Pumpkin Pie Cookies have all the incredible flavor of a pumpkin pie, without the fuss of a full pie! Crisp edged, soft gingersnap cookies are filled with a deeply flavored pumpkin pie filling, and topped with a dollop of fresh whipped cream. Serve this pumpkin pie in cookie form for Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving dinner, or anytime you’re craving a pumpkin pie!
In my cookbook, i have a pumpkin pie recipe with a press-in gingersnap cookie crust. The flavors meld together so beautifully that I was inspired to transform that recipe into a Pumpkin Cookie with a Gingersnap cookie base, instead of a plain sugar cookie dough base. I hope you love these cookies as much as – or even more than – traditional pumpkin pie. Let’s jump in!
Why you’ll love these Pumpkin Pie Cookies:
- Pumpkin Pie Filling – This quick, no mixer pumpkin pie filling is deeply flavored and full of real pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice.
- Soft Gingersnap Cookies – Our pumpkin filling is baked into soft & chewy, yet crisp-edged & sturdy – gingersnap cookies. These flavors pair beautifully together!
- Easy Recipe – No need for a hand mixer or stand mixer – this recipe comes together by hand in no time!
- Festive Dessert – Serve these delicious fall cookies for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, Halloween, or a fall party. They’re like mini pumpkin pies, making them a great recipe for Thanksgiving. And, there’s no pie crust required!
Ingredient Overview:
As always, the full recipe with measurements & directions can be found at the bottom of this post.
- All-purpose flour – Spoon & level your flour for best results, or use a scale. Scooping the measuring cup directly in will lead to too much flour.
- Butter – I always use salted buter for the best flavor, but feel free to use unsalted butter if you prefer.
- Eggs – Use half a large egg at room temperature. I prefer using half an egg to using just the egg yolk or white, as I find it easier to use up the leftover in my morning scramble the next day.
- Dark Brown Sugar – Dark brown sugar adds extra depth of flavor!
- Molasses – Do not use blackstrap molasses. Use regular molasses, found in the baking aisle of the grocery store.
- Pumpkin – Use pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. Both come in cans, but pumpkin pie filling has additional ingredients added and is not just pumpkin. No need to get out a paper towel to blot the pumpkin in this recipe!
- Heavy Cream – Pumpkin pie filling is traditionally made with evaporated milk, but I didn’t want you to open a whole can for such a small amount. Heavy cream works beautifully instead, and you can find many uses for the rest of the heavy cream (like the whipped cream to top these cookies!)
Ingredient Substitutions:
- Dairy-free – Use your favorite, trusted dairy-free products to make this recipe dairy-free.
- Gluten-Free – I have not tested this myself, but I have heard a number of readers have had success with my cookie recipes by using a cup for cup gluten-free flour.
How to Make this Pumpkin Pie Cookie Recipe Step-by-Step:
Step 1: Make the Cookie Dough. Start with the wet ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted or browned butter with the brown sugar and granulated sugar. Whisk in the egg and vanilla next. Stir in the dry ingredients last, until a dough forms.
Step 2: Chill Dough. Scoop cookie dough balls that are 70 grams in size and refrigerate for at least 60 minutes, or freeze for 30 minutes, on a sheet pan covered with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Roll in sugar and press an indent into each dough ball about 10-20 mins into the chill time while the dough is still pliable.
Step 3: Make Pumpkin Pie Filling. Whisk together pumpkin, heavy cream, spices, sugar, vanilla, and cornstarch.
Step 4: Bake Cookies. Add 1-2 tsp of pumpkin pie filling to each chilled cookie dough ball. Bake 5-6 cookies on a pan, at 365 degrees F for 12-13 minutes. Bake as directed in the recipe card below for best results.
Step 5: Make & Top with Whipped Cream. Beat together powdered sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, and cold heavy cream just until stiff peaks form. Add to a piping bag fitted with a decorative tip and pipe dollops of whipped cream onto the cooled cookies.
Serving + Storing this Recipe:
Enjoy the cookies immediately once whipped cream has been added. Store the cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. They should be refrigerated with or without the whipped cream on top.
Expert Success Tips:
- Oven Thermometer – An oven thermometer will tell you if your oven is actually running at the temperature you set it to. Your oven may not be accurate. Accurate oven temperature is crucial for most bakes, so I leave an oven thermometer in at all times to keep an eye on my oven’s calibration.
- Kitchen Scale – A food scale is the best way to make sure your flour is at the proper weight, since amounts will vary SO widely based on how you measure it, as well as the measuring cup you use, as they are not standardized.
FAQs:
Yes, they need to firm up so they will be sturdy enough to contain the wet pumpkin filling.
Yes! Freeze dough balls on a lined baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag or container and keep in the freezer for 1-2 months. Bake from frozen, adding 1-2 minutes.
Yes. Scoop dough into balls and store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days, baking off cookies as desired. They will hardly spread, and you may need to add 1 minute to the bake time. They’re done when the edges appear and feel just set.
Yes, you can make it up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate until ready to use.
Pumpkin Cookie Recipe Variations:
- Smaller Cookies – If you want to make these cookies smaller, I recommend reducing them no farther than to 50 grams of dough per cookie. You’ll only be able to fit about 1/2 to 1 tsp of the pumpkin pie filling in, and anything smaller won’t be worthwhile to fill.
- Dietary Variations – See gluten-free and dairy-free recipe suggestions back at the top of this post.
Special Tools:
- Baking Sheets – These are my favorite cookie sheets!
- Round Cutters – Use round cutters to round out your cookies! Place it around your cookie and swirl the cookie inside it. Don’t actually cut off the edges with it.
- Cookie Scoop – I love using this OXO Ice Cream Scoop as my cookie scoop – be sure to still weigh your dough, though, as it can hold more than 70 grams. It just makes scooping easy!
More Unique Cookie Recipes to Love:
- Caramel Apple Cider Cookies
- Peach Cobbler Cookies
- Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cookies
- Butterbeer Cookies with Salted Butterscotch Frosting
- Double Stuffed Nutella Cookies
More Favorite Pumpkin Recipes:
- Pumpkin Snickerdoodles with Rum Caramel (chewy pumpkin cookies – not cakey!)
- Pumpkin Cupcakes with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
- Fluffy Pumpkin Pancakes
- Mom’s Best Ever Pumpkin Bread
Did you make this recipe? Snap a photo and leave a comment!
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Pumpkin Pie Gingersnap Cookies
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup salted butter 12 tbsp or 170 grams
- 1/3 cup molasses Do not use blackstrap molasses
- 3/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed 163 grams
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar 156 grams
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, spooned & leveled 422 grams
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar, for rolling dough
For the Pumpkin Pie Filling
- 1/2 a large egg 2 tablespoons or half, eyeballed, of 1 beaten egg. Save the rest for your morning scramble!
- 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp canned pumpkin puree 73 grams
- 2 tbsp heavy cream Evaporated milk works too, if for some reason you have some to use up
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp dark brown sugar
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- pinch of cloves
- pinch of nutmeg
- pinch of allspice
- 1 tsp cornstarch
For the Whipped Cream
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch of nutmeg optional, but elevates the whipped cream to a new level!
- 1/4 cup cold heavy cream
Instructions
- Make Cookie Dough: Melt the butter in a medium bowl. Whisk in the molasses. Add the sugars and whisk to combine. Add the eggs and vanilla, and whisk until smooth and combined, about 30-45 seconds. Stir in the dry ingredients, making sure to get any dry bits hiding in the bottom of the bowl.
- Scoop Dough Balls & Chill: Scoop dough into balls that are 70 grams each, and chill for 30 minutes in the fridge or 10 minutes in the freezer before rolling in granulated sugar & adding the indent. (This makes it easier to add the indent, and prevents the dough from cracking if you try to add it later when the dough is fully chilled.) Make the indent with the back of a teaspoon, making sure not to press too far down so the bottom of the cookie stays intact. Return the dough balls to the freezer for 20-30 additional minutes or to the fridge for 1-2 additional hours.See notes below about make-ahead tips & storing the dough longer.
- Make Pumpkin Filling: Whisk together all pumpkin pie filling ingredients in a medium bowl until well combined and smooth. This can be made up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge in an airtight container.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 365℉. Place 5-6 cookies on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Add 1-2 tsp of pumpkin pie filling to the indent in each cookie. Don't over fill them. Bake for 12-14 minutes. The edges will appear set and the pumpkin filling will also appear just set. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 10+ minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough until all the cookies are baked.
- Make Whipped Cream: In a large bowl (to help contain the mess) beat together the powdered sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, and heavy cream on medium high to high speed with an electric mixer, until stiff peaks form. (To check for this, turn the mixer off and lift the beaters straight out of the bowl – if peaks are left standing where the mixers lifted out, it's ready!) Don't keep mixing past this point. Add whipped cream to a piping bag fitted with a tip, or a ziploc bag with the tip snipped off, and pipe dollops onto the cooled cookies.
- Serve & Store: Serve cookies once they're topped with the whipped cream! Store leftover cookies (with or without whipped cream) in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
- Freezing Cookie Dough & Make-Ahead Tips: Cookie dough can be balled, indented, and frozen on a sheet pan until solid, then transferred to a freezer bag or airtight container. Freeze for 1-2 months. Bake from frozen, adding 1-2 mins to the bake time. You can also refrigerate the dough balls for 3-4 days, adding 1 minute or so to the bake time.
Notes
Nutrition
Mari says
I made these for my annual cookie party and they were such a huge hit. People were invested because there were so many different steps, and I had a hard time keeping people from eating them before I got the whipped cream on. I will very much be adding them to my annual repertoire.
Stephanie Simmons says
I’m honored that my cookies were included in your annual cookie party – thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review! I’m so glad they were a hit. 🙂 Happy baking!
Liz Swezey says
These were so yummy! I’m not someone who bakes ever and this recipe was easy to follow and made some fabulous holiday cookies for my family.
Stephanie Simmons says
I’m so glad to hear that, Liz! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
River says
Absolutely delicious cookies! Made over 50 of these delightful cookies. Worth it! Everyone at Thanksgiving loved them. We put out a whipped cream can next to them and it was a huge hit. May just become a thanksgiving tradition!
Stephanie Simmons says
So glad to hear these were a hit! Thanks, River!
Ricky O says
Made these for my family’s thanksgiving dinner and they were a hit! Perfectly moist but still held there shape. I did have to substitute a few ingredients like butter and eggs with vegan butter and chia eggs since my mom is vegan, but the cookies still came out delicious!
I loved the idea of mini pumpkin pies looking cookies. Yummy and aesthetically pleasing (:
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks so much, Ricky! I’m so glad to know these work with those vegan subs.
Kristina H says
Hi! Question on the oven temp. My oven (and I thought most ovens) only goes in increments of 25. Should I use 375 or is 350 better?
Stephanie Simmons says
I would do 350 and add an extra 1-2 mins if needed. Please let me know how you enjoy these! ☺️
Alexandra Larosa says
Hi,
I’m about to make this tonight and only have unsalted butter. How much salt would you add into the recipe?
Looking forward to making them!
Stephanie Simmons says
Hi Alexandra! I would only add a tiny pinch of extra salt, if any. Most salted butters don’t have that a ton more salt added so you likely won’t notice the difference. I hope you enjoy these cookies! Please report back on how you liked them. ☺️ Happy Thanksgiving!
Claire says
This was a great recipe and was not at all too complicated to follow. Definitely will be making this again.
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks so much, Claire!
Kammy says
WOW! Super easy recipe for a super impressive cookie! Everyone loves them. I will definitely make these again.
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks so much, Kammy! Happy Thanksgiving!
Allison says
Super delicious and festive cookies! The pumpkin pie filling is amazing and the cookies came out chewy and perfectly spiced. I doubled the whipped cream recipe and glad I did. (Also used half the amount of vanilla extract in the whipped cream.) I wonder how the dough would turn out with a tiny bit of orange zest… The cookies are super cute as well, so they will make an amazing holiday dessert.
Stephanie Simmons says
So glad you liked these cookies, Allison!
Ali says
These cookies are PHENOMENAL. I saw a video on FB displaying similar cookies but there wasn’t any recipe so I googled the concept and found this recipe. Not gonna lie… I went a little overboard with some of the spices and definitely treated the vanilla like one treats garlic in the kitchen (I bow to no one 🤪) and they turned out so well. I think next time though I’m going to make a bigger quantity yield and use maybe half the dough recommended for each cookie because these are wayyyy too good to only have like 20 of them. 🤤
Stephanie Simmons says
Haha, I do the same thing with my vanilla sometimes too, Ali! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe. Happy baking!
Priti D says
This recipe looks wonderful! Just a quick question – is there a reason we shouldn’t use blackstrap molasses? I happen to have a jar of that only!
Stephanie Simmons says
Hi Priti! Blackstrap molasses is very bitter so I don’t think your cookies will taste very pleasant if you use it. I recommend using regular or mild molasses instead.
Lauren says
If you like pumpkin pie, you have to make this cookie recipe. My husband and I both agreed that they were some of the best cookies we’ve ever had, especially for a homemade cookie. I will say that it made less for whatever reason, I was only able to get 17 60-ish gram cookie dough balls out of my dough. The cookies are large when baked, packed with flavor, and the homemade whipped cream on top was phenomenal. Don’t skip the nutmeg, it makes it next level. Looking forward to sharing this recipe with family and friends, I’m sure I’ll get several requests when I bring these to the next holiday party!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thank you so much for the sweet review, Lauren! So glad you enjoyed these. I’ll have to make them again and re-check the yield 😂