16 Cozy Fall Cookie Recipes for Autumn Baking

Crisp air calls for warm ovens and the smell of cookies. These 16 cozy fall cookie recipes — pumpkin spice, maple, apple cider, chai, and more — are made for sweater weather, hot cocoa, and sharing.

Each recipe below comes with a photo, a full ingredient list with quantities, and simple step-by-step instructions. Pin this post for later and let’s get cooking!

1. Soft Pumpkin Spice Cookies

Pillowy, cakey, and full of fall spice — the cookie equivalent of a cozy sweater.

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment.
2. Whisk the flour, baking soda, spice, and salt.
3. Cream the butter and sugars; beat in the pumpkin, egg, and vanilla.
4. Fold in the dry ingredients until just combined.
5. Scoop 2-tablespoon balls onto the sheets.
6. Bake 12-14 minutes until set; cool on the pan 5 minutes.

2. Maple Snickerdoodles

The classic cinnamon-sugar cookie with a sweet maple twist.

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups flour
• 2 tsp cream of tartar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 2 tbsp sugar + 1 tsp cinnamon, for rolling

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and line baking sheets with parchment.
2. Whisk the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt.
3. Cream the butter and sugar; beat in the eggs and maple syrup.
4. Fold in the dry ingredients.
5. Roll balls in the cinnamon sugar.
6. Bake 10-12 minutes until the edges are set.

3. Apple Cider Cookies

Chewy cookies bursting with apple cider flavor and a cinnamon-sugar crust.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup apple butter
• 1 egg

Instructions

1. Simmer 1 cup of apple cider until reduced to 1/4 cup; cool.
2. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets.
3. Whisk the flour, baking soda, spices, and salt.
4. Cream the butter and brown sugar; beat in the apple butter, egg, and reduced cider.
5. Fold in the dry ingredients.
6. Scoop, roll in cinnamon sugar, and bake 11-13 minutes.

4. Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Nutty brown butter takes the classic chocolate chip to legendary status.

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup brown butter, cooled
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Brown the butter in a saucepan until amber and fragrant; cool 15 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven to 375°F and line baking sheets.
3. Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt.
4. Beat the brown butter with both sugars; add the eggs and vanilla.
5. Fold in the dry ingredients and chocolate chips.
6. Scoop 3-tablespoon balls; bake 11-13 minutes until golden at the edges.

5. Caramel Stuffed Cookies

Molten caramel centers hidden in chewy cookies — pure magic.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 16 caramel candies

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment.
2. Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. Cream the butter and sugars; beat in the egg and vanilla.
4. Fold in the dry ingredients.
5. Wrap each dough ball around a caramel candy, sealing completely.
6. Bake 11-13 minutes; cool 5 minutes before moving.

6. Oatmeal Raisin Spice Cookies

Chewy, hearty, and warmly spiced — the nostalgic cookie done right.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup raisins

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets.
2. Whisk the flour, baking soda, spices, and salt.
3. Cream the butter and brown sugar; beat in the egg.
4. Fold in the dry ingredients, then the oats and raisins.
5. Scoop 2-tablespoon balls.
6. Bake 11-13 minutes until the edges are golden.

7. Chai Tea Cookies

All the cozy chai latte spices baked into a buttery, fragrant cookie.

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp chai spice mix
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets.
2. Whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, and chai spice.
3. Cream the butter and sugar; beat in the egg and vanilla.
4. Fold in the dry ingredients.
5. Scoop balls and roll in chai-spiced sugar.
6. Bake 10-12 minutes until lightly golden.

8. Pecan Sandies

Buttery, crumbly, and nutty — the melt-in-your-mouth shortbread classic.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F and line baking sheets.
2. Cream the butter and powdered sugar until fluffy.
3. Beat in the vanilla.
4. Fold in the flour, baking powder, salt, and pecans.
5. Roll into 1-inch balls.
6. Bake 18-20 minutes until lightly golden on the bottom.

9. Molasses Crinkle Cookies

Deep, dark, and chewy with crackled sugar tops — old-fashioned perfection.

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp cloves
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 egg

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets.
2. Whisk the flour, baking soda, and spices.
3. Cream the butter and brown sugar; beat in the molasses and egg.
4. Fold in the dry ingredients; chill 30 minutes.
5. Roll balls in granulated sugar.
6. Bake 10-12 minutes until crackled.

10. Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies

Tart cranberries and sweet white chocolate — the holiday cookie jar essential.

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup white chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and line baking sheets.
2. Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. Cream the butter and sugars; beat in the eggs and vanilla.
4. Fold in the dry ingredients, cranberries, and white chocolate.
5. Scoop 2-tablespoon balls.
6. Bake 10-12 minutes until golden at the edges.

11. Gingerbread Men

Spicy, sturdy, and perfect for decorating — the cookie that makes it feel like the holidays.

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp cloves
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 egg

Instructions

1. Whisk the flour, baking soda, and spices.
2. Cream the butter and brown sugar; beat in the molasses and egg.
3. Fold in the dry ingredients; chill 1 hour.
4. Roll to 1/4-inch thickness and cut shapes.
5. Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes.
6. Cool completely before decorating with icing.

12. Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookies

Chewy oats and buttery butterscotch — a retro flavor worth reviving.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup butterscotch chips

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets.
2. Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. Cream the butter and brown sugar; beat in the egg and vanilla.
4. Fold in the dry ingredients, oats, and butterscotch chips.
5. Scoop 2-tablespoon balls.
6. Bake 11-13 minutes until golden.

13. Cinnamon Roll Cookies

Swirled with cinnamon sugar like the breakfast favorite — in cookie form.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup cinnamon-sugar filling

Instructions

1. Make a basic sugar cookie dough and chill 30 minutes.
2. Roll into a rectangle and spread with softened butter.
3. Sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar and roll up like a log.
4. Chill 1 hour, then slice into 1/2-inch rounds.
5. Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes.
6. Drizzle with cream cheese glaze while warm.

14. Salted Caramel Thumbprints

Buttery thumbprints filled with gooey salted caramel — small, stunning, addictive.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 16 caramel candies
• Flaky sea salt

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets.
2. Cream the butter and sugar; beat in the egg and vanilla.
3. Fold in the flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Roll into 1-inch balls and press a thumbprint into each.
5. Bake 12-14 minutes.
6. Fill each indentation with melted caramel and sprinkle with sea salt.

15. Harvest Trail Mix Cookies

Everything good from the trail mix aisle baked into a chewy, hearty cookie.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup trail mix

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets.
2. Whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
3. Cream the butter and brown sugar; beat in the egg.
4. Fold in the dry ingredients, oats, and trail mix.
5. Scoop 2-tablespoon balls.
6. Bake 11-13 minutes until golden.

16. Sweet Potato Spice Cookies

Soft, cakey, and naturally sweet — the unexpected fall cookie you'll crave.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup mashed sweet potato
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets.
2. Whisk the flour, baking soda, spices, and salt.
3. Cream the butter and brown sugar; beat in the sweet potato, egg, and vanilla.
4. Fold in the dry ingredients.
5. Scoop 2-tablespoon balls.
6. Bake 12-14 minutes until set; cool on the pan.

Which Will You Try First?

With 16 delicious options, there’s something here for every craving. Save this post, share it with a fellow food lover, and tell us your favorite in the comments!