11 Cozy Fall Cookie Recipes to Bake on Repeat

Warm cookies straight from the oven are the epitome of comfort when fall arrives and the air gets crisp. With their abundance of seasonal flavors (pumpkin, apple, maple, warming spices, nuts, and more), these 11 comforting fall cookie recipes are designed to make you want to bake them repeatedly. Every recipe is simple, dependable, and made to be enjoyed again and again. Let’s examine the recipes, helpful hints, and what makes each one ideal for baking in the fall.

1. Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles with a Twist

Pumpkin spice snickerdoodles combine moist pumpkin puree, fall spices, and the traditional soft texture of a snickerdoodle. Before baking, the dough is rolled in spiced sugar and enhanced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of ginger or cloves. The end product is a cookie with a soft, tender crumb, a crackled top, and the classic tang of snickerdoodle, all heightened by comforting seasonal warmth. You may need to reduce liquid elsewhere or bake for a little longer because pumpkin adds moisture. On a cold afternoon, these go well with a cup of tea or cider.

2. Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies

Oats provide texture and chew, while unsweetened applesauce or tiny apple chunks offer natural sweetness and a touch of seasoning to these hearty and cozy apple cinnamon oatmeal cookies. The flavor is tied together by the fall aroma of cinnamon (and optionally nutmeg). Even after cooling, the oats maintain their softness thanks to their ability to retain moisture. These cookies go well with coffee in the morning or packed into lunchboxes. Use rolled oats (not instant) for optimal results, and fold in apples right before baking to prevent sogginess.

3. Brown Butter Molasses Spice Cookies

These spice cookies made with molasses gain a nutty, toasty complexity from the brown butter. First, brown the butter until fragrant and rich, then allow it to cool slightly before adding the brown sugar, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. The spices add warmth, and the molasses adds chew and depth. The flavor develops over the course of a day, and these cookies get crisp on the outside but stay chewy on the inside. Keep them in airtight containers; a quick reheat will restore texture if they become soft.

4. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Fall and crowd-pleasing comfort are combined in this recipe, which combines warming spices and pumpkin puree with oatmeal cookie base and semi-sweet chocolate chips. The chocolate adds bits of melty richness, the pumpkin guarantees moisture, and the oats add chew. Chilling the dough before baking helps because pumpkin tends to soften structure. Allow them to finish in residual heat after baking until the edges are just set. These cookies combine a well-known favorite twist with seasonal flavors.

5. Maple Pecan Shortbread Biscotti

This maple pecan cookie bridges the gap between sweet and savory with a nutty crunch and a shortbread inspired by fall. Pure maple syrup (or maple extract) is used to flavor the dough, which is then folded with chopped toasted pecans, pressed into logs, baked, sliced, and baked again until it crisps into biscotti-like textures. They’re perfect for dipping in milk or coffee. While the pecan and maple flavors add depth and warmth, the double baking guarantees crunch. They travel well and keep well when stored in sealed tins.

6. Cranberry White Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

With creamy white chocolate chunks in the dough and tart dried cranberries or cranberry preserves filling the center, thumbprint cookies get a fall update. The base cookie is pressed to create a tiny well for the filling after being buttery and mildly spiced (with a dash of cardamom or cinnamon). The white chocolate flecks melt just enough to maintain balance after baking, and the cranberry center softens but retains its shape. These cookies have a seasonal appearance and a festive, fruity texture.

7. Spiced Pear & Walnut Cookies

The subtle sweetness of ripe fruit and the crunch of nuts are captured in pear and walnut cookies. Use pear preserves or finely chopped, drained, or lightly cooked pears folded into a dough that has been lightly spiced with cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon. Toasted walnuts chopped add a contrast of texture. To ensure that the centers set without the edges becoming overly brown, bake at a moderate temperature. The flavor is subtle yet complex, with a nutty bite, warm spice, and bright pear notes. Pears help prevent the cookie from drying out because they hold onto moisture.

8. Chai‑Spiced Sugar Cookies

Add chai-like spices (cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves) to a traditional sugar cookie. The basic dough (butter, sugar, egg, and flour) is then rolled out, shaped, and baked until it turns a light golden color. Without significantly changing texture, the chai flavor adds a touch of seasonal warmth. Once cooled, you can add sparkle by glazing or dusting with powdered sugar. The spice twist makes these cookies perfect for fall baking rotation, and they go well with tea or coffee.

9. Chocolate Pumpkin Molasses Crinkle Cookies

The moisture of pumpkin, the depth of molasses, and the richness of chocolate are all combined in these crinkle cookies. After being chilled and thick, the dough is rolled in powdered sugar and baked until it cracks on top. The inside has a soft, fudgy texture with a touch of spice and pumpkin. They have a rich, yet seasonal, flavor and a striking appearance. Chilling is advised because of the pumpkin and molasses to help the dough maintain its shape. They have a traditional, festive appearance due to their cracked surface.

10. Peanut Butter Maple Blossoms

A peanut butter cookie dough sweetened with a small amount of maple syrup (or extract) rather than just sugar is a fall-friendly take on the traditional peanut butter blossom. Press a chocolate or maple-flavored candy in the middle once it’s baked. The chocolate center provides decadence, the maple adds seasonal nuance, and the peanut butter adds savory depth. These cookies spread less because peanut butter is dense; keep a close eye on the baking time. The end effect is autumnally tuned and nostalgic.

11. Molasses Ginger Drop Cookies with Candied Orange

Ginger drop cookies with molasses are tender, flavorful, and fragrant. Add tiny pieces of candied orange peel (or zest) to the dough along with traditional spices (cloves, cinnamon, and ginger) to make them more fall-appropriate. Dropped onto baking sheets with a spoon, the dough bakes into chewy, crackly pieces. They feel festive and warm because of the orange brightness, which lightens the rich molasses base. To maintain chewiness, store in airtight boxes; these also freeze well.