When fall is in the air, it pays to know your options for the best fall cookies. Cookies take us back to our childhood and transport us to a simpler time. Nothing beats the smell of freshly baked cookies in the air after enjoying a brisk fall day outside with friends and family. Pumpkin patches, leaf piles, warm apple cider, and a freshly baked cookie all help make the perfect fall day even better.
Speaking of enjoying a batch of freshly baked cookies, a recent study found that the average American eats just under 200 cookies per year. A survey of 5,000 Americans sought to understand our love for sweet treats and found that Americans generally love desserts. The survey questioned 100 Americans from each state in the country and found that, on average, Americans crave something sweet around 2:30 p.m. each day. Nearly 70 percent of respondents also said that a sweet treat can transform a bad day into a good day. Just don’t eat too many cookies at once; that’s a recipe for a stomachache and possibly diabetes.
As Americans become more aware of the health risks associated with sugary treats, another study found that substituting banana peel flour in sugar cookie batter creates a cookie filled with more nutrients. And the best part is these cookies still taste the same as if they were made with traditional ingredients. In recent years, banana peels have gone from an inedible part of the banana to a surprisingly healthy cooking and baking ingredient. When you grind banana peels into flour, the peels contain rich amounts of essential nutrients such as fiber, magnesium, and potassium that transform your dish into a healthier option. Sounds like a great reason to forgo the compost pile and recycle those banana peels into a useful baking ingredient.
So, which cookies enhance the fall season? StudyFinds did the research, consulting 10 food review sites to bring you a consensus list of the best fall cookies. Our list comprises the five most frequently listed cookies from across these sites. Think we missed one of your favorite fall treats? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!
The List: Best Fall Cookies, According to Experts
1. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
The first spot on the list of the best fall cookies belongs to pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. When these cookies are baking, everyone in the house knows it’s time for some fall fun. They’re chocolate chip, they’re pumpkin spice, they’re everything you want in a fall cookie.
“These cakey cookies are a cross between a pumpkin muffin and a chocolate chip cookie, making them the ultimate treat for chocolate lovers in the fall. The pumpkin puree in the cookie dough lends significant moisture, while mini semisweet chocolate chips stay in a semi-liquid state in the moist cookie dough. What more could you ask for in an autumn treat,” writes Southern Living.
It might not sound like the combination of pumpkin and chocolate chip would make a delicious fall cookie, but that’s exactly what you’ll get with these sweet treats. As one expert explains, this combination of pumpkin and chocolate chip cookies creates the perfect fall comfort food.
“The combination of warm, spiced pumpkin and melty chocolate chips makes these cookies the ultimate fall comfort food. They’re a classic with an autumnal twist,” says The Pioneer Woman.
The chocolate chip cookies take the traditional recipe to the next level. Pumpkin isn’t always the easiest ingredient to use in baking, but you can take this recipe in many different directions.
“Classic chocolate chip cookies get a fall update by mixing in pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice. Not only are these pumpkin cookies even more flavorful than regular chocolate chip cookies, they’re also oh-so-soft and cake-like. Use chocolate chunks for big gooey bites of chocolate or opt for mini chocolate chips to ensure a bit of chocolate in each bite,” adds Eating Well.
2. Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
Next up on the list of the best cookies for the fall season is pumpkin oatmeal cookies. A lot of the cookies on this list take traditional cookie recipes and add a fall twist – typically by adding pumpkin or another autumn-based spice to a recipe. Still, these oatmeal pumpkin cookies are perfect for a fall day with the family.
“Perhaps the best part of fall is that it’s the season of pumpkin treats. We’re not just talking about pumpkin spice lattes and homemade pumpkin pie, but pumpkin cinnamon rolls and pumpkin ice cream too. Now, there’s a newcomer to the scene: pumpkin oatmeal cookies,” explains Delish.
Home bakers get one small window every year to incorporate as much pumpkin into their recipes as possible, and these pumpkin oatmeal cookies are the perfect way to add some fall flavor to your dishes.
“These tender pumpkin-oatmeal cookies have the perfect amount of sweetness from brown sugar… Enjoy them as an after-school snack or a healthy dessert. Several testers also said they’d love to eat them with a cup of coffee in the morning,” writes Eating Well.
It’s a stretch to think that cookies are healthy, in any capacity. However, oatmeal cookies are a healthier option than some of the traditional cookie recipes out there. Add in the pumpkin and you have a fun, delicious, and somewhat healthy afterschool snack.
“Oatmeal cookies are not only dangerously delicious but also healthy… or at least that’s the lie I tell myself lol! And, these are the softest pumpkin oatmeal cookies you’ll ever taste. The best part about this recipe is that you can customize it as much as you want,” adds Crazy Laura.
3. Pecan Pie Cookies
Next up on the list of the best fall cookies is none other than pecan pie cookies. Take a break from traditional pumpkin-based fall baked goods and dive into one of these delicious pecan pie cookies. “Everything you love about pecan pie—in cookie form! These bite-sized treats are the perfect (easy) alternative to pie at your holiday table this year,” writes The Pioneer Woman.
Pecan pie is a can’t-miss autumn dessert, so transforming the traditional fall dessert into a cookie is a no-brainer for most lovers of sweet treats. Don’t be fooled, though, these cookies can be a little labor-intensive.
“If you like pecan pie, you will love these pecan pie cookies. These incredible pecan cookies are thin, caramelized bites of the rich, buttery pecan pie we all love! Quick and easy to make with pantry staple ingredients, I promise you’ll want to make a double batch,” furthers Julie Blanner.
There are a lot of ways to make these tasty fall treats, so be sure to adhere to the recipe that best suits you and your family. As one expert explains, choosing the right pecans for your recipe is key.
“Pecan pie cookies make everyone’s favorite autumn pie a personal-sized treat. If you’d like a more scrumptious result, buy your pecans whole and as fresh as possible before chopping them up to use for the topping,” adds The Spruce Eats.
4. Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
The next spot on the list of the best cookies for fall belongs to pumpkin snickerdoodles. They are yet another exciting fall take on a traditional cookie recipe, and these amazing cookies are sure to help your family get in the autumn spirit.
“We’ve upgraded this classic cinnamon-sugar cookie by giving it an autumnal spin. There’s pumpkin puree in the cookie dough and pumpkin pie spice added to the crackly sugar coating,” writes The Pioneer Woman.
Okay, so most of these recipes simply take a traditional cookie recipe and add pumpkin and pumpkin spice to the equation. After all, it is the quintessential fall ingredient. However, these delicious pumpkin treats also make great holiday cookies.
“Perfectly crispy on the outside, while light and fluffy on the inside, these festive, fall treats are your new favorite cookie… these cookies are basically all of your favorite latte flavors mixed up into one perfect cookie. Best served after a dunk in coffee, if we do say so ourselves,” explains My Recipes.
A pumpkin snickerdoodle dunked in a delectable cup of coffee sounds like the perfect way to start your Saturday mornings in the fall. The birds chirping, a crisp autumn breeze, the morning sun, the only thing missing is a delightful pumpkin snickerdoodle with your favorite cup of coffee.
“Snickerdoodles with a twist are coming your way! This recipe combines cookies and pumpkin. It’s very simple and you will need a bit over thirty minutes to make these delish cookies. Anything with pumpkin spice is a YES in my book,” furthers Crazy Laura.
5. Butter Pecan Shortbread
Rounding out the list of the best fall cookies are butter pecan shortbread cookies. These cookies are a homemade take on the classic Pecan Sandies you’ll find in the grocery store. The only difference is you’ll get to enjoy baking these with your kids and the delightful aroma that fills your home while they’re baking in the oven.
“How do you feel about pecan desserts? Wouldn’t you go for some butter pecan cookies right now? This recipe includes brown butter, brown sugar, and toasted butter pecans. Let’s grab a baking sheet and do this,” exclaims Crazy Laura.
Your family will be beyond excited to walk in and smell these delicious fall treats baking in the oven. Your home will be filled with the sweet aroma of butter pecans combined with the mouth-watering scent of freshly baked shortbread cookies.
“Add an extra crunch to this slice-and-bake shortbread by coating both dough logs with turbinado sugar before slicing them into rounds. The result is a cookie that’s the perfect balance of salty and sweet and goes down easy. Good thing this recipe makes more than 3 dozen cookies,” writes Southern Living.
The combination of flavors and textures from these scrumptious butter pecan shortbread cookies is absolutely perfect for a cool autumn day. Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party or you just want to treat yourself and your family to a fun fall cookie, these pecan shortbread cookies are sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
“These buttery, salty-sweet slice-and-bake cookies will delight the butter-pecan lover in your life. For extra crunch, evenly coat both dough logs with turbinado sugar before slicing them into rounds. The dough can be made up to two days in advance if stored in the refrigerator,” adds My Recipes.
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Sources:
- Delish
- The Pioneer Woman
- Taste of Home
- Southern Living
- Julie Blanner
- Country Living
- Eating Well
- My Recipes
- The Spruce Eats
- Crazy Laura
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