Pumpkin spice snickerdoodles are changing the holiday cookie game

One of the best cookies, let’s be real, is a snickerdoodle, and these pumpkin spice snickerdoodles take that recipe to a whole new level of fall flavor.

Before we get started on this recipe, let’s talk spices.

Pumpkin spice tips

One of the best things to do before you get into your holiday baking is to check the expiration dates of all your spices, baking soda, baking powder, etc. A surefire way for a cookie disaster is working with the same thing you bought too many Thanksgivings ago. While old spices won’t hurt you, they lose their punch, and in a recipe like this, you want that fresh flavor.

MORE: Pumpkin spice taste test from Sprouts

Since pumpkin spice mix is generally used for the holidays and not much else, it makes an easy gift idea. If you want the freshest blend possible, we recommend grinding your pumpkin spice mix yourself.

Pumpkin spice snickerdoodles recipe

Now for the cookies themselves. Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe.

Snickerdoodle dough

• 1-1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup bread flour
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt

Pumpkin spice dough

• 3 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/4 cup bread flour
• 2 tablespoons pumpkin spice

Pumpkin spice

• 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cloves

To roll cookies in

• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice

Cream butter and sugar until smooth, roughly 3 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla, beat on low until well mixed. Add dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt) and mix at low speed until well combined.

I like using the paddle attachment if you’re using a stand mixer, as it’s an easy way to make sure the dough isn’t overworked.

Split dough in half, placing half in a bowl and set aside. In the half remaining in your mixer, add maple syrup, additional flour and pumpkin spice mix.

If you really love pumpkin spice, you can also search for pumpkin spice-flavored maple syrup to give it an extra kick! Mix on low until just combined.

MORE: See how to make a healthier pumpkin spice latte at home

Chill both doughs for 30 minutes. Once chilled, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, roll dough out onto wax paper in long rectangles, about 3 inches wide. Cut in half. Roll into thin logs. Repeat steps for both doughs.

Then, taking thin logs from each dough, cut into 3-inch pieces, twisting and rolling together into a ball.

Roll just enough balls for the baking sheets in the sugar mixture and place 2 inches apart. If the balls sit too long with the sugar mixture, it just gets absorbed into the cookie dough itself.

Bake at 400 for 8 minutes, rotating pan halfway through for even baking. Cool on pan for 2 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

If you want to share these pumpkin spice snickerdoodles, the cookies should fit perfectly into a wide-mouth mason jar.

Make your own pumpkin spice for these cookies with our step-by-step recipe below.