Irresistible Cookie Recipes You Should Make for Thanksgiving

Introduction

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to bake up a storm and delight your friends and family with a spread of cookies that celebrate the flavors of fall. Whether you love classics or are looking for something new to add to your dessert table, these cookie recipes will be the highlight of your Thanksgiving next week. From warm spices to chewy textures, each cookie promises to be a crowd pleaser and an easy addition to your holiday baking plans.

Fall-Inspired Cookie Flavors for Every Baker

These cookie recipes stand out with flavors that capture the very essence of the season: cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, and toasty nuts. What makes them extra special is their versatility—they’re delicious on their own, but can easily dress up your dessert platter alongside pies and cakes. Plus, cookies are always a holiday hit because they’re fuss-free, easy to portion, and guaranteed to disappear fast!

Tips for Perfect Thanksgiving Cookie Baking

Choose recipes that can be made ahead and even frozen to save time on busy holiday mornings. Make sure you use high-quality spices and fresh add-ins like nuts or chocolate chips for bold flavor. For the best texture, don’t overbake—most cookies will finish setting as they cool on the pan.

Thanksgiving Cookie Recipes to Try This Fall

Here are three must-try cookie recipes for your Thanksgiving baking list in 2025:

• Chewy Pumpkin Spice Cookies: Soft and spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, these cookies pair perfectly with hot apple cider.
• Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies: The bright tartness of cranberry balances sweet, creamy white chocolate for a festive bite.
• Maple Pecan Shortbread: Buttery shortbread with crunchy pecans and a drizzle of real maple glaze—an instant classic on any holiday tray.

For Chewy Pumpkin Spice Cookies:
– 2 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
– 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
– 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
– 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
– 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
– 1/2 cup brown sugar
– 1/2 cup granulated sugar
– 1 egg
– 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies:
– 1 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
– 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
– 1/2 cup brown sugar
– 1/4 cup granulated sugar
– 1 large egg
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 1 cup dried cranberries
– 1/2 cup white chocolate chips

For Maple Pecan Shortbread:
– 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
– 1/2 cup powdered sugar
– 2 cups all-purpose flour
– 1/4 teaspoon salt
– 1 cup chopped pecans
– 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save these recipes to generate a smart shopping list—all ingredients, automatically organized by store aisle. Make your Thanksgiving grocery trip stress-free and efficient!

Instructions

1. For Chewy Pumpkin Spice Cookies:
   Mix flour, baking soda, and spices. In another bowl, cream butter and sugars, add egg, pumpkin, and vanilla. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Scoop onto baking sheets and bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.
2. For Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies:
   Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt. Beat butter and sugars. Add egg and vanilla, then dry mix. Fold in cranberries and white chocolate chips. Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.
3. For Maple Pecan Shortbread:
   Beat butter and powdered sugar. Mix in flour and salt, then stir in pecans and maple syrup. Roll dough into logs, chill, slice, and bake at 325°F for 15 minutes.

Weekly Meal Planning

Baking multiple cookies for Thanksgiving? Streamline your shopping and prepping! Add these cookies to your weekly meal plan with CookifyAI—combine ingredient lists from every recipe you’re making to get automatically grouped grocery lists and precise prep schedules.

Planning Benefits:

• Effortlessly combines overlapping ingredients so you only buy what you need
• Organizes grocery lists by store section for faster shopping trips
• Prevents missing key ingredients on the big day
• Makes holiday meal prep smoother and more relaxed

Pro tip: Schedule all your Thanksgiving baking recipes in CookifyAI to see real-time ingredient totals—no more overbuying sugar, flour, or eggs!

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10–15 minutes per batch
Total Time: About 1 hour per recipe (including cooling time)

Prepare a batch (or three!) of these festive cookies, and watch your Thanksgiving dessert table come alive. Happy fall baking!