If you need a quick fall treat, these no bake pumpkin cookies are a perfect choice. They take mere minutes to make and are sweet, chewy and oh so good!
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Much as I enjoy summer, I have also been loving the lower temperatures that have let me use the oven more. We've been enjoying some favorite meals like braised lamb shanks, moussaka and roasted meats and vegetables, like maple roasted buttercup squash. Plus I've made the odd excuse to do some baking.
But don’t worry, if you're not a baker or still have high temperatures, you can still get in the fall spirit without turning the oven on.
These no bake pumpkin cookies take mere minutes to make and are sweet, chewy and delicious.
A love of pumpkin
I don’t know about you, but it feels like pumpkin fever just gets bigger each year. In truth, we do love pumpkin so I can get on board, although we are more fans of 'real' pumpkin rather than just pumpkin spice.
Some favorites from previous years include chocolate pumpkin pastry twists, pumpkin pasta and kaddo bowrani (Afghan pumpkin side).
This year we've loved adding pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin halwa and more to the list. These cookies were also an instant hit.
Steps to make these no bake pumpkin cookies
These no bake cookies could hardly be easier to make:
- Mix the sugar, butter, pumpkin and milk in a small pan and bring to a simmer;
- Add the oats and spice and mix well;
- Take scoops of the mixture, form in to flat ball and set on a baking sheet.
The hardest part of this recipe is waiting for them to cool!
I have a confession to make at this point, we ate them when they were still warm. My taste-testers and I were just that bit too excited to give them a try, and once we did, it was hard not to have another one.
But we resisted and then also enjoyed more later, so I can guarantee these cookies work well either way! The benefit of waiting for no bake cookies to cool is they hold together a bit better, but whatever works. I clearly am in no place to judge.
Optional add-ins to these cookies
This recipe is relatively simple and while it's most definitely delicious as it is, you can easily add things to it. Think of it as a base recipe. For example try:
- chopped nuts like pecans, almonds or walnuts;
- chocolate or caramel chips;
- dried fruit like cranberries, dried cherries or raisins.
Personally, I can’t wait to experiment, and I know I have plenty willing taste-testers. This recipe is a great one to add to your list and is perfect for so many occasions. Make some for a fall party, after school treats or morning pick-me-ups.
They’ve already been taste-tested by my kids' friends and parents with big thumbs up all round. Just to add to their flexibility, these cookies are also gluten free, provided you use gluten free oats.
These no bake pumpkin cookies are so easy to make and the result is such a tasty little bite. Perfect for kids, big and small, to both make and enjoy, they’ll be a regular on your table.
Try these other no bake treats:
- Cranberry truffles
- Lemon slice (a cookie bar with coconut and a lemon frosting)
- Carrot cake energy bites
- Blueberry raspberry chocolate bark
- Plus get more ideas to fill the snack gap in the snack recipes archives.
No bake pumpkin cookies
Ingredients
- ¼ cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoon milk
- ½ cup sugar (or 1tbsp/15g less)
- ½ cup quick oats approx (1 minute oats)
- 1 ½ cups old fashioned oats approx (rolled oats)
- ¼ teaspoon pumpkin spice (or a mix of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg)
- 1 pinch salt
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with either a silicone mat or wax paper.
- Put the pumpkin puree, butter, milk and sugar in a small pan and warm over a medium heat. Bring to a simmer and boil for around a minute. Remove from heat.
- Meanwhile, put both kinds of oats in a bowl, add the pumpkin spice and salt and mix through.
- Add the vanilla to the pumpkin-butter mixture and add it to the bowl with the oats. Mix well.
- Take spoonfuls of the mixture (I used a slightly heaped tablespoon measure) and press together slightly as you form into a slightly flattened ball. Set on the prepared baking sheet and allow to cool.
Video
Nutrition
See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store.
See more pumpkin ideas:
- Chicken, Pumpkin, and Bean Enchiladas from Karen's Kitchen Stories
- Coconut Curry Roast Pumpkins from Food Lust People Love
- Pumpkin Saffron Rice from Palatable Pastime
- Roasted Kabocha (Japanese Pumpkin) Fries from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
kathi
I'm gonna try these substituting persimmon for the pumpkin.
Caroline's Cooking
Ooh, I can see that working too!
Barrie Mooney
I have to try making these- what a good idea and I love the no-bake for making with the kids!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, they are perfect for little ones to try (and mine were all over eating them too!)
Cindy
Oh these look really yummy. I love the idea of not heating up the kitchen right now. I live in a hot climate and though it's fall, it doesn't feel that way yet.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, yes these are perfect if you are somewhere warmer.
Lynda Hardy
These are my idea of Autumn comfort food! I like the idea of adding some nuts and cranberries.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, there are so many possibilities to adapt these!
Karen
I could definitely eat these for breakfast! They sound great!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, they're good any time!
Michelle
I'm a fan of real pumpkin too! I love these perfect for making with the kids and I think I would struggle to wait too before tucking in.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, we struggled to wait, but they were good either way 🙂
Sue Lau
I bet the kids ate these up in no time flat!
Caroline's Cooking
They did indeed!
Lauren Vavala @ DeliciousLittleBites
What a great idea! I love no bake cookies but haven't seen a pumpkin one before! Yum!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, it works really well!
Wendy Klik
These will be a fun project for Marissa and the Little Miss.
Caroline's Cooking
Yes, I can see it being fun!
Katie
What a great idea! These would be wonderful for a bake sale!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, and yes I agree!
Catherine Brown
These sound fantastic! I think I'd have to toss in some nuts too!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, and yes nuts would be great in there I think.
ali randall
Yum...these look easy to make and delicious. I'll take a dozen 😉
Caroline's Cooking
Go right ahead 🙂
TINA
Hi is the calorie intake 96 calories for 1 cookie or the whole batch?
Caroline's Cooking
Hi, It's per cookie, assuming you get 15 as in the number of servings.