These scrumptious Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies are cakey cookies made with pureed pumpkin and semi-sweet chocolate chips. They have the taste of pumpkin pie from spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
The combination of pumpkin and chocolate is like a match made in heaven. They are going to go fast, so be prepared. If you like pumpkin, try pumpkin muffins, pancakes, and cream cheesecake.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Spices: ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. If desired, you can add 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger and allspice.
- Pumpkin puree, either canned or homemade, should not be confused with pumpkin pie filling, as the latter already has spices added to it.
- Vanilla extract: please use the pure stuff.
- Red food coloring: If you want the cookies to look more orange than brown, add 6-7 drops of red food coloring to the pumpkin mixture before blending in the flour.
- Chocolate Chips: chocolate chips are a key player, so use great-quality chips like Guittard or Ghirardelli. I like semi-sweet or dark chocolate.
How To Make Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
First, in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves. In a large separate bowl, stir together the pumpkin puree, brown sugar, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and egg. Next, add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture in three increments, stirring until combined. Then, fold in the chocolate chips.
Using a cookie scoop, drop the cookie dough by rounded tablespoons onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Gently press several chocolate chips into the top of the cookies. Bake for 12-13 minutes. Cool the cookies for 5 minutes before moving them to cookie cooling racks.
Preparation Tips
- Cover the baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Make the first batch a test run and bake one or two cookies. This will help establish baking time. If the cookies spread too much, refrigerate the dough for several hours. If they do not spread enough, gently press them down with the backside of a spatula. I have always found that I need to flatten these cookies first, but all canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree have different amounts of moisture, so you may need to refrigerate the dough.
- For a little crunchy texture, add chopped pecans and walnuts.
- Gently press a few chocolate chips into the tops of the cookies before baking for a beautiful presentation.
Store and Freeze
Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze them in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
To freeze the dough, use a cookie scoop and place rounded scoops onto a parchment paper-covered baking sheet with a bit of space between the cookie balls. Place the baking sheet into the freezer. Once frozen, place the frozen cookie scoops into a freezer zipper bag or freezer-safe container.
When ready to bake, remove as many cookies as you would like to bake and place them on a parchment-covered baking sheet with a couple of inches between them. Let them thaw as the oven preheats. Bake as instructed.
More Cookie Recipes
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 cup pumpkin puree either canned or fresh
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup vegetable or canola oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 6-7 drops red food coloring optional; see notes
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves. In a large bowl, stir together pumpkin puree, brown sugar, vegetable oil, vanilla, egg, and optional red food coloring. Add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture in 3 increments, stirring just until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Using a cookie scoop, drop the cookie dough by rounded tablespoons onto the prepared cookie sheet. Gently press several chocolate chips into the top of the cookies. Bake for 12-13 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before moving to cookie-cooling wire racks.
Notes
- Cover the baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Make the first batch a test run and bake one or two cookies. This will help establish baking time. If the cookies spread too much, refrigerate the dough for several hours. If they do not spread enough, gently press them down with the backside of a spatula. I have always found that I need to flatten these cookies first, but all canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree have different amounts of moisture, so you may need to refrigerate the dough.
- For a little crunchy texture, add chopped pecans and walnuts.
- Gently press a few chocolate chips into the tops of the cookies before baking for a beautiful presentation.
Nutrition
On the hunt for more delicious recipes? Follow Small Town Woman on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Faith Stephenson
There’s nothing better than pumpkin chocolate chip cookies for kids! They just loved them! Thanks for the great recipe!
Elise
That is a great tip to bake a couple of cookies first to establish bake time. This truly sounds great
Beth Pierce
Thanks Elise! Enjoy!!
Ivan
These were so tasty. I never knew that pumpkin and chocolate went together so well. Thanks for the great recipe!
Dominique
YES! I love everything about this recipe, fall twist on a classic!
Jack
Wow this look so good. And the chocolate is yummy on the cookie. I would love to try it. Thank you for sharing!
Rose Ann Sales
Wow! This look so good! My kids would definitely love this for sure! Can’t wait to prepare this for them!
Rose Ann Sales
Wow! This look so good! My kids would definitely love this for sure! Can’t wait to prepare this for them!
Beth Pierce
Thanks! Enjoy!!
Gervin Khan
These pumpkin chocolate chip cookie were incredibly yummy and tasty! For me it’s a very unique recipe! I’ll definitely make this for the family again, the kids and I really enjoyed them!
briannemanzb
Oh wow. These chip cookies are amazingly soft, perfectly pumpkin-y, and irresistibly spiced with delicious flavors. Thanks for the great recipe.
Tweenselmom
Ooh these pumpkin choco chip cookies are so incredibly yummy! I had to hide a few for myself. The family would have ate them all.