Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Published September 12, 2020. Updated October 26, 2023

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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies are one of my all time favorite cookies! These are amazingly soft, perfectly pumpkin-y, irresistibly spiced. Plus, the chocolate chips add that decadence you love in a cozy fall cookie. 

Image of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies stacked on a white serving plate.

The Best Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

These chewy pumpkin cookies have that old-fashioned flair—just like grandma’s! They make for an easy treat, or even a breakfast. We won’t tell.

They’re a soft, cakey, melt-in-your-mouth kind of cookie. If they haven’t already become a family favorite that you make every fall season, they will soon.

They have a unique, incredible flavor and they’re an easy-to-make treat. Always a must on the fall baking list (or if you are like me you may just show up to the beach with them in the summer too, because why not?).

Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies shown overhead on a white baking sheet.Image of ingredients used to make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Includes flour, white sugar, brown sugar, egg, spices, vanilla, chocolate chips, vanilla, baking powder, baking soda and pumpkin.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients

  • All-purpose flour: I like to use unbleached all-purpose flour.
  • Baking powder and baking soda: The blend of the two leavening agents gives these cookies the perfect lift.
  • Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves: Or use pumpkin pie spice.
  • Salt: Be careful not to forget it or cookies will taste so flat.
  • Granulated sugar and brown sugar: The blend of the two gives the cookies perfect sweetness and texture.
  • Vegetable oil: Another option would be melted coconut oil.
  • Egg: This helps hold the cookies together.
  • Vanilla: What’s a cookie without it? It adds a nice background flavor.
  • Canned pumpkin: We use plenty here because we want them to taste like pumpkin cookies.
  • Chocolate chips: I like to use semi-sweet but milk chocolate would be fine too if that’s what you prefer.

Collage of six images showing how to make pumpkin chocolate chip cookie batter. Shows mixing flour and spices, mixing sugar and oils, blending in egg then pumpkin and mixing in flour mixture with wet mixture. Collage of four images showing continued steps of making pumpkin chocolate chip cookie batter. Shows folding in chocolate chips, batter upon completion and scooping batter on to baking sheet using a cookie scoop.

How to Make Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • Preheat oven, and prepare baking sheets: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with silicone liners or parchment.
  • Whisk dry ingredients: Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices.
  • Cream sugars and fat: In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, blend together granulated sugar, brown sugar and vegetable oil until combined.
  • Mix in binders: Mix in egg and vanilla then blend in pumpkin.
  • Blend in dry ingredients, then chocolate chips: With mixer on low speed, slowly add in flour mixture and mix just until nearly combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed (batter will be pretty wet).
  • Fold in chocolate chips.
  • Divide batter among baking sheets: Drop dough 2 Tbsp at a time (using a cookie scoop or 2 spoons) onto baking sheets spacing 2-inches apart.
  • Bake: Bake in preheated oven until nearly set, about 12 minutes.
  • Cool: Let cool on wire rack. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Twelve pumpkin chocolate chip cookies shown on a baking sheet on parchment paper after baking. Overhead close up image of pumpkin cookie.

Tips for the Best Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • Use canned pumpkin not fresh for best consistency.
  • DON’T use canned “pumpkin pie filling”, it has added sweeteners and spices.
  • Substitute mini chocolate chips if desired.
  • Line baking sheets with parchment paper, don’t grease or cookies will spread and brown too much.
  • Careful not to over-mix dough. Once you add the flour don’t overdue it or the cookies will be flatter.
  • Expect a sticky dough. That’s why we just drop the dough instead of rolling it.
  • Watch that you don’t under-bake the cookies or they’ll taste raw, and don’t over-bake or they won’t be soft and moist.\

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies stacked on a plate and shown overhead.

Can I Use Pumpkin Pie Spice Instead?

If you don’t have all the spices here you can definitely use pumpkin pie spice instead. Omit cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves, and use 2 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice.

Can I Substitute with Butter?

If you are looking for a butter-based pumpkin cookie use my other recipe HERE, fold in chocolate chips and omit the frosting.

Can Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Be Frozen?

Yes, these cookies freeze well for up to 2 months. The only thing is that the chocolate chips may frost over a bit and the color may change slightly so if you are going for best appearance then don’t freeze.

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Image of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies stacked on a white serving plate.
4.99 from 115 votes

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies are so soft, perfectly pumpkiny and you'll love all those sweet and tempting autumn spices. And let's not forget about the abundance of decadent semi-sweet chocolate chips these cookies are swirled with, they just take them over the top! This is a staple fall recipe!
Servings: 30 cookies
Prep15 minutes
Cook11 minutes
Ready in: 50 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper. 
  • In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and salt for 20 seconds, set aside.
  • In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, blend together granulated sugar, brown sugar and vegetable oil until combined. 
  • Mix in egg and vanilla then blend in pumpkin puree. 
  • With mixer on low speed, slowly add in flour mixture and mix just until nearly combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed (batter will be pretty wet). 
  • With a rubber spatula, fold in chocolate chips while folding batter to evenly combined. 
  • Drop dough 2 Tbsp (either using a medium cookie dough scoop or using two spoons) at a time onto baking sheets lined with Silcone liners or parchment paper, spacing cookies two inches apart. 
  • Bake in preheated oven until cookies are nearly set about 11 - 13 minutes. 
  • Allow to cool several minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool. 
  • Store in a single layer in an airtight container (these are best once they've rested in an airtight container a few hours, they soften throughout).

Notes

  • Use canned pumpkin for consistent results.
  • Substitute 2 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice for the spices listed here if that's what you've got. Or feel free to increase spices listed, I usually like to add 2 tsp cinnamon now.
Nutrition Facts
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 147 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Fat 7g11%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 5mg2%
Sodium 74mg3%
Potassium 125mg4%
Carbohydrates 18g6%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 10g11%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 695IU14%
Vitamin C 0.7mg1%
Calcium 28mg3%
Iron 1.1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

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322 Comments

  • Nonya

    This is cake, not cookies. Idk how this has 5 stars. No taste. I was skeptical after I saw that but beside it decided to still try it big mistake.

  • Deanna

    Hi there! I’m wondering if I can use maple syrup as the sweetener instead of sugar?
    Has anyone tried this; if so,how much should I use?

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Unfortunately maple syrup wouldn’t work here as it would make the dough too runny and cookies wouldn’t hold a shape. I may suggest a pumpkin chocolate chip muffin recipe that uses maple syrup though as an alternative.

  • selma

    i’ve been making these cookies for a few years now and we never tire of them! I follow the recipe (but add more of the spices) and the cookies barely last a whole day (I eat most of them myself). Will be making these every fall for years to come <3

  • Annika

    Holy cow. Absolutely amazing! Never had a cookie where the dough is not nearly as good as the finished product until now. This batch lasted 2 hours. I was more liberal with spices since I love cinnamon!!

  • Kati

    So funny story! I accidentally added the whole can of Pumpkin and didn’t realized it until i mixed everything. SO I ended up tripling this recipe because the can was 3.5 cups of pumpkin… The turned out AMAZING. I added my spices to the pumpkin, instead of my dry ingredient, this brought out the flavor of the pumpkin A LOT. I also put the egg, vanilla, and oil into the pumpkin. Kinda just to keep my liquids and dry ingredients separated until i combinded them all together because this is a batter you can over mix. I used a 1 1/2 tablespoon cookie scoop and baked them at 350 for 16- 18 minutes. Other than my oopies this recipe was perfect to follow!

  • Heather

    Can the the batter be frozen to store until ready to bake or can they only be stored in the freezer after they have been baked?

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I would recommend storing baked cookies in the freezer with parchment between them.