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

Did autumn ever really call "dibs" on pumpkin?

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

Pumpkin is the darling of festive fall foods. It's the shining star of Halloween decor, the key component to making pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread, and the flavor that created the cult-following of the pumpkin spice latte. But let's not limit ourselves: pumpkin is delicious in any form, from sweet spiced desserts to savory salads, coffee, cocktails, even casseroles. It's a delicious, versatile, and affordable ingredient. Pumpkin is also packed with antioxidants, Vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and more, making it a healthy addition to any dish.

Here, we've rounded up some of our favorite pumpkin recipes you'll want to cook this fall, from a classic easy pumpkin pie recipe to rich ricotta roll-ups with a creamy pumpkin sauce, pumpkin martinis, pumpkin bread with a streusel-pumpkin seed topping, and so much more. In case you're wondering, we've been serving these since July. Why not? It's pumpkin spice season, after all.

01 of 25

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Pumpkin Cheesecake
John Kernick

An inventive variation on a Thanksgiving standard: Pumpkin served up in a cheesecake, complete with a crunchy graham cracker crust. Make sure to plan ahead—you'll need at least two hours of chilling time. In a pinch? Prepare the creamy cake up to two days in advance.

02 of 25

Dark Chocolate-Pumpkin Dump Cake

Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Dump Cake
Caitlin Bensel

Pumpkin and chocolate join forces in this delicious dump cake, which is a star all year round. The dessert 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 that tastes intensely like a molten chocolate cake.

03 of 25

Pumpkin Spice Bread

Pumpkin Spice Bread Recipe
Victor Protasio

If you need to give your banana bread recipe a rest, try this Pumpkin Spice Bread recipe instead. This dish actually uses real pumpkin purée, which is combined with warm spices including cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. The result is 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 the delectable streusel-pumpkin seed topping!

04 of 25

Pumpkin Cream Sandwiches

Pumpkin Cream Sandwiches
Beatriz da Costa

If you generally pass on pie altogether, try this delicious alternative. Pumpkin sandwiches—a cream cheese frosting is spread between two pumpkin spice cake-like cookies—make a fine alternative. Plus, they're easier to pack, so you can surprise your kids with a seasonal lunchtime treat.

05 of 25

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, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves give this pie a rich, warm depth. If you're a novice baker and 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 25

Ricotta Roll-Ups in Creamy Pumpkin Sauce

Ricotta Roll-Ups In Creamy Pumpkin Sauce
Victor Protasio

Though pumpkin is often used in sweet dishes, the gourd can shine just as brightly in savory recipes as well. Here, pumpkin is the star of a garlicky cream sauce that's used to bathe ricotta-filled pasta topped with sage-infused mozzarella. With all of those elements, it's nearly impossible not to go back for seconds.

07 of 25

No Bake Pumpkin Pie

No Bake Pumpkin Pie Recipe
Greg DuPree

If your oven's packed with turkey, stuffing, and all the roasted vegetables, we have the life-saving dessert solution: no bake pumpkin pie. Rather than baking your crust and filling, you'll utilize your freezer to solidify the ingredients in this dreamy-creamy dessert.

08 of 25

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 of time and refrigerate until ready to serve. To reheat, stir in an additional 1½ cups milk and stir gently over medium-low heat to ensure it stays creamy.

09 of 25

Turkey-Pumpkin Chili

Turkey-Pumpkin Chili Recipe
Caitlin Bensel

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

10 of 25

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 beverage—for adults only—combines pumpkin pie spice, sugar, vodka, half-and-half, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, and a hint of vanilla extract to create an ultra creamy cocktail.

11 of 25

Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake Bars

Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake Bars
Greg DuPree

For a dessert that will impress just about anyone, give these colorful cheesecake bars a whirl. With a Speculoos cookie crust and a spiced pumpkin filling, they're bound to be a hit no matter when you serve 'em.

12 of 25

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 25

Pumpkin Grilled Cheese

Pumpkin Grilled Cheese
Philip Friedman; Styling: Colleen Riley

Grated Gruyere cheese and pumpkin puree is sandwiched between two pieces of pumpernickel bread, then toasted in a butter-filled skillet to create a supremely gooey and decadent version of the classic. Use festive cookie cutters to cut sandwiches into pumpkins, ghosts, and more seasonal shapes.

14 of 25

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 that also includes 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.

15 of 25

Cinnamon-Spiced Pumpkin Muffins

Pumpkin Muffins
Grace Elkus

For something a bit less decadent than pumpkin pie, try these flavorful muffins made with canned pumpkin and an array of spices. And while the word "muffin" is clearly in the name, feel free to customize these baked goods to your liking. Transform one of these muffins into a snack cake with a smear of cinnamon-cream cheese frosting, or craft the perfect fall breakfast by adding a spiced cinnamon brown sugar streusel topping. You can't go wrong!

16 of 25

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix
Kitchen Treaty

While this recipe doesn't actually require any pumpkin, it is an important component in many pumpkin-flavored foods. Use this warm spice mix to create your own pumpkin spice beverage, add some festive flavors to baked goods, or even liven up a seasonal cocktail.

17 of 25

Pumpkin Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting
John Kernick

A new fall favorite made fast, thanks to shortcut ingredients, like boxed cake mix. Just add pumpkin puree and warm spices to the mix and, once baked and cooled, top each one with a cream cheese frosting. Nobody will ever know your timesaving secret.

18 of 25

Sweet and Salty Pumpkin Seeds

Sweet and Salty Pumpkin Seeds Recipe
John Kernick

Make this big-batch sweet and salty snack on Sunday afternoon, for a healthy option that will last all week long. If you prefer something a little more savory, try these six addictive twists on the crunchy autumn snack.

19 of 25

Pumpkin-Leek Soup

Pumpkin-Leek Soup
Francesco Lagnese

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

20 of 25

Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin Bread
Sang An

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

21 of 25

Spicy Almond-and-Seed Salad Topper

Spicy Almond-and-Seed Salad Topper Recipe
Victor Protasio

This recipe calls for a combination of almonds, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds, which are tossed in a mixture of garlic and onion powder, along with a dash of bold cayenne pepper. The result is a spicy, crunchy topping that can add texture and flavor to everything from hearty salads to vegetable grain bowls, or even a savory yogurt parfait.

22 of 25

Pumpkin Pecan Crisps

Pumpkin Pecan Crisps
Max Kelly

In this dessert, a creamy, warmly-spiced custard hides beneath a nutty, crunchy streusel topping. Think of it as an individually made pumpkin pie with the crust on top. The whipped cream topping is great too, but feel free to substitute crème fraiche or even a dollop of Greek yogurt and call it breakfast.

23 of 25

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. Enter: these mini pies. Each one features an easy press-in crust that's made with Speculoos cookies—a crunchy Dutch biscuit made with brown sugar and warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. The cookies pair perfectly with the spicy-sweet pumpkin filling, yielding a treat your guests are bound to love.

24 of 25

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.

25 of 25

Feta and Watermelon Grain Bowls

Feta and Watermelon Grain Bowls Recipe
Caitlin Bensel

Pumpkin seeds add an irresistible crunch to these grain bowls, which are perfect for warm summer weather. In this dish, 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.

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