Warm chai spices plus earthy, sweet pumpkin make for an unforgettable remix of the classic snickerdoodle cookie recipe you'll want to bake every fall. Originally posted September 2017. Last updated October 2021.
Fall officially starts in a few days but real Fall weather won't reach us Houstonians for a while longer. Despite that, I am already getting into it with a bit of seasonal baking as well as some updates around my home (more on that to come) so thought I'd share a recipe that's been on my list to make for a while and recently came to life in my kitchen: chai-spiced pumpkin snickerdoodles. This fall cookie recipe makes 16 soft and chewy pumpkin sugar cookies spiced with an authentic blend of chai spices. They are just the right amount of sweet and everyone in your family will love them. Interested? Let's get into the delicious deets.
If you're looking for more pumpkin baking ideas for fall, check out these recipes next!
- Baked Pumpkin Donuts with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Pumpkin Kitchen Sink Cookies
- The Perfect Pumpkin Cheesecake
What You'll Need for this Recipe
So, what makes a cookie a snickerdoodle? This is a classic snickerdoodle recipe, minus the cream of tarter and egg. Pumpkin puree takes the place of the egg and I don't find the cream of tartar necessary. It isn't something I typically keep in my pantry and I think the cookies turned out just fine. So, if you're like me, this is an easy snickerdoodle recipe without cream of tartar. The spice in these fall snickerdoodle cookies comes from the perfect blend of chai spices, exactly as you'd find them in my instant chai mix for morning lattes.
- Allspice
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Black Pepper
- Brown Sugar
- Butter
- Cardamom
- Cinnamon
- Clove
- Ginger
- Nutmeg
- Pumpkin Puree
- Sea Salt
- Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
What tools do I need to bake snickerdoodle cookies? A big cookie sheet lined with parchment paper is a must to ensure your cookies pumpkin spice snickerdoodles don't stick! I also like this spatula for scooping up multiple cookies at once and placing them on a wire cooling rack--very efficient. And of course, you'll need a good mixing bowl set, an old-fashioned wire whisk, and a rubber spatula to make your snickerdoodle batter.
Tips for Pumpkin Chai Snickerdoodle Success
- Can I use canned pumpkin in this recipe? Yes, absolutely! Make sure you are using pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling, though. The latter has extra ingredients you don't need in your cookies.
- Do I have to roll snickerdoodles in cinnamon sugar? Yes, otherwise, you're just making sugar cookies. In this recipe, each little ball of orange dough is rolled in a mixture of sugar and chai spice mix then baked to perfection.
- Can I make this recipe dairy free? For sure. This is already a vegetarian pumpkin snickerdoodle recipe without eggs but if you want to make the cookies completely plant-based, aka vegan pumpkin snickerdoodles, replace the butter with a vegan butter or refined coconut oil.
- How do I know when these cookies are done? My chai pumpkin snickerdoodle cookies won't brown much on top or bottom. Gently press into the tops or sides of the snickerdoodles to test doneness. They should have some give but return to their shape. If they are hard to the touch, they're burnt. And if they retain the imprint of your finger from the press test, they aren't quite done. These cookies will harden a bit as they cool but still remain soft and chewy at room temperature.
- How long to let the cookies cool? Let the cookies cool until they are comfortable to handle (about five minutes), if you want to enjoy them warm, or allow them to come to room temperature (about 15 minutes, depending on the temperature of your kitchen). Cookies continue to bake on the hot pan so be sure to transfer them to a cooling rack to keep them from burning on the bottom.
I foresee lots of delicious fall treats in your future, friend. Get the full recipe for these cookies just below in my printable recipe card. Hopefully, you'll enjoy a batch with your friends and family soon and very soon. And sharing is caring, so be sure to pin this two-bite pumpkin snickerdoodle recipe over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!

How to Make Pumpkin Chai Snickerdoodle Cookies

Chai Spiced Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
Ingredients
For the Pumpkin Sugar Cookie Dough
- 1 ½ cups flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ cup granulated white sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Chai Spice Sugar Mix
- ¼ cup granulated white sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon ground allspice
- ⅛ teaspoon ground clove
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, sea salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.
- In another bowl, mix together granulated white sugar, brown sugar, pumpkin puree, butter, and vanilla until smooth and uniform.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or more.
- While dough chills, preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit. Combine sugar and spices for the chai spice mix in a small bowl.
- Using a tablespoon, scoop out chilled dough and roll into 1 ½-inch balls. Roll each ball in the chai-sugar mixture then place on a baking sheet about one inch apart.
- Bake cookies for about 12 minutes or until they pass the press test: gently press to top of a cookie. It should yield to gentle pressure then regain its shape. Edges will lightly brown but tops will not brown.
- Transfer cookies to a rack to cool.
Nutrition



Love Cake Create says
Love these! I've never actually had a Snickerdoodle before (I've never seen them in Australia) but I could totally make this! The flavour combination sounds so good!
Jazz says
You must try them!
jordanbmather says
Oh my goodness! Def trying these ASAP!!!
heathersfp says
i can almost smell them now! they look SO delicious
Sarah Fleming says
I printed this as soon as I read it! I will try ANYTHING pumpkin. I live and breathe all things fall!
Jazz says
I hope you love it!
breepair says
These sound sooooo good!
keikilani says
These look so amazing! I am ready for cookie season!
Annette Dattilo says
You had me at pumpkin. So excited for all the goodies fall brings. These cookies sound and look delicious. I've always wondered what cream of tarter contributed anyway. Interesting that you didn't notice a difference with out it. Thanks for the yummy recipe! ☺️
Jazz says
Apparently, cream of tartar contributes to the signature wrinkly appearance of snickerdoodles but I was satisfied with the look of these lol. Thanks for reading!
I'm Busy Being Awesome says
These cookies just scream fall. They look incredible - I love chai spice 🙂
Jazz says
Don't they?! Thanks so much for stopping by.
101foodtravel says
Oh my gosh these looks so delicious. My kids would enjoy these. Definitely trying this.
Amanda | My Gluten-Free Miami says
Snickerdoodles are my favorite cookie. Using the chai spice flavors is a great idea! And who can resist pumpkin? These sound perfect.
Miranda ??✨ (@spkyhalloween) says
These look absolutely divine! And like a perfect option for my Halloween party. 🙂
Jazz says
These would be great for Halloween!
Marisa says
Yum! I love chai spiced anything and these look so super fluffy!
Marta says
I LOVE how fluffy and pillowy your snickerdoodles are!!
Calysta Watson says
Thanks for this Jazz! This is the perfect holiday cookie recipe to make with my toddler!
Tamara J. says
I love the addition of the chai spices in these pumpkin cookies. They pair so perfectly with a hot cup of coffee. Can’t wait to make them for our holiday guests.
LaKita says
These cookies look delicious and perfect for the time of year! Adding to my baking list.
Adri Ruff says
My husband loves snickerdoodles! I sooo need to try this recipe out!
Katrina Adams says
I love snickerdoodles so I can’t wait to try this recipe!!!
SHANIKA says
Snickerdoodles are the best cookies for this time of the year! I could imagine how delicious they are with chai spices and pumpkin! YUM!
Aline says
I love this idea - can't wait to try this recipe!!
Kris says
Has anyone made these? The comments about appearance and ingredient combinations are welcomed; however, quite useless when looking for those who actually tried it. Chai spice is very flavorful when used along. I was curious as to whether or not the additional cinnamon and nutmeg made it overwhelming for a cookie.
Jazz says
Hi, Kris. A couple of the commenters indicated they’ve tried the recipe. You are welcome to dial back the amount of chai to your personal taste level, if you desire. Hope this helps!