Pumpkin is so closely linked to this time of year that it’s worth making the most of this brilliantly versatile vegetable while it’s around. Get ready to transform the season’s favourite ingredient with 10 more incredibly easy pumpkin recipes you can try at home.
Before you get started, it’s worth knowing that not all pumpkins are equal. The larger pumpkins are mainly grown for jack-o-lanterns and are better suited to carving. Smaller sugar pumpkins are sweeter and can be roasted and puréed for a huge number of sweet and savoury pumpkin recipes.
The window of opportunity for pumpkin is short, so make the most of it while you can. Once it’s gone, butternut squash (a cousin of the pumpkin) works well in its place in most of these recipes.
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Deliciously Easy Pumpkin Recipes
Pumpkin Puree
Image: Skinnytaste
Pumpkin puree sits at the heart of many pumpkin recipes, particularly for baking. You can buy it canned, but homemade tastes great and freezes well for whenever the baking bug strikes. It’s also a handy first food for weaning babies.
Skinnytaste has the details on making your own homemade pumpkin puree. Take your pick from traditional oven roasting or use an Instant Pot to speed things up.
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Easy Pumpkin Pie
Image: Simply Recipes
This old-fashioned pumpkin pie recipe from Simply Recipes can be made with canned or homemade pumpkin puree, made ahead, and it freezes well too — perfect for busy households.
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Chewy Baked Pumpkin Bars
Image: Super Healthy Kids
Super Healthy Kids’ Chewy Baked Pumpkin Bars recipe is ideal if you’re catering for allergies at home — there’s no dairy, no gluten (if you use gluten-free oats), no eggs and no nuts in this one.
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Pumpkin Curry
Image: Minimalist Baker
This one-pot pumpkin curry from Minimalist Baker is packed with flavour and veggie goodness. It’s quick to make, keeps for several days in the fridge, and freezes well for another easy midweek meal.
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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Pumpkin and chocolate — what could be better? These pumpkin chocolate chip muffins from Joy of Baking are delicious, but the same batter also works beautifully in a loaf tin for a tasty teatime cake.
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Roast Pumpkin Slices
Image: Steamy Kitchen
These roast pumpkin slices from Steamy Kitchen make a great autumn vegetable dish, full of flavour thanks to a warming spice mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and brown sugar.
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Thai Pumpkin Soup
Image: Taste.com
You might have tried pumpkin soup before, but this Thai pumpkin soup from Taste.com takes it up a notch. Red curry paste, coconut milk and coriander really transform this soup into something special.
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Creamy, Cheesy Pumpkin Mash
Image: Not Quite Nigella
Pumpkin makes a great side dish, whether roasted, mashed or steamed. This recipe for creamy, cheesy pumpkin mash from Not Quite Nigella is a standout — garlic, cream, feta and parmesan combine to create something really special.
Spiced Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup
This warming autumn pumpkin and sweet potato soup from Fuss Free Flavours is full of flavour, with a vibrant colour and smooth texture that kids tend to enjoy.
The recipe is gluten-free and vegetarian, and can easily be made vegan and paleo-friendly too. Carrot, apple and vanilla bring a slight sweetness, while cinnamon and allspice add the warmth.
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Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
Image: Sally’s Baking Addiction
Packed with goodness, these pumpkin oatmeal cookies from Sally’s Baking Addiction have the added treat of chocolate chips — though you could leave these out if needed.
Deliciously chewy and comforting, with all the flavours of autumn, the kids (and you) will love these cookies.
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What are your favourite pumpkin recipes? Have you tried any of these? Leave a comment below and let us know — we’d love to hear from you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use butternut squash instead of pumpkin in these recipes?
Yes. Butternut squash is a close cousin of the pumpkin and works well as a substitute in most of the recipes above, especially once pumpkin season has passed.
What’s the best type of pumpkin to cook with?
Smaller sugar pumpkins are sweeter and better suited to cooking, roasting and puréeing. The larger pumpkins sold for carving tend to be less flavourful for eating.
Can I make pumpkin puree ahead and freeze it?
Yes. Homemade pumpkin puree freezes well, so it’s worth making a batch when pumpkins are in season and freezing portions for baking or weaning later in the year.
Related Articles
Looking for more autumn recipe inspiration? You might also enjoy:
- 12 Perfect Pumpkin Recipes for the Family this Halloween
- 9 Delicious (and Easy!) Recipes for Roast Pumpkin Seeds
- 16 Splendid Soup Recipes That The Kids Will Love
- 11 Easy Halloween Cookie Recipes the Kids will Adore
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