Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

A soft and chewy chocolate chip cookie with an added surprise of pumpkin. These cookies are just like your favorite chocolate chip cookies with a hint of pumpkin spice and also happen to be egg-free!

Most pumpkin cookies are cake-like in texture, in part because of the additional moisture from the canned pumpkin. While I love soft pumpkin cookies, I often crave the chewiness of a perfect chocolate chip cookie.

Keeping up with my pumpkin theme, I wanted to see if I could find a way to incorporate the delicate flavor of pumpkin spice into my favorite cookies. This pumpkin chocolate chip cookie recipe hits all the marks. The cookies are chewy, full of chocolate, and have a subtle hint of pumpkin spice to make them perfect for fall.

Why there’s no egg in this recipe

When developing this recipe from scratch, I played around making it both with and without eggs. The pumpkin cookies with eggs had a more cake-like texture, and when I omitted them they had the ultimate chewy texture, making them the best pumpkin chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had.

Eggs create structure in baked goods. The yolks add fat, adding flavor, and also help emulsify liquids, creating a smooth, evenly combined mix of ingredients. When you use the whole egg, like in regular chocolate chip cookies, they make the cookies tender and moist. Since these soft pumpkin chocolate chip cookies have the extra moisture from the pumpkin, you don’t need the egg in these cookies.

How to make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies

This easy recipe requires chilling, so plan ahead.

1. Melting the butter in a saucepan. I love browning the butter, but it’s an extra step that’s totally optional. The caramel aroma from the brown butter will add a delicious flavor to the cookies. To brown the butter, keep heating the butter after it’s melted just until small golden bits start to appear at the bottom, and the butter smells nutty. The butter can burn quickly at this point, so watch it carefully. Remove from the heat and immediately pour melted butter into a large bowl. Add granulated sugar and brown sugar and whisk until well blended. I like to use dark brown sugar for these cookies since it adds extra molasses flavor, but if you only have light brown sugar that will work just as well.
2. Add the pumpkin puree (100% canned pumpkin and not pumpkin pie mix) and vanilla extract. Whisk until combined. Fold in the dry ingredients, being careful not to overmix the cookie dough.
3. Add the chocolate chips. I highly recommend using quality chocolate chips or chunks for the best flavor. The dough will be soft at this point. Chill it for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator by forming it into a disc shape and wrap in plastic wrap. You can leave it for longer if you prefer to make the dough ahead of time.
4. Bake your cookies. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Once the dough is chilled, roll it into 1.5 tablespoon-sized balls (I like to use this medium scoop) and place on the prepared baking sheets spaced 2-inches apart. The pumpkin chocolate chip cookies don’t spread a lot during baking, so slightly flatten them a bit with the palm of your hand before baking. Place sheet pans in a 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes.

Pro tip: Pull the cookies out of the oven just when the edges start to look slightly brown. I prefer to under bake these cookies a tiny bit just to ensure they are soft and chewy.

These chewy pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are fall’s version of the classic chocolate chip cookie. They are soft, chewy, chocolatey and full of pumpkin spice. If you’re ready to try something new this fall, give these cookies a taste!

More of my favorite pumpkin recipes:

• Pumpkin Banana Bread: This fall twist on a classic quickbread is moist, delicious, and perfect for the upcoming chilly weather.
• Pumpkin Pie: One of my all time favorite desserts, this pumpkin pie is made with a buttery, flaky piecrust and filled with smooth and creamy pumpkin custard.
• Pumpkin Cheesecake: Rich and velvety smooth with a buttery graham cracker crust, this pumpkin cheesecake is ideal for Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations.
• Pumpkin Muffins: Moist and delicate, these pumpkin muffins are so easy to make and are the perfect grab and go dessert

5 from 1 vote

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prep Time: 45 mins

Cook Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 54 mins

YIELD: 20 cookies

 

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Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups (200g) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 cup (115g/1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup (50g) light or dark brown sugar (I prefer dark)
• 1/3 cup (75g) pumpkin puree
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup (130g) bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices. Set aside.

2. Place butter in a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat and melt. [optional: browning the butter will give more flavor to the cookies, but it's only optional. To brown the butter, keep heating the butter after it's melted just until small golden bits start to appear at the bottom, and the butter smells nutty and delicious. Watch it carefully because the butter can burn quickly at this point]. Remove from the heat and immediately pour melted butter into a large bowl. Add granulated sugar and brown sugar and whisk until well blended. Add pumpkin puree and vanilla extract and whisk until combined. Add flour mixture and fold just until blended. Don't overmix. Fold in chocolate chips. Chill the dough for 30-60 minutes in the refrigerator.

3. Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. Line 2 pans with parchment paper.

4. Once dough is chilled, roll dough into balls, the size of 1.5 tablespoons (30g) each, and place on prepared pans 2-inches apart. The cookies won’t spread much, if at all, during baking so flatten them to desired thickness before baking.

5. Bake for about 12 minutes or until cookies appear set and slightly brown at the edges. The cookies will look soft and that's ok. You don't want to overbake them to keep them soft and chewy. Allow cookies to cool for 10-15 minutes in the cookie sheet, then gently transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve cookies at room temperature.

6. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Cookies can also be frozen for up to 2 months. To thaw, leave them on the counter, still covered, or overnight in the fridge.