Technically fall is upon us. Trees are putting on a dazzling show of brilliant color changes. Apple trees are burgeoning with fruit (causing me to apply significant self-restraint not to do some urban foraging in public spaces). October lays in wait next week. It’s time to release the pumpkin recipes! I’ll admit I did stick a toe in the autumnal recipe lake this week with Iced Pumpkin Lattes, which seemed a perfect starter for fall but at our current mid 80’s temps. It’s funny, growing up I really didn’t care for pumpkin. I think it was reserved almost exclusively for pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving which was never my favorite. However when I look through my recipes now on Boulder Locavore, I have amassed an entire collection of savory, sweet and even a drink (Pumpkin Mexican Hot Chocolate) signaling times have changed…..deliciously I might add! 
I have been thinking about making these Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Chip cookies since the summer. My food blogger mind does race ahead to future seasons, thinking up flavor combinations for new recipes when prompted by anything from spotting an intriguing color, ingredient or a change in the light. Last fall I purchased several bags of seasonal baking chips which tend to only be sold in the fall and around the holidays. I’ve had them stashed in my freezer awaiting some fun baking. 
These cookies taste like fall. Moist, cakey cookies with just the right amount of spice and pumpkin. Not too sweet but sweet enough that I recommend finding a hiding place so they don’t disappear in the blink of an eye like they did at my house! I personally love using Oat Flour. It has a wonderful flavor and rustic feel that works perfectly in fall baking. As far as gluten-free flours go, it is a flour I’ve found that can be used solo (most gluten-free flours lack the binding capability traditionally provided by gluten, which is why they need to be combined to have good structure). It added the perfect flavor touch to these cookies. The oat flour I purchase is marked gluten-free and though I do not know of any oat flour which has gluten, a reader from Australia let me know their regular oat flour is not considered gluten-free so be sure to check for properly marked flour if you require gluten-free oat flour. 
Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Chip cookies {gluten-free}
Ingredients
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) Unsalted Butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated Sugar
- ½ Dark Brown Sugar
- 2 Eggs , room temperature
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ½ cup Pumpkin Puree (homemade or store bought)
- 1 ¾ cups Oat Flour (gluten-free)*
- ½ teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie seasoning
- 1 cup Cinnamon Baking Chips
- Optional: ½ Pecan Bits
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a silpat or parchment paper.
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Using a mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Add the granulated and dark brown sugar and mix until smooth.
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Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing in fully before adding the second egg.
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Mix in the vanilla extract and pumpkin puree to fully combine.
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In a separate mixing bowl, combine the oat flour, baking powder, salt and pumpkin pie spice.
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With the mixer running on low, spoon some of the dry ingredients into the bowl and allow to mix in fully before adding more. Mix to incorporate all the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients.
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Scoop batter in heaping tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving two inches between cookies.
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Bake for 13-15 minutes or until the bottoms begin to turn golden brown. Do not over bake. Remove from oven, allow to sit on cookie sheet for 5 minutes. Remove and let cool fully on a cooling rack.
Shawn says
What is the temp for the oven? Have I missed it somewhere?
Toni Dash says
Shawn, my apologies and thanks! The first four steps of the recipe disappeared. Can’t explain it but I’ve added them back to everything you need is there. Oven temp is 350. Thanks again for flagging this.
Shawn says
Thank you!! I wondered as it did sound like something was missing 🙂 Oh well, I really bad wanted to make these though so guessed the 350 and just went for it and they are very good!!! Thanks for the great recipe!
Toni Dash says
I’m so glad you asked. If you would have started where the instructions did you’d have a lot of dry ingredients, no eggs, butter, sugar or heat!
Sara Thompson says
Just to let you know – oats can be cross contaminated with gluten which is why there are certified gluten free oats. Oats don’t have gluten but can pick some up somehow if they are planted near gluten crops.
Toni Dash says
Yes Sarah I am aware of that and due to that in our gluten-free household we only eat gluten-free certified oat products. I have only seen gluten-free oat flour in stores however after hearing from my reader in Australia I thought to note buying ‘gluten-free oat flour’ for those who are gluten intolerant in case there indeed is oat flour available which is not gluten-free. Thank you!
Mallory @ Chocolate with Grace says
I’m such a sucker for any pumpkin cookies, but this cinnamon chips in these look amazing!
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says
I love that you used cinnamon chips in these! Brilliant!
Lisa @ Garnish with Lemon says
I love the use of cinnamon chips and oat flour in these cookies. I can’t wait to try them. Pinned and stumbled 🙂
taylor @ greens & chocolate says
I always stock up on cinnamon chips when I spot them in the store! These look delicious…perfect for fall!