When the air turns crisp and the scent of cinnamon fills the kitchen, I know it’s officially cookie season. You too? There’s just something magical about baking a cozy recipe for fall cookies — the way warm spices, pumpkin, and butter blend into pure comfort.
Whether you love chewy textures, sugar cookies you can decorate, or soft pumpkin bites, these fall cookie recipes are all about autumn warmth and nostalgia. I’ve baked each of these during chilly weekends, and they never fail to make the house smell like home.
So, grab your favorite apron — we’re about to fill your kitchen with the best fall cookie flavors of the season.
1. Brown Butter Pumpkin Cookies
Ingredients:
- ½ cup browned butter
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Looks and Tastes:
Soft, golden cookies with a nutty aroma and caramel-like flavor.
How to Make it:
Mix browned butter with sugar and pumpkin, add dry ingredients, and bake at 350°F for 12 minutes. These are classic brown butter pumpkin cookies that melt in your mouth.
2. Chewy Oatmeal Pumpkin Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 cup oats
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ tsp nutmeg
Looks and Tastes:
Chewy centers with crispy edges — lightly spiced and wholesome.
How to Make it:
Mix everything, spoon onto a baking sheet, and bake for 10–12 minutes. Perfect for those who love oatmeal pumpkin cookies that taste like a cozy breakfast treat.
3. Maple Pecan Sugar Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp maple extract
- ½ cup chopped pecans
Looks and Tastes:
Golden, buttery cookies with a hint of nutty crunch and a hint of maple sweetness.
How to Make it:
Cream the butter and sugar, then stir in the extract and pecans. Bake until golden. These fall cookies look simple but taste luxurious.
4. Cinnamon Apple Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 apple, diced finely
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 ½ cups flour
Looks and Tastes:
Soft cookies with chunks of apple and a sweet cinnamon scent.
How to Make it:
Fold apple pieces into the batter, and bake until golden. These autumn cookies pair perfectly with warm cider.
5. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup chocolate chips
Looks and Tastes:
Moist, cake-like texture with gooey chocolate pockets.
How to Make it:
Mix all ingredients, scoop dough onto a sheet, and bake for 12 minutes. One of the best fall cookie recipes ever made for chocolate lovers.
6. Salted Caramel Snickerdoodles
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Soft caramel candies
Looks and Tastes:
Golden brown with crackly tops and gooey caramel centers.
How to Make it:
Wrap cookie dough around caramels, roll in cinnamon sugar, and bake. These fall cookies recipes are made for cozy evenings.
7. Ginger Molasses Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup molasses
- 1 tsp ginger
- ½ tsp cloves
Looks and Tastes:
Dark, chewy cookies with spicy sweetness — smells like fall baking heaven.
How to Make it:
Combine all ingredients, chill the dough, and bake for 10 minutes. A true autumn cookie recipe staple.
8. Brown Sugar Pecan Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 tsp vanilla
Looks and Tastes:
Caramel-colored cookies with rich, nutty flavor and crisp edges.
How to Make it:
Mix, bake, and let cool — they taste even better the next day. These fall themed cookies are simple yet classy.
9. Pumpkin Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 cup oats
- ½ cup pumpkin
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ cup frosting or cream cheese filling
Looks and Tastes:
Soft oatmeal cookies sandwiched with sweet filling — chewy, creamy, and dreamy.
How to Make it:
Bake cookies, spread filling, and stack. A showstopper among cute fall cookies for parties.
10. Maple Leaf Sugar Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp maple extract
- Food coloring (optional)
Looks and Tastes:
Leaf-shaped cookies with golden edges — pretty enough for display, tasty enough for seconds.
How to Make it:
Roll out dough, cut shapes, bake, and glaze. Ideal for fall cookie designs or fall sugar cookie ideas.
11. Chai Spice Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 cup flour
- ½ tsp cardamom
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp cloves
Looks and Tastes:
Soft cookies with the aroma of chai tea — comforting and fragrant.
How to Make it:
Mix ingredients, bake, and dust with sugar. Perfect for your fall theme cookies platter.
12. White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
Looks and Tastes:
Bright and festive, with tart cranberries and creamy chocolate bits.
How to Make it:
Mix everything, bake for 10 minutes. These are your best cookies for fall — pretty, sweet, and slightly tangy.
Final Bite
There you have it — twelve cozy, colorful fall cookie recipes to make your kitchen smell like autumn magic. Whether you love chewy, soft, or spiced cookies, every recipe for fall cookies here brings comfort and flavor to your season.
Try them for parties, gifts, or just quiet nights with tea — because honestly, fall cookies are happiness you can bake. Whether you’ve tried a few or baked them all, these cookies are bound to become seasonal staples in your home.
Happy baking, and savor the magic of fall with every delicious morsel!
