3 Ingredient Pumpkin Cookies

3 ingredient pumpkin cookies are made with oats, pumpkin puree and maple syrup. Soft and chewy, these easy cookies are the perfect healthy snack or dessert for Fall. Vegan, nut-free, oil-free, gluten-free eggless recipe.

An easy and healthy solution to cookie cravings

Maybe because of the moody weather, maybe because I had a long day at work, last Thursday I was craving dessert so badly. After taking a shower, I headed to the kitchen excited to grab some cookies. But I soon realized that we had NO COOKIES left! Nada, the only dessert we had at home were some boring donuts (which I don’t like at all).

“Maybe I should bake something easy. Yes, I’ll go for my Greek yogurt protein cookies!”. So I opened the fridge, ready to get the yogurt when…No yogurt. I finished it in the morning. All I could see was half a can of pumpkin puree (leftovers from my healthy pumpkin pancakes), maple syrup and some zucchini.

My desire for cookies was too intense to ignore, so I had to come up with something. FAST. Because I was running low on energy (and patience). Thinking about how to make cookies with just pumpkin and maple syrup (zucchini were for dinner), I remembered my 2 ingredient banana cookie recipe.

Since oatmeal is always there, I decided to combine oats with pumpkin puree and maple syrup. 15 minutes later a batch of deliciously smelling pumpkin oat cookies was ready to devour.

Wow, how good and simple were those healthy pumpkin cookies. With 3 ingredients only, no egg, no oil and no flour. Such a genius recipe that I had to share on my blog as soon as possible. And it’s finally here for you!

Why you will love this recipe

• Simple 3 ingredient recipe. I promise, it’s not another clickbait. These cookies come together with just 3 basic ingredients: oats, pumpkin purée and maple syrup.
• Quick and easy to make. Besides being so simple, this recipe is also incredibly quick and easy to make. Just mix all ingredients into a bowl, shape your cookies, bake and enjoy!
• Healthy and low calorie. With just 79 calories each, these oat pumpkin cookies are a healthy and nutritious solution to snacks and desserts. They’re packed with fibers, nutrients, vitamins because they are made just with oats, pumpkin and maple syrup. No flour, no refined sugar and no oil!
• Diet and allergy friendly. With just 3 ingredients, these simple cookies are eggless, dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free and completely vegan. The perfect treat whatever your dietary needs are!
• Chewy and delicious. Don’t think that simple cookies mean boring cookies. Each bite is a going to be a burst of pumpkin flavor. So soft and chewy that you won’t be able to resist!

Ingredients and substitutes

• Oats. I like using rolled oats because it gives cookies more chewiness and texture. If you prefer soft pumpkin cookies, choose quick oats. Quick oats absorb more moisture and gets softer. In case of allergies or intolerance, be sure to use certified gluten-free oats.
• Pumpkin puree. This recipe requires purée made entirely from pumpkin, without added sweeteners or spices. Pumpkin pie fillings do not work. Out of convenience I like using canned pumpkin puree from the store. But you are free to make it at home by blending cooked pumpkin.
• Maple syrup. The maple syrup adds extra sweetness and moisture to 3 ingredient pumpkin cookies. You can easily substitute with a liquid sweetener of your choice, such as honey, agave or date syrup. As they have a different composition, you cannot replace with granular sweeteners.

Optional ingredients

A 3 ingredient cookie recipe should not limit creative minds. Whether you like a cinnamony touch or whether you are looking for crunchy pecan bites, here are some extra ingredients for your easy pumpkin cookies. Pick and choose your favorite, or mix and match.

• Pumpkin flavors and spices: Ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, nutmeg or a mix of those.
• Nuts and seeds: Crushed walnuts, pecans, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds.
• Dried fruits: Raisins, cranberries, dried berries.
• Chocolate chips: Dark chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips or sugar-free chocolate chips. 
• Protein powder: Replace 30 grams (1/3 cup) of the oats with your favorite protein powder.

How to make 3 ingredient pumpkin cookies

Make the cookie dough. Start by combining in a large bowl pumpkin puree, maple syrup and oats. With the help of a spatula or fork, stir the mixture into a dough. Based on the consistency of the puree used, you may need to adjust with more oats if the dough is too wet or with more purée if it is too dry. Taste and adjust with more maple syrup if you feel that the cookies are not sweet enough.

Bake cookies. Scoop out onto the lined baking tray about 8 to 10 dough balls, then flatten into cookies. Bake in hot oven for 8 to 10 minutes.

Storage information

After baking, let the cookies cool over a baking rack or plate. Once cool, seal in an airtight food container and store at room temperature for up to 3 days. Wrap them well, or they will get dry if they are exposed to air and humidity. As an alternative you can also pack in zipper bags and freeze for up to 3 months.

Can I add protein powder to oat cookies?

Yes, of course you can. Adding protein powder to pumpkin oat cookies is a great way to boost the nutritional profile of this recipe. All you should do is swap part of the oats with protein powder. My suggestion is to replace at most 30 grams (1/3 cup) of the oats with your favorite protein powder; flavored or unflavored. To preserve a soft and chewy texture, use vegan protein powder or casein. Whey tends to dry when exposed to hot temperatures.

FAQ – Frequently asked questions

More easy healthy desserts

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• 3 ingredient baked oatmeal
• No bake chocolate oatmeal cookies
• Tortilla cinnamon rolls
• 3 ingredient banana cookie dough
• No bake keto cookies