Top 7 Cookie Recipes to Bake in the Fall

Fall is the season of comfort food, cozy sweaters, and kitchens filled with the scent of cinnamon, maple, and browned butter. There’s no better way to celebrate than with a batch (or seven!) of cookies inspired by the flavors of autumn. From pumpkin spice to caramel apple, these recipes are perfect for bake sales, gatherings, or just curling up by the fire with a sweet treat.

Here are seven must-bake fall cookie recipes, complete with easy-to-follow steps.

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1. Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles

Ingredients:

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup pumpkin purée
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp cream of tartar
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• ¼ cup sugar + 1 tsp cinnamon (for rolling)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
2. Cream butter, pumpkin, and sugar together until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla.
3. In another bowl, whisk flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and salt. Gradually mix into wet ingredients.
4. Chill dough for 30 minutes.
5. Roll into balls, coat with cinnamon sugar, and place on the sheet.
6. Bake 10–12 minutes, until edges are set.

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2. Maple Pecan Cookies

Ingredients:

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ cup pure maple syrup
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Cream butter and sugar together. Beat in egg, vanilla, and maple syrup.
3. Mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Stir into wet mixture. Fold in pecans.
4. Scoop dough onto a baking sheet. Bake 10–12 minutes until golden.

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3. Apple Cider Caramel Cookies

Ingredients:

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup apple cider (reduced to 3 Tbsp syrup)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 12 soft caramel squares

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan, simmer apple cider until reduced to about 3 tablespoons. Let cool.
2. Cream butter and sugars. Beat in egg, vanilla, and reduced cider.
3. Stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Mix into wet ingredients.
4. Scoop dough, flatten slightly, and press a caramel square inside. Roll dough around caramel to seal.
5. Bake at 350°F for 11–13 minutes.

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4. Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• ½ cup white sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 ½ cups chocolate chips
• Flaky sea salt for topping

Instructions:

1. Melt butter in a pan until golden brown and nutty. Cool slightly.
2. Whisk butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla.
3. Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt. Fold in chocolate chips.
4. Chill dough 30 minutes. Scoop onto sheet and bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.
5. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt while warm.

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5. Chai Spice Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp cardamom
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• ¼ tsp cloves

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla.
3. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices. Stir into wet mixture.
4. Roll into balls and flatten slightly on sheet.
5. Bake 9–11 minutes.

Optional glaze: Mix 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 Tbsp milk, and ½ tsp vanilla. Drizzle over cooled cookies.

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6. Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup white sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• Zest of 1 orange
• ½ cup white chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla.
3. Mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Stir into wet mixture.
4. Fold in oats, cranberries, orange zest, and white chocolate chips.
5. Scoop onto sheet and bake 10–12 minutes.

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7. Molasses Ginger Cookies

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup molasses
• 1 large egg
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• ½ tsp cloves
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ cup sugar (for rolling)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Cream butter and sugar. Beat in molasses and egg.
3. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt.
4. Mix into wet ingredients. Chill dough 30 minutes.
5. Roll into balls, coat with sugar, and place on baking sheet.
6. Bake 9–11 minutes until tops crackle.

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Final Bite

Baking cookies in the fall is more than just a kitchen activity—it’s a way to soak up the season’s warmth and share joy with family and friends. From pumpkin spice snickerdoodles to spiced molasses ginger cookies, these recipes will fill your home with cozy aromas and sweet memories.

🍂 Which one will you try first?