I absolutely love this Pumpkin Almond Cookies Recipe because it brings together the cozy warmth of pumpkin spice with the nutty richness of almond flour in a way that feels both indulgent and nourishing. When I first tried this recipe, I was amazed at how soft and subtly sweet these cookies turned out, making them the perfect treat for fall afternoons or whenever you want a comforting snack. You’ll find that these cookies strike a fantastic balance between wholesome ingredients and just the right hint of decadence.
What makes this Pumpkin Almond Cookies Recipe truly worth trying is how easy it is to whip up without any complicated techniques or fancy equipment. Plus, the use of almond and coconut flours gives you a naturally gluten-free option that doesn’t sacrifice flavor or texture. Whether you’re baking for your family, hosting friends, or just craving something a little special, these cookies fit the bill beautifully.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: Uses pantry staples and wholesome flours for quick prep.
- Perfect Texture: Soft and tender with a melt-in-your-mouth crumb thanks to almond flour.
- Flavorful and Festive: Pumpkin spice and maple syrup bring cozy autumn vibes to every bite.
- Great for Special Diets: Naturally gluten-free and easily adaptable to vegan options.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For this Pumpkin Almond Cookies Recipe, the ingredients come together to create a naturally sweet and spicy cookie that’s moist without being dense. Each component plays a role in adding texture and flavor, so I recommend sticking to these ingredients for best results.
- Pumpkin Puree: Provides moisture and a lovely autumn flavor; make sure it’s pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling.
- Egg: Binds everything together; you can substitute with a flax egg for a vegan twist.
- Maple Syrup: Adds natural sweetness with a subtle depth; I prefer pure maple syrup over other sweeteners.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor with a warm, sweet aroma.
- Coconut Oil: Keeps the cookies tender and adds a hint of tropical richness when melted and cooled.
- Almond Flour: The star of the dry ingredients, giving the cookies their rich, nutty texture and flavor.
- Coconut Flour: Absorbs moisture and provides structure so the cookies hold their shape without being cakey.
- Pumpkin Spice: The signature blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove that brings the perfect seasonal touch.
- Cinnamon: Adds warmth and a subtle spicy note in addition to the pumpkin spice.
- Baking Soda: Helps the cookies rise slightly and develop a tender crumb.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and highlights all the other flavors.
- Milk Chocolate Chips: Offers melty pockets of sweetness; you can swap for dark chocolate or omit for a less sweet cookie.
Variations
I love customizing this Pumpkin Almond Cookies Recipe depending on the season or my mood, and you should definitely feel free to play around with it too. Whether you want to tweak flavors or make them fit dietary needs, these cookies are quite forgiving and versatile.
- Vegan Variation: Swap the egg for a flax egg, and use dairy-free chocolate chips; I tried this and still loved how soft the cookies turned out.
- Spice it Up: For an extra kick, add ground ginger or cardamom to your pumpkin spice mix; it gives the cookies a lovely complex flavor.
- Nut-Free Option: Use sunflower seed flour instead of almond flour if you have allergies—I found this works well, though the texture changes slightly.
- Chocolate-Free: Omit the chocolate chips and add chopped dried cranberries or chopped pecans for something different and just as tasty.
How to Make Pumpkin Almond Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Getting Your Oven and Ingredients Ready
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking. While that warms up, microwave the coconut oil in a small bowl just for a few seconds until it’s melted—don’t overheat it as you want it cooled a bit before mixing. This prep makes the process smooth and ensures your cookies bake evenly.
Step 2: Mixing the Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk the pumpkin puree, egg, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined. Then gently stir in the cooled coconut oil to create a creamy wet mixture. I learned the hard way that adding coconut oil while it’s too hot can cook the egg and mess up the texture, so patience here really pays off.
Step 3: Combining the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, mix the almond flour, coconut flour, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt together thoroughly. This ensures every cookie has an even distribution of flavor and will rise nicely. I like to sift them together to avoid lumps, which can happen with coconut flour.
Step 4: Bringing Wet and Dry Together
Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, folding gently with a rubber spatula. Don’t overmix; just combine until everything is incorporated. Then fold in the chocolate chips carefully—you want them evenly spread without breaking the dough’s delicate texture. The dough will be a bit sticky but should hold together well.
Step 5: Shaping Your Cookies
Scoop about two tablespoons of dough into your hand and roll it into a ball, placing each one on the baking sheet. You’ll get roughly 16 balls from this recipe. Press each ball lightly with your fingers or the palm of your hand to shape them into cookie rounds—because these don’t spread much during baking, you want to shape them pretty much how you’d like them to look. This step is fun and lets you control the thickness.
Step 6: Baking and Cooling
Bake the cookies in the middle rack of your oven for about 10 minutes, keeping a close eye on them so they don’t overbake. They’ll look a bit soft when you take them out, but this is perfect. Let them rest on the baking sheet for 4 to 5 minutes to firm up before moving them to a cooling rack. The resting time helps prevent crumbling when you try to pick them up.
Pro Tips for Making Pumpkin Almond Cookies Recipe
- Cool the Coconut Oil: Adding coconut oil at the right temperature prevents scrambling the egg and keeps the batter smooth.
- Don’t Overmix: Folding ingredients gently helps maintain the tender crumb without developing a tough texture.
- Shape Before Baking: Because these cookies don’t spread much, shaping them before baking makes all the difference in presentation.
- Rest Cookies on Sheet: Letting them cool on the baking sheet firms them up and reduces chances of breaking when transferring.
How to Serve Pumpkin Almond Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I often sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips on top before baking for a touch of extra gooeyness and visual appeal, but you can also dust the cookies lightly with cinnamon sugar after they’re cooled. Sometimes, just a thin drizzle of melted white chocolate makes these cookies feel extra special when serving guests.
Side Dishes
These pumpkin almond cookies pair wonderfully with a hot cup of chai tea, coffee, or even a glass of cold almond milk. If it’s brunch, you might enjoy them alongside a bowl of yogurt and fresh fruit to balance out the sweetness.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday gatherings, I like arranging these cookies on a rustic wooden board with sprigs of cinnamon sticks and autumn leaves for a festive touch. You could also stack them in a pretty jar tied with ribbon as a thoughtful homemade gift — everyone I’ve given these to loves them!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. They stay soft and delicious, but if your kitchen is warm, popping them in the fridge helps them keep a bit longer without drying out.
Freezing
I’ve found freezing these Pumpkin Almond Cookies Recipe treats works great for longer storage. Just freeze the shaped dough balls on a tray first, then transfer them to a freezer bag. When ready to bake, there’s no need to thaw—just add a couple extra minutes to baking time.
Reheating
To warm up leftover cookies, I pop them in a preheated oven at 325°F for about 5 minutes. This refreshes their soft texture and brings out the chocolate chips’ melty goodness.
FAQs
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Can I use canned pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin puree?
It’s best to use plain pumpkin puree because canned pumpkin pie filling contains added sugars and spices, which can throw off the flavor and texture of the cookies. Using pumpkin puree gives you better control over sweetness and spice levels.
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Are these Pumpkin Almond Cookies gluten-free?
Yes! Since this recipe uses almond flour and coconut flour—both naturally gluten-free flours—these cookies are suitable for gluten-free diets. Just double-check your baking soda and chocolate chips to confirm they are gluten-free as well.
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Can I make this Pumpkin Almond Cookies Recipe vegan?
Definitely! Simply replace the egg with a flax or chia egg (1 tbsp ground flaxseed or chia seeds mixed with 3 tbsp water) and use dairy-free chocolate chips. The cookies will still come out soft and flavorful.
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Why don’t my cookies spread while baking?
Because of the high content of almond and coconut flour as well as the minimal oil used, these cookies naturally hold their shape and don’t spread much. That’s why shaping them before baking is key to getting the look and thickness you want.
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Can I substitute the chocolate chips for something else?
Yes! You can swap chocolate chips for dried cranberries, chopped nuts, or even cinnamon sugar for a different flavor and texture. Just fold them in gently at the end of mixing.
Final Thoughts
This Pumpkin Almond Cookies Recipe has become one of my go-to fall favorites because it hits that sweet spot of cozy, moist, and just a little bit special without any fuss. I hope you enjoy making and sharing these as much as I do—they’re not only delicious but also comforting and perfect for those moments when you want a little treat that feels like a hug in cookie form. Give it a try and let me know how your batch turns out; I’m betting your family and friends will be asking for them again and again!
PrintPumpkin Almond Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 16 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
These Pumpkin Almond Cookies are a delightful blend of autumn flavors and wholesome ingredients. Soft, chewy, and mildly spiced with pumpkin spice, cinnamon, and enriched with almond and coconut flours, these cookies are naturally sweetened with maple syrup and studded with milk chocolate chips for a perfect balance of taste and texture. Ideal for a cozy snack or dessert, they are easy to prepare and baked to perfection in just 10 minutes.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 medium egg
- 4 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups almond flour
- 3 tbsp coconut flour
- 1 tbsp pumpkin spice
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup milk chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and allow for easy cleanup.
- Melt Coconut Oil: Place the coconut oil in a small bowl and microwave it for just a couple of seconds until melted. Set it aside to cool slightly so it doesn’t cook the eggs when mixed.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, egg, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined. Stir in the slightly cooled melted coconut oil.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, sift together the almond flour, coconut flour, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Mixing thoroughly ensures even distribution of spices and leavening.
- Incorporate Dry into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture in small portions, gently folding with a rubber spatula to combine without overmixing, forming a thick dough.
- Add Chocolate Chips: Fold the milk chocolate chips into the dough evenly to ensure each cookie has delicious chocolate bits.
- Shape Cookies: Scoop approximately 2 tablespoons of dough and roll it into balls with your hands. Place each ball onto the prepared baking sheet. You should form about 16 balls. Flatten each dough ball slightly with fingers or the palm of your hand to shape the cookies.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the center of the oven for 10 minutes. They should be lightly set and slightly golden around the edges.
- Cool and Rest: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 4-5 minutes before transferring them onto a wire rack to cool completely or until they are cool enough to handle.
Notes
- Be careful not to overbake; the cookies might seem soft when taken out but firm up as they cool.
- You can substitute milk chocolate chips with dark chocolate chips or dairy-free chips for different flavor variations.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- For a nut-free version, substitute almond flour with sunflower seed flour carefully, though texture may vary.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 20mg