If you are looking for delicious and chewy pumpkin cookies that are not cakey, I’ve got a great recipe for you! Sometimes I want a pumpkin cookie that is chewy, maybe with some crunch and crispiness to it even. After years of trying, I’ve finally figured out recipe for pumpkin cookies that aren’t cakey.
While I love pumpkin and I love cookies, often pumpkin cookies turn out fairly cakey. Pumpkin has a lot of moisture in it, so this isn’t surprising, but I’m always trying to make a pumpkin cookie that is not cakey.
While sometimes cakey pumpkins cookies might be exactly what you want, this recipe is great for the times you want a chewy pumpkin cookie that isn’t cakey.
These pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are pretty darn spectacular. They have all the features of a great chocolate chip cookie, lots of chocolate, a chewy center, and slightly crunchy edges, but they also have pumpkin. A perfect fall chocolate chip cookie. Yay!
I combined a few different different tricks to get these to be more chewy than cakey.
How To Make Pumpkin Butter
One of the biggest differences is that I traded straight pumpkin for pumpkin butter. If you want to make homemade pumpkin butter, here’s what you need:
Ingredients:
- 1 29oz can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
- 3/4 cup apple juice or cider
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground nutmeg
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 cup brown sugar
- (Spices can be replaced with 3 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice if desired)
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan and mix to combine.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Allow to cool completely, then store in the refrigerator.
I’ve also left the eggs out of this recipe, as well as used some whole wheat flour. The combo of these simple tweaks really created some cookies that I am really happy with, and all of my friends and family who have tried them have raved about them. Mission accomplished!
Chewy Pumpkin Cookies
I can’t wait for you to try these delicious chewy pumpkin cookies! These are perfect for fall and great for parties, get togethers, or just an after school sweet treat.
Pumpkin Cookies That Aren’t Cakey
Chewy Pumpkin Cookies
Ingredients
- 10 TBSP butter (softened)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/3 heaping cup of pumpkin butter
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup white whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 to 2 cups chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat butter until light and creamy. Add sugars and beat until well combined. Mix in pumpkin butter and vanilla and beat until well combined. In a separate bowl, combine flours, baking soda, salt and spices. Add dry ingredients, and chocolate chips, to wet ingredients, and mix until just combined. Cover bowl tightly and place in the refrigerator to chill for 30 to 60 minutes.
- When ready to bake, preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- Scoop cookie dough using a cookie scoop onto a baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat. Bake for approximately 8-9 minutes. They will be slightly underbaked when you remove them from the oven. Allow to cool completely on the pan before removing with a spatula. Store in an airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
Check out all of the cookie recipes on this site!
I hope that your family enjoys these delicious chewy pumpkin cookies that aren’t cakey.
If you are looking for more delicious pumpkin dessert recipes, here are some tasty options for you to try!
Pumpkin Coffee Cake from Crunchy Creamy Sweet
Pumpkin Spice Cake from Foodie With Family
Pumpkin Dump Cake from Dinners, Dishes & Desserts
Meet Christi, Love From The Oven
I’m Christi I love sharing easy & delicious recipes that your family & friends will love. I’m a mom, baker, cookbook author and lover of sprinkles.
So excited to try these for my husband and daughter who are allergic to eggs. I couldn’t find pumpkin butter in the store so will use your recipe to make some. Can the pumpkin butter be stored in the freezer?
Hi Eva, I haven’t tried freezing it but I imagine it can. Enjoy!
Just made these cookies. They turned out very well but I was disappointed that the pumpkin flavor was very mild and could easily be missed if you didn’t know they were supposed to be pumpkin cookies. The pumpkin butter on the other hand was absolutely delicious 😋
Lee, sounds like you could probably handle doubling the spices. I like strong spices, but some people don’t. By all means, increase them!
How do you make the pumpkin butter or do you buy it? My man loves pumpkin I can’t wait to try these
Hi Ashley, unfortunately the pumpkin butter portion of the recipe must have dropped out of the recipe card (it only wants to show one recipe). I went ahead and added it to the text of the post. It won’t print when you print the recipe, but hopefully it helps to have it in the post.
Swoon! I LOVE that you used pumpkin butter in the dough! Making these cookies asap!
I’m currently making these right now!! What other recipes can I make with the leftover pumpkin butter?
I am totally craving these cookies right now! My Hubby will love them too since they are chewy and he is not a fan of cakey cookies. I am so excited to make them!
Can it be?! Really? Truly? A non-cakey pumpkin cookie? I’d stopped trying. So glad that someone with more perseverance figured it out!
I’m with you! I don’t like those pumpkin cookies that stick to the roof of your mouth! I have been waiting for the perfect pumpkin cookie recipe, and I think this is it!
Love pumpkin + chocolate chip cookies so this is definitely a fave!