Easy & Delicious Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cookies with Sweet Glaze

As the leaves begin to turn vibrant shades of red and gold, and a crisp coolness fills the air, there’s an undeniable call for all things pumpkin spice. Nothing quite captures the essence of autumn like the warm, comforting aroma of spices swirling through your kitchen. And what better way to embrace this cozy season than with a batch of freshly baked, irresistible Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cookies?

These aren’t just any fall cookies; they’re a delightful symphony of soft pumpkin, chewy oats, and the quintessential blend of pumpkin spice, all crowned with a sweet, luxurious glaze. Imagine biting into a cookie that’s perfectly balanced – not too sweet, wonderfully moist, and bursting with all the flavors you love about fall. They’re the ideal treat for snuggling up with a warm beverage, sharing with loved ones, or simply indulging in a moment of autumnal bliss.

This recipe is designed to be straightforward and incredibly rewarding, making it perfect for bakers of all skill levels. Even those who claim not to be fans of pumpkin often find themselves won over by these delectable cookies, a testament to their universal appeal!

Why These Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cookies Are Your New Fall Favorite

It’s official – fall is here, and with it comes a renewed love for all things pumpkin and spice. While pumpkin spice has been trending for years, there’s a good reason for its enduring popularity: it truly signifies comfort and warmth. This particular recipe for Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cookies perfectly encapsulates that feeling. It’s not just my first official fall recipe of the year (beyond my base Pumpkin Spice blend, of course), it’s a celebration of everything wonderful about the season.

What makes these cookies so special? For starters, they’re incredibly easy to whip up, meaning you can have a batch of warm, fragrant cookies ready in no time. But the real magic lies in their flavor and texture. The combination of soft pumpkin puree and chewy oats creates a cookie that’s both substantial and tender. And the feedback speaks for itself: everyone in my house absolutely adored them, even my dad, who usually steers clear of anything pumpkin-flavored! This cookie genuinely has the power to convert even the most skeptical pumpkin-hater.

The Perfect Harmony of Fall Flavors

These cookies bring together a trifecta of ingredients that are simply meant to be together:

Pumpkin Puree: More than just flavor, pumpkin puree adds incredible moisture to these cookies, keeping them soft and chewy for days. It also lends that beautiful, subtle orange hue and earthy sweetness that is distinctly autumnal.
Pumpkin Spice: This isn’t just a trend; it’s a timeless blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and sometimes allspice. It’s the very soul of fall baking, infusing every bite with a complex, aromatic warmth that is utterly inviting.
Oatmeal: The inclusion of lightly chopped oats provides that wonderful chewiness and a rustic texture that makes these cookies feel hearty and satisfying. They complement the soft pumpkin beautifully, adding depth and a delightful bite.

Gathering Your Ingredients for the Best Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cookies

To ensure your Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cookies turn out perfectly, it’s always a good idea to gather and measure all your ingredients before you start mixing. This “mise en place” approach helps streamline the baking process and prevents any last-minute scrambling. Make sure your butter is properly softened to room temperature – this is crucial for a smooth, well-combined dough. When measuring brown sugar, remember to pack it tightly into your measuring cup for the correct amount.

For the cookies, You’ll need:

2 sticks (1 cup) of softened unsalted butter
1/2 cup tightly packed light or dark brown sugar
1 cup of granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tbsp of pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup of pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
2 cups of all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons of pumpkin spice blend
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 tablespoon of baking powder
2 cups of lightly chopped old-fashioned rolled oats (quick oats can also work)

Baking Your Way to Pumpkin Spice Perfection

Once your ingredients are ready, the baking process is a breeze. Start by creaming together the softened butter with both the granulated sugar and the tightly packed brown sugar. Beat them until the mixture is light and fluffy – this incorporates air, contributing to the cookies’ texture. Next, add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition to ensure they are fully incorporated. Finally, mix in the pumpkin puree and vanilla extract until everything is smooth and beautifully fragrant.

In a separate, medium-sized bowl, it’s time to combine all your dry ingredients. Whisk together the all-purpose flour, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and the lightly chopped oats. This step ensures that all the leavening agents and spices are evenly distributed throughout the dough, leading to consistent flavor and rise in every cookie.

Now, gently combine the wet and dry ingredients. Slowly pour the dry mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed or by hand until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies. Mix until no streaks of flour remain, but stop as soon as it’s fully incorporated.

Using a medium-sized cookie scoop or two spoons, drop rounded spoonfuls of dough onto a prepared cookie sheet, leaving enough space between them for spreading. Bake these delightful pumpkin spice oatmeal cookies in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) for approximately 12 minutes. The edges should be lightly golden, and the centers should appear set but still soft. Remember, cookies continue to cook slightly even after they’re removed from the oven.

Once baked, allow the cookies to cool on the baking tray for a few minutes. This crucial step helps them set up and prevents them from breaking when you transfer them. After a short rest on the tray, carefully move them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. This ensures air circulation on all sides, resulting in perfectly cooled cookies ready for their glorious glaze!

Crafting the Irresistible Sweet Glaze

The sweet glaze is the crowning glory of these pumpkin spice oatmeal cookies, adding an extra layer of sweetness and a beautiful finish. It’s incredibly simple to make, requiring just three ingredients, but it elevates the cookies from great to absolutely exceptional. The rich, creamy texture and subtle pumpkin spice kick of the glaze perfectly complement the chewy cookies beneath.

For the Glaze, you’ll need:

A 14oz can of sweetened condensed milk
2/3 cup of powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar)
1 teaspoon of pumpkin spice

In a small bowl, pour the entire can of sweetened condensed milk. This forms the rich, sweet base of your glaze. Next, carefully measure out the powdered sugar and pumpkin spice. It is absolutely essential to sift these dry ingredients into the condensed milk. Skipping the sifting step will likely leave you with stubborn clumps in your glaze, making it difficult to achieve that smooth, velvety finish you’re aiming for. Once sifted, stir the mixture well until it’s completely smooth and all the powdered sugar and spice are fully dissolved.

Glazing Your Cookies to Perfection

With your glaze ready and your cookies cooled, it’s time for the fun part! There are a couple of ways to apply the glaze, depending on your preference for coverage and presentation. For a full, even coating, I prefer to gently dip the top of each cooled cookie into the glaze, letting any excess drip off before placing them back on the cooling rack. Allow them to rest for a while, perhaps 15-30 minutes, until the glaze sets to a slightly firm, shiny finish. This method creates a beautiful, thick layer of sweet goodness.

Alternatively, for a more artistic touch, you can drizzle the glaze over the cookies using a spoon or by transferring the glaze to a piping bag (or a ziptop bag with the corner snipped off). This creates an elegant look and still provides plenty of sweet flavor. Whichever method you choose, the sweet pumpkin spice glaze is the perfect finishing touch, bringing all the wonderful flavors of these fall cookies together.

Tips for Oatmeal Cookie Success

Don’t Overmix: Once you add the flour, mix only until just combined. Overmixing develops the gluten, leading to tougher cookies.
Properly Softened Butter: Room temperature butter (soft enough to indent with your finger, but not melted) creams best with sugar, creating a light, airy base for your cookies.
Measure Accurately: Especially with flour, spoon it into your measuring cup and level it off with a straight edge rather than scooping directly from the bag.
Don’t Overbake: These cookies are meant to be soft and chewy. They might look slightly underdone when you pull them out, but they will continue to set as they cool. Overbaking leads to dry, hard cookies.
Sift Powdered Sugar: For a lump-free glaze, always sift your powdered sugar and pumpkin spice before mixing it with condensed milk.

Customizing Your Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cookies

While these cookies are perfect as is, they’re also wonderfully adaptable. Feel free to get creative with these delicious fall treats:

Add-ins: For extra texture and flavor, consider folding in 1/2 to 1 cup of chocolate chips (white chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate all work beautifully), chopped pecans, walnuts, or dried cranberries into the dough before baking.
Spice It Up: If you love a stronger spice kick, you can slightly increase the amount of pumpkin spice or add a pinch of ground ginger or cloves to the cookie dough.
Brown Butter: For a deeper, nutty flavor, try browning your butter before cooling it slightly and using it in the recipe.
Cream Cheese Glaze: Instead of condensed milk, you could make a cream cheese frosting for an even richer topping.

Storage and Freshness

To keep your Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cookies fresh and delicious, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. If you want them to last longer, you can freeze the baked and glazed cookies for up to 3 months. Simply thaw them at room temperature before serving. You can also freeze the unbaked cookie dough in scoops; just add a couple of extra minutes to the baking time if baking from frozen.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I use fresh pumpkin instead of canned pumpkin puree?
A: While technically possible, fresh pumpkin puree can vary greatly in moisture content. For consistent results, especially in baking, canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) is highly recommended.

Q: My cookies spread too much. What happened?
A: This can happen if your butter was too soft or melted, or if your oven temperature was too low. Ensure your butter is just softened, and your oven is accurately preheated. Chilling the dough for 20-30 minutes before baking can also help prevent excessive spreading.

Q: Can I make these gluten-free?
A: Yes, you can typically substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend that contains xanthan gum. Ensure your oats are certified gluten-free as well.

Q: How do I get a perfectly smooth glaze?
A: The key is sifting the powdered sugar and pumpkin spice very well before mixing it into the condensed milk. Stir thoroughly until all lumps are gone.

Yield: 48 cookies

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cookies

Prep Time
10 minutes

Cook Time
12 minutes

Additional Time
15 minutes

Total Time
37 minutes

Ingredients

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cookies

2 sticks softened butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup tightly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp pumpkin spice
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp baking powder
2 cups lightly chopped oats

Glaze

14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp pumpkin spice
2/3 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a medium-size bowl, combine both sugars with the softened butter, add in the eggs (one at a time), add in the vanilla and pumpkin.
In a separate bowl, combine flour, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, baking soda and powder, and lightly chopped oats.
Slowly mix in the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients.
Spoon onto cookie sheet (i used a medium-sized cookie scoop) and bake for 12 minutes
For the glaze, pour the sweetened condensed milk into a bowl and sift in the powdered sugar and pumpkin spice. Stir well.
Drizzle over cookies or dip the cookies right in.

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More Fall-Inspired Recipes You’ll Love

If you’ve enjoyed these Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cookies, then you’re sure to love these other delightful fall recipes that capture the season’s best flavors. From spiced lattes to rich cakes, there’s something here for every autumn craving!