These pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are everything you love about the classic cookie—soft and chewy (never cakey) but loaded with cozy pumpkin spice flavor. You’ll love this no-chill, no-mixer recipe for the fall season!

Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies with pools of melty chocolate on parchment paper.

As a former pastry chef, I was determined to break free from the soft, cakey pumpkin cookies that dominated the bakeries. After countless hours of trial and error, I finally created the best pumpkin cookie—dense, chewy, and bursting with rich pumpkin flavor!

Inspired by my viral chewy pumpkin snickerdoodles, these pumpkin chocolate chip cookies deliver the same chewy texture with gooey centers, now studded with melty chocolate chips. Add this recipe to your fall baking list ASAP—then thank me later!

Tips for Chewy Cookies

Use a kitchen scale. Baking with a scale is my #1 baking tip! If your cookies are turning out cakey or puffy, it’s almost always due to using too much flour!

Brown the butterBrowning butter reduces its water content, which helps make the cookies denser and chewier!

Blot the pumpkin. This is my (second) #1 baking tip for the best pumpkin cookies! Not removing the liquid from the puree will make your cookies more cake-like and not chewy.

Use a large cookie scoop​. Cookies scooped in smaller portions will melt differently in the oven. A large 3-tbsp scoop is the key to achieving soft, gooey centers and crispy edges!

Ingredients and Substitutions

Ingredients needed to make chocolate pumpkin cookies in bowls with labels.

Pumpkin puree: This is not to be confused with pumpkin pie filling! For best results, make sure it is at room temperature. You won’t need the whole can, but you can use any leftovers to make pumpkin cinnamon rolls or pumpkin cheesecake cookies!

Chocolate chips: Feel free to use any semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, or chocolate chunks. I love using chopped chocolate or a combination!

Egg yolk: Use just the egg yolks for a chewy texture. The yolks also help bind the cookie dough without adding extra moisture!

Pumpkin pie spice: These warm and cozy spices pair perfectly with the chocolate chips, like in my chocolate chip pumpkin cake.

Recipe Instructions

Find the full ingredient measurements and instructions in the recipe card below!

A glass measuring cup with the chilled brown butter inside it.

Step 1: Brown the butter. After browning the butter, scrape it into a bowl or container and cool it in the fridge, stirring occasionally, until it reaches 76°F.

The image above is what it should look like once cooled!

A hand holding the ball of dried pumpkin puree.

Step 2: Blot the pumpkin. Spread the pumpkin puree onto a plate and blot with a stack of paper towels, using a new stack each time until all liquid has been absorbed.

After blotting, it should be half the amount measured and will feel like soft Play-Doh.

A mixing bowl with the creamed brown butter and sugars.

Step 3: Whisk together the wet ingredients. To completely emulsify the butter and sugar, whisk for exactly one minute. The mixture shouldn’t look greasy and will be pale in color, like the image above.

A mixing bowl with the wet ingredients mixed into the creamed butter and sugar.

Step 4: Mix in the pumpkin. Whisk in the egg yolks, vanilla extract, and dried pumpkin puree until combined.

A mixing bowl of the pumpkin cookie dough with the chocolate chips on top before mixing.

Step 5: Fold in the dry ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to fold in the all-purpose flour, pumpkin spice, baking soda, salt, and chocolate chips until combined. Do not over-mix!

Pumpkin chocolate cookie dough balls on a baking tray.

Step 6: Scoop and bake! Scoop the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake one tray at a time for 9-13 minutes.

The cookies should still have soft, underbaked centers. They will firm up on the tray while they cool on a wire rack!

How to Store

Room temperature: Leftover cookies should be stored in an airtight container for 2-3 days. Keep a slice of bread in the container to absorb excess moisture for maximum freshness!

Freezer: To freeze, store the baked cookies in a freezer bag with parchment paper in between layers for up to one month. Thaw them at room temperature before serving!

FAQs

​Should you refrigerate the cookies?

No, they should be left out at room temperature.

Can the cookie dough be chilled overnight in the fridge?

Yes! It’s best to scoop and roll the dough first, then place it on a baking tray covered tightly with plastic wrap. Let the dough come to room temperature before baking for about 1 hour.

My cookies were puffy and not chewy; what did I do wrong?

Not blotting the pumpkin sufficiently to remove excess moisture or using too much flour are two of the top reasons this can happen!

​Why are my cookies so flat after baking? 

This can happen when the oven temperature is too low, or the flour isn’t measured correctly (and it needs more flour). Also, double-check that your butter was cooled to the proper temperature (75°F).

I still have extra pumpkin puree; what else can I use it for?

I have plenty of delicious pumpkin recipes you can use it for—like pumpkin bread!

Can I freeze the cookie dough before baking?

Yes, first scoop and roll the cookies. Then, flash-freeze them and store them in an airtight container. Let the dough thaw at room temperature for 1-2 hours before baking.

A chocolate pumpkin cookie with a bite taken out of it.

If you tried this or any other recipe on my website, please let me know how it went in the comments; I love hearing from you! Also, please leave a star rating while you’re there! You can also tag me on Instagram or Facebook so I can check it out!

Chocolate chip pumpkin cookies on parchment paper.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

5 from 34 votes
– by Cambrea Gordon

These pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are everything you love about the classic cookie—soft and chewy (never cakey) but loaded with cozy pumpkin spice flavor. You'll love this no-chill, no-mixer recipe for the fall season!
Print Recipe Save Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time: 11 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 41 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 15 servings
Need Metric Measurements?Use the button options below to toggle between US cups and Metric grams!

Ingredients 
 

  • 1 cup cold unsalted butter
  • 2/3 cup Libby's Pumpkin Puree, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 2 large egg yolks, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 2/3 cup + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, *See notes below for measuring*
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin spice
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 cup finely chopped chocolate bar or chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 F/180 C. Line two baking trays with parchment paper and set them aside.
  • Brown the butter in a large stainless steel pan. While it cooks, it will foam, pop, and crackle—this is normal! Stand nearby, watch, and stir it occasionally so it doesn’t burn. When the bottom is covered in brown bits of butter and it smells nutty, remove the pan from the heat. You should have just under 1 cup of browned butter (184 g). Scrape the butter into a glass measuring bowl and place it in the fridge for 50-60 minutes, stirring it every 10-15 minutes until a thermometer inserted reads 75°F. The butter must be cool but still liquid!
    1 cup (226 g) cold unsalted butter
  • Spread the pumpkin puree on a plate. Press a stack of paper towels into it and soak up the extra liquid. Then, scrape the pumpkin into a pile and re-spread it around the plate. Continue doing this, using a new stack of paper towels to keep absorbing the extra liquid, until the pumpkin feels pretty dry, like soft playdough, and now measures roughly 1/3 cup (75 grams).
    2/3 cup (160 g) Libby's Pumpkin Puree
  • When the butter is cool, whisk in the brown sugar and granulated sugar for exactly 1 minute. It will look like pale wet sand.
    1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar, 1/2 cup (100 g) light brown sugar
  • Whisk in the egg yolks, vanilla, and dried pumpkin puree until combined.
    2 (36 g) large egg yolks, 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Fold in the flour, pumpkin spice, baking soda, salt, and chocolate chips until just combined.
    1 2/3 cup + 1 tablespoon (220 g) all-purpose flour, 2 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin spice, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, 1 cup (125 g) finely chopped chocolate bar or chocolate chips
  • Scoop the cookie dough with a 3 tbsp cookie scoop, roll them between your palms, then place them on the prepared baking trays spaced 2-3 inches apart. You will have roughly 15 cookies. For pools of melted chocolate, chop the chocolate into larger pieces and press more on top before baking!
  • Bake one tray at a time for 9-13 minutes or until the edges are golden brown but the middle is slightly underbaked. Straight out of the oven, use a large round cookie cutter to scoot the edges in to make them thicker and perfectly round. Let the pan cool on a wire cooling rack completely then remove the cookies and enjoy!
  • Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. You can refrigerate or freeze the cookie dough balls, just bring them to room temperature before baking. This can take about 1 hour for refrigerated dough and 2 hours for frozen dough.

Video

Notes

*Measure your flour properly. This is my #1 baking tip! Do not ever scoop a measuring cup into your flour as this always leads to using too much flour. Instead, use the spoon-level method. This means fluffing the flour first, then spooning it into your measuring cup/spoon. For the BEST results, use a kitchen scale!*
For pools of melted chocolate, chop the chocolate into larger pieces and press more on top before baking!
Blot the pumpkin. This is my #1 baking tip for the best pumpkin cookie! Not removing the liquid from the puree will make your cookies more cake-like and not chewy.
Why are my cookies puffy and cakey? Did you blot the pumpkin to remove all of the excess moisture? The dried pumpkin puree should be soft and malleable but not wet. Also, double-check that you didn’t add too much flour to the dough!
Why are my cookies flat after bakingThis can happen when the oven temperature is too low or the flour isn’t measured properly (and it needs more flour). Also, double-check that your butter was cooled to the proper temperature (75°F).
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 246kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 295mg | Potassium: 73mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 2271IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg

The calorie information provided for the recipe is an estimate. The accuracy of the calories listed is not guaranteed.

5 from 34 votes (16 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




22 Comments

  1. Absolutely delightful! Will be adding this to the fall baking rotation!5 stars

  2. These are amazing!! Used mini chocolate chips because it’s what I had. The flavor is great!5 stars

  3. I’ve made these cookies 3 times now. I always try a new pumpkin chocolate chip cookie recipe every year until I find one that I really enjoy. this one is a hit every time and they’re just delicious, decadent, and simply amazing.5 stars

  4. These are SO good!!! I love them and plan to make them regularly.5 stars

  5. Lindsey M says:

    I baked these cookies as a housewarming present to my best friend and as a way to comfort my mother while she was sick. The reviews I got were so great that I ended up writing a report for my technical writing class on this recipe! Your love for what you do is so clear in the way that you write about it, and the way that you demonstrate the process in the pictures and video that you include allows even the novice baker to share in that joy. I will definitely be using this recipe again and I am hoping to try the Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies and the Chewy Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies as we approach the colder months. Thank you so much for sharing your gift and passion with the world!5 stars

    1. Wow! Thank you so much for this super kind review, Lindsey. I’m so happy to hear they were enjoyed, I truly love my job and am so grateful for readers like you!