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

By Betty Gold
Updated September 27, 2019
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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 buttery pappardelle with pumpkin and caramelized onions, pumpkin martinis, pumpkin pancakes with spiced maple syrup, and so much more. In case you're wondering, we've been serving these since July. Why not, you know? 

RELATED: How to Make Your Own Pumpkin Puree in 4 Simple Steps
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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.

Get the recipe: Pumpkin Cheesecake

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Pumpkin Pancakes With Spiced Maple Syrup

Philip Friedman; Styling: Colleen Riley

Does the thought of having pumpkin pie for breakfast sound like something only dreams are made of? Armed with this recipe, you can have a breakfast inspired by your favorite fall dessert—without the guilt. A spiced maple syrup adds extra decadence.

Get the recipe: Pumpkin Pancakes With Spiced Maple Syrup

3 of 22

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.

Get the recipe: Pumpkin Cream Sandwiches

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Maple Pumpkin Pie

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 piecrust fitted to a 9-inch pie plate for a result that’s just as sweet.

Get the recipe: Maple Pumpkin Pie

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Pumpkin Lasagna

Steve Giralt

A few simple swaps differentiate this comforting fall dish from the lasagna your mom used to make. Trade marinara sauce for a silky pumpkin puree, ditch noodles for cheese ravioli, and substitute Swiss chard for spinach. When layered, each and every bite is gooey, cheesy, and oh-so-delicious.

Get the recipe: Pumpkin Lasagna

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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.

Get the recipe: Pumpkin Rice Pudding

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Buttery Pappardelle With Pumpkin and Caramelized Onions

William Brinson

If the kids ask for buttered noodles every… single… night, count on everyone’s favorite fall gourd to put a sophisticated and seasonal spin on pasta night the whole family is guaranteed to love. The pumpkin adds a hint of sweetness, thyme adds earthiness, and grated pecorino provides just enough saltiness.

Get the recipe: Buttery Pappardelle With Pumpkin and Caramelized Onions

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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.

Get the recipe: Pumpkin Martini

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Pumpkin Cookies With Chocolate

Philip Friedman; Styling: Colleen Riley

Cocoa powder is swirled with pumpkin puree and molasses to create these rich, chocolate drop cookies. Fold in chopped walnuts and dates to add a layer of extra flavor. Sprinkle each mound of dough with coarse turbinado sugar just before baking for a slightly crunchy hint of sweetness.

Get the recipe: Pumpkin Cookies With Chocolate

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Easy Pumpkin Pie Pop Tart With Cream Cheese Glaze

Philip Friedman; Styling: Colleen Riley

Easier and healthier than you might think, this breakfast favorite is made to please kids. Store-bought puff pastry ensures assembly is a cinch: Simply spread a mixture of pumpkin puree, sugar, cinnamon, and salt between two layers of the pastry. The homemade cream cheese glaze is so tasty, you’ll want to dunk your pop tart right in it.

Get the recipe: Easy Pumpkin Pie Pop Tart With Cream Cheese Glaze

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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.

Get the recipe: Pumpkin Grilled Cheese

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Pumpkin With White Beans and Bacon

Con Poulos

Chunks of fresh pumpkin are sautéed in bacon fat until slightly browned and caramelized, and then stewed in chicken broth until tender. Finish the dish with a sprinkling of crispy bacon bits and a serving of meaty white beans. A splash of vinegar brightens up the hearty side.

Get the recipe: Pumpkin With White Beans and Bacon

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A Deliciously Wholesome Pumpkin Spice Latte

Chris Morocco

You don’t have to get in the car and trek to the nearest coffee shop to get your pumpkin spice latte fix. Being your own barista—no special equipment required—means having a healthier (but just as delicious!) version of the seasonal beverage in hand, whenever the craving strikes.

Get the recipe: A Deliciously Wholesome Pumpkin Spice Latte

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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.

Get the recipe: Pumpkin Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting

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Sweet and Salty Pumpkin Seeds

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.

Get the recipe: Sweet and Salty Pumpkin Seeds

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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.

Get the recipe: Pumpkin-Leek Soup

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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.

Get the recipe: Pumpkin Bread

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Sausage-Pumpkin Corn-Bread Stuffing

Michael Paul

Cut prep time nearly in half by using a store-bought stuffing mix instead of starting from scratch. Then, add in the extras that make this version so unique: dried cranberries, pumpkin puree, jalapeno, and sage. The resulting dish is still an ultra-moist bready side dish, without the hassle.

Get the recipe: Sausage-Pumpkin Corn-Bread Stuffing

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Caramelized Pumpkin and Pear Crumble

Susie Cusher

Fresh pears simmer in a mixture of butter, maple syrup, vanilla, and spices until caramelized and deeply flavorful. A large helping of pumpkin puree adds an earthy note to the otherwise very sweet treat. Rather than bake the whole thing in a casserole dish, use ramekins to make individual servings.

Get the recipe: Caramelized Pumpkin and Pear Crumble

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Pumpkin Cornmeal Muffins

Wendell Webber

Start Thanksgiving morning—or any lazy Saturday, for that matter—with an easy morning treat made from scratch that’ll make your whole home smell sweeter. If you’re worried about filling up before the big meal, use a mini muffin tin and reduce the cooking time to create bite-sized confections instead.

Get the recipe: Pumpkin Cornmeal Muffins

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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.

Get the recipe: Spiced Pumpkin Cake

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Spiced Pumpkin Smoothie

Grant Cornett

Eat your pumpkin for… breakfast. Simply send ice, whole milk, pumpkin puree, honey, and a pinch of ground nutmeg for a whir in the blender until smooth and frothy. The honey ensures the smoothie is just sweet enough—even despite the addition of earthy pumpkin puree. Find more pumpkin smoothie recipes here.

Get the recipe: Spiced Pumpkin Smoothie

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