Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
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These pumpkin oatmeal cookies are a fall favorite! They are supremely soft and slightly chewy with warm cinnamon and pumpkin flavor.
These homemade pumpkin oatmeal cookies are an incredible twist on classic oatmeal raisin cookies. The best part is they are made completely from scratch.
With hints of cinnamon and molasses, these fall-themed oatmeal cookies taste phenomenal. This recipe is soft and chewy with loads of flavor. It’s the perfect dessert for your holiday table.
One of my favorite cookies is oatmeal cookies. They are just so darn tasty and versatile. Add in dried fruit, chocolate chips, or candies, and you have a great snack.
They’re also great for making pumpkin oatmeal cream pie cookies!
Why this recipe works
- The pumpkin is blotted so it doesn’t release too much moisture into the cookie. The extra moisture will lead to a cakey cookie.
- The cookie dough doesn’t require chilling! This is because the ratio of ingredients is calculated in such a way that cookies will bake perfectly without chilling the dough.
- A slightly higher bake temperature will create a crispy surface on the cookie. It also prevents the cookies from spreading too much.
Pumpkin oatmeal cookies
Soft in the center with crisp, chewy edges and full of fall aroma. These pumpkin oatmeal cookies need to be added to your baking list.
One thing I found when developing this recipe is pumpkin cookies lean toward the cakey side. And almost no one likes a cakey cookie.
I made it a mission to create a pumpkin-flavored oatmeal cookie that was far from cakey and this recipe well exceeded my expectations.
Ingredients
Pumpkin oatmeal cookies don’t require a ton of ingredients. Just a few kitchen staples…
- Pumpkin: Look for pure pumpkin in a can. Make sure to avoid pumpkin pie filling.
- Sugar: Both granulated sugar and light brown sugar are used to add moisture, flavor, and crispness to the cookies.
- Fats: Unsalted butter and egg yolk are the fats needed to make epic cookies.
- Flavoring: Molasses, cinnamon, and salt flavor the cookies.
- Flour & Oats: All-purpose flour and quick cookie oats are best for making oatmeal cookies. You’ll also need a little baking soda for leavening.
What can I use in place of molasses?
If you don’t have molasses, you can simply leave it out or add 2 teaspoons of vanilla in its place.
Can I use old-fashioned oats?
I don’t recommend using old-fashioned oats in place of quick cook oats. They will absorb too much moisture from the cookie dough and the cookies may not spread properly.
How to make pumpkin oatmeal cookies
One of the key tips when baking with pumpkin is to drain some of the liquid out of the puree. I do this more times than not when I’m using canned pumpkin in my baked goods.
The easiest way to do this is by layering 4-6 large paper towels on a plate. Spread the pumpkin puree over the paper towels in a thin layer and let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
The paper towels will leech the moisture out of the puree. You’ll be able to scrape the puree free and transfer it to the cookie dough.
Step 1: Mix the wet ingredients
Cream the butter and both sugars together for a couple of minutes until well combined. Once the butter and sugars are creamed, mix in the egg yolk and molasses.
Lift one of the shorter sides of the paper towel slightly and gently scrape the pumpkin puree loose. Lift the edge of the paper towel a little higher and give it a gentle shake.
The puree should begin to roll down the paper towel and form a log. Scrape loose as needed. Transfer the puree to the mixing bowl with the butter mixture and beat on low speed until well incorporated.
Step 2: Mix the dry ingredients
Whisk the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl. Add it to the pumpkin mixture and mix on low speed just until no streaks of dry flour are visible.
Add the oats and stir them in with a silicone spatula.
The process for the cookies is easy and the best thing is the dough doesn’t require chilling.
Chilling oatmeal cookie dough is actually never a good idea because the oats will soak up all the moisture in the dough as it sits and this will negatively affect the texture of the cookie.
Step 3: Bake
Use a 1.5 tablespoon cookie scoop and drop mounds of cookie dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. This recipe makes about 34 cookies so you need 3 baking sheets.
Bake the cookies at 375°F for 10-12 minutes. They should look puffy and slightly underdone in the centers.
The cookies will continue to cook and “set” as they rest on the baking sheet after baking. Just let them sit for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
I’ve let them cool completely on the pan and this is perfectly fine to do also.
Tips for success
- Don’t skip the step for blotting the pumpkin puree. This helps keep the cookies from being too cakey or spreading to thin.
- Properly measure the flour! It is so important to use proper technique with measuring flour. Using too much flour will ruin the cookie’s texture and may prevent the cookies from flattening out into the shape of a cookie.
- Oatmeal cookie dough should be used right away. If it sits too long, the oats will absorb the moisture from the other ingredients in the dough and the cookies may not flatten during baking.
Freezing & Storing
How to store: Keep the pumpkin oatmeal cookies stored in an airtight container for up to 7 days. They can be left at room temperature or refrigerated.
How to freeze: Place cookies in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- ¾ cup (175 g) canned pumpkin puree
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (210 g) light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon unsulphured molasses
- 1 ¾ cups (227 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups (180 g) quick-cooking oats
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Set aside.
- Take 4 connected sheets of paper towels and fold it in half. Lay the folded paper towels across a baking sheet or large plate. Spread the pumpkin puree in an even layer over the paper towels and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolk and molasses and beat until combined.
- Lift one of the shorter sides of the paper towel slightly and gently scrape the pumpkin puree loose. Lift the edge of the paper towel a little higher and give it a gentle shake. The puree should begin to roll down the paper towel and form a log. Scrape loose as needed. Transfer the puree to the mixing bowl with the butter mixture and beat on low speed until well incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Stir with a whisk. Add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture, beat on low speed just until combined. With a silicone whisk, gently stir in the oats.
- Use a cookie scoop to drop 1 ½-tablespoon sized balls of dough, 2 inches apart, onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on the pan for 10 minutes; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Don’t skip step 2! The excess moisture in pumpkin puree will cause the cookies to either spread too thin.
- Try using 1 ½ teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice in place of the cinnamon.
- Try mixing in chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or drizzle the baked cookies with a vanilla glaze.
- Cookies will keep for up to 1 week stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator or up to 3 days at room temperature.
- Cookies can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided is for convenience and as a courtesy only. It is not guaranteed to be accurate because nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator and input the exact ingredients and brands you used in the recipe.
Yes well I will try it one more time and use canned pumpkin and see how it comes out, I will let you know as soon as I get to make the recipe again
I made the dough with fresh pumpkin and did it the way you suggested I the paper towel and put the dough in the refrigerator after I was done making it ! That’s what the recipe said to do ! I bake all the time so don’t know what hapoend
It’s quite possible you used too much flour. I have a detailed post on how to properly measure flour so that my recipes will always work for you.
Yes well I will try it one more time and use canned pumpkin and see how it comes out, I will let you know as soon as I get to make the recipe again
I made the dough with fresh pumpkin and did it the way you suggested I the paper towel and put the dough in the refrigerator after I was done making it ! That’s what the recipe said to do ! I bake all the time so don’t know what hapoend
Hi I made the dough and put it in the refrigerator for a couple of days because I had to work and didn’t have time to bake them , so I used real pumpkin from a pumpkin I had from Halloween and when I went to bake them they didn’t flatten out and I’m a avid baker do you know why this happend ?
Did you let the dough come to room temperature before baking? Did you drain the excess moisture from the pumpkin? There are many variables that can cause this.
I made these earlier today and they are outstanding!! I always squeeze the water out of pumpkin when making pie, I don’t know why I never thought to do so with cookies. Thanks for such a perfect recipe. 🙂
I’m happy to hear that, Sara! Thank you for the feedback!
These oatmeal cookies look super chewy in the best way 🙂
Thanks, Medha!
This is such a great idea. I’ve never had pumpkin oatmeal cookies before. This looks like something you’d make every year as a tradition. Yum!
These would make a great holiday tradition!
Oatmeal cookies are my favorite! They are so perfectly sweet and chewy. Love this fall version!
This recipe looks incredible! I put rolled oats in my last pumpkin bread and it made me want try try pumpkin oatmeal cookies. Now I don’t have to figure out a recipe! Thanks for the tip about draining the pumpkin.
Pumpkin oatmeal cookies are so good! You must try them.