Irresistible Pumpkin Desserts Starring Fall's Favorite Flavor

By BH&G Food Editors
Updated September 25, 2019
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Carson Downing
With classic pumpkin desserts like pumpkin pie and new favorites like pumpkin bread pudding and pumpkin cupcakes, our collection of pumpkin dessert recipes will have you prepared for any fall gathering. There's no doubt about it: Pumpkin is the quintessential fall flavor, and we especially love pumpkin recipes for Thanksgiving, but these pumpkin desserts can be enjoyed year-round.
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Creamy Pumpkin Butter Sandwich Cookies

Andy Lyons
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Look out, macarons! We have eyes for another treat on the tray: Pumpkin butter sandwich cookies. Smear, sprinkle, and dip these pumpkin cookies in rich, dark chocolate for a decadent pumpkin dessert you can add to lunch boxes or enjoy after dinner.

Buy It: Ann Clark Pumpkin Cookie Cutter, $1.99, Bed Bath & Beyond

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Pumpkin Pan Pie

Blaine Moats
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Stretch your pumpkin pie by baking an extra-large version in a 15x10-inch baking pan. Other than its shape, this pumpkin pie recipe has everything we love about the traditional version—canned pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, and whipped cream on top. Your guests won't mind the rectangular slices if it means there's enough for seconds this year!

Buy It: OXO Good Grips Jelly Roll Pan, $19.99, Amazon

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Pumpkin Pie Pops

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No eating utensils are necessary for these on-a-stick pumpkin treats. Luscious pumpkin filling is sandwiched between pie crust cutouts, so you and your guests can enjoy a taste of pumpkin pie without committing to an entire slice. Cleanup after serving this pumpkin dessert is minimal because you don't even need a plate.

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Pumpkin Bread with Eggnog Glaze

The Little Epicurean
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We're not against a slice of pumpkin bread for breakfast, but the sugary glaze on top of this loaf puts it firmly in dessert territory. The extra sweetness just might make it one of our favorite pumpkin bread recipes ever. Plus, the eggnog-spiked glaze means this pumpkin bread is a good holiday dessert choice, too.

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Pumpkin Spice Latte Mug Cake

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Have a pumpkin treat ready to eat in minutes by letting your microwave bake this pumpkin cake for you. One quick zap and a dollop of whipped cream later, you'll be curled up with this pumpkin-spiced dessert (no sharing required!). It's a different pumpkin spice treat than we're used to having in a mug, but you can include a latte on the side, if you so desire.

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Cinnamon-Sugar Bourbon-Pumpkin Muffins

Blaine Moats
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A splash of bourbon and a sprinkle of cinnamon-sugar topping turns plain pumpkin muffins into rich, dessert-worthy treats. But if that alone doesn't satisfy your sweet tooth, you can always drizzle with bourbon icing before serving. If you like sweet breakfasts, we won't judge if you grab one of these pumpkin desserts on your way out the door in the morning.

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Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Praline Topping

Andy Lyons
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Thanksgiving desserts aren't complete without pumpkin pie—but this recipe adds pecans into the mix for an extra decadent pumpkin dessert. Chopped pecans and brown sugar make the topper undeniably delicious. Plus, you can give your pumpkin pie an additional pop of color with ruby-red cranberries.

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Salted Pumpkin Caramel Thumbprints

Andy Lyons
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Nothing is better than salted pumpkin caramel sitting on top of a tender cookie. Made with flaky sea salt and homemade caramel, these pumpkin cookies are a dream for anyone craving a combo of sweet and salty.

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Luscious Chocolate-Pumpkin Brownies

Jason Donnelly
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Instead of making you choose between two favorite flavors, these pumpkin dessert bars combine chocolate with pumpkin. Swirling the two flavors together creates a delicious pumpkin bar—not to mention pretty marbled tops. Serve them up at a party for a tasty pumpkin treat that's picture-perfect, too.

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Melt-in-Your-Mouth Pumpkin Cookies

Blaine Moats
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These oh-so-soft pumpkin cookies are topped with a brown sugar frosting—the perfect complement to this harvest dessert. This pumpkin recipe yields 60 cookies, so you'll have plenty to share (even though we know you won't want to!).

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Toffee Pumpkin Snack Cake

Jason Donnelly
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There's never been a tastier combination than pumpkin and toffee, and an additional drizzle of cream cheese frosting on top makes every bite of this snack cake truly decadent. Surprisingly, this pumpkin cake has a few healthy ingredients, such as flax seeds, buckwheat flour, and spelt flour, so there's some nutritional benefit to your dessert. Go ahead, sneak a slice for yourself before serving.

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Dark Chocolate and Pumpkin-Swirl Cake

Andy Lyons
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Two is better than one, especially when it comes to fall pumpkin desserts. Rich chocolate and pumpkin meet in this iced pumpkin cake that's infused with cool citrus zest. The swirls of the two flavors make this canned pumpkin dessert taste amazing, and they create gorgeous slices, too.

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Pumpkin Bars with Marcona Almonds

Andy Lyons
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Thanks to this dessert that serves 16, fall potlucks just got even better. These luscious pumpkin nut bars are topped with roasty-toasty almonds for a crunchy and slightly salty touch. You won't be taking any leftover pumpkin bars home with you, we can promise that.

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Frosted Pumpkin Bread

Jason Donnelly
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Pumpkin bread might not be on your list of pumpkin desserts, but this recipe should be. Chocolate and pumpkin are the "it" couple of fall. Smear a little cocoa spice frosting on your next slice, and you'll never go back to the plain stuff.

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Pumpkin Cake Roll

Jason Donnelly
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For a new twist on pumpkin cakes, try our fluffy cinnamon-spiced pumpkin cake roll. With its vanilla cream cheese frosting rolled in the middle, it's a scrumptious alternative to classic pumpkin cakes. Plus, one look at this layered pumpkin dessert and your guests will instantly be impressed.

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Harvest Pumpkin Trifle

Kim Cornelison
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Pumpkin, cranberry, ginger, and cinnamon. Could this trifle recipe be more perfect for fall? DIY whipped cream gives every spoonful of this pumpkin dessert a lush finish and reminds us of a warm slice of pumpkin pie.

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Warm Pumpkin Blueberry Bread

Scott Little
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Juicy blueberries join with pumpkin pie spice in this ultra-buttery pumpkin bread. Top it with walnuts for a dessert you and your family will go nuts for. One of the best features of this pumpkin spice dessert is that it bakes in your slow cooker, so you can set it and forget it—until it's time to eat.

Buy It: Crock-Pot 4-Quart Manual Slow Cooker, $25.71, Amazon

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Easy Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

Blaine Moats
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What makes these pumpkin cupcakes so easy? The double dollop on top starts with purchased fluffy white frosting, plus a sprinkle of cinnamon and crushed graham crackers. The cake is easy, too! Canned pumpkin and a touch of sour cream transform shortcut yellow cake mix into a spongy, delicious pumpkin dessert.

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Pumpkin Icebox Pie with Pistachio-Gingersnap Crust

Andy Lyons
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Between the nutty gingersnap crust and the spiced cream cheese-and-pumpkin topping, these rich pumpkin dessert squares offer so much we can't decide what we like best. Either way, we know we're serving this chilly icebox treat at our next fall get-together.

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Pumpkin Tiramisu Cake

Jason Donnelly
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Tiramisu recipes are always fancy with a homemade coffee syrup and maple-mascarpone cream. Adding canned pumpkin gives this version a flavor twist and helps keep the pumpkin cake fresh and moist. The best decoration for this layered pumpkin dessert is a few chopped hazelnuts and grated dark chocolate if desired.

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No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Balls

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Pumpkin desserts are great, but no-bake pumpkin desserts are best because you don't even have to turn on your oven. These pumpkin cheesecake balls have a simple but tasty mix of cream cheese, canned pumpkin, and crushed graham crackers (or gingersnaps). If you have a chocolate craving, you can dip the balls in bittersweet chocolate for a tasty outer coating.

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Pumpkin Spice Latte Pie

Andy Lyons
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Have your latte and eat it, too. This delicious pumpkin dessert combines the spiced flavors of a Pumpkin Spice Latte with the creamy decadence of pumpkin pie. How can we say no to two of our favorite pumpkin treats in one?

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Pumpkin Ice Cream

Constatine Poulos
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Chock-full of autumn flavors like pumpkin, pie spice, and Cognac, this ice cream recipe is a fun way to feature pumpkin. Serve it on a warm slice of cake or pie, or on its own for a creamy fall-inspired pumpkin dessert. This pumpkin ice cream recipe is especially tasty with a drizzle of chocolate syrup on top.

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Pumpkin-Spice Whoopies

Kim Cornelison
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An easy-to-make spiced marshmallow filling makes these cakelike pumpkin cookies even more delicious. This simple recipe using canned pumpkin creates an unexpected Thanksgiving dessert, with less cleanup than pulling out plates and forks for pie.

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Toffee-Pumpkin Pie Bars

Blaine Moats
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Crushed sweet toffee, earthy toasted pecans, and a spiced ginger crumb crust give these creamy pumpkin bars a pleasing crunch. This is the ultimate pumpkin dessert for the sweet-and-salty combination you crave. We've already sung the praises of adding toffee to pumpkin desserts, and adding pecans takes it next level.

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No-Bake Pumpkin-Swirl Cheesecake

Andy Lyons
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If you want to take a break from pie this year, swap in this cheesecake for your usual Thanksgiving pumpkin recipes. Make this delicious no-bake pumpkin cheesecake featuring a graham cracker crust and pumpkin-cream cheese filling ahead of time and chill it for up to 24 hours.

Buy It: Mainstays Spring Form Pans, $9.94, Walmart

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Pumpkin Cookies with White Chocolate Chips

Jason Donnelly
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Give pumpkin cookies a twist by adding white chocolate chips to your dough. Like regular chocolate chip cookies, this pumpkin dessert is tastiest fresh out of the oven, still warm with slightly melty chips. One batch makes 60 cookies, so you'll have plenty to share.

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Double-Pumpkin Pie with Oat Crust

Andy Lyons
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This classic pumpkin pie gets double the flavor from canned pumpkin and pumpkin butter. Serve it with cinnamon ice cream, and your guests will be thankful they came to your house for this fall-flavor pumpkin dessert!

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Pumpkin Cupcakes with Spiced Mascarpone Cream Filling

Jason Donnelly
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Delightful fall flavors—brown sugar, walnuts, cinnamon, and nutmeg—meet canned pumpkin in these so-soft sandwiched pumpkin cupcakes. Fill and top these luscious pumpkin cakes with our creamy homemade mascarpone spread. We consider them one of our best pumpkin desserts, and we have no doubt they'll be your favorite cupcake recipe, even outside the fall season.

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