Our Best Pumpkin Recipes

By Southern Living

Pumpkin may be a classic fall vegetable, but with these pumpkin recipes you can enjoy its fabulous flavor year-round. While people usually think of pumpkin pie—and you can enjoy Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever, which is one of our canned pumpkin recipes—these recipes also show you how delicious pumpkin can be in a soup, in bread, as a tart, or in many other scrumptious ways. Spiced Butternut-Pumpkin Soup, Pecan-Pumpkin Bread, and Pumpkin-and-Turnip Green Lasagna are all pumpkin recipes that can bring the deliciousness of pumpkin to the table. Canned pumpkin recipes like Spicy Pumpkin Soup with Avocado Cream make it even easier to have pumpkin for lunch or dinner. So enjoy our best pumpkin recipes and let the sweet—or savory—taste of pumpkin be a part of every season. 

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Pumpkin-Espresso Tiramisu

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Pumpkin-Espresso Tiramisù

Make Ahead: Loosely wrap baked and cooked tiramisu in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to serve.

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Spicy Pumpkin Soup with Avocado Cream

Photo: Greg Dupree

Recipe: Spicy Pumpkin Soup with Avocado Cream

If you don't have any buttermilk on hand for the avocado cream sauce, substitute plain yogurt and just a little water.

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Pear-and-Pumpkin Tart

Photo: Greg Dupree

Recipe: Pear-and-Pumpkin Tart

Need help peeling and cutting your pumpkin? Most supermarket produce sections offer this service for a small fee.

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Pumpkin-and-Turnip Green Lasagna

Photo: Greg Dupree

Recipe: Pumpkin-and-Turnip Green Lasagna

Use no-boil lasagna noodles (we like Barilla brand), which will soak up moisture from the sauce and pumpkin.

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Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies

Photo: Greg Dupree

Recipe: Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies

Let fresh-baked brownies chill, uncovered, overnight. For a perfect slice, cut while they're cold. Serve at room temperature.

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Beer-Battered Pumpkin with Dipping Sauce

Photo: Greg Dupree

Recipe: Beer-Battered Pumpkin with Dipping Sauce

Fresh pumpkins are great for savory dishes. Pick those labeled "sugar" or "pie."

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Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever

Photo: Greg Dupree

Recipe: Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever

In all of our Thanksgiving dessert recipes, this might just be the easiest one yet. 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-Honey-Beer Bread Pudding with Apple Brandy-Caramel Sauce

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread Pudding with Apple Brandy-Caramel Sauce 

Use Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread to make this flavorfull fall dessert.

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Pumpkin-Pecan Cheesecake

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Pumpkin-Pecan Cheesecake

Combine your favorite Thanksgiving desserts into one delicious cheesecake! A sweet Praline Topping sends this dessert over the edge.

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Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread

Mix the batter only until the dry ingredients disappear. (Lumps are normal.) Overmixing causes tough or misshapen loaves.

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Coconut-Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Coconut-Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

Make and refrigerate without the topping a day ahead. Whip and add the topping before serving.

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Pumpkin Pie Spectacular

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Spectacular

No holiday meal is complete without pumpkin pie. Crushed gingersnaps are pressed into the crust, adding even more flavor and depth to this classic fall dessert.

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Pumpkin-Acorn Squash Soup

Photo: Jim Franco

Recipe: Pumpkin-Acorn Squash Soup

This savory soup is full of the flavors of fall. Pumpkin and acorn squash are seasoned with honey, thyme, ginger, and nutmeg for a delicious combination that will be hard to resist.

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Pumpkin Roll

Southern Living

Recipe: Pumpkin Roll

Impress your guests with a spiced pumpkin cake roll that's filled with sweet cream cheese. Rolling up the cake is easy with these step-by-step instructions, plus, you can make it ahead and refrigerate it until you're ready to serve.

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Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Photo: Jim Franco

Recipe: Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

It's easy to roast pumpkin seeds for a quick snack or as a topping for salads or soups. Just toss pumpkin seeds with a little olive oil and spices, and roast—it's that easy!

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Sticky-Bun Pumpkin Muffins

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Sticky-Bun Pumpkin Muffins

Sticky buns and pumpkin bread combine in this amazing muffin recipe. A mixture of toasted pecans, butter, and brown sugar creates the sweet topping. Serve these for breakfast, or skip the "sticky" part and make Pecan-Pumpkin Bread instead.

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Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup

Southern Living

Recipe: Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup

Add a little Southwest flair to creamy pumpkin soup with jalapeños, chili powder, cumin, and cilantro. This sweet-and-spicy mix will become a go-to comfort food choice this fall.

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Pecan-Pumpkin Bread

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Pecan-Pumpkin Bread

For a charming fall gift that's more inspired than a bottle of wine, wrap a loaf of our moist Pecan-Pumpkin Bread in a pretty fall-inspired tea towel.

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Spiced Butternut-Pumpkin Soup

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Spiced Butternut-Pumpkin Soup

This yields more than enough for appetizer-size servings. Divide up the leftovers, and freeze for a last-minute meal during busy weekends.

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Pumpkin Tart with Whipped Cream and Almond Toffee

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Pumpkin Tart with Whipped Cream and Almond Toffee

Molasses and pumpkin pie spice give this elegant take on pumpkin pie its deep autumnal flavor. Buy one 29-oz. can of pumpkin for the recipe.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Pumpkin Cheesecake

We use a mix of chocolate and cinnamon graham cracker crumbs here to give the crust a dark color with notes of chocolate and a little spice. You can choose one or the other, so long as you use 1½ cups total. We also like to give the canned pumpkin a whirl in the food processor so it's nice and smooth in the creamy filling.

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Pumpkin Streusel Muffins

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Pumpkin Streusel Muffins

Make these muffins into loaves! Spoon batter into 2 greased 8- x 4-inch loaf pans, and bake 55 minutes.

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Cranberry-Apple-Pumpkin Bundt

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Cranberry-Apple-Pumpkin Bundt

The topping on this bundt—a maple glaze with sugared pecans and pumpkin seeds—will make your guests ooh and ahh.

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Black Bottom Pumpkin Pie

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Black Bottom Pumpkin Pie

With a moist, crumbly crust and a decadent, creamy filling, it's hard to say no to seconds of this pie.

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Marbled Pumpkin Praline Cake

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Vanessa McNeil Rocchio

Recipe: Marbled Pumpkin Praline Cake

This cake is a gorgeous combination of pumpkin batter, cream cheese batter, pecan-praline filling, and spiced whipped cream. You’re welcome.

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Pumpkin Biscotti

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Pumpkin Biscotti

These crunchy, aromatic cookies are perfect dipping into your morning coffee.

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Spicy Roasted Chile Peanuts and Pepitas

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Spicy Roasted Chile Peanuts and Pepitas

Spicy Roasted Chile Peanuts and Pepitas are an addictive snack. Make extra because they're gone just as quickly as they're put out.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart with Honey Swiss Meringue

Photo: Jody Horton

Recipe: Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart with Honey Swiss Meringue

Begin with a toasted pecan crust, layer with cream cheese and a classic pumpkin filling, and then gild the lily with a creamy meringue.

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Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Puddings

Photo: Jim Franco

Recipe: Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Puddings

This pumpkin bread pudding is perfect for a chilly evening. Make one large dish, or serve it in perfectly portioned ramekins for company.

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Stuffed Pumpkin with Cranberry-Raisin Bread Pudding

Southern Living

Recipe: Stuffed Pumpkin with Cranberry-Raisin Bread Pudding

Serve an impressive dinner party dessert stuffed in the season's signature fruit. This top-rated pumpkin recipe calls for all our favorite ingredients: butter, sugar, pecan, cranberries, and a rich Lemon-Vanilla Sauce.

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Pumpkin Fudge

Photo: Ralph Anderson

Recipe: Pumpkin Fudge

This sweet treat combines pumpkin with white chocolate morsels, marshmallow crème, and chopped pecans to make a delicious new staple for the fall.

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Pumpkin Crisp

Southern Living

Recipe: Pumpkin Crisp

Moist cake, sweet pumpkin, and crunchy pecans—what's not to love? One of our Foods staffers, who shall remain anonymous, ate half a pan of this easy and fabulous dessert.

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Cracked Caramel-Pumpkin Pie

Photo: Tina Cornett

Recipe: Cracked Caramel-Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie gets a makeover in this recipe. A hard candy coating tops the pie, adding caramel flavors and a crunchy coating to this classic dessert.

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Mini Pumpkin Cakes

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Mini Pumpkin Cakes

Not only do these mini cakes look like pumpkins, but they taste like them too! Perfect for parties or a special treat, these cakes are drizzled with a decadent Caramel-Rum Glaze. Try the Mini Pumpkin-Molasses Cakes for a slight twist.

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