These soft pumpkin cookies are wonderfully reminiscent of a pumpkin muffin. The batter features a lovely blend of pumpkin pie spices. Add in some butterscotch chips, and you've got a winning combination!
💌 Want to Save This Recipe?
I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
These pumpkin cookies are the #1 dessert that my husband requests. Followed very closely by my pumpkin bread, which he also really enjoys. That being said, it is no surprise that I made these for him on our anniversary weekend. AND... as of Tuesday morning, all the cookies were gone! That's how good these are folks… seriously, you need these cookies in your life.
Jump to:
Why this recipe works
So let's talk more about the real reason you're here: pumpkin + butterscotch cookies. I've gone back and forth on what I should actually call these cookies. They are soft and fluffy, sort of like a pumpkin muffin top. But I think the scales tip more towards cookie than muffin top, so I've made my decision. These cookies are great for any occasion and I love the mix of pumpkin pie spice flavors in the batter.
Frequently asked questions
A quality baking sheet should last you for years-generations, actually. I still have one of my grandmother's baking sheets that is a favorite of mine. I like a half-sheet pan in terms of size, which is 18 by 13 inches and is fairly common. I will also add that I'm not a big fan of nonstick cookie sheets. They are typically darker in color, and cookies bake much quicker than on a standard aluminum pan. I actually prefer a basic aluminum pan. And a step up from this is a double-thick aluminum pan, which can be used for everything from baking cookies to roasting veggies.
Step-by-step intructions
The entire recipe is below and can be printed to save for later. Before you get there, let's walk through it step-by-step, so you understand what you're doing beforehand.
1. First, start with your eggs and sugar in a bowl. Whisk together until light in color. Then add your oil, pumpkin, and vanilla extract.
2. Next, mix all ingredients until combined. Add in your flour mixture and beat until just combined. Add the butterscotch chips and mix them into the batter.
3. Using an ice cream scoop or a ¼ cup capacity measuring cup, scoop the dough out onto a baking sheet.
4. Once on the baking sheet, use a spatula or knife to smooth out the tops of the cookies. You may also want to drop a few more butterscotch chips on the top. I know I did!
5. Your cookies should bake for about 15 minutes in the oven. They are ready to come out when the tops are firm, and your finger doesn't leave an indent when you press lightly. These cookies almost have a cake-like texture when they are ready to come out of the oven.
Heather's helpful hints
- Make sure you cool your cookie sheets between each batch in the oven. Placing cookies on a hot sheet will cause them to spread.
- I like to use an ice cream scoop to ensure consistent cookie size. A measuring cup is a great alternative.
- Let your cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes after taking them out of the oven. Cookies continue to cook even after you take them out, so this step is essential.
Recipe variations
- Substitute 1 ½ cups white chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips
- Add ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts to the batter
- Try topping these cookies with a drizzle of melted butterscotch chips
- Add a toasted marshmallow topping, using this marshmallow frosting recipe.
Related cookie recipes
Did you make this recipe? First, let me say THANK YOU for giving it a try! Please leave us a rating above and leave any feedback in the comments section at the bottom of this post. I always love to hear your thoughts and ideas on what went well - and what didn't - with a recipe! Be sure to check out some of our other recipes linked below!
Recipe
Soft Pumpkin Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- ¼ teason cloves
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup canola oil
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups butterscotch chips
Instructions
- Position a rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices together in a medium bowl and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until smooth and lightened in color (about one minute). Whisk in the oil, pumpkin, and vanilla until completely blended.
- Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until all ingredients are incorporated. Add butterscotch chips and gently fold into the mixture.
- Using an ice cream scoop with a ¼-cup capacity, scoop the batter and place on baking sheets with parchment. Cookies should be about 1 inch apart. Use a knife to smooth and flatten the cookies.
- Bake the cookie sheets one at a time until the tops feel firm and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry, about 14-16 minutes. Cool them on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then use a wide metal spatula to transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes and Tips
- When baking cookies, it's best to put one batch at a time in the oven. Cookies need to bake on the middle rack for even baking. If you can fit two pans on the middle rack without touching each other, you'll get the baking results you want. If you add additional sheets of cookies on higher or lower racks, they might bake unevenly. You may save some time, but the cookies will suffer.
- These cookies hardly spread at all while baking. That means you can place them fairly close together on the baking sheet. I fit 12 cookies on one half-sheet baking pan. The cookies are spaced one-half to one inch apart.
- White chocolate chips are a delicious substitution in this recipe. Our family enjoys both kinds of chips equally. Feel free to get creative!
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted in September 2018. It was updated in December 2020 with new pictures and a few updates to the recipe.
Allison L says
I love pumpkin and these sound amazing!
John Sweeney says
pumpkin under rated
John Sweeney says
odd taste
Dawn Joz says
These look great!
Donna says
Good recipe
John Sweeney says
tried them - tasty
Walter Markewich says
I am ready to make some cookies this weekend
Sylvia Svihel says
I'll have to try these when I cook up my garden pumpin!
John Sweeney says
looks good
julie p says
nice fall flavors
Walter Markewich says
Loved this recipe
Margaritt McNulty says
Delicious SOFT cookie!
Lynn Tereba says
Been looking for a good pumpkin cookie recipe, thanks for the step by step.
Ashley Passino says
This looks perfect for Fall! I would make this all Autumn, they're that perfect!
valzsa says
wow these look so soft, and I love the addition of butterscotch chips! never would’ve thought of that.
Nida says
Can I use pumpkin chips instead butterscotch chips
Heather says
Absolutely! You can 100% be creative with what you want to use. I've tried it with milk chocolate, white chocolate, and butterscotch. I think pumpkin sounds amazing!
Matthew says
These cookies are what the world needs in 2021!!!!
Heather @ Sweet Precision says
I couldn't agree with you more! We already made a batch this year!
Antonia, Zoale says
Happy Anniversary, Heather! I felt the same way about my husband when I watched him become a dad. Babies bring so much joy. These cookies sound awesome! I love fall cookies. I'll be trying these out in a few weeks when we have company. I can't wait to taste the pumpkin butterscotch combination. By the way, I like your name. It makes the butterscotch a nice surprise when you read your post and recipe.
Heather @ Sweet Precision says
Thank you Antonia! It's amazing how much love and joy babies bring, isn't it?! And the funny thing is, no one could tell you about it... you just have experience it firsthand! I was actually thinking of you because I'm baking Ella's first birthday cake and it reminded me of all the lovely cakes that you bake your little ones. She's not old enough to have opinions so I get to choose this one :) I hope you enjoy these cookies if you get a chance to make them!