15 Fall Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are perfect for fall because you can add all those warm spices and flavors that make the season special. They’re easier than decorated cookies but still feel festive and cozy. Most of these freeze well so you can make big batches when you have time. The dough usually needs to chill which makes them perfect for weekend baking when you’re not in a rush.

Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies

These taste like fall in cookie form with all the classic pumpkin pie spices. The pumpkin puree makes them super soft and gives them a nice orange color. They stay moist longer than regular sugar cookies because of the pumpkin. Perfect for when you want that pumpkin spice flavor but don’t feel like making a whole pie. Roll them in cinnamon sugar before baking for extra spice on the outside. Get the recipe here.

Maple Leaf Sugar Cookies

Real maple syrup in the dough gives these an amazing flavor that’s so much better than artificial maple. You can cut them into leaf shapes if you want to be fancy or just make regular rounds. The maple flavor gets stronger as they sit for a day or two. These are great with coffee or hot chocolate on cool mornings. Dust with powdered sugar to make them look like they got snow on them. Get the recipe here.

Apple Cider Sugar Cookies

These use reduced apple cider in the dough which concentrates the apple flavor. You gotta boil down the cider first which takes like 20 minutes but it’s worth it. They taste like liquid autumn and smell incredible while baking. The reduced cider also adds natural sweetness so you can use less regular sugar. Perfect for using up that jug of cider you bought at the orchard. Get the recipe here.

Cinnamon Sugar Cookies

Sometimes simple is best and these prove it. Just regular sugar cookie dough with extra cinnamon mixed in and rolled in cinnamon sugar before baking. The outside gets slightly crispy from the sugar while the inside stays soft. These are foolproof and everybody loves them. Great for beginners or when you want something classic that won’t fail you. Get the recipe here.

Caramel Apple Sugar Cookies

These have pieces of dried apple and caramel bits mixed right into the dough. The caramel gets all melty while baking which makes them extra chewy. You can use the little caramel squares from the candy aisle chopped up. The apple pieces give little bursts of tart flavor that balance the sweet caramel. These taste like caramel apples but way easier to eat. Get the recipe here.

Chai Spice Sugar Cookies

These use all the warm spices from chai tea – cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. The cardamom is what makes them special but you can skip it if you don’t have any. They’re more complex tasting than regular spice cookies and pair really good with actual chai tea. The spice mix makes your kitchen smell like a coffee shop while they bake. Get the recipe here.

Brown Butter Sugar Cookies

Browning the butter first adds this amazing nutty flavor that makes these taste way more fancy than regular sugar cookies. Just cook the butter in a pan until it turns golden and smells awesome, then let it cool before using. It’s worth the extra step and one dirty pan. These have a more grown-up flavor that’s perfect for fall evening with wine or coffee. Get the recipe here.

Pecan Pie Sugar Cookies

These taste like pecan pie but in cookie form. They got chopped pecans in the dough and a brown sugar glaze on top that hardens like the top of pecan pie. The glaze is just brown sugar, butter, and a little cream cooked together. These are rich so you don’t need huge cookies. Perfect for Thanksgiving when you want pie flavors but something easier to serve. Get the recipe here.

Sweet Potato Sugar Cookies

Sweet potato puree makes these incredibly soft and gives them a beautiful color. The sweet potato flavor is subtle but adds natural sweetness and moisture. They taste kinda like sweet potato pie but lighter. You can use leftover sweet potato from dinner or just roast one specifically for cookies. These stay fresh for days because of the extra moisture. Get the recipe here.

Cranberry Orange Sugar Cookies

Dried cranberries and orange zest make these bright and cheerful. The tart cranberries balance out the sweet cookie dough really well. Fresh orange zest is way better than extract for flavor. These colors look really pretty together – like little sunset cookies. Good for when you want something fruity but still feels like fall. Get the recipe here.

Gingerbread Spice Sugar Cookies

These have all the warm spices of gingerbread but the texture of sugar cookies instead of the dense gingerbread texture. They’re softer and more tender than traditional gingerbread cookies. The molasses gives them that deep gingerbread flavor and dark color. Perfect for people who love gingerbread taste but want something a little different. Get the recipe here.

Salted Caramel Sugar Cookies

These got caramel bits mixed into the dough and a sprinkle of sea salt on top before baking. The salt makes the caramel flavor pop and keeps them from being too sweet. The caramel gets all gooey inside which makes them extra chewy. This is my favorite because I’m obsessed with anything salted caramel. Perfect for when you want something that feels trendy and fancy. Get the recipe here.

Pear and Cardamom Sugar Cookies

This is a more unusual flavor combo but it works so good together. Dried pears add sweetness and chew while cardamom gives them an exotic spice note. You might have to go to a specialty store for cardamom but it’s worth it. These are sophisticated tasting and perfect for impressing people who think they’ve tried everything. The pear pieces get soft and jammy while baking. Get the recipe here.

Maple Bourbon Sugar Cookies

A little bourbon in the dough gives these a grown-up flavor and the alcohol bakes out so they’re safe for everyone. The maple and bourbon combo is classic and tastes like fall in Kentucky. Don’t use your good bourbon for baking – the cheap stuff works fine. These are perfect for evening dessert with coffee or as a nightcap kind of cookie. Get the recipe here.

Harvest Spice Sugar Cookies

These use a blend of all the best fall spices – cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. It’s like pumpkin spice but with more complexity. You can make your own spice blend or buy one premade from the store. Roll them in spiced sugar before baking so they get extra flavor on the outside too. These smell like walking through a farmer’s market on a crisp fall day. Get the recipe here.