Vegan Pumpkin Cookies

posted by Chef Ani on Nov 2, 2022 (last updated Jan 3, 2025)

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I am thrilled to share these wonderfully fabulous vegan pumpkin cookies. So soft, melt-in-your-mouth, decadent, and delicious, it is a cookie worth trying. Surprisingly, these cookies are super easy to make yet delightfully complex in flavor and texture; it is a joy to serve. Not to mention, these are the very best vegan pumpkin cookies ever.

Furthermore, this is the season for pumpkin cookies; just the color makes me smile. Pumpkins are everywhere, reminding us that fall is here. Nevertheless, it is a cookie perfect for any time of the year. That is to say; you can serve these vegan pumpkin cookies anytime, anywhere.

Looking for more vegan pumpkin recipes? Try my favorite vegan pumpkin bread, vegan baked donuts, pumpkin pancakes, or these vegan pumpkin scones.

Why You’ll Love These Vegan Pumpkin Cookies:

Easy & Quick to Make: Talk about an easy recipe. You’ll have these vegan pumpkin cookies on the table in no time.
Beautiful & Festive: These little festive orange color cookies will add a pop of color to your kitchen and a touch of sweetness to your life. Drizzle with this irresistible maple glaze for an even fancier cookie that pairs perfectly with the pumpkin-flavored cookie.
Delicious, decadent: Soft and delicious, these cookies are perfectly flavored with cinnamon, all-spice, and ginger, but you can also use your favorite pumpkin spice in this recipe. The secret to this vegan cookie’s soft texture is in using pumpkin puree, which helps to keep the cookies the perfect melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Soft & Tender, melt-in-your-mouth: The secret to this vegan cookie’s soft texture is in using pumpkin puree, which helps to keep the cookies the perfect melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Maple Glaze: Take these cookies to the next level by drizzling them with a tangy and sweet maple glaze before serving. Your tastebuds will thank you!

Looking for even more pumpkin recipes? Try my vegan pumpkin pie bites, pumpkin pie, or pumpkin oatmeal.

Homemade pumpkin cookies with maple drizzle

What is a Vegan Pumpkin Cookie?

A Vegan Pumpkin Cookie is a cookie made without animal products, flavored with pumpkin puree and fall spices, such as cinnamon, all-spice, and ginger. You can serve them as is or drizzle them with a glaze for a pretty presentation. Vegan pumpkin cookies are served mainly in the fall when pumpkin is in season, but I like to eat them year-round as they are truly remarkable in flavor and soft texture.

So, let’s look at the ingredients you will need to make this vegan pumpkin cookie recipe and some substitutions in case you don’t have all of the ingredients.

Vegan Margarine or Vegan Butter: I like to use earth balance in this cookie recipe, but you can experiment with using other plant-based and vegan butter recipes.
Sugar: All-natural cane sugar works beautifully to sweeten the cookies in this recipe, but you can also try making the recipe with vegan granulated sugar, brown sugar, or coconut sugar, although the color and flavor may change depending on which sugar you use.
Pumpkin Purée: I like to use Libby’s Canned Pumpkin Puree, which gives these vegan pumpkin cookies their bright orange color, soft interior, and pumpkin flavor.
Flour: I use King Arthur’s All-Purpose Flour in this recipe, but you can use your favorite flour brand or even Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 gluten-free baking flour for a gluten-free alternative.
Baking Powder: This helps the cookies to raise and puff up in the oven.
Spices: I like to use a combination of cinnamon, all-spice, and ground ginger in this recipe for a warm and spiced aroma and flavor. You can also try using pumpkin spice or pumpkin pie spice for a similar taste.
Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste adds a lot to the flavor of these vegan cookies.
Salt: This helps to balance out the flavor of the cookies.
Plant-Based Milk: I like to use almond milk, in this recipe, but you can also use soy milk or your favorite brand of vegan milk.

Here are some other Vegan Cookie Recipes you may like to try. Craving a citrusy lemon crinkle cookie or a nutty raspberry almond thumbprint cookie? Here are the recipes for you and don’t forget to try out my vegan spritz cookies or gingerbread crinkle cookies for a festive treat.

How to Make Vegan Pumpkin Cookies:

Step one: Start by creaming together the margarine and sugar. Next, add the pumpkin purée and vanilla. It may be useful to use a hand mixer or stand mixer for this, though it is possible to do by hand. Your hand may get a little tired:)

Step two: Mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, all-spice, ginger, and salt in a separate bowl.

Step three: Add the flour mixture and milk, alternately, a little at a time, to the creamed margarine mixture and stir until combined. The cookie dough will be a littler wetter than usual, but this is the way you want it. We want soft and moist cookies.

Adding the dry mixture to the wet mixture

Step four: Use a small ice cream scoop to drop the cookie dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake until golden brown.

Scooping the cookie dough on a cookie sheet tray

Tips and Tricks to Make the Best Vegan Pumpkin Cookies

Carefully Measure: Taking some extra care to measure your ingredients can make a HUGE difference in the final baked good. I like to stir my flour before measuring it as it can become compact as it sits in the cupboard.
Don’t Overmix: When adding the dry and wet mixtures together, only mix until there are no visible flour pockets left. Overmixing can result in a tough cookie.
Use a Cookie Scoop: A cookie scoop will help ensure the cookies are all the same size; they will bake more evenly in the oven.
Space the Cookies: Give the cookies an inch or two between them so they have enough room to expand and will not smush together.

How to Make the Maple Glaze:

Let the vegan pumpkin cookies cool completely before adding the maple frosting. In a small bowl, mix together the maple syrup, fresh lemon juice, and powdered sugar to make a nice glaze to drizzle over the cookies. This is the perfect way to take these pumpkin cookies to the next level.

Drizzling maple glaze over the vegan pumpkin cookies

Drizzling maple glaze over the pumpkin cookies

Here are some recipe ideas and variations if you are looking for ways to make a twist off of this recipe. Get creative and enjoy exploring the world of soft pumpkin cookies.

Carob or Chocolate Chips: Sprinkle in a few carob or chocolate chips in the cookie dough to make delicious vegan pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Biting into a melty chocolate chunk will add a nice component to this recipe.
Oats: Love oatmeal cookies? Add some oats to make pumpkin oatmeal cookies, which is a fun twist on a classic recipe.
Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting: Instead of making a maple frosting, try making a vegan cream cheese frosting for these delicious vegan pumpkin cookies.
Nuts: Like a crunch to your cookies? Try adding some chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans to this easy vegan cookie dough recipe. You can also try incorporating nut butter, like almond butter, for a nutty flavor twist. Here is my favorite recipe for homemade cashew butter. You will love it!
Ice Cream: Serve these pumpkin spice cookies with vegan ice cream or scoop a spoonful of ice cream between two cookies for a vegan pumpkin cookie sandwich. Kids will love it!

Allergy-Friendly Options:

Gluten-Free:

Substitute the flour with 1:1 all-purpose Gluten Free Flour. Bob’s Red Mill has a good option.

Soy-Free:

Use a plant-based milk that does not contain soy.

Nut-Free:

Use soy milk or rice milk.

A vegan pumpkin cookie with a bite taken out of it

Serving Suggestions:

Maple Frosting: These vegan pumpkin cookies are delicious plain, but even more so when adding the maple lemon glaze. Drizzle the glaze over the top in various designs.
Hot Drinks: Serve these adorable cookies with hot spiced apple cider or my favorite hot lemonade for a perfect flavor combination.
Pumpkin Platter: Make a festive pumpkin platter with a variety of delicious vegan pumpkin treats. Serve the cookies with vegan pumpkin scones, pumpkin donuts, vegan pumpkin spice cake, pumpkin pie bites, and slices of vegan pumpkin bread for a pumpkin display that will blow your guests away.
Vegan Milk: A glass of cold homemade almond milk or oat milk will pair beautifully with these pumpkin spice cookies.

What is a Pumpkin?

Pumpkin is a winter squash, usually deep orange or yellow in color. It is actually a fruit, more specifically a berry, though often thought of as a vegetable. Pumpkins are traditionally used to make soups, desserts, and breads

Health Benefits of Pumpkin:

Pumpkin is highly nutritious and high in vitamin A and vitamin C. It is high in antioxidants and a great immune booster because of its high levels of beta-carotene. Pumpkin is also low in calories and contains fiber. (1)

How to Store Soft Pumpkin Cookies:

On the Kitchen Counter: Vegan Pumpkin cookies can be stored in an air-tight container on the counter for a day or two.
In the Fridge: They can also be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
In the Freezer: Store in a freezer container and freeze for up to 3 months.

Vegan pumpkin cookies with maple frosting on a cooling rack

Special Equipment or Tools:

You probably already have everything you need to make these soft pumpkin cookies, but here is a list if you need some suggestions.

Hand Mixer: A handheld mixer is useful for this recipe. It is a great tool for creaming margarine and sugar, but you can also mix it by hand using a little extra elbow grease if you don’t have a mixer.
Cookie Scoop: A small ice-cream scoop is helpful in making the cookies uniform.
Mixing Bowls: I like to use these glass mixing bowls when making these cookies, but you can use your favorite medium to large mixing bowls for this recipe.
Wooden Spoon and Spatula: A wooden spoon and spatula will be helpful when mixing the ingredients together.
Cookie Sheet: My favorite baking sheets for cookies is Nordic Ware Half Sheets. They ensure the cookies are baked evenly.
Parchment Paper: A must for preventing sticking and making cleanup quick and hassle-free. Another option is to use these reusable silicon baking mats.

FAQs

Can I make these vegan pumpkin cookies gluten free?

Yes!! Use a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour like Bob’s Red Mill, and make sure that you use a baking powder that is also gluten-free.

Can I freeze these cookies?

Yes! Place the cookies in a freezer-safe container or plastic bag and freeze for up to 3 months.