26 Perfect Pumpkin Recipes You'll Want to Eat All Year Round

Did autumn ever really call dibs on pumpkin?

By

and

Samantha Leffler

Updated on June 04, 2024

overhead of pumpkin pie with slice out on a blue linen surface — Photo: Greg DuPree

When contemplating pumpkin recipes, pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread come to mind, but let's not limit ourselves. This darling of festive fall foods—the shining star of Halloween décor and inspiration for the cult-following of pumpkin-spice-everything—deserves better. Recipes with pumpkin range from the familiar sweet-spiced desserts to the unexpected creamy cocktail and savory sandwiches.

We rounded up our favorite pumpkin recipes for you to use this fall—and the other seasons, too—from an easy no-bake pumpkin pie to rich pasta-and-ricotta roll-ups with a creamy pumpkin sauce, to a pumpkin grilled cheese. We guarantee you'll find ways to use versatile, affordable, nutrient-packed pumpkin year-round.

01 of 26

Creamy Pumpkin Cheesecake

Pumpkin Cheesecake — John Kernick

An inventive variation on a Thanksgiving standard, this recipe serves up pumpkin in a cheesecake, complete with a crunchy graham cracker crust. Allow at least two hours to chill before serving. If you're in a time crunch, prepare this creamy cake up to two days ahead.

02 of 26

Dark Chocolate-Pumpkin Dump Cake

Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Dump Cake — Caitlin Bensel

Pumpkin and chocolate join forces in this delicious dump cake that boasts a pumpkin pie-esque base and chopped semi-sweet chocolate pieces in every bite. As if that wasn't enough, the whole thing is covered in a cakey topping, giving this treat a molten-lava-cake vibe.

03 of 26

Pumpkin Spice Bread

Pumpkin Spice Bread Recipe — Victor Protasio

Give your banana bread recipe a rest! This one delivers a moist, flavorful loaf that's as good with a cup of coffee as it is with a scoop of ice cream. And don't even get us started on its delectable streusel-pumpkin seed topping!

04 of 26

Pumpkin Cream Sandwiches

Pumpkin Cream Sandwiches — Beatriz da Costa

If you generally pass on pumpkin pie, this sandwich—a sweet cream cheese filling between pumpkin-spiced, cake-like cookies—makes a fine alternative. Plus, they travel better than a slice of pie, so you can pack a couple to go.

05 of 26

Maple Pumpkin Pie

Top View of Maple Pumpkin Pie on Top of Purple Fabric with Two Metal Forks Next to It — David Prince

Maple syrup joins cinnamon, ginger, and cloves to give this pie a rich, warm depth. If rolling out your own dough seems a bit daunting, use a store-bought pie crust fitted to a 9-inch pie plate for a result that's just as sweet.

06 of 26

Ricotta Roll-Ups in Creamy Pumpkin Sauce

Ricotta Roll-Ups In Creamy Pumpkin Sauce — Victor Protasio

Pumpkin shines just as brightly in savory recipes as it does in sweet ones. Here it's the star of a garlicky cream sauce that bathes ricotta-filled pasta topped with sage-infused mozzarella. It's nearly impossible not to go back for seconds.

07 of 26

No-Bake Pumpkin Pie

No Bake Pumpkin Pie Recipe — Greg DuPree

If your oven's packed with turkey, stuffing, and roasting vegetables, this is your life-saving dessert solution. Rather than baking your crust and filling, this recipe employs your freezer to solidify components of this dreamy-creamy-pumpkiny dessert.

08 of 26

Pumpkin Rice Pudding

Pumpkin Rice Pudding — Dana Gallagher

Canned pumpkin gives this hearty custard a seasonal spin. Make the pudding up to two days ahead and refrigerate until ready to serve. To reheat, stir in an additional 1½ cups of milk and stir gently over medium-low heat to ensure it stays creamy.

09 of 26

Turkey-Pumpkin Chili

Turkey-Pumpkin Chili Recipe — Caitlin Bensel

This hearty chili made with lean ground turkey has ample spices to draw out the savory side of its pumpkin purée. Fiber-rich cannellini beans add body to each bowl, which you can top with hot sauce, sour cream, and sliced scallions.

10 of 26

Pumpkin Martini

Halloween cocktails recipes - Pumpkin Martini — Joseph De Leo

Not a coffee person? A latte isn't the only way to drink your pumpkin. This seasonal adults-only beverage combines pumpkin pie spice, sugar, vodka, half-and-half, pumpkin purée, maple syrup, and a hint of vanilla extract to create an ultra-creamy cocktail.

11 of 26

Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake Bars

Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake Bars — Greg DuPree

For a dessert that impresses just about everyone, give these colorful cheesecake bars a whirl. With a Speculoos cookie crust and a spiced pumpkin filling, they're bound to be a hit.

12 of 26

Pumpkin Cream Puffs

Pumpkin Cream Puffs — Max Kelly

For this dessert, classic choux pastries are filled with brown sugar-and-pumpkin pastry cream. The result is a dreamy contrast in textures that tastes as good—if not better—than it looks.

13 of 26

Pressed Ciabatta With Mozzarella, Pepita Mojo, and Arugula

Pressed Ciabatta With Mozzarella, Pepita Mojo, and Arugula — Caitlin Bensel

This savory sandwich uses pumpkin seeds—AKA pepitas—to make a mojo sauce with garlic, citrus, and olive oil. The easy-to-make sauce then soaks into the bread as the mozzarella melts, creating a mouthwatering meal you'll want to make again and again.

14 of 26

Cinnamon-Spiced Pumpkin Muffins

Pumpkin Muffins — Grace Elkus

For something less decadent than pumpkin pie, try these flavorful muffins made with canned pumpkin and an array of spices. These sweet treats are great any time of day—from breakfast to a late-night snack—so you might as well make a double batch.

15 of 26

Pumpkin Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting — John Kernick

This fall favorite comes together quickly thanks to shortcut ingredients like boxed cake mix and pumpkin pie spice. Just add pumpkin purée and, once baked and cooled, top with cream cheese frosting and candy corn. (No one needs to know your timesaving secret.)

16 of 26

Pumpkin-Leek Soup

Pumpkin-Leek Soup — Francesco Lagnese

This autumnal soup has such a velvety texture, you'd never know there isn't an ounce of cream in the recipe. A member of the onion family, leeks add a flavor that's a bit milder and sweeter than its allium relatives. For a vegetarian version, simply swap the chicken broth for vegetable broth.

17 of 26

Pumpkin Bread With Molasses

Pumpkin Bread — Sang An

Full of deep, rich flavors like molasses, pumpkin pie filling, nutmeg, and cloves, this quick bread requires no kneading and just 15 minutes of hands-on prep. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert, or toast and schmear with butter for an indulgent breakfast.

18 of 26

Spicy Almond-and-Seed Salad Topper

Spicy Almond-and-Seed Salad Topper Recipe — Victor Protasio

This recipe combines almonds, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds, and then tosses them in garlic, onion powder, and a dash of bold cayenne pepper. The result is a spicy, crunchy topping that adds texture and flavor to everything from hearty salads to vegetable grain bowls, or even a savory yogurt parfait.

19 of 26

Mini Pumpkin Pies With Speculoos Crust and Whipped Cream

Ginger-Pumpkin Mini Pies With Speculoos Crust and Whipped Cream — Jennifer Causey

While there's nothing wrong with a large pie that serves a group, sometimes you want to take a more individualized approach. These mini pies feature an easy press-in crust made with Speculoos cookies—a crunchy Dutch biscuit made with brown sugar and warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves—that pair perfectly with the spicy-sweet pumpkin filling.

20 of 26

Spiced Pumpkin Cake

Spiced Pumpkin Cake — José Picayo

Flavored with molasses and pumpkin pie spice, this cake gets a final drizzle of tangy confectioner's sugar and lemon glaze just before serving. Thanks to the beautiful design of many bundt cake pans, this cake is a great selection when you're asked to bring dessert to a potluck.

21 of 26

Feta and Watermelon Grain Bowls

Feta and Watermelon Grain Bowls Recipe — Caitlin Bensel

Pumpkin seeds add an irresistible crunch to this grain bowl, which is perfect for warm summer weather. Roasted pepitas mingle with juicy watermelon cubes, salty feta, creamy avocado, and nutty farro to create a balanced vegetarian plate. Enjoy this dish solo, or serve it alongside grilled salmon, planks of crispy tofu, or grilled steak.

22 of 26

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies — Grace Elkus

This treat starts with our favorite sugar cookie recipe but swaps out half the butter with pumpkin purée. The result is a dough you can roll out to punch with your Halloween cookie cutters and then top with royal icing or just cinnamon sugar.

23 of 26

Pumpkin Bread Trifle With Pepita Streusel

pumpkin bread trifle with pepita streusel — Antonis Achilleos

A trifecta of pumpkin goodness—pumpkin bread, pumpkin spice, and pumpkin seeds—combine for the penultimate pumpkin showstopper. This recipe layers pumpkin bread (buy or make your own) with cream cheese-whipped cream clouds and a sweet, crumbly, pumpkin streusel: heaven in a trifle dish.

24 of 26

Pumpkin Caramel Pie Bars With Toasted Coconut

Pumpkin Caramel Pie Bars With Toasted Coconut — Brie Passano

The flavors and textures of pumpkin pie, coconut cookies, and salted caramel bars merge for this crowd-pleasing treat. Its no-roll pastry crust is pressed into a 9-by-13-inch pan and then pre-baked. Next comes a caramel-infused, pumpkin-pie-like filling, some more baking, and then a sprinkle of toasted coconut and flaky salt. The hardest part about this recipe is waiting 8 hours (or overnight) for the filling to set in the fridge.

25 of 26

Pumpkin Doughnuts With Sour Cream Icing

Pumpkin Doughnuts — Levi Brown

Forget the fryer because these donuts are baked, not fried. Made with pumpkin purée and spiked with pumpkin pie spice, they're topped with a rich sour cream icing and orange (or black) sprinkles for a quintessential Halloween treat.

26 of 26

Savory Seedy Granola

Savory-seedy-granola — Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Pumpkin seeds star as one of the titled "seedy" elements of this granola, a savory alternative to the sweet stuff you can find at the market. Paired with sunflower seeds, oats, and aromatic coriander and fennel, these pepitas get a chance to shine. You can put this granola on anything, sweet or savory, that needs a little added crunch.

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