Food Recipe Collections & Favorites 25 Perfect Pumpkin Recipes You'll Want to Eat All Year Round Did autumn ever really call "dibs" on pumpkin? By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Instagram Website Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple and previously launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 1, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos 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. 60 Canned Pumpkin Recipes That Are Easy to Make 01 of 25 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 02 of 25 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. get the recipe 03 of 25 Pumpkin Spice Bread 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! get the recipe 04 of 25 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 05 of 25 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 pie crust fitted to a 9-inch pie plate for a result that's just as sweet. get the recipe 06 of 25 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. get the recipe 07 of 25 No Bake Pumpkin Pie 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. get the recipe 08 of 25 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 09 of 25 Turkey-Pumpkin Chili 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. get the recipe 10 of 25 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 11 of 25 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. 5 Cakes You Can Make in a Slow Cooker That Require Very Little Effort get the recipe 12 of 25 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. get the recipe 13 of 25 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 14 of 25 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. get the recipe 15 of 25 Cinnamon-Spiced 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! get the recipe 16 of 25 Pumpkin Pie Spice 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. get the recipe 17 of 25 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 18 of 25 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 19 of 25 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 20 of 25 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 21 of 25 Spicy Almond-and-Seed Salad Topper 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. get the recipe 22 of 25 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. This Recipe Is the Best Way to Use Leftover Halloween Candy get the recipe 23 of 25 Mini Pumpkin 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. get the recipe 24 of 25 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 25 of 25 Feta and Watermelon Grain Bowls 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. get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit