30 Ways To Eat More Pumpkin This Fall

Come autumn, it's no surprise — people need their pumpkin fix. Any excuse to eat this festive fall fruit (yes, pumpkin is a fruit) is well worth it. Although one of the most popular pumpkin products is the pumpkin spice latte (which we should note does not actually contain any pumpkin at all, rather just a blend of spices and sugars in a Starbucks cup), we can appreciate the textures and profile that pumpkin can bring to the kitchen. 

We love that pumpkin is one of the most versatile squashes out there. You can incorporate its flavors into savory dishes like ravioli or sweet baked goods such as muffins and cakes. Pumpkin is also one of the healthiest canned foods you can stock up on per CNET — the squash contains a ton of beta-carotene for healthy skin, mucus membranes, and eyesight (via Mount Sinai). According to Jessica Gavin, canned pumpkin puree is made by steaming and processing pumpkin pulp into a soft, shelf-stable product. It's much more convenient to use because you won't have to worry about cleaning and processing your pumpkin before you're ready to use it. Just crack open a can and whip up some fall culinary magic right in your very own kitchen.

One of the only donuts that scream fall is a freshly baked, sugared apple cider donut. But pumpkin donuts might just take that number two spot. You can opt to make an old-fashioned cake donut with pumpkin puree at home — we recommend rolling these donuts in pumpkin pie spice and maple sugar for a more pronounced fall flavor. These donuts are baked, rather than fried, which gives the batter a more sturdy, dip-able texture that's perfect for a hot cup of coffee. According to the King Arthur Baking Company, you can modify the recipe to make donut holes by using a donut hole or a mini muffin pan; the smaller bites will require a higher oven temperature and about half as much time in the oven. 

When it comes to Thanksgiving, there's no pie that's more traditional than pumpkin. We recommend using canned pumpkin rather than DIY-ing your own puree; the canned pumpkin is usually sweeter and more even-textured than if you were to dump pumpkin slices into a food processor and make your own. Moreover, adding condensed milk and orange zest to your pie makes for a creamy texture with an acidic tang that sets the flavor apart from other pumpkin pies. 

For an easier pie recipe, you can always turn to a trusty frozen pie crust or graham cracker shell from the grocery store. Work smarter, not harder — right? 

Gnocchi are pillowy puffs of joy, and you can add a dose of cozy fall flavors to your dumplings with a scoop of mashed pumpkin puree. The pumpkin imitates the same texture and flavor as typical potato gnocchi. To make these tiny dumplings at home, combine the pumpkin with flour, egg yolks, and Pecorino Romano cheese, per The Clever Carrot. Like all pasta, avoid overhandling the dough to prevent too much gluten development. Overhandling will make your gnocchi stodgy and hard to eat, according to the New York Times. 

We recommend serving your gnocchi with a thin butter sauce flavored with sage, thyme, or fresh parsley. And don't forget to add an extra sprinkle of cheese on top for good measure. 

Pumpkin pancakes are the perfect food to wake up to on a cool fall morning. Our recipe combines the flavors of spicy pumpkin with warm pecans for a fluffy pancake that aims to please. The perfect pancake is a product of beaten eggs, baking powder, and baking soda — these leavening agents make the batter super light. The leavening also counteracts the density of other ingredients like heavy cream, oil, melted butter, and of course, canned pumpkin puree. We also recommend adding warm spices like cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon as well. Serve your pumpkin pecan pancakes with warm pure maple syrup and a pad of creamy butter. 

Baked oatmeal is an on-the-go breakfast for folks with a busy lifestyle. You can bake a tray of oatmeal ahead of time, refrigerate it, and scoop it into a travel cup when you're leaving for work or school in the morning. You can also reheat the oatmeal in a toaster oven or in the microwave. 

We recommend adding a ton of spices and seasonings to your baked oatmeal like cinnamon, vanilla extract, and cloves. You can also chop up nuts or stir in chocolate chips for a customized experience. The pumpkin puree is a good addition to your oatmeal for more than just flavor — you'll get a healthy dose of fiber that will keep you full all day long. 

At first, pumpkin might seem like an odd flavor to add to spicy, tomato-rich chili. But the inclusion of sweet squash-like pumpkin amplifies the flavors and textures in a perfect fall chili. You can customize your recipe based on your favorite types of beans and meat, or add a few jalapeños if you enjoy a spicy kick. If you want to add pumpkin to your chili, you'll just need to add the canned puree to the dish when you add your beans. The flavor isn't too pungent (in fact, you may not recognize there is pumpkin in the chili at all) and provides a sweet undertone to this warm fall classic. 

Everyone needs a snack during afternoon tea. Adding pumpkin to your biscotti is a slightly sweet addition that doesn't significantly change the texture of the hard biscuit. According to Everything Biscotti, keeping the biscotti dough pliable is one of the most important steps to baking the perfect biscotti at home. If your dough is moist, spray your hands with cooking spray or keep your hands damp to prevent the biscotti from sticking. You can also refrigerate the dough for at least an hour before handling it to reduce the stickiness. This is especially important if you plan on adding chocolate chips to your pumpkin biscotti. 

Pumpkin is probably not your go-to flavor when you're looking for a bagel for your bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich. But, a pumpkin bagel is a flavorful bagel for a sweet schmear like cream cheese or peanut butter. 

The pumpkin flavor in most pumpkin bagels comes from canned pumpkin — along with some help from spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. You'll also want to use an ample amount of sugar to help bloom the yeast before you mix the mixture into the flour, according to Feast and Farm. This will keep your bagels soft, puffy, and light. 

Empanadas are handheld dough pockets stuffed with sweet or savory fillings mostly found in Latin American cooking. Pumpkin empanadas are a sweet filling that's popular during Mexican-American Thanksgiving or Christmas, per Curious Cuisiniere. The empanada dough is similar to that of traditional pie dough; it's made with flour, water, and butter. The filling is traditionally made with pumpkin puree, brown sugar, sweet spices, and half-and-half. 

According to Yummy, the key to making the perfect empanada is to keep the filling dry. Too much moisture will result in a filling that seeps out of the edges. You should also plan to add a lot of spices to the filling because the bland dough will dilute it. 

Where's the fun in pumpkin if you can't enjoy it with your friends and family? Consider making a sheet cake with pumpkin to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or another special event. Use our pumpkin gooey butter cake recipe to make your own — the addition of boxed cake mix makes this dessert so much easier to make than a completely DIY bake. 

The cake gets its moisture from the cream cheese and pumpkin puree baked into the batter. If you want a finishing touch on your dish, try mixing whipped topping and pumpkin pie spice together before spreading it on your cooled sheet cake. 

If you're looking for a simple, fall-inspired dip to enjoy at home or bring to a festive gathering, look no further than pumpkin hummus. You can make it with three ingredients: store-bought hummus, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice. Mix these three together in a bowl (no food processor needed) and serve with sweet or savory vessels like apple chips, crackers, or bread. If you want to make your own hummus from scratch, follow a hummus recipe and add a serving of pumpkin puree to your food processor. The pumpkin is smooth in texture, making it a great addition to this nutritious snacking spread. 

Risotto is a warm, filling rice dish made with stock, alcohol, butter, and cheese per Cuisine at Home. The rice is prepared by stirring small portions of it into the broth until the liquid is absorbed. There are some variations on the traditional northern Italian risotto including onions, leeks, and you guessed it — pumpkin. You'll want to add the pumpkin puree to your risotto after it's finished cooking; this is the same time you add the grated cheese, salt, and pepper to the dish. Although it may seem unconventional to add nutmeg to your risotto, the New York Times found the spice brightens the pumpkin flavors and works well with other savory spices like garlic. 

Granola is the perfect crunchy topping for yogurt or as a snack when you're leaf-peeping in the great outdoors. You can make your own granola at home by combining pumpkin pie puree with rolled oats, a sticky sweetener of choice, and coconut oil for browning. Eating Bird Food notes that you can add your favorite raw nuts, chocolate chips, or spices to your homemade granola for flavor and healthy fats. 

If you're not the DIY type, consider picking up a bag of Purely Elizabeth's pumpkin cinnamon ancient grains granola next time you're at the grocery store. It's one of our favorite bagged granola brands, and we love the spice of the cinnamon along with the crunch from the pumpkin seeds. 

The only thing that rivals the flavor and nostalgia of pumpkin pancakes is pumpkin waffles. To make your own pumpkin waffles at home, you'll want to be sure to keep the wet ingredients (including the pumpkin puree) separate from the dry ingredients until the last step. This is because the waffle credits its rise to double-acting baking powder; activation of the baking powder with an acid will cause carbon dioxide to be produced. If the carbon dioxide is beaten out of the batter too quickly, the waffle will be stodgy and hard. If you overmix the batter, you will also have similar issues in the waffle texture. 

We recommend topping your pumpkin waffle with maple syrup, almond butter, or candied pecans. You can freeze these waffles after cooking and pop them in the toaster oven when you're ready to eat. 

Stir fry is a simple dinner idea made great with the help of savory pumpkin cubes. If you want to make your own stir fry at home, you'll want to use kabocha squash (Japanese pumpkin) cubes because the squash has a neutral flavor and integrates well with other savory stir fry flavors like fish sauce, soy sauce, and garlic (via Thai Table). Thai Table also recommends removing the skin from thick-skinned squash types; delicata or other thin-skinned squash do not require having the skin removed. If you find that the pumpkin is not softening during cooking, you can try adding more water to the wok.