Pumpkin-Spiced Chocolate Chip Cookies with Brown Butter
Soft cookies infused with pumpkin puree and warm pumpkin spice, enriched by nutty brown butter and studded with semi-sweet chocolate chips. This american-inspired halloween ready in about 34 minutes pairs (2 sticks) unsalted butter, pumpkin puree, granulated sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 120 calories and feeds 24, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Step 1: In a medium saucepan, melt 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter over medium heat, swirling occasionally until butter foams and turns golden brown with a nutty aroma (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and cool slightly.
- Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup pumpkin puree, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 1 large egg, and 1 tsp vanilla extract until smooth.
- Step 3: Stir the cooled brown butter into the pumpkin mixture until fully combined.
- Step 4: In a separate bowl, sift together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, and 1/2 tsp salt.
- Step 5: Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined, then gently fold in 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Step 6: Chill dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm up.
- Step 7: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Step 8: Scoop dough with a tablespoon into 1 1/2-inch mounds, spacing them 2 inches apart. Bake for 12-14 minutes until edges are set and tops are slightly cracked.
- Step 9: Cool cookies on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Pumpkin-Spiced Chocolate Chip Cookies with Brown Butter take to make?
Total time is about 34 minutes (20 min prep + 14 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Pumpkin-Spiced Chocolate Chip Cookies with Brown Butter?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep (2 sticks) unsalted butter from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Pumpkin-Spiced Chocolate Chip Cookies with Brown Butter?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Pumpkin-Spiced Chocolate Chip Cookies with Brown Butter for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 24 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 24). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Pumpkin-Spiced Chocolate Chip Cookies with Brown Butter?
American halloween like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
My kids devoured these at our pumpkin patch party. The spice blend was spot-on.
- ★★★★★
Simple to make, but wow—those brown butter notes made them taste bakery-quality.
- ★★★★★
This is my new holiday staple. The chocolate chips melted just right into the spiced dough.