Top 35 Best Thanksgiving Cookies (2024)

Do you want to bake some Thanksgiving cookies this holiday season? When friends and family gather together, homemade cookies are the only thing I want to bake, and I have all the best cookie recipes for Thanksgiving all in one place.

Baking season is upon us, and certainly, everyone loves the smell of freshly baked cookies coming out of the oven on Thanksgiving. I only recommend tried and tested, reliable recipes for cookies and other baked goods so you know you can bake for success. So take your pick from this list of the best Thanksgiving cookie recipes and turn the oven on!

The Best Thanksgiving Cookies

1. Snickerdoodle Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies

Let's start with a triple whammy of dessert champions. Snickerdoodle, pumpkin cheesecake, and cookies all in one bite! Surely you won't try anything better. They are incredibly delicious and soft and full of Fall flavors, plus atangy, creamy cheesecake filling which will come as a lovely surprise to anyone who takes a bite. What's not to love?

2. Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Celebrate the flavors of Fall by baking my brown butter pecan chocolate chip cookies that are loaded with pecans, cinnamon, brown butter, and brown sugar. The perfect balance of richness and sweetness is enhanced by a touch of sea salt; trust me on this: it's a must-add!

With a chewy exterior and gooey interior infused with deep chocolate and nutty notes, bake these cookies for all your Fall and Thanksgiving festivities.

3. Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies

Nut lovers will adore the crunch of earthy walnuts in these chocolate chip cookies; they are seriously indulgent cookies to enjoy during those darker evenings. What's more, they have the signaturechewy texture and the gooey insidethat is the hallmark of the best Thanksgiving cookies!

Walnut desserts are always a favorite of mine come Fall; they have the best earthy flavor. And they add texture as well as flavor, so it's surely a win win.

4. Oatmeal Craisin Cookies

An oatmeal cookie has a tasty and unique texture and is also a healthy cookie recipe for Thanksgiving in the sea of all the other rich food! What's more,it would be hard to find a more delicious recipe with so minimal effort.

Even if you are a beginner in the kitchen, you can make these oatmeal cookies easily. They require very simple ingredients, equipment, and techniques and really deliver classic Thanksgiving flavors.

5. Brownie Cookies

Rich and fudgy brownie cookies are a chocoholic dream this Thanksgiving. If you love brownies, but love cookies more, this is what you should bake at Thanksgiving. All the dense and fudgy goodness of brownies but with that crunchy, slightly chewy exterior of a cookie plus all the deep chocolate flavor you could ever want.

I always find that I crave chocolate at Thanksgiving and decadent chocolate cookies will always please a crowd, so what are you waiting for?

6. Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Brown butter adds the most intense nutty, and rich taste to anything, trust me! And when added to cookies made with brown sugar, you get a delicious undertone of caramel that mixes perfectly with the brown butter taste.

Whilst it adds an extra step to cookie preparation, it is well worth it, and all you need to do is cook butter slightly past its melting point to toast those milk solids and get a new depth of flavor. Make these delicious cookies for Thanksgiving and thank me later!

7. Tiramisu Cookies

Tiramisu cookies are always a good idea and Thanksgiving is no exception! These delicious, coffee-flavoredcookiesare the perfect after-dinner treat that combinesespressopowder and sweetmascarpone frostingtopped withcocoa powder. No matter how or where you eat them, it is sure to be something that everyone will love!

8. Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies

These deliciousalmond flour peanut butter cookiesare the perfect gluten-free Thanksgiving treats. They are packed with flavor and also incredibly straightforward to make! These cookies are made withalmond flour,creamy peanut butter, two types ofsugar, and ahint of vanillato create delicious, gooey cookies that the whole family will love.

9. Danish Butter Cookies

For a simple yet flavorful dessert or snack that the whole family will love after Thanksgiving dinner, thesebutteryandsoftDanish butter cookies(also known asDanish biscuits) will not disappoint! They are buttery, melt in your mouth, just what you need with a cup of coffee!

10. Coffee Cookies

Theserich and chocolatey coffee cookiesare a bold and decadent dessert filled with delicious flavor in every bite. This chewy and indulgent treat pairs wonderfully with a cup of coffee to help you double down on the dreamy flavors that will keep you coming back for more! If you are not so much into traditional pumpkin desserts, this easy coffee cookie recipe can be one of the most popular Thanksgiving recipes.

11. Pumpkin Spice Roll Cookies

These easy Thanksgiving cookies are icebox cookies that combine pumpkin cookie dough with brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice filling. Made in a convenient icebox/slice-and-bake style, this recipe begins with a super simple one-bowl pumpkin sugar cookie dough that's sprinkled with brown sugar and a generous amount of pumpkin pie spice before being rolled up.

Then, simply chill, slice and bake! For the perfect finishing touch, opt for either cream cheese icing or maple icing before serving.

12. Pecan Pie Cookies

What Thanksgiving party would be complete without pecan pie? And pecan pie cookies deliver all of the rich, nutty, caramel-like flavors of the famous pecan dessert but in easy, thumbprint cookie form! I especially love the sticky crunch that comes from the gooey caramel and pecan pie filling, and what's more, they are very easy to package up and transport.

13. Dark Chocolate Cranberry Walnut Cookies

I'd definitely class this recipe as one of those traditional Thanksgiving cookies to bake due to the walnut and cranberry. But the addition of dark chocolate chips is insane! The taste is rich and intense and definitely made for colder weather and is best enjoyed in front fo a cracking fire. Serve these cookies with coffee to really elevate those flavors.

14. Roly Poly Pumpkin Cookies with Cinnamon Maple Frosting

When thinking of Thanksgiving cookies ideas, this recipe deserves to be right at the top of the list. Decorating Thanksgiving cookies has never been so fun. Get the kids involved in this pumpkin dessert or rope in your friends; surely, everyone will want to try it.

What's more, you could make them for Halloween as well as Thanksgiving, which gives you the perfect excuse to eat pumpkin sugar cookies twice. Just be sure to bake enough of them; they will disappear very quickly after you've worked so hard to decorate them.

15. Peanut Butter Cookies

You might expect this level of perfection in a cookie from a bakery, but it is in fact achievable at home. Perfectly peanut buttery, with crispy edges and a tender, chewy center, these peanut butter cookies need to be tasted to be believed. The top tip is to use shortening, such as Crisco, as it helps the cookies keep their shape and get that signature crackly top.

16. Pumpkin S'mores Cookies

Get those cozy campfire vibes with every bite of pumpkin s'mores cookies, and make enough to share as everyone will want a taste! You won't believe how good the gooey marshmallow tastes against the chocolate chips and pumpkin spice cookie dough. Who needs Thanksgiving pies when you have Thanksgiving cookies?

17. Turkey Sugar cookies

Thanksgiving turkey cookies are the hilariously adorable treat you need to make this holiday season! I am not sure I have ever seen such perfectly decorated Thanksgiving cookies before. The no-spread sugar cookie dough and homemade royal icing mean these Thanksgiving sugar cookies not only taste delicious but are the perfect centerpiece for the dessert table. Everyone will want to take them home, so be sure to make enough cookies for a crowd.

18. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Have you ever used pumpkin puree as an egg substitute for baking? It makes these pumpkin chocolate chip cookies perfectly soft and delicious and full of the perfect flavors of fall. But it's important to pay attention to the ingredient notes in this (and every!) recipe. For example, it's recommended to buy organic canned pumpkin so that it isn't too watery as this will affect the outcome. Bakery is all about precision, after all.

19. Vanilla Cardamom Shortbread Snowflake Sandwich Cookies

Surely this cookie recipe sounds too good to be true. A crisp, buttery cardamom shortbread sandwich cookie with vanilla beans and filled with an espresso Swiss meringue buttercream filling? I imagine it to be like a warm, spiced vanilla latte but in cookie form. And that definitely sounds like a Thanksgiving cookie I want to bake.

20. Caramel Pretzel Linzer Cookies

Linzer cookies are a sandwich cookie version of a Viennese specialty, Linzer tart, that is served around the holidays. Whilst normally filled with jam or preserves, this cookie features a homemade caramel filling instead. And trust me, it's good!

The Linzer cookies themselves are infused with a rich pretzel flavor, and if you crave a holiday cookie that really stands out, this recipe is perfect for breaking tradition.

21. Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Cookies

Deliciously thick and chewy, you'll love these sweet and simple pumpkin cookies topped with a creamy pumpkin-spice frosting. What's more, they are simply loaded with pumpkin pie spice so they really double down on the Fall flavors. This recipe is also full of great baking tips to help you get the best out of your bakes.

22. Fig and Cardamom Macaron Cookies

The deep and aromatic warmth of cardamom is perfect for elegant Thanksgiving gatherings. Figs are such delicious Fall fruits to use in baking, with a sweet and earthy taste that pairs really well with Fall spices. The sticky and sweet fig macaron filling pairs beautifully with the subtle spice in the macaron shells and makes for a perfect petit four to serve after dinner.

23. Pecan Shortbread with Maple Glaze

Surely, this cookie recipe deserves a poll position on your Thanksgiving dessert table. The maple glaze has a beautiful sheen to it, and the delicate pecan garnish adds more crunch to the light and buttery shortbread cookie beneath. This is going to the top of my list of Thanksgiving cookies to bake this year.

24. 3 Flavor Pumpkin Neapolitan Cookies

These pumpkin Neapolitan cookies have three different flavors in one cookie: pumpkin vanilla, pumpkin spice, and chocolate pumpkin! And they look seriously cool, too. I'll bet no one will even believe you made them.

The cookies are made with one chewy pumpkin sugar cookie base which is then flavored with additional ingredients like pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and black cocoa powder. So even though they look complicated, they are actually very simple to make.

25. Pumpkin Pie Macarons

Imagine the dainty, elegant look of a French macaron but all the flavor of pumpkin pie. What could be better? The Thanksgiving macaron cookies are seriously pretty to look at, as well as being seriously tasty and festive, so they are well worth the effort to make.

26. Apple Butter Snickerdoodles

These apple butter snickerdoodles are an unbelievably tasty blend of Fall spices and perfectly balanced sweetness. Imagine taking a bite of a chewy cookie that's enriched with brown sugar, warm Fall spices, and tart yet sweet apple butter. Then these cookies boast that signature snickerdoodle chew, which we all know and love.

27. Pumpkin Coffee Cake Cookies

Pumpkin coffee cake cookies combine all the Fall favorites in a decadent dessert. We have chewy cookies, pumpkin spice, a kick of coffee, and buttery cinnamon streusel topping in every bite.So it's safe to say I'm a fan!

And what's more, this delicious Thanksgiving cookie recipe is a lot easier to make than you might think.

28. Easy Cinnamon Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are the perfect cookies to make for Thanksgiving. And with the delicious warm hint of spice in this recipe, you'll be hooked! Indulge in soft sugar cookies that are crispy on the edges and irresistibly chewy in the center. This perfect sugar cookie recipe is a holiday essential, especially when you have guests at home!

29. Soft Glazed Gingerbread Cookies

Whilst the flavor and texture of these Thanksgiving cookies are certainly delicious, the glaze is really what makes these cookies shine! And of course, buying a cute cookie stamp to make your imprinted cookies.

You will need to plan ahead as the dough needs to rest overnight in the fridge before baking - but this is a plus for a busy host who wants to prep as much as they can the day before Thanksgiving.

30. Fall Leaf Cut-Out Cookies

Cute cutout cookies in seasonal shapes and colors are a really fun way to celebrate the coming of the Fall season, and they look stunning on a Thanksgiving dessert spread. The colorful cookie dough and sanding sugar give them a really unique look and baking these pretty cookies is also a great activity for kids at Thanksgiving.

31. Crumbl Caramel Pumpkin cookies

Give a big welcome to Fall with the best treat: a copycat recipe for the famous Crumbl caramel pumpkin cookies. Enjoy the soft, thick pumpkin cookie base topped with a velvety caramel cream cheese frosting and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice; they are simply irresistible! You won't be able to stop eating after just one, so be sure to bake enough for a crowd.

32. Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Cream cheese and pumpkin is certainly one of those flavor combinations made in foodie heaven. The tang of the rich cream cheese frosting perfectly cuts through the sweetness of the cookie, but the pumpkin taste still shines through.

But be warned, pumpkin cookies will definitely disappear fast this Thanksgiving, so make a double batch! Finish with a dusting of cinnamon for that super polished professional look.

33. Apple Pie Cookies

When baking a full apple pie feels overwhelming, these apple pie cookies offer the perfect solution. Small, sticky, and chewy bites with the fruity-caramel taste of traditional pie but the simplicity of a cookie. Simply put, you get the best of both worlds in one gooey bite!

Check out these other apple desserts if you want to make the most of the apple season this Fall! Apples are one of those seasonal flavors that is on everyone's Thanksgiving dessert table, and it isn't hard to see why.

34. Brown Butter Maple Pecan Cookies

How delicate and pretty is this Thanksgiving cookie recipe? The shortbread cookie dough is filled with toasted, finely chopped pecans before being baked to perfection and dipped in a maple syrup glaze. They're pretty, dainty, and tasty and pretty much the perfect Thanksgiving cookie recipe to make and impress your friends and family.

Furthermore, they make beautiful and heartfelt gifts to give to family members on this special day.

35. Mini Pumpkin Pie Slice Cookies

Well, I think these adorable cookies might just win the award for the cutest Thanksgiving decorated cookies to bake this year. What's more, the recipe includes detailed instructions on how to pipe the icing perfectly and get that professional look.

These cute little treats are the perfect bite-sized cookie and definitely taste as good as they look. I can imagine them beautifully wrapped up as gifts for a busy hostess.

Thanksgiving Cookies FAQs

Have you tried these recipes?

Please leave a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on the recipe card and consider leaving a comment as well! I would love to hear about how your desserts turned out and your feedback also helps other Readers!