Pumpkin-Spiced Chocolate Chip Cookies with Orange Zest

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-26 · Updated 2026-04-26

Soft cookies combining warm pumpkin spice and bright orange zest with classic chocolate chips for a festive seasonal treat. This American-inspired Halloween recipe, ready in about 34 minutes, layers all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 180 calories and feeds 24, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks), softened unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp orange zest
• 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Step 2: In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/2 tsp ground ginger, and 1/2 tsp salt until evenly combined.
3. Step 3: In a large bowl, beat 1 cup softened unsalted butter, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, and 3/4 cup packed brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
4. Step 4: Add 1/2 cup pumpkin puree, 2 large eggs, 2 tsp vanilla extract, and 1 tbsp orange zest to the butter mixture and beat until smooth.
5. Step 5: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined.
6. Step 6: Fold in 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips evenly.
7. Step 7: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
8. Step 8: Bake cookies for 12-14 minutes until edges are set and lightly golden but centers remain soft.
9. Step 9: Cool cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.