Pumpkin Recipes: 8 Pumpkins Dishes You Can Make at Home

You can use fresh or canned pumpkin to bake up delicious pumpkin desserts as well as savory weeknight meals. For breakfast or brunch recipes, consider adding canned pumpkin to traditional breakfast fare such as pumpkin waffles, pumpkin pancakes, or even bread pudding. Pumpkin can spice up appetizers and dinner menus, too. Whip up a batch of pumpkin hummus, pumpkin chili, or pumpkin pasta such as lasagna. Pumpkin purée can take the place of heavy cream or cheese in dishes for healthy pumpkin recipes.

There are pumpkin recipes for every taste. Here are a few of the most popular types of pumpkin recipes:

1. 1. Pumpkin bread: If you are searching for a dish with some fall flavors in it, try pumpkin bread, a quick bread containing canned pumpkin and pumpkin spice that you can garnish with pumpkin seeds or nuts like pecans. You can also use the recipe to make single-serve pumpkin muffins, or add chocolate for pumpkin chocolate chip bread. For an extra-decadent pumpkin dessert, top it with cream cheese frosting. Make a loaf using this classic pumpkin bread recipe.
2. 2. Pumpkin butter: Pumpkin butter is a sweet spread made from fresh pumpkin purée that’s cooked until it has a jam-like consistency. Cook down the pumpkin puree, a little sugar, and pumpkin pie spices for about two hours until it’s thick and glossy. Spread it on everything from toast to pumpkin waffles. Try this homemade pumpkin butter recipe.
3. 3. Pumpkin kibbeh: Traditional kibbeh is a Middle Eastern appetizer consisting of a spiced meatball bound together with bulgur or rice and stuffed with a savory filling. Use pumpkin purée instead of ground meat for a hearty vegan appetizer. Go veggie with this vegan baked pumpkin kibbeh recipe.
4. 4. Pumpkin pie: A popular autumnal recipe, pumpkin pie is one of the most common pumpkin desserts. Pumpkin pie consists of a creamy pumpkin custard containing pumpkin purée (use canned pumpkin or freshly made pumpkin purée), eggs, pumpkin pie spice, cream, and sugar or maple syrup. Make a traditional flaky pie crust or you can make a graham cracker or gingersnap crust. Serve the pie with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Bake this homemade pumpkin pie recipe.
5. 5. Pumpkin risotto: Savory pumpkin recipes include pumpkin risotto, which can be a comfort food dish on fall days. Pumpkin risotto consists of creamy arborio rice, roasted pumpkin purée, and Parmesan cheese. You can substitute another winter squash, such as butternut squash, acorn squash, or sugar pumpkins. Make it on the stovetop or in a slow cooker. Try Massimo Bottura’s pumpkin risotto recipe for a weeknight dinner.
6. 6. Pumpkin soup: To make a creamy pumpkin soup, cook down fresh pumpkin or another winter squash, such as kabocha, butternut squash, or even sweet potatoes with vegetable stock, milk or coconut milk, and spices. Then purée all the ingredients in a food processor for a creamy soup. Garnish with pumpkin seeds or croutons and a dollop of sour cream. Try cooking this creamy pumpkin soup recipe for your next dinner party.
7. 7. Roasted pumpkin seeds: Use the pepitas, or pumpkin seeds, taken from fresh pumpkins to create a delicious snack. Fresh pumpkin seeds, salt, black pepper, and olive oil are the only ingredients you need to make these crunchy snacks at home. Try an easy roasted pepitas recipe to learn how to cook with pumpkin seeds after you carve your Halloween pumpkins.
8. 8. Vegan pumpkin pie: The vegan version of the classic pumpkin pie uses thickening agents, such as cornstarch, tapioca starch, or arrowroot powder, and dairy-free cream substitutes like coconut cream instead of eggs and heavy cream. Use vegan butter for a buttery crust. Alternatively, you can bake the recipe in a square pan, then slice it after it’s cooled to create vegan pumpkin bars. Make this vegan pumpkin pie recipe.

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