Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies with Chocolate Chips

4.51

149

Jump to RecipeSave to FavoritesPrint

This post may include affiliate links. Thank you for your support.

These pumpkin oatmeal cookies are soft, chewy and packed with warm fall spices. They’re studded with chocolate chips and can easily be made vegan.

It’s pumpkin season! Truth be told, I’m the kind of girl who could eat pumpkin treats all year long, but once fall hits the cravings really kick in.

I already have plenty of pumpkin baked goods on the blog like my vegan pumpkin muffins and healthy pumpkin bread, but I realized I was missing a cookie recipe. Enter these pumpkin oatmeal cookies. If you have been searching for the best oatmeal pumpkin cookies, this recipe is it.

Plate of freshly baked pumpkin oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips.

Why I Love These Cookies

Woman (Brittany Mullins) wearing a white shirt and sipping a green smoothie.
  • Soft and chewy: These cookies have that classic oatmeal cookie texture with the perfect amount of chew, but the pumpkin puree keeps them extra moist and adds cozy fall flavor.
  • Vegan-friendly: The recipe is naturally dairy-free and with a simple flax egg swap they become fully vegan. I’ve tested them both ways, so whether you’re plant-based or not, these oatmeal pumpkin cookies work beautifully.
  • Naturally sweetened: Instead of refined white sugar, I use coconut sugar, which gives the cookies a rich, caramel-like sweetness while keeping them a little more wholesome.
  • Perfect fall treat: Pumpkin, oats and chocolate chips are such a comforting combo. These pumpkin oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are just the thing to bake on a crisp fall day with a mug of tea or coffee.

// ★★★★★ Review //

LOVED these!! Simple to make yet delicious!! Even the batter was so good!! Perfect for fall and love that they’re made with cleaner ingredients.” – Tanya

Ingredients & Substitutions

Pumpkin, coconut oil, whole wheat flour, oats, egg, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, flaxseed, vegan chocolate chips, vanilla
  • flour – I like using whole wheat pastry flour because it’s lighter than regular whole wheat, bakes up soft, and still adds a boost of protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. All-purpose flour also works if that’s what you have on hand. To make these cookies gluten-free, use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
  • old fashioned rolled oats – rolled oats give these pumpkin oatmeal cookies their classic chewy texture. I like Bob’s Red Mill rolled oats.
  • pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon – the warm spice combo that makes these cookies taste like fall. You can make homemade pumpkin pie spice or use store-bought.
  • pumpkin puree – use canned pumpkin puree or homemade pumpkin puree. If you’re buying store-bought, double-check that it’s 100% pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling, which has added sugars and spices.
  • coconut sugar – a natural sweetener that adds a rich, caramel-like flavor while being less refined than white sugar. If you don’t have coconut sugar on hand you can use regular white sugar or brown sugar instead.
  • coconut oil –  adds healthy fat and moisture to the cookies. Melted butter or a mild oil like avocado or olive oil would also work as alternatives.
  • egg – helps bind the cookies and adds structure. For a vegan option, you can swap in a flax egg (1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 Tablespoons water).
  • dark chocolate chips – I love using Lily’s chocolate chips because they’re lower in sugar, but feel free to use your favorite brand. Not a fan of chocolate chips or don’t have any on hand? Feel free to swap them with another mix-in like dried cranberries, chopped dates, chopped nuts or shredded coconut.

Find the full ingredient list with measurements in the recipe card below.

How to Make Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

These cookies come together quickly and make your kitchen smell like fall. Here’s how to make them step by step:

Mixing bowl with flour, oats, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.

Step 1: In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, oats, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.

Smooth pumpkin oatmeal cookie batter in a mixing bowl before adding oats and chips.

Step 2: In a separate large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, coconut sugar, melted coconut oil, egg and vanilla until smooth.

Mixing bowl with pumpkin oatmeal cookie dough and chocolate chips on top.

Step 3: Add the dry ingredients into the wet and stir until just combined. Add the chocolate chips and stir until evenly distributed throughout the dough.

Pumpkin oatmeal cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Step 4: Scoop tablespoons of dough onto a greased baking sheet, pressing down slightly to shape. Bake for 12-15 minutes, then let cool on a wire rack.

My Tips for the Best Oatmeal Pumpkin Cookies

  • Don’t overbake: These pumpkin oatmeal cookies are soft and chewy, so start checking around the 12-minute mark. Pull them out when the edges are lightly golden and let them finish setting on the baking sheet. They’ll stay moist and delicious.
  • Press before baking: Since these cookies don’t spread much in the oven, gently press the dough down with your fingers or the back of a spoon before baking. This helps them bake evenly and gives them that perfect cookie shape.
  • Cool completely: Allow the cookies to cool on a wire rack before storing. This keeps them from getting soggy and helps preserve their chewy texture..
Pumpkin oatmeal cookie with a bite taken out showing soft, chewy texture.

How to Store

Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before transferring them to an airtight container. If they’re even slightly warm, condensation can form and make the cookies soggy, and no one wants that.

Store at room temperature for up to 5 days, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months. These pumpkin oatmeal cookies freeze especially well, so you can always have a cozy fall treat ready to enjoy.

Want to save this recipe?
Want to save this recipe? Enter your email below and we’ll send the recipe to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes every week!

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.

4.51 from 85 votes

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Soft and chewy pumpkin oatmeal cookies made with warm spices, pumpkin puree and chocolate chips. Easy to make, naturally dairy-free and can be made vegan with one simple swap. Perfect for fall baking.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 16 cookies

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone liner.
  • Stir together the dry ingredients (flour, oats, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, baking soda and sea salt) in a medium mixing bowl.
  • Mix together wet ingredients (pumpkin, sugar, coconut oil, egg and vanilla) in a separate large mixing bowl.
  • Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Stir until just combined.
  • Stir in chocolate chips. Mix well.
  • Drop rounded Tablespoons onto a greased cookie sheet. Press cookie dough down into a cookie shape with a spoon or your fingers. The cookies won’t spread very much so you can space them about 1 inch apart.
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes or until cookies are firm around the edges, but still slightly soft in the middle.
  • Move cookies to a wire rack and cool completely before eating or transferring to a storage container for later consumption.

Notes

  • For a vegan option, replace the egg with a flax egg (1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 Tablespoons water).
  • Storage: Let the cookies cool before storing. You can store at room temperature for up to 5 days, in the refrigerator for up to a week or put them in the freezer for up to three months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 cookie | Calories: 154kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 123mg | Potassium: 290mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 17g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Cookies, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: healthy pumpkin oatmeal cookies, oatmeal cookies with pumpkin, oatmeal pumpkin cookies, pumpkin oatmeal cookies
Did you make this recipe?Mention @eatingbirdfood and tag #eatingbirdfood!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use quick oats in pumpkin oatmeal cookies?

I wouldn’t recommend it. Quick oats break down more easily and can make the cookies too soft and mushy, losing that nice chewy texture we love in oatmeal cookies. Stick with old-fashioned rolled oats here for the best results.

Can I make pumpkin oatmeal cookies without chocolate chips?

Of course! The chocolate chips add a nice sweetness, but you can skip them or replace them with another mix-in like chopped nuts, dried cranberries, or coconut shreds.

Why are my pumpkin cookies cakey?

Pumpkin tends to make baked goods more cakey because of its high moisture content. If you’re looking for a slightly denser texture, try using slightly less pumpkin or adding an extra tablespoon of oats to the dough.

About Brittany

Hey there, I’m Brittany, the creator of Eating Bird Food, cookbook author, health coach and mama of two littles. Here you’ll find quick and easy recipes that make healthy fun and enjoyable for you and your family!

More about Brittany
Get Your FREE High-Protein Meal Plan
Struggling to eat enough protein? Subscribe to my email list and I’ll send you a 3-Day High-Protein Meal Plan with a Shopping List!
4.51 from 85 votes (34 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




149 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Delicious! Made these for a Halloween Party yesterday. They turned out great! It was a soft, chewy, oatmeal style cookie that was a little more cake-y than fudgey cookie. Light and fluffy. Mine took longer, maybe about 20 mins. I also subbed Brown Sugar (1.5c) and Cane Sugar (.5c) since they what I had on hand. I doubled the recipe and froze half the batter. Looking forward to making the other batch next weekend!

    1. Amazing! I am so glad you are loving these cookies and they turned out great for you, Krisha. Thank you for your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!

  2. 5 stars
    LOVED these!! Simple to make yet delicious!! Even the batter was so good!! Perfect for fall and love that they’re made with cleaner ingredients.

    1. Perfect! Happy to hear you’re loving this super simple recipe, they are seriously perfect for fall. Thank you for your review & star rating, I appreciate it!

    1. The best! I am happy to hear you are loving this recipe, Lyf. Thank you for your review & star rating, I appreciate it!

See More Comments