10 Fall Cookie Recipes Everyone Will Love

Fall’s here, and you know what that means—cozy vibes, crisp air, and the perfect excuse to bake. Whether you’re hosting a harvest party or just craving something warm and spiced, these 10 cookie recipes capture autumn’s magic. From pumpkin to apple, maple to pecan, they’re packed with seasonal flavors that’ll make your kitchen smell like a dream. Let’s get baking with crowd-pleasers that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.

Why Fall Cookies Are the Best

There’s something about fall that makes baking feel extra special. Maybe it’s the chilly evenings or the way cinnamon and nutmeg just hit different this time of year. Cookies, especially, are a no-fuss way to bring those cozy feels to life. They’re shareable, giftable, and let’s be real—nobody says no to a warm cookie.

These recipes lean into autumn’s best ingredients: think pumpkin, apples, caramel, and all the spices that make you wanna curl up with a blanket. Plus, I’ve tested these myself (tough job, right?), and they’re simple enough for beginners but impressive enough for your picky in-laws. Ready for the lineup?

1. Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles

Snickerdoodles, but make ‘em fall. These soft, chewy cookies get a pumpkin spice twist that’s like a hug in dessert form.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 large egg
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 cup sugar + 1 tsp cinnamon (for rolling)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment.
2. Cream butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until fluffy. Add pumpkin, egg, vanilla; mix well.
3. Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, pumpkin spice. Gradually add to wet ingredients.
4. Scoop dough into balls, roll in cinnamon-sugar mix.
5. Bake 10-12 minutes until edges are set. Cool on sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to rack.

Tip: Don’t skip the parchment—keeps ‘em from sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.

2. Apple Cider Oatmeal Cookies

Apple cider in a cookie? Yup, and it’s as good as it sounds. These are chewy with a hint of tart apple goodness.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup apple cider
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 cup dried apples, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line baking sheets.
2. Beat butter and brown sugar until creamy. Add cider, egg, vanilla; blend.
3. Mix flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg. Stir in dried apples.
4. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Drop spoonfuls onto sheets.
5. Bake 10-12 minutes until golden. Cool slightly before moving.

Story: I made these for a potluck, and they vanished in 10 minutes. Someone even asked for the recipe mid-bite.

3. Maple Pecan Shortbread

Buttery, nutty, and just sweet enough—maple pecan shortbread is like fall in every crumbly bite.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup pecans, finely chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a 9x9 pan with parchment.
2. Beat butter and powdered sugar until smooth. Add maple syrup.
3. Mix in flour, salt, pecans until dough forms.
4. Press dough into pan. Score into squares.
5. Bake 25-30 minutes until lightly golden. Cool, then cut along scores.

Pro Move: Drizzle with extra maple syrup before serving for a glossy finish.

4. Chai Spice Sugar Cookies

Chai’s warm spices make these sugar cookies anything but basic. Perfect with a cup of tea.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp cardamom
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ginger
• 1/4 tsp cloves
• 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets.
2. Cream butter and sugar. Add egg, vanilla; mix.
3. Whisk flour, baking powder, spices, salt. Combine with wet ingredients.
4. Roll dough 1/4-inch thick, cut shapes.
5. Bake 8-10 minutes until edges are set. Cool completely.

Vibe Check: These smell like a cozy café while baking. Your neighbors might knock.

5. Caramel Apple Thumbprints

These thumbprints combine gooey caramel and tart apple in a buttery cookie. Total crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup dried apples, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup caramel sauce

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line sheets.
2. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add vanilla.
3. Mix flour, salt, apples. Add to wet ingredients.
4. Roll into balls, make thumbprint indent. Bake 12-15 minutes.
5. Cool, fill indents with caramel sauce.

Hack: Warm the caramel slightly for easier filling.

6. Brown Butter Pumpkin Cookies

Brown butter adds a nutty depth to these pumpkin-packed cookies. They’re soft and irresistible.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Brown butter in a pan until nutty-smelling; cool slightly.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line sheets.
3. Mix browned butter, sugars, pumpkin, egg yolk, vanilla.
4. Whisk flour, spice, baking soda, salt. Combine with wet.
5. Scoop dough, bake 10-12 minutes. Cool on rack.

Insight: Browning butter takes 5-7 minutes. Watch closely—it burns fast.

7. Cranberry Orange Biscotti

Crunchy, zesty, and perfect for dunking, these biscotti scream fall sophistication.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tbsp orange zest
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup almonds, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line sheet.
2. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt.
3. Whisk eggs, zest, vanilla. Add to dry mix with cranberries, almonds.
4. Form two logs, bake 25 minutes. Cool 10 minutes.
5. Slice logs, bake slices 10-12 minutes per side.

Pairing: These with coffee? Heaven.

8. Ginger Molasses Cookies

Chewy, spicy, and nostalgic—these ginger molasses cookies are fall comfort food.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 large egg
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp cloves
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup sugar (for rolling)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line sheets.
2. Cream butter, brown sugar, molasses, egg.
3. Mix flour, spices, baking soda, salt. Combine with wet.
4. Roll dough into balls, coat in sugar.
5. Bake 10-12 minutes until crackly. Cool.

Memory: My mom made these every October. House smelled like a spice market.

9. Sweet Potato Pecan Cookies

Sweet potato adds moisture and subtle sweetness, paired with crunchy pecans. Unique and delish.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup mashed sweet potato
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line sheets.
2. Beat butter, sugar, sweet potato, egg, vanilla.
3. Mix flour, baking soda, spices. Add pecans.
4. Combine wet and dry. Drop spoonfuls on sheets.
5. Bake 10-12 minutes. Cool.

Tip: Roast sweet potatoes for richer flavor.

10. Spiced Pear Butter Cookies

Pears aren’t just for pies. These buttery cookies have a delicate fruitiness that’s pure fall.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp cardamom
• 1/3 cup pear butter (or pear puree)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line sheets.
2. Cream butter, sugar, vanilla, pear butter.
3. Mix flour, salt, spices. Combine with wet.
4. Roll into balls, flatten slightly.
5. Bake 12-14 minutes until edges are golden. Cool.

Pro Tip: Pear butter’s in most grocery stores, or blend ripe pears.

Baking Tips for Perfect Cookies

• Room-temp ingredients: Butter and eggs blend better when not cold.
• Measure flour right: Spoon into measuring cup, don’t pack it.
• Chill dough: For thicker cookies, refrigerate dough 30 minutes.
• Taste as you go: Adjust spices to your vibe. Love nutmeg? Add a pinch more.

I learned the chilling trick the hard way—my first batch spread like pancakes. Never again.

Storing and Sharing Your Cookies

These cookies keep well in airtight containers for 5-7 days. Freeze dough balls for up to 3 months for quick baking later. Want to gift them? Stack in mason jars with ribbon—looks cute, tastes better.

Final Thoughts

Fall’s the season to lean into warm, spicy, comforting flavors, and these cookies deliver. From pumpkin snickerdoodles to pear butter gems, there’s something here for every taste. Baking’s not just about the cookies—it’s about the memories you make, the smells filling your kitchen, the smiles when someone takes a bite. Try one (or all!) of these recipes, and let me know which becomes your go-to. Happy baking, friends!