Signed up to take cookies to your kiddo’s Christmas party? Agreed to go to a cookie exchange at church? Need a simple homemade gift for your neighbors? Make these cookies.

Have I mentioned how much I love the combination of pumpkin and chocolate? I know. Just a time or two or twenty. So you won’t be surprised, I’m sure, to learn that when I saw a recipe for pumpkin oatmeal chocolate chip cookies on Pinterest, I put them on a short list to be tried as soon as possible.

I made them a few weeks ago, using up the last can of pumpkin I’d stocked up on last fall. But none of my pictures did them justice. So, of course I had to try again! Luckily I’d signed up to take food to church last Sunday, so I had the perfect excuse to make cookies – and then get them out of my house.

These cookies are simple to mix up and can make either three dozen large cookies or about five dozen small ones. And no matter how many you make, the pumpkin makes them all super soft and the oatmeal makes them chewy. (Not to mention, the addition of pumpkin and oatmeal seriously ups the fiber content and health factor of these cookies. So much so that one might be excused for eating a couple for breakfast? I think yes.)

Okay, fine, maybe eating cookies of any kind isn’t the best choice. I do know that, especially since I’ve – once again – climbed back on the trying-to-be-healthy wagon. I’m trying AGAIN because of the same old obvious reasons. But recently I read some information from the American Cancer Society and was reminded that maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your risk of many types of cancer.

You guys, I haven’t been a healthy weight for more than a decade.

So, like I said, I’m back on ye olde wagon. I’ve been tracking what I eat and really adding more fruits and veggies to my diet. It’s so easy for me to go through a whole day without a single veggie or piece of fruit! The American Cancer Society has some tips for adding these healthy foods to your regular diet, and I’m suggesting one more: Add pumpkin to your cookie recipes!

I mean, let’s be realistic, right? It’s the holidays. We’re gonna eat cookies. So we might as well make them healthier!

Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 tbsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups oatmeal
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix together butter and sugars, then add in egg, pumpkin and vanilla. Mix together dry ingredients, then add to sugar mixture. Fold in oats and chocolate chips. Scoop onto greased baking sheet and bake for 14-15 minutes (for large cookies) or 10-11 minutes (for small cookies).

The original recipe calls for 1 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup white chocolate chips. Instead of that, I used 1 cup chocolate chips and a package of M&Ms the first time I made them. The second time, I just used the chocolate chips (a little more than a cup). I also think Reese’s Pieces would be good, too.

For more meals that have been made healthier for the holidays, visit the American Cancer Society on Facebook for lots of recipes!

What’s your favorite cookie combination? Do you like pumpkin and chocolate?

This post will be linked to Mouthwatering Monday, Made by You Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Tuesdays at the Table, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, 33 Shades of Green, Works for Me Wednesday, What I Whipped Up Wednesday, I’m Lovin’ It, Sweet Tooth Friday, Foodie Friday and Show and Tell Saturday. It will also be linked to Ingredient Spotlight at Eat at Home Cooks.