Easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
These pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are a quick, old-fashioned drop cookie—soft, lightly spiced with cinnamon, and studded with semi-sweet chips. They’re an easy way to use cooked (or canned) pumpkin for a cozy, bakery-style treat.
Bake at 375°F for about 10–12 minutes and let them cool to set. Finish with the FAQ below for storage, freezing, and pumpkin tips.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked pumpkin
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup oil
- 1 egg
- 2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder (mixed with dry ingredients)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder (dissolved in milk)
- 1 teaspoon milk
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a cookie sheet (or line with parchment).
- In a bowl, mix pumpkin, sugar, oil, and egg until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
- Stir dry ingredients into pumpkin mixture.
- Dissolve 1 teaspoon baking powder in the milk and add to the batter, mixing until blended.
- Stir in chocolate chips, vanilla, and nuts (if using).
- Drop by large teaspoonfuls onto the cookie sheet.
- Bake 10–12 minutes, until cookies look set and bottoms are lightly browned. Cool 2 minutes, then transfer to a rack.
Total bake time: 10–12 minutes
Equipment: cookie sheet
Servings: about 3 dozen cookies
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies FAQ
Can I use canned pumpkin?
Yes—plain canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) works well. If your pumpkin is very watery, blot lightly or reduce milk slightly.
Why are pumpkin cookies usually soft?
Pumpkin adds moisture, so these cookies bake up soft and cakey rather than crisp.
Can I freeze pumpkin chocolate chip cookies?
Yes. Freeze baked cookies in an airtight container and thaw at room temperature. You can also freeze dough in scoops and bake from frozen with a little extra time.
Do I need nuts?
No—nuts are optional. Leave them out, or substitute raisins or chopped walnuts/pecans if you like.