27 Fall Cookie Ideas for a Comforting Treat in 2025
Is there anything cozier than baking fall cookie ideas on a brisk evening? If fall is your favorite season, the answer is a resounding no. Whether you’re looking for Simple fall cookie ideas or fall cookie ideas for decorating, these recipes will make your kitchen smell amazing and fill your heart with joy. Plus, according to Kaiser Permanente, baking is great for your mental health, so it’s a win-win.
From Halloween cookies to Thanksgiving cookies, these fall cookie ideas are perfect for any occasion, including random weeknights when you’re craving a seasonal treat. You’ll find pumpkin cookies and fall cookie recipes without pumpkin here, so there’s something for everyone. Now, all that’s left to do is hang up your DIY fall décor, light some candles and get baking.
Jump to Section
- Simple Fall Cookie Ideas
- Easy Fall Cookie Ideas
- Fall Cookie Recipes Without Pumpkin
- Pumpkin Cookie Ideas
- Fall Cookie Ideas FAQs
Simple Fall Cookie Ideas
1. Iced Pumpkin Cookies
Iced pumpkin cookies are fall cookie ideas that combine the pillowy softness of sugar cookies with warm fall spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. A simple powdered sugar glaze goes on top for an extra pop of sweetness. If you like iced oatmeal cookies, you’ll love these.
2. Halloween Cut-Out Cookies
Grab a rolling pin and some Halloween cookie cutters for these fall cookies that are great for decorating. You’ll take a simple sugar cookie dough, roll it out and cut festive shapes. Then, you can ice and decorate the cookies to your liking. This is a fun baking project to do with kids but if you want to go the easy route and make Pillsbury fall cookies instead, there’s absolutely no shame in that.
3. Cowboy Cookies
Cowboy cookies are what the phrase “everything but the kitchen sink” is all about. They’re loaded with chocolate chips, shredded coconut, pecans and oats for a hearty treat that will take your taste buds on a wild ride. And in case you’re wondering, yes, cowboys and ranchers originally made these fall cookie ideas for sustenance during long days of working outdoors.
5. Peanut Butter Cookies
There’s no wrong time of year to make peanut butter cookies. They’re simple fall cookie ideas that never get old. With crunchy edges, perfectly soft middles and tons of peanut butter flavor, these are always a hit.
6. No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
No-bake fall cookie ideas come in handy if you need to save precious oven space for other seasonal dishes, like casseroles. Chocolate oatmeal cookies are chewy, chocolatey, peanut buttery and so delicious every time.
7. Oreo Pops
If you need fall cookie ideas for decorating, look no further than Oreo pops. You can make an easy, festive treat for fall or Halloween with a box of Oreos, some white chocolate, icing and popsicle sticks. Just like with cake pops, you’ll place each Oreo onto a popsicle stick and dip it in white chocolate.
Once hardened, use the icing to draw any designs you like, from autumn leaves to ghosts or black cats. Serve the pops at a Halloween party or pack them in your kids’ lunchboxes. Low-effort treats that look bakery-worthy are hard to come by, so these cookies are extra special.
8. Breakfast Cookies
Fall is back-to-school season, so if you need easy fall cookie ideas that are healthy enough to eat for breakfast on busy mornings, you’ll be happy to know such a thing does, in fact, exist. Breakfast cookies have fiber from oats, nourishing fats from nuts and seeds and sweetness from dried fruit and chocolate chips. The best thing about these is how customizable they are. You can add any mix-ins your heart desires with good results.
Easy Fall Cookie Ideas
8. Pecan Sandies
Sure, you could buy these at the grocery store, but they’re such easy fall cookie ideas to make at home. A simple shortbread dough is studded with pecans for a crispy, buttery cookie that practically melts in your mouth. It’s impossible to eat just one!
9. Monster Cookies
Monster cookies (so named because, like Frankenstein’s monster, you can customize them to your liking) are the perfect choice if you’re looking for easy fall cookie ideas. They’re usually a delicious mash-up of peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips, and M&Ms, but again, feel free to get creative.
10. Salted Caramel Chip Cookies
Salted caramel is so underrated when it comes to fall cookie flavors. Swap caramel baking chips for chocolate chips (or use both!) in your go-to cookie recipe and enjoy your new favorite treat. Don’t forget to sprinkle flaky salt on top of each cookie to enhance the flavors and balance the sweetness.
11. Oatmeal Pumpkin Cookies
Hearty oats and warm fall spices are a match made in heaven for fall cookie ideas. You can add chocolate chips or raisins to this pumpkin cookie recipe or leave it as is. Either way, you’ll make these year after year.
12. Pumpkin S’mores Cookies
When it comes to fall cookie ideas, the only thing better than s’mores is pumpkin s’mores. Packed with real pumpkin and pumpkin spice, gooey marshmallows, melty chocolate chips and graham cracker pieces, these pumpkin cookies are an explosion of textures and flavors.
13. Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies
Butterscotch doesn’t get enough love when it comes to fall cookie ideas. The rich, caramelized flavor is even better paired with chocolate chips. Enjoy these with a steaming mug of tea or coffee to warm your soul on crisp autumn days.
14. Candy Corn Cookies
For some people, candy corn is the scariest thing about spooky season, but if you enjoy it, the nostalgic treat is the perfect mix-in for fall cookie ideas. Just use your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe and substitute candy corn for the chips. You could always substitute a different Halloween candy if you aren’t a fan of candy corn. The festive element is what’s most important here.
Fall Cookie Recipes Without Pumpkin
15. Classic Snickerdoodles
Snickerdoodles are one of the most classic fall cookie ideas, and for good reason. The combination of warm cinnamon and buttery cookie dough is a 10/10 every time. For an even more indulgent flavor, brown your butter before mixing it with the sugar.
16. Spider Thumbprint Cookies
This riff on classic thumbprints is perfect if you need fall cookie ideas for Halloween. Instead of jam, place a peanut butter cup in the center of each cookie as soon as it comes out of the oven. Then, pipe on the spider’s “legs” with brown icing and add googly eyes for the finishing touch.
17. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Oatmeal raisin cookies are good all year, but they’re especially great if you need fall cookie recipes without pumpkin. The cinnamon adds a nice warmth that’s perfect for the season. Not a fan of raisins? Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are just as delicious.
18. Chewy Ginger Cookies
Ginger cookies aren’t just for Christmas time. They’re also great fall cookie ideas when you’re craving a comforting treat, with a chewy texture and nostalgic molasses flavor. Roll the cookies in coarse sugar before baking for a crunchy exterior that contrasts beautifully with the soft center.
19. Chai Sugar Cookies
Move over, pumpkin spice! It’s chai’s time to shine. Chai sugar cookies are known for being Taylor Swift’s favorite, but you’ll love them even if you aren’t a Swiftie. But if you know one, they make fantastic Taylor Swift gift ideas. All the aromatic spices are so cozy, and your house will smell divine.
Black pepper in cookies may sound a bit strange, but it works. If you don’t have all the spices on hand or don’t want to buy them, you can just use cinnamon. The cookies won’t have as much depth of flavor but they’ll still be quite delicious.
20. Hot Chocolate Cookies
Turn everyone’s favorite autumn beverage (besides Starbucks fall drinks, of course) into fall cookie ideas with these hot chocolate cookies. With gooey chocolate chips and marshmallow fluff, they’re as cozy as a mug of cocoa.
21. Caramel Apple Cookies
If you’re looking for fall cookie flavors besides pumpkin, try caramel apple. Just mix chopped apples into the dough and top the cooled cookies with a caramel drizzle. These fall cookie ideas are buttery, rich and decadent.
Pumpkin Cookie Ideas
22. Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies
Everyone will want the recipe for these fall cookie ideas. Rich buttercream icing is sandwiched between two soft, chewy pumpkin cookies for a total mouth party.
23. Brown Butter Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
Brown butter pumpkin snickerdoodles — these fall cookie ideas are a mouthful, but a delicious one. Nutty brown butter, warm spices and real pumpkin flavor combine for a cookie that tastes like it came from a bakery.
24. PSL Cookies
PSL cookies are everything you love about the famous pumpkin spice latte in cookie form. The subtle coffee flavor takes these pumpkin cookies over the top. Instead of buying an overpriced coffee every time the craving hits, make these instead.
25. Pumpkin Spice Cookies
Every list of fall cookie ideas needs a classic pumpkin spice cookie recipe. Either keep them plain or add mix-ins like chocolate chips (regular or white; both are delicious!) The fall spices are like a warm hug on cool autumn evenings.
26. Pumpkin Pie Cookies
These adorable fall cookie ideas are like mini pumpkin pies. Shortbread cookies are baked in a muffin tin, and the centers are hollowed out and stuffed with pumpkin pie filling. A whipped cream garnish makes for an even more realistic look. If you need an impressive dessert for a holiday gathering that bakes up quickly, these are a no-brainer.
27. Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
Stuffed with a creamy cheesecake filling, these fall cookie ideas have all the goodness of two desserts in one. Serve them warm for a cozy treat, or chilled if you prefer the traditional texture of cheesecake.
Fall Cookie Ideas FAQs
What Are the Best Cookie Flavors for Fall?
The best fall cookie flavors include pumpkin (of course), apple, pecan, cinnamon and caramel. Pumpkin is the season’s star ingredient, especially when paired with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and allspice. If you’re looking for fall cookie flavors without pumpkin, apple is a great choice. Making an apple pie from scratch takes a lot of time and effort, so apple cookies are a great way to enjoy all the cozy flavors with less work. Caramel adds a rich, buttery taste and complements both apple and pumpkin fall cookie ideas. Pecans are a classic addition to many autumn desserts, including pies, fruit crisps, muffins and, yes, cookies. Their nutty flavor goes perfectly with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg as well as fall flavors like pumpkin and apple. Some less traditional, but still delicious flavors for fall cookie ideas include maple, brown sugar, cranberry and other spices, such as cardamom.
What To Bake in the Fall?
If you’re looking for desserts other than a Pumpkin cookies recipe to bake this season, you’re in luck. The sky is truly the limit! Fall is widely associated with baking because as the air outside turns cool and crisp, nothing compares to turning on the oven and filling your home with the comforting aroma of fresh-baked treats. It doesn’t matter what you bake; the act itself is what fall is all about. But if you want specific ideas, pies are among the most popular fall desserts, especially around Thanksgiving. Infusing seasonal flavors like pumpkin, apple and warm spices into your baked goods is a great way to capture the essence of fall. Of course, Pillsbury fall cookies deserve a spot on your fall baking bucket list for the nostalgia factor alone.
What Is a Taylor Swift Cookie?
The “Taylor Swift” cookie is a chai sugar cookie adapted from a recipe published in 2009 by Joy Wilson (better known as Joy the Baker). They’re supposedly Swift’s favorite cookie, and she came out with her own version in 2014. Her recipe uses a chai tea bag, but you can substitute with ground chai spices, which include cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, cardamom and a pinch of black pepper. These fall cookie ideas are perfect for cardigan season.
With these fall cookie ideas, you can start new baking traditions, embrace the coziness of the season and make memories to last a lifetime. From Simple fall cookie ideas to fall cookie ideas for decorating, these recipes are perfect for new bakers and seasoned pros alike. Get ready to impress your friends and family, fill your kitchen with the comforting smell of warm spices and savor the deliciousness of home-baked treats.
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