Holidays & Entertaining Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Recipes 42 Pumpkin Recipes You Can Make for Every Day of Fall By Sarah Martens Sarah Martens Instagram Sarah Martens is the Senior Editor overseeing food at Better Homes & Gardens digital. She has been with the BHG brand for over 8 years. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on July 21, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Kritsada Panichgul Think outside the box when it's time for pumpkin recipes! Sure, there's pumpkin pie—but pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin curry, and pumpkin soup might just surprise you as new favorites. From dinner to dessert, healthy to indulgent, quick to time-consuming, these are the pumpkin recipes you should be making this holiday season. You'll never be searching for what to make with pumpkin again! 01 of 42 Glazed Pumpkin-Pecan Cakes View Recipe Adam Albright Pumpkin and pecan are fall favorites for a reason. These gorgeous pumpkin cakes are easy to make and tasty to eat for breakfast or dessert. Plus, when you make mini cakes ($40, Williams Sonoma), everyone gets their own individual pumpkin dessert! 02 of 42 Toffee Pumpkin Snack Cake View Recipe Jason Donnelly This easy pumpkin cake recipe makes a great dessert, but you can also carve off a slice for a snack. Topped with toffee pieces and cream cheese icing drizzle, you'll have no problem making sure every last crumb gets eaten. If you do have leftovers of this pumpkin dessert, you can store them in the fridge for up to 3 days. 03 of 42 Pumpkin Spice Latte Mug Cake View Recipe Hannah Bigot You're probably used to sipping your pumpkin spice lattes from a mug anyway, but you can also make a delicious pumpkin cake in the same mug! This single-serving pumpkin dessert recipe is great for a chilly fall afternoon. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon, and this quick pumpkin dessert will become your new go-to. 04 of 42 Gluten-Free Pumpkin-Parmesan Risotto View Recipe Jason Donnelly Did you know that both pumpkin and rice are naturally gluten-free? Enjoy them both in this lush side dish featuring Arborio rice, fresh sage, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Celebrate fall any night of the week with this easy pumpkin recipe. This easy risotto and other savory pumpkin recipes like it are a great way to add pumpkin to any autumn dinner. 05 of 42 Pumpkin Spice Latte Pie View Recipe Andy Lyons You know that coffee flavor that lulls you into a long drive-through line every October? We've captured its essence in pie form. Incredibly creamy, this rich spiced pumpkin pie features 3 ounces of brewed espresso for a pick-me-up that comes courtesy of a fork instead of a cup. Like any good latte, this pumpkin pie recipe is best when topped with a generous dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. 06 of 42 Pumpkin-Gingerbread Truffles View Recipe Jason Donnelly Pumpkin desserts always benefit from a bit of spice. In this fall recipe, gingersnaps add bite to pumpkin's laid-back flavor. Roll them together into truffle form and take two of the season's best flavors on the go. Make sure to set one (or two) aside for yourself—this pumpkin dessert will disappear fast! 07 of 42 Melt-in-Your-Mouth Pumpkin Cookies View Recipe Blaine Moats Pumpkin pie is going to have to take a backseat, because there are other pumpkin desserts that are just as tasty. Classic flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg enhance these soft pumpkin cookies. Topped with homemade frosting and a sprinkling of cinnamon, the pumpkin desserts become even more indulgent. 08 of 42 Quinoa-Pumpkin Seed Granola View Recipe Andy Lyons When it's pumpkin season, every meal is fair game. Bring breakfast in on the fun with this pumpkin granola recipe that features cinnamon and dried cherries. Pumpkin seeds are just as tasty as fresh pumpkin recipes, as this creation proves! 09 of 42 Caramel Cream Pumpkin Pie View Recipe Constatine Poulos Whipped cream is a thing of the past—we're topping our pumpkin desserts with sky-high meringue now! Yep, there's a creamy, caramely pumpkin pie recipe underneath those dollops of whipped-high meringue, too. Though you can always substitute a purchased piecrust, our light and crumbly homemade crust complements the fall dessert flawlessly. 10 of 42 Pumpkin, Chickpea, and Red Lentil Stew View Recipe Blaine Moats If you're looking for pumpkin dinner recipes, your search ends here! This is another savory pumpkin recipe that's sure to impress. This pumpkin soup features tomato paste, lime juice, and spices in a bowl of hearty chickpeas and lentils. 11 of 42 Pumpkin-Chocolate Chunk Cookies View Recipe Jason Donnelly This is your basic chewy chocolate chip cookie—enhanced with canned pumpkin. Every bite of the fall cookie is as lush as you're imagining. Once you taste this delicious pumpkin dessert, pumpkin cookies might replace pumpkin pie in your heart forever. 12 of 42 Cream of Pumpkin Soup View Recipe Keller Push pumpkin to the savory side with the addition of garlic, chicken broth, and half-and-half. Simmer together with spices for a warming mug of pumpkin soup. All you're missing is a piece of crusty bread to soak up the last few drops! 13 of 42 Pumpkin Mac and Cheese View Recipe Blaine Moats This recipe is proof that pumpkin dinner recipes should be a year-round staple. Comfort-food staple macaroni and cheese has never had it this good. Canned pumpkin, Fontina cheese, and chopped walnuts enhance the gooey dinnertime favorite. Once you taste this savory pumpkin recipe, you'll be wondering why you never added pumpkin to mac and cheese before! 14 of 42 Pumpkin Soup with Lentils View Recipe Andy Lyons In just 45 minutes, you'll have a warm, savory pumpkin recipe ready to spoon up. This pumpkin soup is hearty, healthy, and vegetarian. What more could you ask for from a delicious pumpkin dinner? 15 of 42 Pumpkin Bars View Recipe Blaine Moats Super-moist, super-shareable pumpkin bars are a classic. After all, when it comes to pumpkin desserts, they're almost as traditional pumpkin pie! Bookmark this recipe to come back to each year—trust us, you'll want to keep it handy. 16 of 42 Spiced Pumpkin Donuts View Recipe Kritsada Panichgul Pumpkin breakfast, or pumpkin dessert? We'll let you decide! Old-fashioned pumpkin donuts coated in sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon are sure to become a holiday brunch favorite. At just 35 minutes of prep time, these pumpkin desserts are worth the cool-time wait. Buy It: Nonstick Doughnut Pan ($17, Williams Sonoma) 17 of 42 Spiced Pumpkin Snaps Dog Treats View Recipe Karla Conrad Pumpkin recipes don't have to be reserved for humans only. If Fido wants in on the pumpkin-palooza, make him these simple, natural dog treats from canned pumpkin, apple juice, oats, and honey. Woof! 18 of 42 Pumpkin Crescent Rolls with Honey Butter View Recipe Jason Donnelly We think savory pumpkin recipes deserve to be on the table regularly in fall! These light rolls call for canned pumpkin and can be made ahead to feed a crowd. Plus, you can serve them with pretty much any entree, so you can easily have pumpkin for dinner. 19 of 42 Pumpkin-Pecan Tassies View Recipe Blaine Moats Can't decide between pecan and pumpkin pie? Go mini with these teeny-weeny pumpkin pie wannabes. A muffin tin subs for a pie pan, while the filling—canned pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, pecans, and brown sugar—sticks to tradition. 20 of 42 Marbled Chocolate-Pumpkin Brownies View Recipe Jason Donnelly Pumpkin desserts go great with chocolate (but you probably already knew that). Add a layer to your brownie baking with a cream cheese-pumpkin batter. A crunchy sprinkling of walnuts tops this rich pumpkin dessert. 21 of 42 Sopa de Pepitas (Pumpkin Seed Soup) View Recipe Jason Donnelly This pumpkin soup, while vegetarian, will impress even the most loyal meat-lovers. Toasted pumpkin seeds add extra flavor, plus they make a nice topper. Though this recipe doesn't have any canned or fresh pumpkin, it can still stand hold its own against other pumpkin dinner ideas. 22 of 42 Pumpkin Sandwich Cake View Recipe Andy Lyons Two layers of soft pumpkin cake, a hidden center of powdered sugar-spiked cream cheese, and an outer spread of bittersweet chocolate icing. All that, plus this pumpkin dessert recipe only requires 30 minutes of hands-on time. When we think of our favorite pumpkin desserts, this cake is always on the list! 23 of 42 Dulce de Leche Pumpkin Pie with Hazelnut Crust View Recipe Jason Donnelly With two layers of sweet pie perfection, this pumpkin pie recipe is made extra special from an infusion of dulce de leche and rich hazelnuts. The layer of dulce de leche is almost like cheesecake, making this pumpkin pie super rich and delicious. Fall has arrived, and we couldn't be happier! 24 of 42 Cranberry-Pumpkin Scones with Sugared Pepitas View Recipe Jason Donnelly Cranberries and pumpkin team up for a zippy scone infusion. Sugared pepitas and a powdered sugar glaze top the treats. One of our favorite pumpkin recipe ideas, these tasty scones can serve as breakfast or dessert. Test Kitchen Tip: Leftover sugared pepitas are delicious as a snack or on salads, muffins, and cheesecake. 25 of 42 Macaroni Alfredo with Pumpkin and Kale View Recipe Hannah Bigot Canned pumpkin gives our homemade white wine Alfredo a fabulous fall twist. Best of all, the loads of vitamins and protein in this savory pumpkin recipe let you nosh on pasta guilt-free. Proving pumpkin is just as good any other pasta sauce, you'll definitely want to add this dish to your list of must-try pumpkin dinner recipes. 26 of 42 Double-Decker Pumpkin Bread View Recipe Blaine Moats Scented with ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and filled with plenty of pumpkin goodness, this pumpkin bread makes a lovely gift. Adding a cream cheese swirl to the center of the loaf may seem complicated, but this pumpkin bread recipe is easier than you think. Even if you're just learning how to bake with pumpkin, this recipe is still simple enough for you! 27 of 42 Easy Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes View Recipe Blaine Moats Get twice the frosting in our festive pumpkin pie cupcakes. A layer of fluffy orange-color frosting followed by a swirl of our special sweetened whipped cream heightens every luscious bite of this easy pumpkin recipe. After all, pumpkin desserts are always better with frosting! 28 of 42 Roasted Pumpkin, Arugula, and Dried Cherry Salad View Recipe Jason Donnelly If you want to learn how to cook with pumpkin, start here. Golden maple-glazed pumpkin creates a sensational side for any holiday spread, it's easily one of our favorite fresh pumpkin recipes. Toasted pumpkin seeds and dried cherries are sweet and savory add-ins. 29 of 42 Harvest Spice Smoothies View Recipe Jason Donnelly This is one pumpkin recipe you can drink instead of eat! Pumpkin makes perfect sense in a smoothie, thanks to its creamy texture. The combo of pumpkin, apricots, honey, and spice is so delicious that standard fruit smoothies will be yesterday's news. This slightly sweet, slightly savory pumpkin recipe is sure to surprise. 30 of 42 Pumpkin Waffles with Maple-Walnut Cream View Recipe Scott Little What beats warm, freshly baked waffles in the morning? Pumpkin waffles! Made with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and—of course—canned pumpkin, this impressive pumpkin recipe is a fall must-try. It's almost like having pumpkin pie for breakfast (but a little healthier, naturally). 31 of 42 Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake View Recipe Andy Lyons Pumpkin pie, meet cheesecake. Our simple cranberry topper lends sweet, fruity flavor to this divine pumpkin cheesecake, while the buttery gingersnap crust gives it crunchy texture. You'll never get tired of serving up this pumpkin dessert in the fall. 32 of 42 Pumpkin Pancakes View Recipe Andy Lyons Flapjacks and fall were made for each other, and having pumpkin for breakfast makes this recipe completely irresistible. Start the day with the sweet aroma of pumpkin batter sizzling on the skillet. Top with toasted pumpkin seeds for extra fall flair. 33 of 42 Chocolate-Glazed Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake View Recipe Blaine Moats Crushed chocolate wafer cookies make the crust; cream cheese, canned pumpkin, and spices form the filling; and dark chocolate and whipping cream coat the top of this divinely decadent pumpkin cheesecake. This pumpkin dessert is a great way to indulge, so you might want to consider it in place of pumpkin pie for your spread of Thanksgiving desserts. 34 of 42 Coconut-Pumpkin Soup View Recipe Jason Donnelly Yep, savory pumpkin recipes can get spicy, too! Fresh ingredients like jalapeno chile pepper and cilantro brighten this Thai-inspired pumpkin soup. Serve it as a cozy starter, or add shredded chicken or steamed shrimp to make it a meal. 35 of 42 Pumpkin-Chocolate Cheesecake Bars View Recipe Blaine Moats Two classic desserts—pumpkin pie and cheesecake—join forces in this luscious treat. A crisp graham cracker crust and decadent chocolate layer take this soft pumpkin recipe to top-of-the-list dessert status. Of course, it's no surprise that pumpkin pie and pumpkin cheesecake are better together! 36 of 42 Pumpkin Praline Muffins View Recipe Kritsada Panichgul Humble pumpkin muffins combine soft, rich pumpkin batter with an easy praline crunch for a grab-on-the-go fall snack. The delicious pumpkin recipe is also perfect for an indulgent breakfast or an after-dinner treat. This super-easy pumpkin recipe will also fill your home with the smells of fall baking! 37 of 42 Curry Pumpkin Soup View Recipe Andy Lyons If you've never tried a pumpkin curry recipe, now's the time. This savory pumpkin dish takes just 20 minutes of prep time. Even if you're in a rush, you can still find the time to make this pumpkin dinner recipe. 38 of 42 Pumpkin Angel Food Cake View Recipe From-a-box angel food cake gets all dressed up just in time for the holidays. Turn the classic cake into a yummy pumpkin dessert with canned pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, and orange juice. Once you're through, no one will ever guess this pumpkin dessert started with a boxed cake mix! 39 of 42 Traditional Pumpkin Pie View Recipe There's nothing wrong with a classic, and this pumpkin pie recipe is a holiday staple for a reason. Canned pumpkin means prep time is just 25 minutes. Nothing will ever be able to completely outshine traditional pumpkin pie! 40 of 42 Spiced Pumpkin Butter View Recipe Blaine Moats Savor pumpkin any time of year! This canning recipe combines sweet pumpkin puree and maple syrup, along with tangy lemon juice and ground ginger. Now, when you're craving pumpkin desserts and savory pumpkin recipes in the spring, you can indulge! 41 of 42 Pork and Pumpkin Noodle Bowl View Recipe Andy Lyons This easy pumpkin recipe is ready in just 30 minutes. Top whole wheat pasta with a creamy mix of pumpkin puree and blue cheese. Finish each bowl with a sprinkle of fried sage leaves. 42 of 42 Apple Pumpkin Sunflower Bread View Recipe Waterbury Publications Add crunch to your classic pumpkin quick bread recipe with freshly grated apple and roasted sunflower seeds. For easier slicing, let the cake cool overnight before cutting. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit