Food and Recipes Fall Recipes 50 Easy Pumpkin Recipes Full Of Fall Flavor By Kimberly Holland Kimberly Holland Kimberly Holland is a writer and editor with 15 years of experience in food, lifestyle, health, and nutrition content. She has been published in Southern Living, Real Simple, Allrecipes, EatingWell, Cooking Light, and other publications. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on August 30, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Pumpkin may be a classic at Thanksgiving, but with these pumpkin recipes, you can enjoy the fabulous flavor year-round. While people usually think of pumpkin pie, these recipes also show you how appetizing pumpkin can be in a soup, in a quick bread, as a tart, or in many other scrumptious ways. While there are many delicious pumpkin desserts, recipes like our Pumpkin and Winter Squash Gratin, Peanut-Pumpkin Stew, and Turkey Pumpkin Chili will show you how to bring the deliciousness of pumpkin to the dinner table. Canned pumpkin recipes like Pumpkin Streusel Muffins and Pumpkin-Buttermilk Biscuits also will have you hankering to serve pumpkin at breakfast. So enjoy our best pumpkin recipes and let the sweet—or savory—taste of pumpkin be a part of every meal. 01 of 50 Pumpkin-and-Winter Squash Gratin Recipe Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox One look at this autumnal casserole and you'll be ready to dive right in. Layers of pumpkin, butternut squash, and potatoes are baked in a rich, cheesy sauce until meltingly tender. The crispy topping of breadcrumbs, parsley, and thyme (all coated in butter, of course) takes it over the edge. 02 of 50 Southern Pumpkin Pie Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox This old-fashioned pumpkin pie from Cheryl Day's Back in the Day Bakery in Savannah, Georgia, is the ultimate holiday dessert. Its richly spiced filling and tender yet crisp crust are sure to earn you a round of applause. Day adds a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to her pie crust to make it "just so dang flaky." 03 of 50 Pumpkin Bundt Cake Molly Bolton Warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg turn a simple pumpkin cake into a cozy fall dessert. With or without the maple glaze, this dessert is fancy enough for a holiday meal but easy enough for a weekday coffee break. 04 of 50 Pumpkin Spice Cookies Micah A. Leal These cookies utilize both actual pumpkin and pumpkin spice to achieve the perfect moistness and flavor. The recipe is a riff on a classic Snickerdoodle cookie, but soft and velvety. These cookies are delicious unadorned, but can also benefit from a layer of cream cheese frosting. 05 of 50 Pumpkin Banana Bread Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Quick breads deliver the delight of baking without the effort of complicated yeast doughs or crimped pie crusts. From start to finish, this quick bread takes about an hour, and it will fill the house with delicious smells of pumpkin and warm spices like cinnamon. 06 of 50 Pumpkin Dip Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless You need just six ingredients and 30 minutes to make this no-cook pumpkin dip. Serve with pretzels, cookies, fruit, or crackers for the ultimate fall-inspired appetizer (or dessert!). 07 of 50 Pumpkin Bars Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Sweet, spiced, and perfect to grab and go, these pumpkin-filled desserts are perfect to take to the pumpkin patch or your next tailgate. Top these bars with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting and candied pumpkin seeds. Lightly spiced and pan-toasted, the seeds should not be skipped. 08 of 50 Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox To make these whoopie pies, bake soft pumpkin cookies full of harvest flavor. Whip up a cinnamon-cream cheese filling, and sandwich between two cookies. These tasty treats can be eaten immediately or refrigerated for up to four days. 09 of 50 Pumpkin Dump Cake Micah A. Leal Only 10 minutes of active time is needed for this incredibly easy approach to the classic dump cake. We make the equivalent of a pumpkin pie filling, whisking in half-and-half, brown sugar, traditional spices, and eggs. Then, just as you'd imagine, we dump a package of yellow cake mix across the filling and pour over some melted butter that soaks into the cake mix as it bakes. 10 of 50 Sugar-And-Pumpkin Spice Muffins Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Christina Daley You can use canned pumpkin in place of roasting a sugar pumpkin if you’re in a hurry on a busy morning. But don’t skip sprinkling the sugared pumpkin spice over the tops before baking. It adds sweetness and crunch. 11 of 50 Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes Photographer: Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Erin Merhar; Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee Your guests will love these delectable, bite-size treats. You will too, as they require just 15 minutes of baking. Use maple syrup to deepen the flavor of the whipped cream topping. 12 of 50 Pumpkin Pound Cake Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey This pound cake is enhanced with pumpkin puree, pumpkin-pie spice, and sour cream. The cake can look simple or spectacular, depending on your tube pan. Prepare a maple syrup glaze, sprinkle with pecans, and wow your dinner guests. 13 of 50 Pumpkin Crisp Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This recipe requires just three steps: Mix base ingredients, sprinkle the cakey layer on top, and bake. Easy recipe, moist cake, sweet pumpkin, and crunchy pecans—what's not to love? Top with whipped cream and nutmeg, if you don't scarf it down first. 14 of 50 Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Take your breakfast muffins to another level with this recipe. The pumpkin batter is poured into paper liners in a muffin tin, and then a dollop of cream mixture is swirled in. Use a toothpick, skewer, or chopstick for best results when swirling. 15 of 50 Pumpkin Crunch Cake Micah A. Leal This mess-free recipe is made in a springform pan, which is sure to cut your clean-up in half. The single-layer cake is as moist as a velvety piece of pumpkin bread, with tangy cream cheese frosting and a salty pumpkin seed crumble. The toppings make for a sweet and salty slice that's nearly irresistible. 16 of 50 Mini Pumpkin Pies Micah A. Leal This bite-sized treat is sure to keep the buffet line moving, even if they loop back around for seconds. The crusts are baked in a muffin tin, filled with pie filling, and topped with a spoon of whipped cream. Use our Single-Crust Pie Pastry Dough or save time with a store-bought crust. 17 of 50 Pumpkin-Buttermilk Biscuits with Crispy Ham and Honey Butter Victor Protasio; Propr Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox These sweet and savory little clouds pair perfectly with honey butter spread. Pumpkin puree gives the biscuits a pretty orange hue and fall flavor. Serve these slightly sweet biscuits with salty country ham. 18 of 50 Easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Micah A. Leal If you're looking for a thin and crispy cookie, this isn't it. Thick and cakey? We've got you covered. Every mouthful is a bite of almost melted chocolate, moist pumpkin, and spicy cinnamon. 19 of 50 Pumpkin Layer Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting Alison Gootee; Styling: Suzonne Stirling This gorgeous layer cake by New Orleans-based cookbook author and food blogger Joy Wilson has ribbons of caramel swirled in the cream cheese frosting. The slightly tangy cake batter also incorporates buttermilk to offset the sweetness. You just can't pass this one up. 20 of 50 Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever Greg Dupree Of all of our Thanksgiving dessert recipes, this might just be the easiest one yet. Buttermilk gives it extra creaminess and a tangy twist. For a crisp crust (no more soggy bottom!), use a metal pie pan and prebake your crust with pie weights. 21 of 50 Pumpkin-Pecan Cheesecake Photo: Jennifer Davick Combine your favorite Thanksgiving desserts into one delicious cheesecake. Start with a graham cracker and pecan crust, then mix a simple and delicious pumpkin-cheesecake filling. A sweet praline topping sends this dessert over the edge. 22 of 50 Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread Photo: Alison Miksch This rich and flavorful bread requires no yeast. Cook full-size loaves or make mini loaves to share with friends. A slice of this bread and a mug of beer sounds like just the thing. 23 of 50 Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread Pudding with Apple Brandy-Caramel Sauce Alison Miksch Use our Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread recipe to make this flavorful fall dessert. Cube the bread and combine it with eggs, milk, and cream for a rich bread pudding. Then add Apple Brandy-Caramel Sauce for a sweet topping that's so good. 24 of 50 Coconut-Pumpkin Chiffon Pie Hector M. Sanchez This light and airy pumpkin pie is fluffed up and topped with toasted coconut. Make and refrigerate without the topping a day ahead. Whip and add the topping just before serving. 25 of 50 Pumpkin Streusel Muffins Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck These hearty muffins incorporate canned pumpkin, chopped pecans, and dried cranberries. Top them with our Pumpkin Pie Streusel for extra spice and crunch. You can make this recipe using a muffin pan or loaf pan. 26 of 50 Black Bottom Pumpkin Pie Iain Bagwell With a moist, crumbly crust and a decadent, creamy filling, it's hard to say no to seconds of this pie. The graham cracker, gingersnap, and pecan crust is coated with a layer of melted chocolate. The pudding-like pumpkin filling is chilled, not baked. 27 of 50 Marbled Pumpkin Praline Cake Iain Bagwell This cake is a gorgeous combination of pumpkin batter, cream cheese batter, pecan-praline filling, and spiced whipped cream. The wintry white frosting can be dressed up with candies, cookies, and fruits. You're welcome. 28 of 50 Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart with Honey Swiss Meringue Jody Horton Begin with a toasted pecan crust, layer with cream cheese and a classic pumpkin filling, and then gild the lily with a creamy meringue. The cream cheese layer includes orange zest for a bit of zing. See our tips on making a successful meringue. 29 of 50 Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Puddings Jim Franco This pumpkin bread pudding is perfect for dessert on a chilly evening. The caramel-pecan sauce sends the sweetness over the top. Make one large dish, or serve it in perfectly portioned ramekins for company. 30 of 50 Pumpkin Cobbler Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey This mix between a pie and cake is topped with pecan-buttermilk biscuits. You don't have to worry about your pie crust cracking, yet you get the same incredible warm, spicy flavors. Bake in a 13x9 dish and take it anywhere. 31 of 50 Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey This oatmeal is packed with nutrients and perfect for a snack any time of day. The pumpkin, coconut cream, and toasted coconut all meld together to make a moist, cake-like texture. If you want to transform the dish into dessert, simply top with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. 32 of 50 Turkey Pumpkin Chili Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer You'll be shocked at how rich this recipe can be despite coming together in just 30 minutes. This light and healthy chili recipe uses fire-roasted crushed tomatoes and canned pumpkin for a sumptuous thickness and a touch of sweetness. Serve with chips, sour cream, cilantro, and shredded cheese. 33 of 50 Pumpkin Spice Pancakes Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Prissy Lee Montiel Brighten up a dreary fall morning with Pumpkin Spice Pancakes. In this recipe, the pumpkin and pie spice flavors are subtle, not overwhelming. Substitute yogurt and whole grains if you're looking for a more wholesome version. 34 of 50 Peanut-Pumpkin Stew with Hominy Peter Frank Edwards; Prop Styling: Kendra Surface; Food Styling: Anna Hampton This hearty vegetarian stew is from Ashleigh Shanti, the chef behind Benne on Eagle. After the extra step of roasting a pumpkin, the stew comes together quickly. Blanched raw peanuts, hominy, onion, ginger, paprika, and cayenne add complex flavors to this savory and satisfying dish. 35 of 50 Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer If you can't decide between a chocolate pie or pumpkin, why not serve both in one package? Pumpkin pie filling is gradually whisked into melted chocolate and then poured over a chocolate cookie crust. After baking, chill this pie for at least four hours. 36 of 50 Creamy Pumpkin Soup Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Christina Daley There’s no better way to warm a fall night than a bowl of soup. This rich pumpkin soup starts with a roasted sugar pumpkin, and it gets its creaminess thanks to an immersion blender. The cream is only drizzled on top. 37 of 50 Pumpkin Spice Granola Micah A. Leal After you've carved up a pumpkin, put the seeds to good use with this granola recipe. In addition to using pumpkin pie spice blend, our granola also uses some canned pumpkin, honey, and olive oil to coat the oats and seeds. This satisfying snack is chewy and full of fall flavor. 38 of 50 Pumpkin Spice-Heath Cake Recipe Alison Miksch This sheet cake is chock full of candy bar bits that will satisfy your sweet tooth. A boxed spice cake mix cuts your prep time in half, giving you plenty of time and energy to whip up the most indulgent part of all—the cream cheese frosting, which, of course, includes a bit of pumpkin spice too. Crumble Heath bars over the top and enjoy. 39 of 50 Pumpkin Bread Micah A. Leal Pumpkin bread needs no bells and whistles. In fact, some argue that the simpler the pumpkin bread, the better it will be. With this philosophy in mind, we give you a delicious recipe for pumpkin bread that requires 10 minutes of hands-on time, two bowls, and a whisk. 40 of 50 Pumpkin-Spice Bundt with Brown Sugar Icing and Candied Pecans Recipe Photo: Jennifer Causey Here's another beautiful Bundt cake where pumpkin is the star of the show. Or maybe it's the candied pecans, heated to syrupy sweetness on the stove and dried on wax paper. The pecans and a rich, buttery icing turn the simple pumpkin Bundt cake into a grande finale dessert. 41 of 50 Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Muffins Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely Think of these muffins as more portable pumpkin bread. Chocolate chips are a satisfyingly sweet addition to these spiced breads. Serve the muffins for breakfast, a late-day snack, or dessert. 42 of 50 Soft Pumpkin Cookies Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey These pumpkin treats are similar to the frosted cookies found at your grocery store. But they’re so much better. Bite-sized cakey cookies are topped with a generous Maple-Bourbon Glaze and toasted pecans. Use milk or water in place of the bourbon for an alcohol-free version. 43 of 50 Sweet and Tangy Roasted Pumpkin Salad Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Christina Daley Summer produce may be long gone, but that doesn’t mean fall salads are boring. Toss mixed baby greens with roasted sugar pumpkin and pumpkin seeds, a quick vinaigrette, and goat cheese for a dish that’s simple enough for weeknights and special enough for guests. 44 of 50 Pumpkin Soufflé Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice give these soufflés a tasty fall spin. Test them for doneness with a skewer. The centers should be slightly wet, and the soufflés should still jiggle slightly when you move them. Serve these right away with a dusting of powdered sugar. 45 of 50 Dairy-Free Coconut-Pumpkin Pie Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns This silky pumpkin pie replaces dairy with coconut milk for an extra creamy texture. Finish with braided crust and leaf cutouts that make this dessert worthy of your holiday buffet centerpiece. 46 of 50 Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies Greg DuPree Give brownies a fall makeover with the delightful addition of pumpkin. This two-in-one combination swirls chocolate and pumpkin batters. For easy slicing, refrigerate these brownies overnight. Cut while cold and serve at room temperature. 47 of 50 Pumpkin Pie Cake Micah A. Leal The layers in this cake combine into a smooth, moist dessert while baking. A graham cracker crust is the base for the pumpkin pie filling which bakes into the top cake layer. Bake in a springform pan for easy serving, and eat as is or top with whipped cream or ice cream. 48 of 50 Pumpkin-Pecan Coffee Cake Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely This recipe starts with pumpkin bread batter baked in a 13- x 9-inch pan. Top it with a sweet crumb topping that crisps during baking. Serve with a cup of coffee, or freeze some for later. 49 of 50 Candied Pumpkin Spice Pecans Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Serve these sweet, crunchy pecans straight from the oven. Tossed with pumpkin pie spice, they’re not only perfect for a fall snack, but they also add fall flavor to salads, cakes, and even chicken salad. Pack in jars for hostess gifts, or store in the freezer to use all season. 50 of 50 Cranberry-Apple-Pumpkin Bundt Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck This cake combines all the flavors of fall into one decadent dessert. The pumpkin Bundt cake surrounds a filling of chopped apples, dried cranberries, and pecans. Topped with a maple glaze and sugared pecans and pepitas, this dessert is worthy of special occasions. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit