7 Delicious Things to do with Pumpkin

From breakfast to soup and a side to dessert, here are seven ways to cook and bake with fresh or canned pumpkin.

Pumpkin-Cream Cheese Truffles Recipe

Pumpkin-Cream Cheese Truffles Recipe opens in a new tab

Discovering fresh sugar pie pumpkins opened up a whole new world of cooking for me. I still use canned pumpkin in many recipes, but being that I love to cook and bake, I’m always eager to explore a variety of ways to use pumpkin for both sweet and savory dishes. Here are seven fun and delicious things to do with pumpkin:  

  1. Make chili. Serve a steaming hot bowl of Pumpkin Chili Con Queso opens in a new tab with tomatoes, cheese and jalapeños or Pumpkin Turkey Chili opens in a new tab made with kidney beans, spices and ground turkey. Be sure to add some hot, fresh cornbread and a leafy green salad.  

  2. Serve soup. Pumpkin soup is warming and filling, similar to butternut squash soup. Freshly peeled and chopped pumpkin can be simmered in stock with a variety of seasonal vegetables, herbs and spices for a filling, nourishing meal. Pumpkin Soup with Blue Cheese Toasts opens in a new tab is flavored with aromatic vegetables, sautéed and simmered with pumpkin purée.  

  3. Enjoy Honey Walnut Pumpkin Bread opens in a new tab with a cup of tea or coffee for a relaxing afternoon snack. Try it with cream cheese or a favorite nut butter.

  4. Surprise your family and guests with these Pumpkin Cream Cheese Truffles opens in a new tab. Chunks of white chocolate, gingersnaps, pumpkin and graham crackers all combine to make these wonderful little treats.

  5. Fill your home with the mouth-watering aroma of Pumpkin Dutch Baby Pancake opens in a new tab for breakfast or brunch. Whole grain flour, warming spices and pumpkin purée are combined and baked in a cast iron skillet to make a Dutch baby pancake everyone will love.

  6. Bake buttermilk Pumpkin Blue Cheese Biscuits opens in a new tab and serve as a savory accompaniment to soup, stew or salad.

  7. Pumpkin pie, my favorite fall dessert, must remain on the menu throughout the winter months. Whether you’re serving Thanksgiving dessert or guests at a holiday party, our Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Crust and Cinnamon-Spiced Whipped Cream opens in a new tab will have everyone coming back for seconds. And if you’ve not had a savory pumpkin pie, look no further than our Pumpkin and Mushroom Pie opens in a new tab, stuffed with pumpkin, mushrooms, lentils and feta cheese. It’s baked similar to turnover in a whole grain crust. 

Pumpkin Chile Con Queso Recipe

Pumpkin Chile Con Queso Recipe opens in a new tab

If time permits, you may want to experiment with freshly baked pumpkin. Sugar pumpkins, often labeled “pie pumpkins” work beautifully. To bake a pumpkin, use this Easiest Whole Roasted Winter Squash recipe opens in a new tab

What’s your favorite pumpkin recipe? Have you cooked or baked with fresh pumpkin? Let me know in the comment section below.

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