These Healthy Pumpkin Cookies are naturally gluten free, lightly spiced, and easy to make paleo-friendly. Truly the perfect fall cookie!

There’s room for everyone at the dessert table, whether you’re paleo, gluten free, or vegan. It’s why I love serving flourless pumpkin bars and paleo pumpkin muffins so much during fall. They make everyone feel welcome! Plus, they pair perfectly with my pumpkin cream cold brew recipe.

Add these Healthy Pumpkin Cookies to the menu too because they’re bound to become a new favorite. They have the softest texture, are super moist, filled with dreamy pumpkin pie spice, and made with gluten free ingredients. Bonus: they’re easy to make paleo and vegan too!

Just think of these soft pumpkin cookies as the healthy version of a pumpkin spice latte. All that’s missing is the whipped cream (you can always add some on top if you want)!

Recipe features

• They’re made with all of the magic and fall flavors of a pumpkin pie but put together in a cookie.
• Soft, chewy, and moist. It’s the perfect fall cookie!
• They taste even better (and are way healthier) than a pumpkin spice latte.
• Naturally gluten free and really easy to make paleo or vegan with simple substitutions.

Ingredient notes:

• Pumpkin puree – Not pumpkin pie filling. Canned puree is the easiest solution but you’re welcome to roast and mash fresh pumpkin yourself!

• Flour – A mix of almond and coconut flour. The coconut flour can be replaced with oat flour. In a pinch, feel free to make these with whole wheat flour or all purpose flour.

• Egg – Or replace this with a flax egg (more on this below).

• Vanilla extract – This brings all of the fall flavors together, so try not to skip it!

• Maple syrup – For a little natural sweetness and to maximize the comforting winter flavors.

• Cane sugar – Or coconut sugar for a paleo option.

• Pumpkin pie spice – Buy this pre-mixed or make it yourself by mixing cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and cloves together.

• Chocolate chips – Optional if you’re craving pumpkin chocolate chip cookies! They can always be left out or replaced with nuts, white chocolate, or pretzels.

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Mix the wet ingredients. Whisk the pumpkin, oil, egg, syrup, and vanilla together in a bowl.

Step 2: Mix the dry ingredients. In another bowl, whisk the sugar, almond flour, coconut flour, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt together.

Step 3: Combine. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet and gently combine everything together using a spatula. If you’re using chocolate chips, fold them into the dough at this point.

Step 4: Form the cookie balls. Roll about 2 tablespoons of cookie dough in your hand to form the cookie balls. Repeat this step until all the dough is gone. The cookies won’t spread in the oven, so use your palm to gently press each cookie ball down.

Step 5: Bake! Place the baking sheet(s) in the oven and bake until the cookies are set, pillowy, and soft. You can leave them in the oven for an extra 2 or 3 minutes if you prefer a crispier cookie.

Let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer them to a wire rack. Grab one when they’re slightly cooler and enjoy!

Tips and FAQs

• Make the cookies extra special by gently folding chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, pretzel pieces, pumpkin seeds, white chocolate chips, or dried fruit to the batter.
• Try not to overmix the cookie dough or else they won’t turn out as soft.
• Roll the baked cookies in a bowl of cinnamon sugar, top them with maple glaze or whipped cream, or decorate the cookies in this honey mascarpone icing for an extra sweet finish!

Do you have to chill the cookie dough?

Nope! These cookies don’t spread much in the oven, which means there’s no need to chill the dough in the fridge before baking.

Are these cookies paleo-friendly?

You can make paleo pumpkin cookies by using coconut sugar in place of cane sugar in this recipe.

Can they be made vegan?

Sure, it’s easy! Just replace the egg with 1 flax egg (1 tablespoon of flaxseed meal mixed with 2.5 tablespoons of water) to make vegan pumpkin cookies.

Storage

• Unbaked cookies: Freeze the unbaked cookie balls on the baking sheet. When they’re frozen solid, transfer them to a sealed ziploc bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. They can be baked right from frozen but may need a few extra minutes in the oven.

• Refrigerator: Keep the leftover cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. 

• Freezer: The baked cookies freeze well in an airtight container or ziploc bag for up to 3 months.

More healthy cookie recipes

• Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies
• Oat Flour Cookies
• Chocolate Avocado Cookies

If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!