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Canned pumpkin recipes are being browsed and pulled out of recipe boxes and off cookbook shelves already. Can you hear the printing of web recipes and the note-taking on index cards? I still use the ones my family has passed down to me.
Simple ingredients like canned pumpkin puree are available year round, but we home cooks are getting serious about our holiday season full of savory dishes and sweet recipes.
(Be sure when using canned pumpkin you don’t accidentally purchase and use canned pumpkin pie mix. It already contains sugar, spices and milk and is liquidy.)
If you want to try any of these canned pumpkin recipes, you can use your own home-processed pumpkin puree as a one-to-one substitute. Freshly cooked pumpkin works well, too. Mash the fresh pumpkin puree thoroughly in a large bowl or put it in a food processor to make your own fresh pumpkin puree.
In some recipes, you may also be able to substitute other cooked winter squash in place of pumpkin if you don’t happen to have any cans on hand.
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Canned pumpkin puree is one of the most versatile canned ingredients you can have in your cupboard. It doesn’t have to sit there for a year until the season of pumpkin is back again. If you don’t know what to do with pumpkin puree, I have a few here for you to try.
Pumpkin Cookies
Another delicious pumpkin-based dessert, our tried-and-true pumpkin cookies will put a smile on your face. We pat ourselves on the back pretty hard with this recipe because they are so easy to make.
While everyone is talking with their mouths full, just mention casually you slaved away all day over these easy Pumpkin Cookies, and that you NEVER give up classic family recipes. SO SORRY.
(Psst, it uses a box spice cake mix, NO EGGS, NO OIL, a heaping teaspoon pumpkin pie spice and canned pumpkin.) We love this pumpkin cookie with the glaze, but you don’t have to use it.
🔥 Learn the secret to the warmth of fall spices in our homemade Pumpkin-Pie Spice Mix 🔥
Pumpkin Donuts
While I admit I’m hungry right now, these plump, pretty donuts will make a splendid addition to your Thanksgiving table. Or for brunch the next day when your company comes back to eat on the leftovers. The cinnamon is a delicious addition of traditional fall flavor, while the vanilla glaze will give you some extra sweet dreams.
Pumpkin Biscuits from Scratch
Make warm, buttery pumpkin biscuits that fill your home with cozy autumn aromas. Perfect for beginners, these biscuits are an easy from-scratch recipe.
Moist & Fluffy Pumpkin Crazy Cake (Egg-Free & Dairy-Free Recipe)
This moist and fluffy Pumpkin Crazy Cake is made without eggs, butter, or milk! Perfect for those with dietary restrictions, this easy fall dessert uses pantry staples. Try it with our cinnamon buttercream (that does have dairy, though.)
Easy Pumpkin Soup
This creamy soup isn’t just for autumn cooking, but it sure makes a chilly night all the more delicious and comforting. Use a can of pumpkin pureé, broth, any milk, a handful of warm spices, and fragrant garlic and onions.
Crockpot Pumpkin Cobbler
A crumbly topping of yellow cake mix and butter settles over the surface, turning golden and crisp at the edges while staying tender where it meets the pumpkin beneath. The slow cooker does the work, transforming pantry staples into a dessert with a soft, spiced custard and a buttery, golden topping.
3 Ingredient Pumpkin Bread
You don’t even need a mixer— just a wooden spoon and a little elbow grease. You can swap the chopped pecans for walnuts, sliced almonds or pumpkin seeds, too.
Easy Mini Pumpkin Bundt Cake
This mini bundt pumpkin cake simply and easily doctors up a box of spice cake mix. They make a great three-bite treat; you could eat it like a cookie or fork.
Mini Pumpkin Cakes with Caramel Buttercream
These single-serving pumpkin cakes are not just any cakes. If you love fall flavors, pumpkin spice, AND cake, you will be in for a treat with this recipe.
3-Ingredient Pumpkin Brownies
I believe that brownies are a magical treat. They are rich, fudgy, and maybe too easy to eat.
Pumpkin Cookies With Cream Cheese Frosting
Trust me here; these are not just any sweet fall snack; they are delicious indulgences. These cookies baking will fill your home with the scent of pumpkin spice better than any candle.
Pumpkin Hand Pies with Puff Pastry
The tops, brushed with egg wash and a dusting of spiced sugar, bake into a delicate shell that shatters under a fork. Serve these still slightly warm, with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream to catch the sweet spice.
Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispie Treats
These pumpkin spice rice crispy treats are perfect for a Thanksgiving dessert table or a Halloween party. To make these extra special we drizzle them with white chocolate on top.
Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing
With every bite, they capture the warmth of fall. They are perfect for holiday gatherings or a cozy night of Netflix!
Pumpkin Filled Crescent Rolls
Then, imagine those flavors wrapped in golden, flaky crescent dough. That is the pumpkin treat that we have here for you today.
Easy Pumpkin Fluff Dip
This is a sweet dip/spread, so it won’t be something you’ll dip tortilla chips into. It contains real pumpkin puree and pumpkin-pie spice, so get ready for fall flavors coming at you fast!
Crockpot Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
I’ve been planning for an easy comfort food season, how about you? This recipe for Crockpot pumpkin cinnamon rolls could make your next fall brunch the easiest thing you do all season.
Slow Cooker Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate
With this slow cooker hot chocolate, you get the added treat of the aroma of it simmering all day. This pumpkin-infused hot cocoa is the perfect indulgent treat—a pampering experience in a cup.
Pumpkin Spice Syrup Made With Real Pumpkin
We use inexpensive canned pumpkin puree for this pumpkin spice syrup, and lots of fragrant fall flavors to mix up your favorite holiday drinks. Pumpkin-pie spice is great, but the kind with actual pureed pumpkin has a deeper layer of fall flavors that we really like, especially in baked goods and hot drinks.
Pumpkin Spice Vodka Martini
This pumpkin martini recipe is a show-stopper. Yes, it does have a bit of actual pumpkin puree in it, but the real fall flavor comes from the pumpkin-pie spice sprinkled on top.
The bottom line
The thing about pumpkin, as you may know by now, is that on its own, there’s not a lot of flavor to it. Stick a spoon into your canned pumpkin and taste it: Practically flavorless, slightly vegetal, tasting of mushy squash.
AND YET. It’s a blank fiber-rich canvas upon which you shall bestow all of the best fall flavors.
Did I show you well enough that your canned pumpkin is more than a pumpkin pie recipe filling?
Experiment with these recipes to ignite your pumpkin passion.
My family loved this!