I absolutely love this Pumpkin S’mores Cookies Recipe because it combines two of my all-time favorite fall treats into one cozy bite. The warm, spiced pumpkin dough paired with melty marshmallows, crunchy graham crackers, and rich chocolate chips creates a delightful contrast that’s perfect for chilly afternoons or a sweet end to any meal. Whenever the leaves start to turn, these cookies have a way of making my kitchen feel snug and inviting.
You’ll find that this Pumpkin S’mores Cookies Recipe is not only fun to make but perfect for sharing at seasonal gatherings or simply enjoying with a cup of coffee by yourself. The best part is how accessible the ingredients are, yet the flavor feels special and festive. Trust me, once you try them, they’re bound to become your fall cookie staple.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Seasonal Flavor Delight: This recipe beautifully blends pumpkin spice with nostalgic s’mores flavors, creating a unique fall treat you’ll crave.
- Easy to Make: With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, it’s a great bake for beginners and seasoned bakers alike.
- Perfect Texture: Soft cookie centers with slightly crisp edges and gooey marshmallows – a texture that’s just right every time.
- Great for Sharing: These cookies store well and make wonderful gifts or party treats that everyone will ask for again.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each ingredient plays a role in achieving that perfect balance of rich pumpkin flavor and classic s’mores goodness. You’ll want to use fresh pumpkin puree for the best taste, and trust me, using mini marshmallows makes all the difference in nailing that gooey texture.
- Unsalted butter: Room temperature butter creams beautifully with sugars, giving your cookies that tender crumb.
- Brown sugar: Adds moisture and a deeper caramel note that complements the pumpkin spice.
- Granulated sugar: Helps with structure and sweetness, balancing the flavors.
- Pumpkin puree: The heart of the recipe – I always use canned pumpkin for consistency, but homemade works too.
- Egg: Binds the dough and adds richness; be sure to use a large egg for proper balance.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances all the warm spices and sweet flavors.
- All-purpose flour: The base for your cookies; don’t substitute with self-rising flour to maintain texture.
- Baking soda: Gives these cookies a little lift and softness.
- Pumpkin pie spice: The magic blend that brings cozy autumn vibes.
- Salt: Just a pinch to balance out sweetness and bring depth.
- Chocolate chips: Use semi-sweet or milk chocolate – whichever you prefer for gooey pockets of chocolate.
- Mini marshmallows: These little guys melt just right without turning the dough gummy.
- Graham crackers: Broken into small pieces for that real s’mores crunch inside your cookie.
- Food coloring (orange, optional): A fun touch if you want more vivid autumn colors, but totally optional.
Variations
I love tweaking this Pumpkin S’mores Cookies Recipe depending on my mood and what I have on hand. Feel free to make it your own — the base is super forgiving and welcomes creative spins!
- Gluten-Free Version: I swapped in a gluten-free flour blend once with great results; just make sure it includes xanthan gum for structure.
- Vegan Adaptation: I’ve tried using vegan butter and egg replacers along with vegan marshmallows, and it still bakes up beautifully.
- Extra Chocolatey: My family goes crazy when I double the chocolate chips and sprinkle some sea salt on top before baking.
- Spice it Up: If you want a bolder spice note, add a pinch of cayenne – it adds a subtle warmth that surprises your palate.
How to Make Pumpkin S’mores Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Cream Your Butters and Sugars
Start by softening your butter so it creams easily. I usually leave it out at room temperature for about an hour. Using a hand or stand mixer, beat the unsalted butter with the brown sugar and granulated sugar until the mixture is light, creamy, and fluffy. This step is key for a tender cookie with good rise.
Step 2: Mix in Pumpkin, Egg, and Vanilla
Next, add your pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla extract to the creamed sugar and butter. If you’re using that orange food coloring, this is when you toss it in — just a drop or two will do! Beat everything together until smooth, making sure the pumpkin is fully incorporated. The dough will smell amazing already.
Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together your flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. This ensures even distribution of the leavening and spices so each cookie has consistent flavor and texture.
Step 4: Bring it All Together & Fold in the S’mores
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Be careful not to over mix—overworked dough can lead to tough cookies, and we want them tender! Then fold in chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and the broken graham cracker pieces. This step is my favorite because you get those little pockets of sweet and crunch to discover in every bite.
Step 5: Scoop and Finish with Extra Toppings
Use a small cookie scoop or a spoon to drop dough balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Press a few extra mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, or graham cracker crumbs into the tops of the dough balls—they’ll look gorgeous and add even more gooey texture.
Step 6: Bake and Cool
Bake at 350°F for 12 to 14 minutes. Keep an eye on the cookies — the edges should turn golden while the centers remain soft and slightly puffy. After taking them out, let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This cooling time helps prevent them from breaking apart and lets the marshmallows set just right.
Pro Tips for Making Pumpkin S’mores Cookies Recipe
- Use Room Temperature Ingredients: I found that starting with butter and egg at room temp helps mix everything smoothly without overworking the dough.
- Don’t Skip the Graham Crackers: Adding actual graham pieces inside the dough gives these cookies that authentic s’mores crunch and balances the soft marshmallow.
- Watch the Baking Time: Remove cookies as soon as edges begin to brown – the centers might look a tad underdone but they’ll firm up perfectly when cooled.
- Use Vegan Marshmallows if Needed: They hold their shape better when baked, helping you avoid the marshmallows melting too much into the dough.
How to Serve Pumpkin S’mores Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I usually sprinkle a few more mini marshmallows and crushed graham crackers on top right before serving because it adds extra texture and looks super cute. A light drizzle of melted chocolate makes for a fun garnish if you’re feeling fancy, too!
Side Dishes
These cookies pair wonderfully with a hot cup of chai tea or a creamy latte. I also love serving them alongside vanilla ice cream or a simple bowl of spiced apple cider for the ultimate cozy snack experience.
Creative Ways to Present
For seasonal parties, I like arranging them on a rustic wooden board with mini pumpkins and autumn leaves scattered around. Wrapping each cookie individually in parchment paper tied with twine makes for an adorable gift or party favor. Kids love when I assemble little s’mores cookie sandwiches with marshmallow fluff squished between two cookies!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, layered with parchment paper to keep them from sticking. They stay fresh and soft for about 3-4 days, but honestly, they rarely last that long in my house!
Freezing
If you want to prep ahead, these cookies freeze well either baked or as dough balls. I wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and pop it in a resealable freezer bag for up to three months. When you’re ready to bake, just thaw in the fridge overnight and bake as usual.
Reheating
To warm leftovers, I pop a cookie in the microwave for about 10 seconds or until the marshmallows soften again. If you want a slightly crisp edge, a quick 5-minute toast in a 300°F oven works wonders without drying the cookie out.
FAQs
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Can I use fresh pumpkin instead of canned pumpkin puree?
Yes! If you have fresh pumpkin, roast and puree it until smooth. Just make sure it’s drained well because fresh pumpkin can contain more moisture than canned, which might affect the dough consistency.
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Will the marshmallows melt completely in the cookies?
Mini marshmallows usually soften and get gooey but don’t totally melt away, which is what gives the cookie that trademark s’mores texture. If you want marshmallows that keep their shape even better, try using vegan marshmallows—they tend to hold up nicely during baking.
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Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Absolutely! Substituting with a gluten-free flour blend that includes xanthan gum works well. Just keep an eye on the texture since gluten-free doughs can behave a bit differently, but these cookies still turn out delicious.
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How long do Pumpkin S’mores Cookies keep fresh?
Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, they keep fresh for about 3-4 days. Beyond that, they can start to lose their soft texture, but freezing is a great option if you want to extend their shelf life.
Final Thoughts
Sharing this Pumpkin S’mores Cookies Recipe feels like passing along a little bit of cozy fall magic. It’s become one of my go-to recipes every autumn because it’s easy, forgiving, and always a crowd-pleaser. I hope you’ll give it a try and enjoy that warm, gooey bite of pumpkin and s’mores as much as my family and I do. Trust me, once these are in your rotation, fall baking won’t be the same without them!
PrintPumpkin S’mores Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Pumpkin S’mores Cookies are a delightful twist on the classic campfire treat, combining the warm spices of pumpkin pie with gooey marshmallows, rich chocolate chips, and crunchy graham cracker pieces. Perfectly soft and chewy, these cookies bring autumn flavors and nostalgic s’mores elements together for a festive fall dessert.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 Cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- ¾ Cup brown sugar packed
- ¼ Cup granulated sugar
- ½ Cup pumpkin puree
- 1 large egg
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ Cups all-purpose flour
- 1 Teaspoon baking soda
- 1 Teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ½ Teaspoon salt
- 1 Cup chocolate chips
- 1 Cup mini marshmallows
- 8 graham crackers broken into small pieces
- 1 Teaspoon food coloring orange, optional
Optional Toppings
- ½ Cup chocolate chips
- Mini marshmallows
- Graham crackers crushed
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes using an electric mixer.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated. If using orange food coloring, add a drop or two at this step to achieve the desired color.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt until evenly mixed.
- Mix Dry into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet pumpkin mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Take care not to overmix to maintain cookie tenderness.
- Fold in Mix-ins: Gently fold the chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and broken graham cracker pieces into the dough, distributing them evenly throughout.
- Portion Dough: Using a small cookie scoop or spoon, drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing each about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Add Toppings: Press a few extra mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, and/or graham cracker pieces onto the top of each cookie dough ball for added texture and appearance.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown while the centers remain soft and chewy.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for several minutes to set because they will be delicate when hot.
- Transfer to Rack: Carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before serving. This helps maintain their texture and prevents them from becoming soggy.
- Serve: Enjoy the pumpkin s’mores cookies at room temperature for the best flavor and texture experience.
Notes
- Non-melting marshmallows: Use vegan mini marshmallows if you prefer marshmallows that maintain their shape during baking rather than melting into the dough.
- Orange food coloring: This is optional and a small amount goes a long way. Add drops gradually for the perfect pumpkin-orange hue.
- Cooling the cookies: Let cookies cool on the baking sheet initially, as they are delicate when hot, then transfer to a wire rack to cool fully for the best texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
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