• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
From Scratch Fast | Recipes from scratch for busy cooks! logo
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Main Dishes
    • Breakfasts
    • Appetizers
    • Soups
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Web Stories
  • Classes
  • Videos
  • Books
  • About Nicki
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Classes
  • Videos
  • Books
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home > Recipe Index > Breakfasts > Healthy Pumpkin Breakfast Cookies (Gluten-Free & Vegan)

    Healthy Pumpkin Breakfast Cookies (Gluten-Free & Vegan)

    Published: Oct 2, 2019 · Modified: Aug 25, 2022 by Nicki Sizemore · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Packed with whole oats, pumpkin puree, almond butter and flax seeds, these gluten-free pumpkin breakfast cookies are jammed with nutritious ingredients, and yet they taste like treats! Serve them as a quick grab-and-go breakfast, pack them as a school snack, or eat them as dessert. Or, better yet, hide them from your kids and save them for yourself (I won’t tell). Don’t miss the video below.

    Close up side view of three pumpkin breakfast cookies stacked on a plate.

    This recipe was inspired by my banana breakfast cookies, which have been a longtime favorite around here. The pumpkin oatmeal cookies incorporate some of our favorite fall flavors while filling us up with oats, flax seeds and almond butter (see below for a nut-free option). The cookies have saved me on more times than I can count. We pull a few out for those “oh-$#@%-we-all-slept-late” breakfasts. Or I can stash them in the kids’ backpacks for a healthy school snack. 

    Close-up of two cookies on a plate.

    Ingredients and substitutions:

    • Instead of using eggs, these vegan breakfast cookies are bound with either almond butter or sunflower seed butter. For a nut-free version, use sunflower seed butter. You can also use cashew butter in place of the almond butter, but stay away from peanut butter, which has too strong of a flavor.
    • I use canned pumpkin puree in this recipe, but you could use fresh if you have it (or you could use butternut squash puree).
    • Feel free to swap out the coconut oil for butter.
    • Instead of dried cranberries, you can use dried cherries, raisins, dates or currants (or you can omit them altogether if you prefer!).
    • You can add dark chocolate to the cookies if you’d like, which we always do because who would ever say no to chocolate (hey, it’s good for brain health!). Plus, the girls think they’re getting away with some serious shenanigans when allowed to have cookies for breakfast or as a school snack!  I often use Lily’s brand, which are sweetened with stevia. 

    How to make gluten free pumpkin breakfast cookies:

    Process shot divided into 4 quadrants, showing the steps for mixing the breakfast cookie batter.

    This is an easy dump-and-stir recipe!

    1. First combine the oats, flaxseed and spices.
    2. In a separate bowl, mix together the wet ingredients and microwave them (or heat them on the stovetop) until smooth. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
    3. Let the batter sit for 5 minutes to allow the oats to soften slightly.
    4. Stir in the cranberries and chocolate chips. I use an ice cream scoop to easily scoop the batter onto the baking sheet.

    Process shot showing hand scooping the cookie batter onto a baking sheet.

    Using your fingers, gently flatten the cookies before baking.

    Process shot showing a hand flattening a pumpkin breakfast cookie.

    Bake the cookies until they're golden. Serve them warm or at room temperature.

    Overhead shot of a hand grabbing a pumpkin breakfast cookie off of a baking sheet.

    Storage tips

    You can store these healthy pumpkin oatmeal cookies in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze them for up to 3 months (or even longer!). The cookies can be eaten cold or you can reheat them in a toaster oven or regular oven until warmed through and crisp.

    Close-up of two pumpkin oatmeal cookies on a plate.

    Tips for making this recipe

    • A 2-ounce ice cream scoop with a lever is the perfect tool for transferring the batter to the baking sheet, but you could use two spoons instead. Flatten the cookies gently with damp hands before baking. 
    • I cook the cookies on a large 18x13-inch baking sheet. If you don't have one that big, use two baking sheets instead.
    • Be sure to line the baking sheet with parchment paper so that the cookies don’t stick (I love these pre-cut sheets). 
    • The cookies freeze beautifully and can be reheated in a toaster oven or regular oven until warmed and crisp. For snacks I packed them directly from the freezer (they’ll be defrosted by snack time!).

    *This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links to products I use and love (from which I earn income, at no cost to you). Thank you or supporting From Scratch Fast!

    Other pumpkin recipes to try:

    • Paleo Pumpkin Bread
    • Pumpkin Almond Muffins
    • Pumpkin Pound Cake with Bourbon Cream Cheese Glaze
    • Crustless Pumpkin Pie Custards
    • Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies

    Watch the video!

    Stay connected

    I'd love to answer any of your questions and see what you're cooking!! Don't forget to rate this recipe and leave a comment below. Follow along on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube & Pinterest, and be sure to tag @fromscratchfast so that I can share your creations!

    Get the recipe!

    Three pumpkin breakfast cookies stacked on a plate.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    Healthy Pumpkin Breakfast Cookies (Gluten-Free & Vegan)

    These pumpkin breakfast cookies are jammed with nutritious ingredients but taste like treats! Made with whole oats, pumpkin, nut butter and flax seeds, these vegan and gluten-free cookies, which are flavored with maple syrup, warming spices, cranberries and dark chocolate (optional, but not in my house!) are the perfect make-ahead breakfast or snack. They’re even better the next day, so make a batch today and throw them in the fridge or freezer for tomorrow (or next week). Your weekday mornings just got a little easier…
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time25 mins
    Total Time45 mins
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: healthy breakfast cookies, pumpkin breakfast cookie recipe, pumpkin breakfast cookies
    Servings: 12 cookies
    Author: Nicki Sizemore

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups (240g / 9.5oz) old-fashioned rolled oats (gluten-free if desired)
    • 1 ¼ teaspoons fine sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
    • Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
    • 2 tablespoons ground flaxseeds
    • 1 ⅓ cups pumpkin puree
    • ⅓ cup almond butter or sunflower seed butter
    • ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons maple syrup
    • 2 tablespoon coconut oil
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ⅓ cup dried cranberries
    • ⅓ cup chopped dark chocolate or chocolate chips (optional)

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 375˚F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • Mix together the oats, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and ground flaxseeds.
    • In a heatproof bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, almond butter, maple syrup, coconut oil and vanilla. Microwave on high, stirring occasionally, until smooth (about 1-2 minutes). Alternatively, combine everything in a small saucepan and cook over low heat until smooth.
    • Scrape the pumpkin mixture into the bowl with the oats and stir to combine. Let the batter sit for 5 minutes. Fold in the cranberries and chocolate, if using.
    • Using an ice cream scoop or two large spoons, scoop the dough into ¼ cup mounds onto the baking sheet (if your baking sheet isn’t large enough, use two). Using damp hands, flatten the mounds into 3-inch cookies that are about ½-inch tall. Bake 25 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through, or until the cookies are golden. Let cool completely.

    Notes

    Do Ahead: The cookies can be refrigerated for up to 1 week or frozen for up to 3 months. They can be eaten straight out of the fridge, or they can be heated up in a toaster oven. For school and work snacks, I pack them into bags straight from the freezer (they will be defrosted by snack time!).
    Tips:
    • For a nut-free version, use sunflower seed butter. You can also use cashew butter in place of the almond butter (I find that peanut butter has too strong of a flavor).
    • You’ll need 1 15-ounce can of pumpkin puree for this recipe (don’t use a pumpkin pie mix). You’ll have some pumpkin leftover, which you can stir into oatmeal or soups.
    • Feel free to swap out the coconut oil for butter. Instead of dried cranberries, you can use dried cherries, raisins, dates or currants (or you can omit them if you prefer!).
    • Since we eat these cookies as breakfasts or snacks, I often use Lily’s Chocolate Chips, which are sweetened with stevia instead of sugar.
    • I bake these cookies on an 18x13-inch baking sheet, which is the workhorse of my kitchen (I own five of them!). If you don’t have a pan that big, use two smaller pans. (p.s. these pre-cut parchment sheets are a fantastic time saver!)

    More Breakfasts

    • Easy Gluten Free Baked Donuts Recipe (No Yeast!)
    • Gluten Free Zucchini Bread (Naturally Sweetened, Dairy Free)
    • Easy Homemade Strawberry Sauce (and how to serve it!)
    • Broccoli Cheddar Quiche (Gluten Free!)

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Carolyne says

      January 16, 2023 at 9:00 pm

      Are the dried cranberries and or cherries sweetened or unsweetened?

      Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        January 17, 2023 at 8:50 am

        That's a personal preference! I love using unsweetened dried cherries, but they can be hard to find. Sweetened cherries or cranberries work great as well, if you don't mind the added sugar. I hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Carolina says

      September 05, 2022 at 11:26 pm

      Hi.
      Really want to try this recipe but my daughter has peanut and tree nut allergies. You said I could use eggs instead of nut butters? If so how many?
      Thank you 😋

      Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        September 06, 2022 at 8:20 am

        Hi Carolina! For a nut free version you can use sunflower butter instead of almond butter. Sunflower butter is nut-free and works perfectly in the cookies (you can find it with the nut butters at the grocery store). I hope you enjoy!!

        Reply
    3. Camille says

      August 29, 2022 at 7:27 pm

      5 stars
      Hi!!
      I made these cookies for myself as a way to not die of starvation before I get to lunch, as it is about 6 1/2 hours from breakfast until I get to have lunch. Also when they first came out of the oven, they didn’t have much flavor, after freezing them for a couple days, I had one today (it had thawed) after my sports practice and they were delish!! But honestly they are so thick and creamy and so yummy! And I didn’t even use maple syrup ( I didn’t have any), they are still really sweet!

      Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        August 30, 2022 at 8:51 am

        Hi Camille, I'm so glad you liked the cookies! They definitely get better with time, once the flavors have had time to develop. I bet you'll like them even more with maple syrup!

        Reply
    4. Kathy says

      February 13, 2022 at 7:34 pm

      I really want to try making this gluten free bread, it sounds great. This is not the first time I have made gluten free bread, BUT this is the first time I have not been able to have the yeast rise..
      No, the yeast was not old. But, I went to the store and bought another three, BUT IT WILL NOT RISE.
      I have always used at least 1 1/4 cups of water. Poured the water over the sugar and then added the yeast. I have tried your way, my way and every way, but the yeast will not rise. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

      Reply
      • Kathy says

        February 13, 2022 at 7:38 pm

        I am so sorry, I posted this on the wrong recipe.

        Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        February 14, 2022 at 8:42 am

        Hi Kathy, what recipe are you referring to? I don't have any yeasted bread recipes on this site. Please let me know!

        Reply
    5. Alison says

      February 04, 2022 at 9:53 pm

      Hi Nicki

      Can you please help me?!
      I just made these, followed the recipe precisely. And they don't have any taste to them, at all. Like paper. What did I do incorrectly?
      Thank you so much.
      Alison

      Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        February 05, 2022 at 10:07 am

        Hi Alison, I'm so sorry to hear that! I'm a bit stumped, as the spices in these cookies give them lots of flavor. How old are your spices? If your spices are over a year old their flavor could be muted. Also, what kind of nut butter did you use?

        Reply
    6. Paola says

      November 13, 2021 at 10:46 am

      5 stars
      Hi, Nicki! I'm intrigued by your recipes, and I'm trying to convert the measurement from the US customary to the metric ones, but I'm puzzled by the different results I'm getting, according to different sources.
      Would you mind giving the "translation" into European measurement (grams, milliliters and so on), at least for the most important ingredients?
      Many thanks and greetings from Italy.

      Paola

      Reply
    7. Amy says

      October 05, 2021 at 1:51 pm

      Do you think these cookies will stick together if I decrease the maple syrup tp 1/4C? Would you substitute anything for the maple syrup other than another sweetener? These sound amazing and I can't wait to make them.

      Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        October 12, 2021 at 3:37 pm

        Hi Amy, I'm so sorry for the delay (somehow this question never showed on my end!). You could try swapping out the remaining maple syrup (1/4 cup plus 2 TBS) for applesauce, or you can try increasing the amount of coconut oil, however I haven't tested this so can't guarantee the results. I find the maple syrup really enhances the flavor, so you might want to adjust for the lack of sweetness by adding stevia. Keep me posted!

        Reply
    8. Shivani says

      December 15, 2020 at 11:05 pm

      These look SO good, I'm making them ASAP! 2 questions if you don't mind:

      -I was thinking of using pumpkin pie spice instead of the cinnamon/ginger/clove etc spices, how much would you recommend I use? It's made of the same ingredients you added individually I think
      -You mentioned we can use fresh pumpkin instead of canned, do we just roast the pumpkin and then puree it ourselves?

      Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        December 16, 2020 at 6:17 am

        Hi there! While I haven't tested it, you can certainly swap out the spices for a pumpkin pie spice mix! All mixes are different but I would start with 1-1.5 teaspoons. Yes to the fresh pumpkin puree! Cut a sugar pumpkin in half, scrape out the seeds, then roast the pumpkin cut side down in a 400 degree oven until tender (about 45-60 minutes, depending on the size of the pumpkin). Scoop the flesh into a food processor then process until smooth.
        I hope you enjoy the cookies!

        Reply
        • SHIVANI says

          December 25, 2020 at 1:31 pm

          Thank you so much for the detailed response! I will share and tag you on instagram when I make them!

    9. jenny spencer says

      June 12, 2020 at 9:32 pm

      5 stars
      Hey Nicki! Yet again, another AMAZING recipe. I am officially a 6th grader and we are going to bend tomorrow and I made these cookies for breakfast! They are so, GOOD! I love the flavor and they are so easy to make! SO healthy and nutritious.

      Thank you and I am so loving your recipes. You ( and your recipes) are so inspiring to me because I want to go to culinary school just like you did. 🙂

      Raine.

      Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        June 13, 2020 at 10:01 am

        CONGRATULATIONS on graduating fifth grade, Raine!! What an achievement (my daughter goes into 5th grade next year!). You are such an inspiration. Keep on cooking!!

        Reply
    10. jenny spencer says

      June 12, 2020 at 12:49 pm

      Hey Nicki! This is Raine. Can you make these cookies with peanut butter instead of almond or seed butter?
      Just wondering...

      Raine 🙂

      Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        June 12, 2020 at 2:36 pm

        Hi Raine! You can make these with peanut butter, BUT I find that the flavor is a bit too strong for my tastes. However, that is subjective!

        Reply
    11. tami says

      November 21, 2019 at 8:46 am

      I'm whole food plant based and don't use oils or nut butters, what can I use to replace those in your recipe please?

      Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        November 21, 2019 at 9:31 am

        Hi Tami! This recipe relies on the nut butter and oil for texture (the butter binds the cookies together in lieu of eggs). If you eat seeds you could use a sunflower seed butter instead of the almond butter. Otherwise I'd direct you to my Banana Breakfast Cookies (https://fromscratchfast.com/banana-oatcakes/) which don't use any nut butter (the walnuts can be omitted!). There is some oil in that recipe, which you can swap out for whatever cooking fat you usually use (such as a vegan butter, etc). I hope that helps!

        Reply
    12. DeLinda Williams says

      October 23, 2019 at 12:34 am

      I'm going to try this later this morning to finish my weekly meal prep.

      Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        October 23, 2019 at 9:17 am

        Yay! I hope you like the cookies!

        Reply
    13. Brady says

      October 22, 2016 at 2:44 pm

      Another successful nicki recipe!! Made these today on this dreary day. I had baked a pumpkin and a butternut squash in order to use the pumpkin meat for these cookies and the butternut for soup. I couldn't tell the two apart after a night in the fridge so I made these with 1/2 pumpkin and 1/2 butternut. They were amazing and the kids LOVED them. In fact, I made 3 trays (or 21 cookies) and only have 9 left! Will have to make again because I really wanted these for a quick breakfast/on the go before school snack!

      Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        October 23, 2016 at 1:19 pm

        I can't WAIT to try these with butternut squash! I'm so happy you guys enjoyed the cookies!!

        Reply
      • Ashley says

        December 08, 2020 at 5:08 pm

        5 stars
        I made these and they are amazingly perfect!! I just wish there were nutritional facts listed somewhere so I can log them in my carb manager..

        Reply
        • Nicki Sizemore says

          December 09, 2020 at 9:09 am

          Hi Ashley,
          I'm so happy you liked the cookies!

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Search recipes

    Meet Nicki

    Headshot of Nicki Sizemore.

    Welcome! I’m Nicki Sizemore, a trained chef, recipe developer and cookbook author. My mission is to help you make wholesome & delicious food from scratch without spending hours in the kitchen. All of my recipes are naturally gluten-free.

    Latest Video

    Grain Free Granola (keto, paleo) #shorts

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Articles & Press

    Copyright © 2022 From Scratch Fast