With the cooler weather, changing colors of the leaves, and the holidays approaching, we found 27 amazing fall cookie recipes to get you in the spirit!
There are few things as cozy as bundling up with your loved ones and enjoying some fresh, delicious cookies, especially with the lowered temperature outside.
We have taken the hard work out of this for you by finding this collection of fall cookies now, and the hard part becomes deciding which one to make first!
These cookies are great to share with family and friends for the holidays and give you something different from pie for Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving.
Or, if you are just having a casual night at home and have a craving for something sweet, give yourself one (or some) of these autumn cookies as a treat!
Even if you’re not a fan of oatmeal cookies, the Brown Butter Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies will win you over.
The kids will love the Chocolate Acorns and the Pumpkin Whoopie Pies.
Try #9 if you want to stick to something a little more classic.
You can’t go wrong with any of the fall-themed cookie ideas on this list, and if you’re having trouble picking one, go ahead and try them all!
1. Maple Snickerdoodles
If someone tries these fall cookies and claims they don’t like them, I will accuse them of not telling the truth!
Imagine molasses cookies combined with snickerdoodles– are you drooling yet?
These are soft and chewy and not overwhelmingly sweet.
A key tip is to use pure maple syrup for these cookies to get the best possible taste out of them!
2. Pumpkin Pie Spice Cookies
Is it even fall if you don’t indulge in pumpkin spice everything?
These are some of the best fall cookies you can try for pumpkin flavoring!
You’ll have an excellent surface for the powdered sugar to sit on or add any toppings you want with the texture.
Remember that the powdered sugar will absorb into the cookies as time goes on, but you and your family will probably enjoy these cookies before that becomes a problem!
3. Peanut Butter Cookies
This list of fall-themed cookie ideas is already full of great recipes to try, but this peanut butter cookie recipe makes such a great base for your other cookies too!
You can enjoy them as they are or throw in some variations mentioned in the recipe.
Not including the time spent to let the cookie dough chill, this recipe takes no time to make!
In less than 20 minutes, you’ll have delicious cookies from such little effort!
Here are some more delicious peanut butter dessert ideas!
4. Salted Caramel Spiced Apple Macarons
Macarons are a sophisticated French treat, but why not mix up the flavors to get some fall-themed cookies out of them?
These macarons are stuffed with applesauce and drizzled with salted caramel on top, giving you a taste of two fantastic fall flavors.
If you have a good kitchen scale, making macarons won’t be as tricky as they seem, so go ahead and give these a shot!
5. Maple Thumbprints
These fall cookie recipes aren’t tricky to follow, but the most challenging part has to be letting them sit for a bit when the flavors need time to settle in, which is the case for these cookies.
The maple flavor starts to come out once they’ve been allowed to sit for a few hours.
After you’ve tasted the maple sweetness in these, you’ll see that the time set aside for them is well worth it!
6. Pumpkin White Chocolate Chip Cookies
What pairs well with pumpkin when making your autumn cookies?
Okay, many things go well with pumpkin, but white chocolate deserves special recognition.
To make these cookies even better, they can be made in one saucepan, so you don’t need to find your mixers to enjoy these.
These cookies are not super cakey like many pumpkin cookies can be, so if you’re not a fan of that texture, these are for you.
7. Apple Butter Cookies
These are some of the best fall cookies if you find yourself craving apple flavors!
You could always make your own apple butter for this recipe or just use a store-bought container.
Try to use the “Spoon & Sweep” method to measure your flour so it doesn’t get packed too tightly and gives you more than you need.
Before baking your cookies and after letting them chill, roll them in cinnamon sugar, and you’ll have such sweet, tasty cookies!
8. CRUMBL Churro Cookies
If you’ve tried CRUMBL’s sugar cookies or you’re imagining how good a churro sugar cookie must be, here’s your chance to make it yourself!
This recipe is a great way to make the famous fall-themed cookies at home.
You won’t feel like you’re missing out on an actual churro since the cinnamon sugar on top gives it a crunch like that of traditional churros.
9. Soft And Chewy Ginger Snaps
Ginger snaps are named so because they are usually crispy and make a “snap” sound when broken, but this version of the autumn cookies has a chewy center.
These are like crispy AND chewy gingerbread cookies.
It only takes 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook once the dough has chilled.
How easy is that?
10. Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies
Most of us have pecan in our recipes during the fall holidays multiple times.
But this is one recipe to put a little twist on the classic dessert ingredient.
What makes life better than the combination of chocolate chips and pecans?
So make sure to add this to your fall cookie recipes lineup!
11. Brown Sugar Cookie
These brown sugar cookies are so cute and so tasty!
These are some of the best fall cookies if you eat with your eyes first.
Once they’re baked and cooled, dig in and grab a handful!
Enjoy!
12. Ginger Molasses Cookies
No more waiting for Starbucks to release their ginger molasses cookies!
You can make your version of these that might just taste better than the classic fall cookies.
This recipe is not hard to follow.
The most challenging part is letting these cookies cool after they come out of the oven so that they finish baking in their pan
13. Autumn Leaf Cookies
Are you on the search for fall-themed cookie ideas that can win over both kids and adults?
Kids will love the fun colors and shapes of these cookies.
Adults will love the sweet taste that isn’t too overwhelming.
Whether you’re baking for Thanksgiving night with the family or the kid’s school party, everyone will love these cookies!
14. Brown Butter Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
If your fall cookie recipes call for browning butter, you’re in for a treat!
This baking process step doesn’t take long but adds so much flavor to your cookies.
Imagine a toffee, nutty flavor mixed in with your pumpkin and oatmeal.
The icing also uses browned butter, so you get double the toasty flavor!
15. Vanilla Chai Shortbread Cookies
You don’t need a special occasion to enjoy these autumn cookies.
Gather your friends for a cup of tea to enjoy them with you if you must, but even if you enjoy them yourself, these will become your new daily treat.
These cookies are full of vanilla chai flavors like cardamom and clove, so it pairs nicely with a hot cup of tea.
Does anything sound cozier than enjoying these cookies on a cool autumn day?
16. Caramel Apple Cookies
Pumpkin is delicious, but sometimes we need other flavors in our fall cookie recipes.
Caramel apples don’t get enough credit for being a delicious fall treat.
If you have a tart apple, you can turn it into some of the best fall cookies you will ever try!
These cookies will become a huge hit with the tasty frosting and roasted pecans.
17. Cinnamon Roll Cookies
Cinnamon rolls are delicious year-round, no matter what season it is.
But there’s something about these cookies that make them fit as fall-themed cookies.
Maybe it’s the filling that tastes amazing with the cinnamon sugar flooding your mouth with fall flavors.
Or the fact that they look like mini cinnamon rolls so that everyone will be grabbing some after your fall holiday dinners.
Whatever it is about them, these cookies will be popular with everyone who tries them.
18. Chocolate Acorns
These no-bake chocolate “acorns” will be a hit with all of the kids at your holiday gatherings.
They’re so simple to make with only four ingredients!
These fall-themed cookies are so cute and fitting for the season!
19. Maple Sugar Cookies
When your kitchen fills with the smell of these fall cookies baking, you’re going to thank yourself.
To make these the best tasting cookies possible, you have to use real maple syrup.
You will absolutely taste the difference.
The icing is optional, but it does add some extra maple flavor and makes these already great cookies even better!
20. Gingerbread S’mores
Maybe you’ve been fooled into thinking gingerbread should stick to winter cookies.
If this is typically a Christmas treat for you, I’m here to tell you that you can enjoy them in the fall too!
Make them into cute s’mores treats, and you have your own autumn cookies!
This is especially great for when you don’t want to bother with bustling out into the colder weather to set up a fire for your marshmallows and chocolate.
21. Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
There are so many names for these fall-themed cookies, but whatever you call them, we call them delicious!
Even if you’re not a pumpkin fan, you will love these cookies.
The buttercream icing in the middle is to die for!
22. Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
Chocolate peanut butter cookies are a year-round treat.
But the cocoa used in this recipe makes them perfect for the cooler weather.
These are some of the best fall cookies for taking care of your chocolate craving!
Not to mention they take no time to bake, so you can enjoy them right when your cravings hit!
23. Cinnamon Spiced Sugar Cookies
Cinnamon spice and browned butter frosting are two ways you know you landed on some tasty fall cookie recipes!
Even without the pumpkin shape, these are amazing fall-flavored cookies.
Imagine you’re eating a cinnamon toast flavored cookie!
And with the frosting on top, you get an extra dose of fall-flavored goodness!
24. Iced Gingerbread Oatmeal Cookies
You may be watching what you put in your body during the fall season, so you don’t overdo it with the holidays approaching.
Fortunately, these fall-themed cookies are a better option if you’re watching your sugar intake.
You can use oats, maple syrup, stevia, and your favorite fall spices to still get an amazing-tasting treat for yourself.
Let this become your new not-so-guilty-pleasure!
25. Apple Pie Cookies
These apple pie cookies are one of many fall cookie recipes that taste just as great as they look!
When everyone loves apple pie and could have an entire one by themselves, give them one of these cookies so they really can enjoy their entire pie!
Store-bought apple pie filling and crust are totally acceptable for this recipe, making it that much easier.
Bring these cookies to your next holiday gathering, and no one will turn an eye to an actual pie.
26. Butterscotch Oatmeal Spice Cookies
Not all fall-themed cookie ideas have to be complicated processes.
These cookies are super easy to make since they use a cake mix.
This helps the cookies become softer.
Throw in some oatmeal, butterscotch, and chocolate chips, and you have yourself a quick but tasty treat.
27. Cranberry French Macarons
If you’re scared of making your own macarons because you’ve heard how tricky they can be, these are some of the best fall cookies to help you give it a try!
This recipe breaks macarons down into easy-to-follow steps, so it will put your mind at ease having every part of the process laid out for you.
Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, these cranberry-filled white chocolate macarons will make a great gift for friends with the warm flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg shining through.
Look here for more cranberry dessert recipes!
The bottom line
Even if the weather hasn’t started cooling down yet, these fall cookie recipes are sure to get you in the spirit of the upcoming season!
Whatever flavor you find yourself craving, whether pumpkin, apples, cinnamon, or maple, we have something on this list to satisfy you and your loved ones as a special treat!
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Are you excited for fall? Celebrate the season any time of the year with these fall cookie recipes!
Ingredients
- Maple Snickerdoodles
- Pumpkin Pie Spice Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- Salted Caramel Spiced Apple Macarons
- Maple Thumbprints
- Pumpkin White Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Apple Butter Cookies
- CRUMBL Churro Cookies
- Soft And Chewy Ginger Snaps
- Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies
- Brown Sugar Cookie
- Ginger Molasses Cookies
- Autumn Leaf Cookies
- Brown Butter Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
- Vanilla Chai Shortbread Cookies
- Caramel Apple Cookies
- Cinnamon Roll Cookies
- Chocolate Acorns
- Maple Sugar Cookies
- Gingerbread S’mores
- Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
- Cinnamon Spiced Sugar Cookies
- Iced Gingerbread Oatmeal Cookies
- Apple Pie Cookies
- Butterscotch Oatmeal Spice Cookies
- Cranberry French Macarons
Instructions
- Have a look at our list of fall themed cookies.
- Choose your favorite to recreate.
- Start baking your newly found recipe!
- Share your insights on our Facebook page!