Chewy Maple Pumpkin Cookies - Olives + Thyme (2025)

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As we end the first full week of October, you can no loner deny that it is full on pumpkin season! Pumpkin can be a bit of a galvanizing flavor. I find people are either very into pumpkin or simply don't understand why everyone else loves pumpkin. I fall somewhere in between when it comes to pumpkin. Let's just say that I've made my peace with pumpkin. When I create a pumpkin recipe, pumpkin plays both a starring and supporting role. These chewy maple pumpkin cookies are the perfect example of enjoying a pumpkin recipe without it being too "pumpkin-y."

Chewy Maple Pumpkin Cookies - Olives + Thyme (1)

In a few words, these pumpkin cookies are:

  • Chewy
  • Buttery
  • Nutty
  • Full of maple and pumpkin flavor.
  • Balanced between spicy and sweet.
  • The perfect fall cookie for snacking!
Chewy Maple Pumpkin Cookies - Olives + Thyme (2)

What ingredients do I need to make these chewy maple pumpkin cookies?

  • All purpose flour
  • Pumpkin spice blend or chai spice blend
  • Baking powder
  • Baking soda
  • Salt
  • Butter
  • Light brown sugar
  • Maple syrup
  • Egg
  • Canned pumpkin or pumpkin pureé
  • Vanilla extract
  • Maple extract
  • Granulated sugar

From these ingredients you will make the maple pumpkin cookies and the spiced sugar coating.

Chewy Maple Pumpkin Cookies - Olives + Thyme (3)

what baking tools do I need to make these pumpkin cookies?

  • Sauce pan to make the browned butter
  • 3-4 mixing bowls
    • One for making the cookie dough and another to blot the pumpkin.
    • One for the brown butter and one to make the spiced sugar coating.
  • Flexible silicone spatula or spoon
  • 1-2 large aluminum cookie sheets
  • Large cookie scoop
    • This is my preferred way to get beautifully consistent cookies every time!
  • Parchment paper to line the cookie sheets.
  • Food scale
    • This is the recommended way to measure out the dry ingredients.
    • Less measuring tools means less clean up!
Chewy Maple Pumpkin Cookies - Olives + Thyme (4)

Tips and tricks for the perfect chewy pumpkin cookie

  • Read through the entire recipe before starting.
  • Brown the butter.
    • This provides another layer of flavor.
    • Use European style butter for a chewier cookie.
  • Blot the pumpkin.
    • Pumpkin contains a lot of water so skipping this step will result in more cake like cookies.
  • Chill the cookie dough.
    • This helps to hydrate the dough and makes for a chewier, more flavorful cookie.
    • Chilling can be done 8 hours or up to overnight. Make sure to keep it covered in plastic wrap while in the fridge.
    • Remove the cookie dough to come sit out at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking.
  • Use a cookie scoop.
    • This is the secret to perfectly shaped cookies.
  • Use a large circular pastry (cookie or biscuit) cutter.
    • While the cookies are still hot from the oven place a cutter that is wider than the cookie, around the cookie.
    • In a circular motion, gently nudge any imperfect edges back into the cookie.
    • Allow cookies to cool as written in the recipe.
Chewy Maple Pumpkin Cookies - Olives + Thyme (5)
Chewy Maple Pumpkin Cookies - Olives + Thyme (6)
Chewy Maple Pumpkin Cookies - Olives + Thyme (7)
Chewy Maple Pumpkin Cookies - Olives + Thyme (8)

More pumpkin recipes to try

  • Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Spiced Pumpkin Apple Bread
  • Spiced Pumpkin Bourbon Tiramisu
  • Maple Pumpkin Coffee Cake
  • Pumpkin Gingersnap Icebox Cake
  • Cheesecake Filled Pumpkin Spiced Cookies

Make sure to leave a star review below

Make sure to tag me on instagram @olivesnthyme. For more delicious dessert ideas follow me on pinterest

chewy maple pumpkin cookies

Chewy Maple Pumpkin Cookies - Olives + Thyme (10)Megan

these chewy maple pumpkin cookies are made from a maple pumpkin sugar cookie dough. they're coated in a sweet and spicy sugar. the result is a chewy, sweet and buttery pumpkin cookie that's full of delicious fall flavor!

4.50 from 59 votes

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Chill Time 8 hours hrs

Total Time 8 hours hrs 32 minutes mins

Course Celebrations, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 20 cookies

Equipment

  • mixing bowls with flexible silicone spatula or spoon

  • plastic cling wrap

  • large cookie sheet(s)

  • large cookie scoop

Ingredients

  • 2 ¼ c (270g) all purpose flour
  • 2 tsp pumpkin or chai spice blend
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 c (226g) European style unsalted butter, browned and cool but still liquid
  • 1 c (200g) light brown sugar
  • c (79ml) pure maple syrup
  • 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
  • ½ c (125g) canned pumpkin, blotted
  • 2 tsp (10ml) vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp (2.5ml) maple extract, optional

spiced sugar

  • ½ c (100g) granulated sugar
  • ½ tsp pumpkin or chai spice blend

Instructions

  • Make brown butter about an hour before you plan to make the cookies.It will need 15 minutes to make and another 15-30 to cool enough to use in the recipe.

    To make the brown butter, melt butter in a clear heavy bottom sauce pan. Once the butter starts to foam, whisk continuously until brown bits start to form. Remove from heat, pour into clean bowl and cool 30 minutes to room temperature.

  • Lay 2-3 paper towels across a wide, shallow bowl. Scoop a generous ½ c of pumpkin puree onto the paper towels. The excess water will absorb into the paper towels. Before using in the recipe, squeeze the excess water from the pumpkin.

  • Whisk the flour, spice blend of choice, baking soda and salt together until well combined. Set aside.

  • Stir the cooled brown butter, brown sugar and maple syrup together until well combined.

  • Stir in the egg yolk until well combined.

  • Stir in the pumpkin, vanilla and maple extracts until well combined.

  • Stir in the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined.

  • Cover the dough with plastic wrap. Chill the dough in the fridge for 8 hours and up to overnight.

  • Preheat the oven to 350 F (177 C). Line 1-2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper. Remove the dough from the fridge to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. This helps the dough warm a bit and will help the cookies spread better.?

  • Mix the spice mix used in the cookie dough with the sugar until well combined. Taste and adjust the balance of spices as needed.

  • Using a 2" cookie scoop, scoop cookie dough. Roll the dough in the spiced sugar mixture.

  • Place the sugar coated cookie dough balls about 2-3" apart on a parchment lined baking sheet.

  • Bake the cookies at 350 F (177 C) for 12-14 minutes.

    At 9-10 minutes, check the cookies. If they are puffier than you would like, open the oven, lift up the cookie sheet a few inches and firmly bang the pan on the oven rack a few times. Finish baking 3-4 minutes.

  • Cool the cookies on the baking sheet on top of a cooling rack for about 3-5 minutes. Remove the cookies to fully cool on the cooling rack.

Notes

Recipe updated on 11/29/21 to reflect a retest to ensure a flatter, chewier pumpkin cookie.

Keyword chewy maple pumpkin cookies, chewy pumpkin cookies, maple pumpkin cookies

did you make this recipe?tag @olivesnthyme on Instagram

Chewy Maple Pumpkin Cookies - Olives + Thyme (2025)

FAQs

What is the trick to making soft and chewy cookies? ›

Cornstarch gives the cookies that ultra soft consistency we all love. Plus, it helps keep the cookies beautifully thick. We use the same trick when making shortbread cookies. Egg yolk: Another way to promise a super chewy chocolate chip cookie is to use an extra egg yolk.

How to make chewy vs crunchy cookies? ›

Remember moisture is the key! White sugar creates crispier cookies and brown sugar creates chewier cookies. Why use melted butter? Melted butter creates cookies with a different texture compared to cookies made with softened or creamed butter.

What ingredient adds a chewy texture to cookies? ›

If you enjoy your cookies soft and chewy, chances are likely the recipe contains a common ingredient that serves a very specific purpose. No, it's not granulated sugar, nor the butter. It's not the egg, all-purpose flour, or even the vanilla extract. The simple, yet oh-so-necessary component is cornstarch.

What is the secret ingredient to keep cookies soft? ›

Use Brown Sugar

Add two tablespoons of light or dark brown sugar to your cookie recipe. Brown sugar can hold extra moisture because of its molecular structure (science!). The glucose and fructose found in it are hygroscopic, which means they suck up and hang onto moisture and moisture = soft, chewy cookies.

What makes cookies stay soft and chewy? ›

Baking cookies quickly in a hot oven – at 375 degrees F as opposed to a lower temperature – will make for soft results. They'll bake fast instead of sitting and drying out in the oven's hot air. Ever so slightly underbaking your cookies will give you softer results than cooking them the full amount the recipe says.

What are three factors that contribute to a chewy cookie? ›

The type of flour and sugar you use, if your cookie dough contains eggs, and whether you use melted or softened butter all factor into the crispy-chewy equation, too.

What is the trick to soften hard cookies? ›

Here is the simplest method to soften hard cookies quickly in a microwave.
  1. Wrap the cookies in a paper towel.
  2. Place in the microwave for 1 minute.
  3. The paper will absorb any excess moisture.
  4. That's it! Your cookies are as deliciously warm and crisp as the day they were baked.
Oct 18, 2023

Does baking soda or powder make cookies chewy? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

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