36 Easy Pumpkin Recipes Full Of Fall Flavor

These pumpkin recipes are so gourd, you'll be making them all fall long.

By

Kimberly Holland

Updated on July 21, 2024

southern living pumpkin bars — Photo:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Pumpkin may be a classic at Thanksgiving, but with these pumpkin recipes, you can enjoy the fabulous flavor year-round. While people usually think of pumpkin pie, these recipes also show you how appetizing pumpkin can be in a soup, in a quick bread, as a tart, or in many other scrumptious dishes. While there are many delicious pumpkin desserts, we will also show you how to bring the deliciousness of pumpkin to the dinner table. So enjoy our best pumpkin recipes and let the sweet—or savory—taste of pumpkin be a part of every meal.

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Southern Pumpkin Pie

Southern Pumpkin Pie — Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

This old-fashioned pumpkin pie from Cheryl Day's Back in the Day Bakery in Savannah, Georgia, is the ultimate holiday dessert. Its richly spiced filling and tender yet crisp crust are sure to earn you a round of applause. Day adds a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to her pie crust to make it "just so dang flaky."

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Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Southern Living Pumpkin Bread sliced on a cutting board — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This recipe takes your classic pumpkin bread up a notch with the addition of chocolate chips to the batter. Plus, pepitas give the bread a welcome crunch that contrasts perfectly with its soft interior.

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Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

Southern Living Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls on plates to serve — Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Brighten up a dreary fall morning with these pumpkin cinnamon rolls. This recipe doubles down on the pumpkin, as it can be found in both the dough and filling. The rolls are topped with a sweet cream cheese glaze.

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Pumpkin Bundt Cake

Southern Living Pumpkin Bundt Cake sliced on a plate to serve — Molly Bolton

Warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg turn a simple pumpkin cake into a cozy fall dessert. With or without the maple glaze, this dessert is fancy enough for a holiday meal but easy enough for a weekday coffee break.

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Pumpkin Spice Cookies

Pumpkin Spice Cookies — Micah A. Leal

These cookies utilize both actual pumpkin and pumpkin spice to achieve the perfect moistness and flavor. The recipe is a riff on a classic Snickerdoodle cookie, but soft and velvety. These cookies are delicious unadorned, but can also benefit from a layer of cream cheese frosting.

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Pumpkin Banana Bread

pumpkin banana bread southern living — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Quick breads deliver the delight of baking without the effort of complicated yeast doughs or crimped pie crusts. From start to finish, this quick bread takes about an hour, and it will fill the house with delicious smells of pumpkin and warm spices like cinnamon.

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Pumpkin Dip

pumpkin dip with apple slices — Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

You need just six ingredients and 30 minutes to make this no-cook pumpkin dip. Serve with pretzels, cookies, fruit, or crackers for the ultimate fall-inspired appetizer (or dessert!).

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Maple Pumpkin Pie

Southern Living Maple Pumpkin Pie sliced on plates — Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This pumpkin pie incorporates maple to add a warm sweetness to every bite. Use real, pure maple syrup to do this recipe justice.

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Pumpkin Bars

Pumpkin Bars — Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Sweet, spiced, and perfect to grab and go, these pumpkin-filled desserts are perfect to take to the pumpkin patch or your next tailgate. Top these bars with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting and candied pumpkin seeds. Lightly spiced and pan-toasted, the seeds should not be skipped.

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Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Southern Living Pumpkin Whoopie Pies on a black platter — Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

To make these whoopie pies, bake soft pumpkin cookies full of harvest flavor. Whip up a cinnamon-cream cheese filling, and sandwich between two cookies. These tasty treats can be eaten immediately or refrigerated for up to four days.

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Pumpkin Dump Cake

Southern Living Pumpkin Dump Cake sliced on a plate to serve topped with whipped cream — Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Only 10 minutes of active time is needed for this incredibly easy approach to the classic dump cake. We make the equivalent of a pumpkin pie filling, whisking in half-and-half, brown sugar, traditional spices, and eggs. Then, just as you'd imagine, we dump a package of yellow cake mix across the filling and pour over some melted butter that soaks into the cake mix as it bakes.

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Sugar-And-Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Sugar-and-Pumpkin Spice Muffins — Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

You can use canned pumpkin in place of roasting a sugar pumpkin if you’re in a hurry on a busy morning. But don’t skip sprinkling the sugared pumpkin spice over the tops before baking. It adds sweetness and crunch.

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Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes

Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes — Photographer: Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Erin Merhar; Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee

Your guests will love these delectable, bite-size treats. You will too, as they require just 15 minutes of baking. Use maple syrup to deepen the flavor of the whipped cream topping.

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Pumpkin Pound Cake

pumpkin pound cake — Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey

This pound cake is enhanced with pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and sour cream. The cake can look simple or spectacular, depending on your tube pan. Prepare a maple syrup glaze, sprinkle with pecans, and wow your dinner guests.

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Pumpkin Crisp

Southern Living Pumpkin Crisp in the pan with a serving scooped out and topped with whipped cream — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This recipe requires just three steps: Mix base ingredients, sprinkle the cakey layer on top, and bake. Easy recipe, moist cake, sweet pumpkin, and crunchy pecans—what's not to love? Top with whipped cream and nutmeg, if you don't scarf it down first.

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Pumpkin Cake

Pumpkin Cake - Southern Living — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Pull out your favorite cake stand, and put this beautiful pumpkin cake on display at your next party. While you can use a can of pumpkin puree in a pinch, there's nothing quite like making it homemade by roasting a pumpkin yourself.

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Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins

pumpkin cream cheese swirl muffins — Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Take your breakfast muffins to another level with this recipe. The pumpkin batter is poured into paper liners in a muffin tin, and then a dollop of cream mixture is swirled in. Use a toothpick, skewer, or chopstick for best results when swirling.

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Pumpkin Layer Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Layer Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting — Alison Gootee; Styling: Suzonne Stirling

This gorgeous layer cake by New Orleans-based cookbook author and food blogger Joy Wilson has ribbons of caramel swirled in the cream cheese frosting. The slightly tangy cake batter also incorporates buttermilk to offset the sweetness. You just can't pass this one up.

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Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever

Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever — Greg Dupree

Of all of our Thanksgiving dessert recipes, this might just be the easiest one yet. Buttermilk gives it extra creaminess and a tangy twist. For a crisp crust (no more soggy bottom!), use a metal pie pan and prebake your crust with pie weights.

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Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Pumpkin Spice Muffin on a plate next to a knife with butter — Jen Causey; Food Stylist

This muffin recipe incorporates pumpkin pie spice, canned pumpkin, and dark brown sugar to create a warming spiced morning treat that will taste wonderful alongside a cup of coffee. To make it even better, each muffin is dipped in melted butter, then a sugar-spice mix before being served.

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Pumpkin-Pecan Cheesecake

Pumpkin-Pecan Cheesecake — Jennifer Davick

Combine your favorite Thanksgiving desserts into one delicious cheesecake. Start with a graham cracker and pecan crust, then mix a simple and delicious pumpkin-cheesecake filling. A sweet praline topping sends this dessert over the edge.

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Turkey Pumpkin Chili

turkey pumpkin chili — Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

You'll be shocked at how rich this recipe can be despite coming together in just 30 minutes. This light and healthy chili recipe uses fire-roasted crushed tomatoes and canned pumpkin for a sumptuous thickness and a touch of sweetness. Serve with chips, sour cream, cilantro, and shredded cheese.

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Pumpkin Slab Pie

Southern Living Pumpkin Slab Pie with Cinnamon-Maple Whipped Cream in the pan to serve — Victor Protasio, Chelsea Zimmer, Christina Dailey

This pumpkin slab pie will serve 18 people, which is more than enough reason to make it for your next fall-time gathering. But if you need even more convincing, each piece is topped with homemade whipped cream.

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Chocolate Pumpkin Pie

Chocolate Pumpkin Pie — Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

If you can't decide between a chocolate pie or pumpkin pie, why not serve both in one package? Pumpkin pie filling is gradually whisked into melted chocolate and then poured over a chocolate cookie crust. After baking, chill this pie for at least four hours.

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Pumpkin Spice-Heath Cake

Pumpkin Spice-Heath Cake — Alison Miksch

This sheet cake is chock full of candy bar bits that will satisfy your sweet tooth. A boxed spice cake mix cuts your prep time in half, giving you plenty of time and energy to whip up the most indulgent part of all—the cream cheese frosting, which, of course, includes a bit of pumpkin spice too. Crumble Heath bars over the top and enjoy.

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Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin Bread — Micah A. Leal

Pumpkin bread needs no bells and whistles. In fact, some argue that the simpler the pumpkin bread, the better it will be. With this philosophy in mind, we give you a delicious recipe for pumpkin bread that requires 10 minutes of hands-on time, two bowls, and a whisk.

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Pumpkin-Spice Bundt with Brown Sugar Icing and Candied Pecans Recipe

Pumpkin-Spice Bundt with Brown Sugar Icing and Candied Pecans — Photo: Jennifer Causey

Here's another beautiful Bundt cake where pumpkin is the star of the show. Or maybe it's the candied pecans, heated to syrupy sweetness on the stove and dried on wax paper. The pecans and a rich, buttery icing turn the simple pumpkin Bundt cake into a grande finale dessert.

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Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Muffins

Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Muffins — Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely

Think of these muffins as more portable pumpkin bread. Chocolate chips are a satisfyingly sweet addition to these spiced breads. Serve the muffins for breakfast, a late-day snack, or dessert.

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Pumpkin Soufflé

pumpkin souffle — Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice give these soufflés a tasty fall spin. Test them for doneness with a skewer. The centers should be slightly wet, and the soufflés should still jiggle slightly when you move them. Serve these right away with a dusting of powdered sugar.

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Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies

Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies — Greg DuPree

Give brownies a fall makeover with the delightful addition of pumpkin. This two-in-one combination swirls chocolate and pumpkin batters. For easy slicing, refrigerate these brownies overnight. Cut while cold and serve at room temperature.

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Pumpkin-Pecan Coffee Cake

Pumpkin-Pecan Coffee Cake — Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely

This recipe starts with pumpkin bread batter baked in a 13- x 9-inch pan. Top it with a sweet crumb topping that crisps during baking. Serve with a cup of coffee, or freeze some for later.

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Candied Pumpkin Spice Pecans

Candied Pumpkin Spice Pecans — Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Serve these sweet, crunchy pecans straight from the oven. Tossed with pumpkin pie spice, they’re not only perfect for a fall snack, but they also add fall flavor to salads, cakes, and even chicken salad. Pack in jars for hostess gifts, or store in the freezer to use all season.

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Pumpkin Poke Cake

Southern Living Pumpkin Poke Cake in the dish to serve with pieces cut out — Jessica Furniss

This poke cake is one of our favorite desserts to make during fall. This six-ingredient cake is packed with pumpkin spices that make a warm, comforting treat.

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Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

Southern Living Pumpkin Chiffon Pie sliced and ready to serve — Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

We make the whipped cream from scratch in this recipe which perfectly complements this light, airy pie.

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Pumpkin Roll

pumpkin roll and slices on plates — Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Some might prefer this pumpkin roll over a classic pumpkin pie. This moist, perfectly-spiced cake roll is filled with tangy, decadent creme cheese.

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Classic Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Pie - Southern Living — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Each bite of this downhome pumpkin pie will evoke memories of Thanksgiving's past. Pumpkin spice-flavored leaves make the perfect harvest-time embellishment to the pie.

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