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Looking for the best pumpkin recipes to celebrate the fall season? I’ve got you covered below, with sweet and savory pumpkin recipes. Plus other ways to use pumpkin, the best pumpkins for baking, and more.
Is Pumpkin A Fruit or Vegetable?
Despite popular belief that it is a vegetable, pumpkin is actually a fruit. Pumpkins begin as a flower, which is the technical definition for declaring something a fruit.
Other fruits that begin as a flower include tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and peppers. Yup – they’re all technically fruit too, not veggies.
What Does Pumpkin Taste Like?
Pumpkin has a taste that’s difficult to describe. We all know what it tastes like in pumpkin pie and pumpkin spice lattes – but a lot of that classic “pumpkin pie” flavor actually comes from the pumpkin spice seasoning mix.
Raw pumpkin itself is a bit on the bitter side, though cooked pumpkin has a mildly earthy and slightly sweet flavor.
Ways to Use Pumpkin in the Kitchen
Most pumpkin recipes will actually begin with pumpkin puree – which is super easy to make yourself.
Once you have pumpkin puree, there are endless ways to use pumpkin in the kitchen. A few ideas:
Pumpkin soup
In drinks like pumpkin spice lattes
In brownies and bars
In cookies
In bread & other baked goods
Roasted pumpkin seeds
The Best Pumpkins for Baking
There are actually nearly 100 different varieties of pumpkin out there, ranging from the standard jack-o-lantern pumpkins that we typically carve for Halloween to green varieties to mini pumpkins.
But what are the best pumpkins to use in the kitchen?
In the store, you’ll want to look for pie pumpkins or sugar pumpkins. These are actually not one specific type of pumpkin but rather a general label for different varieties that are ideal for baking and cooking. If you want to get specific, look for varieties such as Baby Pam, Autumn Gold, New England Pie Pumpkin, or Cinderella.
While carving pumpkins are great for roasted pumpkin seeds, the pulp is very watery and stringy, so it’s not ideal for making pumpkin puree or using in other recipes.
30 Easy Pumpkin Recipes
Now that you know a little bit more about pumpkin, let’s dive into my favorite pumpkin recipes.
Homemade Pumpkin Puree
Pumpkin is the only ingredient that goes into this homemade Pumpkin Puree! The perfect base for all of your fall recipes.
Made with pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice, you can think of these Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes as mini pumpkin pies. Top with whipped cream for an easy Thanksgiving dessert.
This delicious and easy Pumpkin Sheet Cake is the perfect Thanksgiving dessert. It has wonderful pumpkin flavor and it pairs great with homemade cream cheese frosting. There’s no way you’ll be able to only eat one piece!
This delightful Pumpkin Cake is incredibly soft, moist, and oh-so delicious! It comes with a delicate whipped cinnamon cream cheese frosting to add the perfect finishing touch. This timeless cake is just what you need to welcome the pumpkin season.
These old-fashioned Pumpkin Donuts are the ultimate Fall treat, made with simple ingredients and the perfect amount of pumpkin spice, then covered in a delicious buttermilk glaze.
A twist on the classic cookie, these Pumpkin Snickerdoodles are made with pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice. Soft and moist, they're the perfect fall treat.
Tender, fluffy Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls are the perfect fall treat combining pumpkin with gooey cinnamon rolls, topped with a maple cream cheese frosting. Enjoy for breakfast with a cup of coffee or as an afternoon treat.
This Pumpkin Bars Recipe features soft, chewy, and perfectly flavored pumpkin bars topped with a thick layer of tangy-sweet cinnamon cream cheese frosting. Plus they're quick and easy to prepare.
This decadent and moist Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread recipe is perfect for fall! From snack to breakfast or even dessert, this will become a family favorite and staple recipe for years to come.
If you've got a craving for pumpkin spice lattes, you don't need to go to the local coffee shop! This Crockpot Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe allows you to make your favorite fall drink at home.
Crustless Pumpkin Pie features the same rich, creamy texture and spiced flavor of traditional pumpkin pie, just without the crust. The bonus? You only need 7 ingredients!
It doesn’t get any better than this incredible No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake. Easy and delicious, this is a must make Fall dessert. The perfect pumpkin flavor with a creamy topping, this easy pumpkin pie is always a huge hit with everyone.
This pumpkin dump cake recipe is so easy to make and perfect for Fall. It takes less than 20 minutes to prepare, but tastes as if you put in hours of work! This easy pumpkin dessert is great because it only requires the basic ingredients that everyone has on hand.
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