frozen dough balls to a freezer-safe bag or container. This way, you can easily pull out just a few cookie dough balls and bake them whenever you desire freshly baked cookies without the full prep time. If baking from frozen dough, you may need to add a few extra minutes to the suggested cooking time. Learn more detailed tips on How to Freeze Cookie Dough.

Having frozen cookie dough on hand is a lifesaver for last-minute guests, unexpected cravings, or simply to enjoy a warm, homemade treat any day of the week.

More Irresistible Pumpkin Recipes to Try

If you’ve fallen in love with these pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, you’ll definitely want to explore these other fantastic pumpkin recipes that celebrate the flavors of fall:

• Pumpkin Muffin Recipe – Perfect for breakfast or a quick snack.
• Pumpkin Pie Cookies Recipe – All the flavors of pumpkin pie in a convenient cookie form.
• Pumpkin Ice Cream Recipe – A cool and creamy dessert with a seasonal twist.
• Pumpkin Snickerdoodles – A spiced classic with a pumpkin twist.
• Pumpkin Roll Recipe – An impressive yet easy dessert for gatherings.
• Pumpkin Bundt Cake – A moist and flavorful cake that’s simple to make.

Don’t wait any longer to try these phenomenal Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies. They are guaranteed to be a hit with their decadent flavor and irresistible chewy texture. I absolutely love hearing from you, so please leave a comment below and share your star rating after you’ve baked a batch!