With summer on the wane, the countdown begins to Pumpkin Spice Season and Starbucks’ annual release of everyone’s fave PSL. (We’ve just five short weeks to go, Pumpkin Peeps!) If the mere mention of PSL sets off a pumpkin spice hankering, one of these DIY pumpkin drinks will tide you over. On the other hand, you *could* funnel all that yearning into Halloween planning and start taste-testing some PS cookie recipes ASAP. Sound like a plan? Then preheat your oven and start scrolling, because one glance at these 17 Halloween pumpkin cookie recipes will have you jonesing for PS cookies in August.
1. Pumpkin Spice Molasses Cookies: Molasses makes these cookies soft and chewy and, when mixed with pumpkin pie spices, produces that rich sweetness that everyone loves. They’re perfect with tea or hot cider, so break them out on a cool summer night around the fire pit. (via The Pretty Bee)
2. Spiced Pumpkin Cut-Out Cookies: It’s rare to find pumpkin-shaped cookies that actually have pureed pumpkin in the mix, but these babies have got it all. The flavor is a bit more subtle than a gingerbread cookie, with just the right amount of pumpkin flavor. (via The Pioneer Woman)
3. Melt in Your Mouth Pumpkin Cookies With Cream Cheese Frosting: The cream cheese frosting on these cookies tastes just as rich and sweet as the icing on a carrot cake and is the perfect topping for these soft, cakey spice cookies. They really are more like tiny cakes, and are a yummy treat to take to your next birthday party. (via The Recipe Critic)
4. Pumpkin Spice Latte Macarons: If any cookie is going to curb your PSL craving, this is it, thanks to the right dose of pumpkin pie spices and a very liberal dash of espresso powder in the buttercream icing. Bonus: Baked with almond flour, macarons are gluten free. (via Culinary Couture)
5. Pumpkin Maple Cookies Recipe: These pumpkin oatmeal cookies are soft, chewy and sweetened with pure maple syrup, but it’s the drizzle of sweet maple glaze on top that takes these cookies from good to GREAT. Make a double batch, because they’ll go fast. (via Two Peas & Their Pod)
6. Spiced Pumpkin Whoopie Pies With Browned Butter Maple Cinnamon Frosting: There’s a strong but not overpowering pumpkin flavor in these whoopie pies that plays so nicely with the nutty browned butter in the maple cinnamon frosting. Freeze some and bring them along to your next pool party, and you’ll be everyone’s BBF. (via The Chunky Chef)
7. Pumpkin Buttercream Macarons: These cookies have real pumpkin pureed right in with the buttercream, sandwiched between light, moist and delicate vanilla macaron shells. Go on and indulge — they’re vegetarian *and* gluten free. (via VeggieCravings)
8. Soft Ginger Molasses Cookies With Pumpkin-Butter Buttercream: These cookies are soft and full of amazing spices like cinnamon, ginger, cloves and pumpkin. If you’re suffering from seasonal cravings, these cookies will cure that fall affliction. Have them with a cup of coffee to combat the afternoon energy slump, and it’s just like drinking a PSL. (via Saving Room for Dessert)
9. Mummy Pumpkin Cookies: If cookies and pie had a baby, it would look like these adorable mummy cookies. Kids young and old will gobble them up! (via SellfishCat)
10. Oats & Pumpkin Breakfast Cookies: Cookies for breakfast? When they’re as healthy as these peanut-butter, flax seeds and pumpkin cookies, we give a resounding *YES*. They make a great portable breakfast for busy mornings. (via Food, Pleasure and Health)
11. Soft Pumpkin Cookies With Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting: These soft, chewy cookies are a bit like pumpkin snickerdoodles, but with the sweet cream cheese on top. They’re so gorgeous to look at, you’ll want to make them for a special occasion, like an outdoor wedding or dinner party. (via Old House to New Home)
12. 40 Calorie Pumpkin Cookies: These pumpkin cookies are guilt-free, clocking in at under 40 calories. They’re also gluten-free, oil-free, nut-free and vegan, and yet *so delicious*. The taste is everything you miss from a PSL, minus the sugar and calories. (via Make the Best of Everything)
13. Soft Glazed Pumpkin Sugar Cookies: These cookies are easy to make, stay soft for days — thanks to the pumpkin puree — and have just the right balance of spicy and sweet flavors. Alone they’d be almost boring, but the glaze makes them addicting. Make a bunch, because you can’t eat just one. (via Lauren’s Latest)
14. Pumpkin Almond Cookies: How cute are these pumpkin cookies? They look just like tiny gourds with their almond “hats.” And they’re as delicious to eat as they are to look at. If you *love* pumpkin spice, these are a must-have for your fall baking list. (via Cooking on the Weekends)
15. Pumpkin Sugar Cookies With Cinnamon Cream Cheese: With cinnamon in both the cookie and the icing, these babies are fall-licious. While many sugar cookies are crisp and crumbly, the pumpkin in the batter keeps these guys soft and chewy. (via Cooking Classy)
16. Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies: Oh, em, gee — these cookies have a soft creamy center with a crunchy graham cracker coating that is out of this world. They’re best served straight from the fridge, like cheesecake, which makes them a perfect dessert to take to any party as we transition from summer to fall. (via Center Cut Cook)
17. Chewy Cinnamon Chip Pumpkin Cookies: Have you been introduced to the cinnamon chip yet? Well, prepare to meet your new addiction. Imagine an ooey-gooey Toll House cookie, but with pumpkin pie spices and cinnamon chips instead of chocolate. They are pure pumpkin heaven! (via Baker by Nature)
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Sally Jones
Sally Jones is a writer and editor living in New York City. She has worked at many websites including iVillage, Ladies Home Journal, More, Parenting, Cosmopolitan, The Knot and YourTango, in jobs ranging from editor to COO. Renovation and interior design are her
hobbies. She has renovated every home she's lived in, including the rentals, and like... whoa, who does that? You can catch her at her blog Renov8or.
