These cookies embody the flavor of coffee cake and the essence of autumn in Stars Hollow.

"Gilmore Girls" premiered 23 years ago (on October 5, 2000) and captivated audiences long enough to run for seven seasons. Its popularity, however, has only grown since its original run, as both old and new fans continue to watch it on Netflix. While I was baking these cookies, I found myself rewatching a scene where Richard Gilmore, the family patriarch, humorously claims, 'I am an autumn' in response to a color quiz his granddaughter, Rory, suggested he take.

The cookies don’t directly connect to that scene, but here’s the thing: "Gilmore Girls"—especially its first season—has become synonymous with fall for many fans. The early episodes are set in autumn, with the sets brimming with pumpkins, haystacks, and colorful leaves. And, of course, the show is known for its food, lots and lots of food.

A Cozy Fall Binge and Baking Coffee Cake Cookies

As soon as fall rolls around, fans revisit the show, and social media feeds flood with Gilmore Girls-inspired content, particularly food-related posts. This year, one recipe in particular has been everywhere: Gilmore Girls Coffee Cake Cookies, created by recipe developer Mallory Jones Oniki. Her followers can’t get enough of these cookies.

One follower couldn’t stop raving: 'I just finished my last one!' While another fan was even more excited, saying, 'RUN, don’t walk, to make these. Seriously. These are THE. BEST. cookies I’ve ever baked. THANK YOU!'

Being a fan of coffee cake, cookies, and "Gilmore Girls," I decided to give these cookies a try and bake them myself.

Can Cookies Really Taste Like Coffee Cake?

As I baked the cookies, I was watching an episode where Luke, the diner owner in town, bakes Rory a coffee cake for her birthday breakfast. That one short scene is enough to make coffee cake a signature "GG" food. But Mallory Oniki puts her twist on it, turning the traditional coffee cake into cookies.

And the best part? They truly do taste like coffee cake. In fact, right out of the oven, warm and drizzled with icing, my son remarked that they tasted just like the coffee cake he buys from the bakery cart near his office.

These cookies are soft and cakey, yet delightfully moist, bursting with brown sugar and warm cinnamon spices. The streusel topping, combined with a simple drizzle of powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk icing, gives them that perfect coffee cake charm—ideal for pairing with coffee, tea, or a tall glass of cold milk.

Oniki’s recipe is easy to follow with just three steps: mix the simple cinnamon and brown sugar cookie dough, prepare the streusel topping with more brown sugar and cinnamon, then bake the large cookies. Once they’ve cooled, drizzle with icing. The recipe turned out great, though I had to adjust the baking time slightly.

As one commenter put it, 'THIS WAS SO GOOD OMG! I did bake them a little longer, though.' I too had to extend the baking time by about two minutes beyond the recommended 10-12 minutes.

You don’t have to be a "Gilmore Girls" enthusiast to crave these viral cookies. But if you adore fall, love the taste of coffee cake, and want your home filled with the scent of cinnamon, these cookies are made for you.