Small Batch Pumpkin Cookies is a recipe you need in your arsenal for those days you want to practice portion control while still enjoying the best pumpkin chocolate chip cookies ever. These cookies are soft and cake-like– almost like the top of a muffin.
Small Batch Pumpkin Cookies
Why not just make a large batch? Well, there are plenty of recipes for a big batch of pumpkin cookies. In fact, I’ve got a recipe for cake-like, thick, Bakery Style Pumpkin Cookies and another Pumpkin Cookies recipe that isn’t cakey at all. I’ve even got a recipe that requires only four ingredients to make: Pumpkin Cookies With a Cake Mix. And those are the ideal recipes to make when you want to share with a crowd.
However, there are times where you might not need cookies to share but still have a craving to satisfy. And you might not want the leftover 2 dozen tempting you from the counter. My self-control in those situations is less than commendable.
Or do you have the self-control of a champion, but don’t want to store cookies or deal with freezing and thawing them? Then yes, small batch pumpkin cookies are going to come in handy.
I will warn you though: these cookies are dangerously addictive. They might turn into an addiction that doesn’t actually end up limiting your cookie intake. Because if you make them every single day…well… #portioncontrolfail
How to make Small Batch Pumpkin Cookies:
- Whisk together wet ingredients: Combine the brown sugar, white sugar, vanilla extract, vegetable oil, 1 large egg yolk, and pumpkin puree with a fork.
- Once smooth, we’ll add in dry ingredients: Salt, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, flour, and chocolate chips.
- Measure: Throughout the process of making these Small Batch Pumpkin Cookies, we’ll be using the 1 tablespoon measuring spoon; first we’ll use it to measure dry ingredients, and then, we’ll measure cookie dough balls with it. This recipe will make 4-5 miniature cookies.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, remove them from the oven, and allow them to cool.
Quick Tip
Pumpkin purée is made from cooked pumpkin and nothing else. Pumpkin pie filling, on the other hand, is made from pumpkin purée AND sweetener, milk, and seasonings. Just pour it into a pie shell and bake. They’re both wonderful products, but they fill different needs. This recipe requires cooked pumpkin, not the pie filling. Be sure to check the label and get the correct product.
How to use leftover pumpkin:
With all that leftover pumpkin, you have lots of options for how to use it up. Below are some of our favorites!
- Healthy options: Pumpkin Overnight Oats or this Pumpkin Protein Shake
- Cakes: Pumpkin Cake, Pumpkin Cupcakes, Pumpkin Coffee Cake
- Most popular pumpkin recipes: Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars, Healthy Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
How to use leftover egg white:
This Small Batch Pumpkin Cookies recipe leaves you with an egg white. While you can discard that egg white, there are plenty of ways to use it.
- The Kitchn has compiled a whole list of ways to use up leftover egg whites.
- My favorite way is in these meringue cookies; they’re the best!
- I’ll also sometimes add the extra egg whites to my oatmeal in the morning to boost the protein.
Small Batch Pumpkin Cookies tips
I mean, these small batch pumpkin cookies are not complicated, but here are a few quick notes to ensure success!
- Use good quality, not watery pumpkin: my favorite is Libby’s® Canned Pumpkin (not sponsored). It’s always been reliably consistent in quality. If the pumpkin is watery, it will affect the cookie taste. Dab excess water off of overly wet pumpkin for best results.
- While we’re talking pumpkin, make sure it is canned pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. Pie filling has extra ingredients that we don’t need in this recipe.
- Measure precisely: With such small quantities, accurate measurements are super important. Don’t eyeball it on this recipe. If you need a good set of measuring cups and spoons, I recommend this Amco set. They won’t stain and they can go in the dishwasher.
More Pumpkin Recipes:
- Pumpkin Bars—with cream cheese frosting
- Pumpkin Waffles—smells like autumn!
- Pumpkin Carrot Cake—taking it up to a whole new level!
- Pumpkin Muffins—a great way to start the morning!
- Pumpkin Creme Brulee—dessert with a pumpkin twist!
Small Batch Pumpkin Cookies
Equipment
- Sheet pan
- Parchment paper or a silicon baking mat
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 1 large egg yolk save the whites for another recipe or discard
- 4 teaspoons canned pumpkin not pumpkin pie filling; use Libby’s for best results
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2-1/2 tablespoons chocolate chips milk chocolate, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat.
- In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla, vegetable oil, egg yolk, and pumpkin. Mix until smooth. (See note 1.)
- Add salt, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, flour, and chocolate chips. Stir until smooth.
- Use a tablespoon measure to scoop 4–5 small cookies out of the dough on to the prepared sheet pan. The dough will be sticky. Bake 8–10 minutes or until no longer glossy on top.
- Remove from oven and let stand on the cookie sheet for 3–5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. If desired, press a few more chocolate chips into the tops of the cookies. Let cool before eating.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Thanks for all the wonderful recipes. Just what I’ve been searching for. Sorry that you have to do all the work creating these delightful recipes. Now we can repeat your recipes and enjoy you’re sweet work. Thanks Arlene
I’m so thrilled you’ve been enjoying the recipe Arlene! 🙂 Thank you so much!
Is this a healthy recipe?
Healthy in the sense of portion control 🙂
These look delicious and I can’t wait to make them! How many calories?!
Thank you Sheridan! I don’t have the nutritional facts for these cookies, but I would recommend using My Fitness Pal to plug in the ingredients and get those values 🙂
I have eaten (and baked) lots of cookies in my life, but these…are the BEST cookies EVER. I love how soft and cakey they turned out, and that there was delicious warm chocolate in every bite. I made two batches and got 6 good-sized cookies. I was especially thrilled they turned out well because I was having bad luck baking with pumpkin puree for some other recipes. But I’ll have to make them again because someone swiped a couple of mine and I was most upset lol. Thank you for this amazing recipe! 🙂
YAY! That is so great to hear 🙂 I’m so, so glad you enjoyed these and they worked out so well! Thanks for the comment 🙂
These look amazing and I’d like to make a larger batch to share with friends. Do you have a recipe for a full batch of these yummy goodies?
Hey Jenn! I actually do have a pumpkin cookie recipe I’ve been working on for quite some time! I hope to have it published mid-September. It’s for non-cakey pumpkin cookies so I’m not sure if that’s what you are looking for. These ones are definitely more cakey like a typical pumpkin cookie..
These came out more cake-like than cookies, but still super soft, moist and delicious! It made 3 large rounds for me. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful recipe! YUMMM
Thanks so much for the comment! Glad to hear you liked these 🙂
Thanks for such a satisfying recipe! These just came out of the oven and I couldn’t resist trying one. Yum! I have already pinned and am looking forward to making your single serving of chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. Can’t wait!
YAY! So glad to hear you loved them 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment and I hope you love the chocolate chip oatmeal ones 🙂
This sated my two strongest addictions…pumpkin treats, and chocolate while still being nutritious and guilt free. I’m going to school to be a Dietitian so I love finding fun healthy treats like this to indulge in. All my friends bust on me for being “weird” and changing up regular dishes to contain more raw foods or less empty calorie sources but I just say they don’t know what they’re missing.
“p.s.” Don’t keep these within sight after a long run, they won’t last an hour.
Haha thanks for such a fun comment! SO glad to hear you enjoyed these and thanks for the review! And I totally agree on changing up regular dishes – it’s so fun!!
Do you have a whole batch recipe–I could never make just 2 cookies.
These look so good! And I love the single serving size!!!!! I hardly ever make a full batch of cookies or anything because I feel way too tempted to eat them ALL (instantly! lol) so I love this!!!! 🙂
Haha those were my thoughts when I decided to do single-serving cookies. Having a whole batch is way too tempting! Thanks for stopping by Maria 🙂