40 of Grandma’s Best Fall Cookies

These fall cookies are grandma-approved. We have all of your favorite autumn flavors, like pumpkin, maple and cranberry. All that's missing is a tall glass of milk!

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Big Soft Ginger Cookies

These nicely spiced, big soft ginger cookies are perfect for folks who like the flavor of ginger but don’t care for crunchy gingersnaps. —Barbara Gray, Boise, Idaho

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Grandma Krause’s Coconut Cookies

Total Time 50 min
Servings about 3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: When my two daughters were young, their great-grandma made them coconut cookies with oats. Thankfully, she shared the recipe. —Debra Dorn, Dunnellon, Florida
3/40

Cranberry Pecan Oatmeal Cookies

Total Time 40 min
Servings about 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: I needed new holiday cookies for Thanksgiving, so I tweaked an old 4-H recipe. This updated oatmeal cookie with cranberries and nuts is my family’s all-time favorite. —Tammy Hoggatt, Omaha, Nebraska
4/40

Cardamom Swedish Rusks

Total Time 1 hour 5 min
Servings 27 cookies
From the Recipe Creator: Cardamom, which has a lemony ginger flavor, is a popular spice in Scandinavian foods. It gives a pleasantly pungent flavor to these crisp cookies. Similar to biscotti, they’re perfect dunkers for a cup of coffee. —Julianne Johnson, Grove City, Minnesota
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Giant Molasses Cookies

Total Time 45 min
Servings 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: My family always requests these soft molasses cookies. These chewy cookies are also perfect for shipping as holiday gifts or to troops overseas. —Kristine Chayes, Smithtown, New York

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Date Pinwheel Cookies

Total Time 55 min
Servings about 16 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: This is a great recipe for a delicious cookie to serve at the end of any meal. The dates have such a wonderful flavor.—Ms. Lee B. Roberts, Racine, Wisconsin

7/40

Chocolate Malted Cookies

Total Time 30 min
Servings about 1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: These cookies are the next best thing to a good old-fashioned malted milk. With malted milk powder, chocolate syrup, and chocolate chips and chunks, these are the best cookies I've ever tasted … and with six kids, I've made a lot of cookies over the years! —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
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Peanut Butter Maple Cookies

Total Time 35 min
Servings about 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: I bake these crispy yet chewy peanut butter cookies often. My grandchildren, both near and far, can't wait to dig into the cookie jar. —Lois Bowman, Swanton, Maryland

9/40

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Total Time 30 min
Servings about 3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: A friend gave me the recipe for these cookies many years ago, and they’re as delicious as the ones Mom used to make. The secret to the recipe is to measure exactly (no guessing on the amounts) and to not overbake. —Wendy Coalwell, Abbeville, Georgia

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Granny's Spice Cookies

Total Time 30 min
Servings 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Granny always had a batch of these delicious, crispy cookies waiting for us at her house. When I miss her more than usual, I make these cookies and let the aroma fill my house and heart. —Valerie Hudson, Mason City, Iowa
11/40

Tender Pecan Logs

Total Time 30 min
Servings 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Folks always ask me to make these tender nutty logs. Not overly sweet, they're just right with a steaming cup of coffee or tea. —Joyce Beck, Gadsden, Alabama
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Brown Sugar Cutout Cookies

Total Time 1 hour 5 min
Servings 7-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Our neighbor made these for me when I was little, and now I make them for my kids, my grandkids and the children at school. Serve them with milk for the kids and tea for the grown-ups. —Nancy Lynch, Somerset, Pennsylvania

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Maple Cookies

Total Time 30 min
Servings 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: I created this recipe after tasting maple cookies with a maple glaze at a bakery in Stowe, Vermont, some years ago. I get many requests to bring them for bake sales, parties and ski trips. —Delores Day, Wolcott, Vermont

15/40

German Chocolate Cookies

Total Time 35 min
Servings 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: When I want a cookie that's as chewy as a brownie, this is the recipe I reach for. Coffee granules add the right amount of mocha flavor. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
16/40

Glazed Maple Shortbread Cookies

Total Time 45 min
Servings 1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Whenever I visit friends in Lutsen, Minnesota, I make sure to buy maple syrup there because I think it's even better than in Quebec. These delicious cookies can be decorated with sprinkles but they're just fine as is.—Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario
17/40

Cranberry Cookies with Browned Butter Glaze

Total Time 50 min
Servings about 4-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: I won a baking contest with these chunky glazed cookies that are so easy, even novice bakers can pull them off. What makes them special? Fresh cranberries. —Laurie Cornett, Charlevoix, Michigan
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Coffee Maple Spritz

Total Time 35 min
Servings about 5-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: I like spritz cookies because they're easier to make than rolled cutouts but I can still be creative with different shapes and sizes. Feel free to substitute vanilla or rum extract for the maple flavoring. —Dierdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri
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Cranberry Rugelach

Total Time 45 min
Servings about 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: These traditional Polish treats will keep for a long time in an airtight container. One year, I sent a batch to my sister, but the box got lost. She received it 12 days later and reported that the cookies were worth the wait! —Jean Doxon, Omaha, Nebraska
20/40

Pecan Goody Cups

Total Time 55 min
Servings 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: These miniature tarts feature whole pecans, a caramel-like filling, and a butter and cream cheese crust that melts right in your mouth. —Janice Hose, Hagerstown, Maryland
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Date Pinwheel Cookies

Total Time 40 min
Servings 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: My granddaughter nicknamed my mother Cookie Grandma because she made wonderful cookie—including these crisp and chewy treats. —Donna Grace, Clancy, Montana
22/40

Cranberry Port Cookies

Total Time 55 min
Servings about 3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: This is my version of a recipe I tasted years ago—my family loves it. The flaky cookies are filled with a scrumptious combination of dried cranberries, cinnamon, lemon and a hint of port wine. —Leslie Forte, Oakhill, Virginia

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Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti

Total Time 55 min
Servings about 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: This tasty biscotti is studded with dried cranberries and crunchy pistachios. It's delicious with tea or coffee. —Diane Gruber, Sioux City, Iowa

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Butter Pecan Cookies

Total Time 35 min
Servings 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: When my daughter was a teen, these butter pecan cookies earned her blue ribbons from two county fairs. Then a few years ago, her own daughter took home a blue ribbon for the same cookie. Needless to say, these mouthwatering morsels are winners! —Martha Thefield, Cedartown, Georgia

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Ranger Cookies

Total Time 35 min
Servings 7-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: These golden brown ranger cookies are crispy on the outside and cakelike on the inside. Their tasty blend of oats, rice cereal, coconut and brown sugar have made them one of our favorite cookie recipes. You won’t be able to eat just one. —Mary Lou Boyce,Wilmington, Delaware
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Cherry Pecan Dreams

Total Time 35 min
Servings about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Packed with fruit, nuts and vanilla chips, these are always a treat. To vary the flavor, swap in dried cranberries or apricots for the cherries, and pistachios for the pecans. —Mary Ann Mariotti, Plainfield, Illinois

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Coconut Cookies

Total Time 35 min
Servings 9 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: This simple yet satisfying coconut cookie recipe has been around for generations. Pressing a fork into the top gives the look of an old-fashioned washboard. —Tommie Sue Shaw, McAlester, Oklahoma

28/40

Nutty Pie-Crust Cookies

Total Time 25 min
Servings about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: I like Italian cream cake, so I used it as inspiration for this cookie recipe. The splash of orange liqueur in the filling is my special touch. —Sonji McCarty-Onezine, Beaumont, Texas
29/40

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Tassies

Total Time 55 min
Servings about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: This pumpkin and chocolate cookie has a special feel that makes it perfect for a holiday dessert table. If you don’t have a pastry tip, use a freezer bag to pipe the buttercream into the cookie cup. It works well for me. —Laura Milanowski, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
30/40

Pumpkin Seed Cranberry Biscotti

Total Time 1 hour 5 min
Servings about 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: A hint of pumpkin seed and almond gives this biscotti recipe a wonderful flavor that’s just right for fall. Try these with a cup of coffee or hot cocoa! —Nancy Renner, Sequim, Washington. Looking for more recipes to make this fall? Try making these chai cookies by Taylor Swift.
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Baki’s Old-World Cookies

Total Time 45 min
Servings 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: My uncles have always called these "cupcake cookies" because of the unique, pretty way they're baked. My maternal grandmother mixed many batches. —Marilyn Louise Riggenbach, Ravenna, Ohio
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Pecan Roll-Ups

Total Time 1 hour
Servings 8 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: This recipe is so delicious and is sure to become a favorite of your family. The pecans make them so rich.—Lee B. Roberts, Racine, Wisconsin

33/40

Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

Total Time 25 min
Servings 6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Dotted with cranberries, orange zest and vanilla chips, these cookies are so colorful and fun to eat. They look lovely on a dessert tray and would be a great addition to your Christmas cookie lineup. —Pat Habiger, Spearville, Kansas

34/40

Cardamom Spritz

Total Time 30 min
Servings about 6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: As far back as I remember, I have loved cardamom. My grandmother often added the spice to her baked goods. I usually make these cookies with a spritz press—and camel disk—that I found at a thrift shop. It reminds me of a time when I rode a camel in the desert while deployed with the Navy. Of course, any design will do! —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado
35/40

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Total Time 40 min
Servings 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: My kids start begging me for these cakelike sandwich cookies as soon as autumn arrives. I haven't met a person yet who doesn't like these fun treats. —Deb Stuber, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
36/40

Caramel-Apple Shortbread Cookies

Total Time 45 min
Servings 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: There is nothing like seeing my friends almost melt to the floor when they bite into something I made. These cookies never fail to elicit oohs and aahs. —Amber Taylor, Lenoir City, Tennessee
37/40

Pumpkin Spice Cookies

Total Time 35 min
Servings about 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: These big, soft spice cookies created by our staff have a sweet frosting that makes them an extra-special treat. Enjoy! —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
38/40

Cranberry Nut Cookies

Total Time 35 min
Servings 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: In fall, I stock up on fresh cranberries and freeze them so I can make these cookies throughout the year. Tangy cranberries are a nice addition to a buttery cookie. —Machelle, Wall, Rosamond, California
39/40

Ginger Creme Sandwich Cookies

Total Time 35 min
Servings about 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: With a lemony filling, these spiced cookies go over big because they have old-fashioned, comfort-food appeal. Your party guests will snatch them up! - Carol Walston, Granbury, Texas
40/40

Salted Caramel Cookie Cups

Total Time 40 min
Servings 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: When I brought these salty-sweet treats to a potluck, I overheard people talking about how wonderful they were. I'm not sure if it was the cookie, the caramel or the chocolate that they loved best.—Priscilla Yee, Concord, California