Line a baking sheet with either wax paper or a silicone mat.Add the pumpkin puree, butter, milk and sugar to a small pan and warm over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, then boil for around 1 minute. Remove from heat.
¼ cup pumpkin puree, ¼ cup unsalted butter, 2 Tablespoons milk, ½ cup sugar
Meanwhile, add both your 1-minute oats and old fashioned oats to a bowl. Add the pumpkin spice and salt, and mix through.
½ cup 1 minute oats, 2 cups old fashioned oats, ¼ teaspoon pumpkin spice, 1 pinch salt
Add the vanilla extract to the pumpkin-butter mixture and then add it to the bowl with the oats. Mix well.
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Take spoonfuls of the mixture (I use a slightly heaping Tablespoon to measure) and press together with your hands just slightly to form into a somewhat flat ball. Set on the prepared baking sheet and allow to cool.
Notes
Make sure the pumpkin mixture has cooled enough to handle before forming the cookies, especially if you have any kids helping you make them.
You can mix in additional ingredients to customize these cookies to your liking, like chocolate chips or nuts! See below for more ideas.
Make sure to use 100% pumpkin puree. You do not want to use pumpkin pie filling.
You can also use a cookie scoop to form the cookie "dough" balls, but I find it easy enough to just use a Tablespoon.
Brown sugar can be used in place of white sugar if you prefer. This will alter the flavor of these cookies and may add some moisture.
You can also use coconut sugar in place of regular sugar, if you prefer.