Skip to Content

The Best Soft Pumpkin Cookie Recipe Around

This easy soft pumpkin cookie recipe is a blessing to any serious pumpkin lover. Make cookies ahead of time and keep them in the pantry for up to a week. If you can keep them around, they store beautifully!

A plate of soft, homemade pumpkin cookies sits on a dark wooden table. Neatly arranged beside a floral napkin and a glass, these treats invite you to delve into the perfect pumpkin cookie recipe. Text on the image reads "Soft Homemade Pumpkin Cookies.

A Great Make Ahead Cookie

The dough needs to chill for at least an hour before baking. However, longer is okay. Make the dough up to 3 days ahead of time and keep refrigerated. 

This is ideal because it breaks it all up on busy days. Make the dough on Wednesday after work and bake the cookies Saturday morning for a weekend treat. 

Use Any Winter Squash

Pumpkin is, of course, amazing in cookies and most every baked good. However, any cooked and pureed winter squash will work with equally tasty results.

A person could use canned pumpkin in a pinch, but making your own pureed pumpkin (or any winter squash) is easy and frugal too!

A stainless steel mixing bowl holds a thick, creamy mixture—perfect for a pumpkin cookie recipe. A spoon rests inside. In the background, another bowl with a light-colored mix sits beside a blue cloth. The word "Rootsy" is visible in the top right corner.

Amazing Keepers

Pumpkin keeps cookies moist, meaning these will last at least a week in at room temperature (in an airtight container). These soft pumpkin cookies freeze incredibley well. 

They even stay softer than most cookies in the freezer, meaning they’re quite good cold but could also make for delightful ice cream sandwiches.

And because they are such good keepers, consider making a double batch eating some now and freezing the rest for later.

A chocolate chip cookie with a bite taken out sits on a burlap surface, hinting at indulgence. Nearby, a stack of cookies tempts with heavenly aromas, whispering tales of pumpkin cookie recipes. In the background, a glass of milk waits to complement the sweet escape.

So Many Options to Customize

These cookies are amazing plain, just as the recipe is written. However, if a person wanted to fancy them up or switch things around they are an amazing canvas for just that. 

Skip the spice or add more based on personal preference.

Add some or all of the following to make for heartier cookies:

  • 1 cup of chopped nuts or toasted seeds
  • 1 cup of raisins or other dried fruit
  • 1 cup of chocolate chips

For a fancier presentation try these ideas:

  • Drizzle the cooked & cooled cookies with melted chocolate
  • Frost the cookies with cream cheese or spice frosting
  • Make smaller cookies and sandwich some frosting between two for whoopie pies
Pantry Staples Foundational Workshop Ad
Click here to join our Pantry Staples Foundational Workshop today!

Tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page. We always appreciate your feedback. You can also save the recipe for later by pinning it or clicking on the heart in the lower right hand corner.

Yield: 3 Dozen

The Best Soft Pumpkin Cookie Recipe Around

A white square plate holds nine evenly spaced, round pumpkin cookies with a soft texture. The light brown treats are the perfect result of a cherished pumpkin cookie recipe. The plate sits on a dark wooden table with a patterned cloth partially visible in the background.

These soft pumpkin cookies are lightly spiced and moist making them great keepers and perfect for any fall buffet.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Baking Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and allspice. Set aside.
  2. Cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
  3. Add the pureed pumpkin, egg, and vanilla extract. Beat until well combined.
  4. Stir the dry ingredients into the sugar mixture, mixing until completely incorporated.
  5. Cover the dough and chill for at least 1 hour.
  6. When ready to bake, prheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  7. Line cookies sheets with silicone baking sheets or parchment paper.
  8. Drop the cookie dough by large tablespoons full onto the sheets.
  9. Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes. The edges will be lightly browned.
  10. Remove from sheets to cool on wire racks.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

36

Serving Size:

1 Cookies

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 97Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 106mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 0gSugar: 6gProtein: 1g

We cannot guarantee that these are accurate, use them as a guideline only.

Soft pumpkin cookies on a plate with a napkin and glass of milk.

Thanks for sharing!

Gail Stafford

Wednesday 2nd of October 2019

The cookies look very good. Thank You!

Skip to Recipe