Fall brings cooler weather and cozy baking days. It’s the perfect time to fill your home with the warm scents of cinnamon, pumpkin, and apple.
Baking cookies is a fun way to enjoy autumn flavors and create treats for family and friends.
You can try many delicious fall cookie recipes to celebrate the season. From classic molasses cookies to creative pumpkin and pecan varieties, there are options for every taste.
Baking fall cookies lets you experiment with seasonal ingredients and spices. It’s a great activity to do on chilly weekends or for gatherings with loved ones.
1. Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles
Pumpkin spice snickerdoodles are a tasty twist on classic cookies. They mix the buttery, cinnamon-sugar goodness of snickerdoodles with cozy fall flavors.
To make these cookies, you’ll cream butter and sugars, then add eggs, vanilla, and pumpkin puree.
Mix in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice.
Roll the dough into balls and coat them in cinnamon sugar. Bake until the edges are set but the centers are still soft. The result is chewy cookies with a warm, spicy flavor.
These treats are perfect for autumn baking. They’ll make your kitchen smell amazing and satisfy your pumpkin spice cravings.
2. Maple Pecan Shortbread
Maple pecan shortbread cookies are a tasty fall treat. They combine buttery shortbread with maple flavor and crunchy pecans.
To make these cookies, start by creaming butter and sugar. Mix in maple syrup for sweetness. Add flour, cinnamon, and salt to form the dough.
Chop toasted pecans and fold them into the dough. Shape the dough into a log and chill it in the fridge.
When ready to bake, slice the log into rounds. Bake the cookies until golden brown. Let them cool before enjoying their rich, nutty flavor.
You can make the dough ahead of time and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days before baking. This makes maple pecan shortbread great for planning ahead.
3. Salted Caramel Apple Cookies
These cookies are a perfect fall treat. They combine the sweetness of caramel with the tartness of apples.
To make them, start by peeling and chopping apples. Sauté them in butter and cinnamon until soft.
Cream butter and sugar in a bowl. Add the cooled apples to your cookie dough. Scoop the dough onto baking sheets.
Bake the cookies at 350°F. Press a caramel square into the center of each cookie halfway through baking.
Sprinkle sea salt on top for the perfect sweet-salty balance. These cookies stay fresh for up to 5 days or can be frozen for longer storage.
4. Cinnamon Roll Cookies
Cinnamon roll cookies bring the beloved breakfast treat to your cookie jar. These tasty morsels feature a soft, buttery dough swirled with cinnamon sugar.
The cookies are rolled up like miniature cinnamon rolls, then sliced and baked. Once cooled, they’re topped with a sweet cream cheese glaze.
You’ll love how these cookies fill your kitchen with the warm, comforting scent of cinnamon. They’re perfect for fall gatherings or as an after-school snack.
To make them, start by preparing a simple cookie dough. Roll it out, spread with cinnamon sugar, and carefully roll up. Chill, slice, and bake until golden. Drizzle with glaze and enjoy!
5. Brown Butter Pecan Cookies
Brown butter pecan cookies are a tasty fall treat. They combine rich brown butter with toasted pecans for a nutty flavor.
To make these cookies, first toast the pecans in the oven. Then brown the butter on the stove until it’s golden and smells nutty.
Mix the browned butter with sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Add flour, baking powder, salt, and spices. Fold in the toasted pecans.
Scoop the dough onto baking sheets. Bake until the edges are lightly golden. Let cool before enjoying these chewy, flavorful cookies.
6. Ginger Molasses Cookies
Ginger molasses cookies are a fall favorite. They’re soft, chewy, and packed with warm spices.
You’ll need flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and other spices. Mix these with butter, sugar, and molasses.
Scoop the dough into balls and chill for at least 2 hours. This helps the flavors meld and prevents spreading.
Bake at 350°F until the edges are set but centers are still soft. Let them cool on the baking sheet.
These cookies are perfect with a glass of milk or cup of tea on a chilly autumn day.
7. Chai Spiced Sugar Cookies
Chai spiced sugar cookies bring warm fall flavors to a classic treat. These cookies blend traditional sugar cookie dough with aromatic chai spices.
The spice mix typically includes cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, allspice, and cloves. Some recipes add a touch of black pepper for extra warmth.
To make these cookies, you’ll cream butter and sugar, then add eggs and vanilla. Mix in the dry ingredients, including the spices. Roll the dough into balls and coat with sugar before baking.
The result is a chewy, flavorful cookie with a crisp exterior. The chai spices give these cookies a cozy, comforting taste perfect for cool autumn days.
8. Cranberry Orange Cookies
Cranberry orange cookies are a perfect fall treat. They mix tangy cranberries with zesty orange for a burst of flavor.
You’ll need butter, sugar, eggs, flour, and baking powder. Don’t forget dried cranberries and orange zest. Some recipes add vanilla pudding mix for extra softness.
Mix the wet and dry ingredients separately, then combine. Fold in the cranberries. Scoop the dough onto baking sheets.
Bake until the edges are lightly golden. Let them cool before eating. For extra flair, roll the dough balls in coarse sugar before baking.
9. Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies
Oatmeal butterscotch cookies are a delightful fall treat. You’ll love the chewy texture and rich flavor combination.
To make these cookies, mix flour, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, cream butter with brown and white sugar. Add eggs and vanilla, then combine with the dry ingredients.
Fold in oats and butterscotch chips for that classic taste. Drop spoonfuls onto a baking sheet and bake at 375°F for about 10 minutes.
The result? Crispy edges with a soft center, packed with sweet butterscotch morsels. These cookies are perfect for cozy autumn afternoons or as an after-school snack.
10. Candy Corn Sugar Cookies
Candy Corn Sugar Cookies are a fun fall treat that combines the classic sugar cookie with the iconic autumn candy. These cookies are soft and chewy with a delightful crunch from sanding sugar.
To make them, you’ll start with a basic sugar cookie dough. Mix in candy corn pieces and caramel chips for pops of fall flavor in every bite.
For a festive look, use food coloring to create yellow, orange, and white dough. Layer the colors to mimic the appearance of candy corn.
Gently flatten each cookie before baking to give them a crinkled look. After baking, these cookies make a perfect dessert for fall parties or Halloween gatherings.
11. Toffee Nut Cookies
Toffee nut cookies are a delicious fall treat. They combine the rich flavors of toffee and nuts with a classic cookie base.
To make these cookies, you’ll need flour, butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Mix in toffee bits and chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts.
Shape the dough into balls and place them on a baking sheet. Bake until golden brown. Let them cool before enjoying.
These cookies have a satisfying crunch from the toffee and nuts. The toffee adds a caramel-like sweetness that pairs well with the nutty flavor.
You can customize the recipe by using different types of nuts or adding chocolate chips. Toffee nut cookies make a great addition to your fall baking lineup.
12. Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
These cookies blend the flavors of pumpkin pie and cheesecake into one delicious treat. To make them, you’ll mix pumpkin puree into a spiced cookie dough. The dough is then wrapped around a cream cheese filling.
Roll the cookies in sugar and pumpkin pie spice before baking. This gives them a sweet, crunchy coating. When baked, the cookies are soft and chewy with a creamy center.
The pumpkin and warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg give these cookies a cozy fall taste. They’re perfect for autumn gatherings or as an after-dinner dessert. You can make the dough ahead of time and freeze it for later use.
13. S’mores Pumpkin Cookies
S’mores pumpkin cookies are a tasty fall treat. They mix the flavors of pumpkin spice with classic s’mores ingredients.
These cookies have a soft pumpkin base. The dough is filled with chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and graham cracker pieces.
To make them, cream butter and sugars. Add pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients and fold in the s’mores elements.
Bake the cookies at 350°F for about 10-12 minutes. They’ll come out soft and chewy with gooey marshmallows and melted chocolate.
These cookies are perfect for autumn gatherings or as an after-school snack. You can enjoy the cozy flavors of fall in every bite.
14. Maple Cream Sandwich Cookies
Maple cream sandwich cookies are a tasty fall treat. You’ll love the mix of sweet maple flavor and crisp cookie texture.
To make them, start by mixing the dry and wet ingredients separately. Combine them to form a dough, then chill it for about 30 minutes.
Roll out the chilled dough and cut it into leaf shapes. Bake the cookies until the edges turn light brown, about 8-10 minutes.
For the filling, beat butter until fluffy. Add powdered sugar and maple syrup to create a smooth cream. Spread or pipe the filling between two cooled cookies.
These maple treats are perfect for autumn gatherings or as a sweet snack with tea.
15. Apple Cider Cookies
Apple cider cookies are a tasty fall treat. They combine the flavors of apple cider with warm spices like cinnamon and ginger.
To make these cookies, you’ll need to reduce apple cider to concentrate its flavor. This step adds a rich apple taste to the dough.
The cookie dough often includes brown sugar and butter for a soft, chewy texture. Some recipes call for rolling the dough balls in cinnamon sugar before baking.
For extra apple flavor, you can top the cookies with an apple cider glaze. This glaze is made by mixing powdered sugar with a bit of reduced cider.
These cookies are perfect for autumn gatherings or as a sweet snack on cool days.
16. Brown Sugar Walnut Cookies
Brown sugar walnut cookies are a tasty fall treat. They’re easy to make and smell great while baking.
You’ll need flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Don’t forget the walnuts!
Mix the dry ingredients first. Then cream the butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture and stir in the walnuts.
Roll the dough into balls and place them on a cookie sheet. Bake at 375°F for about 12 minutes until golden brown.
These cookies have a rich, nutty flavor from the walnuts and brown sugar. They’re soft and chewy with slightly crisp edges.
Understanding Fall Ingredients
Fall brings special flavors to cookie baking. The right spices and nuts can make your cookies taste like autumn.
Essential Spices for Fall Cookies
Cinnamon is a must-have fall spice. It adds warmth and sweetness to cookies. Mix it with sugar to coat snickerdoodles.
Nutmeg gives a nutty, earthy taste. Use it in small amounts for depth. It pairs well with pumpkin and apple.
Ginger adds a spicy kick. Fresh or dried both work well. Try it in molasses cookies for a classic fall treat.
Allspice combines flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. It’s great in spice cookies. A little goes a long way.
Cloves have a strong, sweet taste. Use them sparingly. They’re perfect in gingerbread or spice cookies.
Choosing the Right Nuts and Seeds
Pecans are a fall favorite. They’re buttery and rich.
Chop them for cookies or use halves on top.
Walnuts add crunch and nuttiness. They go well with chocolate chips.
Toast them first for more flavor.
Pumpkin seeds are tasty and healthy. Use them whole or chopped.
They’re great in oatmeal cookies.
Almonds work in many fall cookies. Sliced almonds make nice toppings.
Ground almonds can replace some flour.
Hazelnuts have a distinct taste. They pair well with chocolate.
Use them chopped or ground in your recipes.
Baking Tips for Perfect Fall Cookies
Making tasty fall cookies is easy with the right tips. You can create cookies with great texture and keep them fresh for days.
Achieving the Ideal Texture
Use room temperature ingredients for even mixing. This helps your cookies bake evenly.
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy for soft cookies.
Chill your dough before baking. This prevents cookies from spreading too much.
For crispy edges and chewy centers, try using melted butter in your recipe.
Don’t overmix the dough after adding flour. This can make cookies tough.
Use a light hand when shaping cookies to keep them tender.
Storing and Preserving Homemade Cookies
Cool cookies completely before storing. This stops condensation that can make them soggy.
Store different flavors separately to keep tastes fresh.
Use airtight containers to keep cookies crisp. Add a slice of bread to soften hard cookies.
For longer storage, freeze cookies in sealed bags for up to 3 months.
Let frozen cookies thaw at room temperature. Crisp them up in a warm oven for a few minutes if needed.
Always label containers with the date and type of cookie.