October 26th is National Pumpkin Day, although it feels like we celebrate pumpkins all season. From the moment we put away our summer clothes and think about going back to school, the pumpkins come out everywhere. They seem to be in every recipe from coffee to soup to entrees to desserts.
Cooking with pumpkin is easy and delicious. Of course, you can buy canned pumpkin puree but it’s also easy to make your own puree from fresh pumpkins. To learn how to do that, along with how to pick out pumpkins, read 10 Ways to Cook with Pumpkin Flesh and Seeds and It’s Pumpkin Time: How to Cook with These Orange Beauties.
One of the best things about cooking with pumpkin is that it adds a natural sweetness to dishes. It also works with spices that are warm and savory like nutmeg, cinnamon, chile powder, cumin, and allspice. Pumpkin pie spice is a delicious blend that also works in both sweet and savory dishes. Check out 12 Recipes to Savor the Aroma and Flavor of Pumpkin Pie Spices which also has recipes for pumpkin pies and pumpkin cheesecakes! Pumpkins also give us pumpkin seeds and here are 12 Recipes with Pumpkin Seeds that will remind you never to throw them away.
The truth is that adding pumpkin to any recipe can make it into something totally new and incredible. Here are 15 recipes that will show you just how pumpkin makes everything better.
1. Pumpkin Peanut Butter Pancakes
Mmmm … fall! It’s here, and these Pumpkin Peanut Butter Pancakes just scream “fall.” There is nothing like a gorgeous, sky-high stack of pancakes made with buckwheat, peanut butter, and pumpkin puree. Topped with vegan butter and maple syrup, these will brighten your day and fill you up!
2. Pumpkin Gnocchi in Spiced Butter Sauce With Lemon Cashew Cream
These luscious homemade, gluten-free and vegan Pumpkin Gnocchi are already a dream come true but they get even better. They’re blanketed in richly spiced butter sauce and lemon cashew cream … who wouldn’t want that for dinner? This is simple food that totally looks gourmet.
3. Seasonal Pumpkin and Leek Pasties
Cornish pasties are so delicious! They are traditionally filled with root vegetables and meat with gravy to keep everything warm and moist. These Seasonal Pumpkin and Leek Pasties are a vegan version that celebrates the bounty of autumn. Made with leeks, onions, mushrooms, pumpkin, and vegan cheese, these are the ultimate autumn treats.
4. Pumpkin Pie Green Smoothie Bowl
Normally, pumpkin pie isn’t green, but we’ll make an exception for this nutrient-packed Pumpkin Pie Green Smoothie Bowl. It’s filled with healthy ingredients like apples, banana, spinach and of course, pumpkin. Wheat germ, spirulina, matcha, and protein powder make this a powerhouse of superfoods and a delicious way to jumpstart your day.
5. Baked Pumpkin Spice Doughnuts With Chocolate Cinnamon Icing
These vegan Baked Pumpkin Spice Doughnuts are exactly what a doughnut should be – firm, a little spongy, cake-like, and moist. With the pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves all combined … cue the trumpets and angels singing. And if the pumpkin spice flavors aren’t enough to make you swoon, there’s the dark chocolate and cinnamon icing that covers the top and drips down the sides. Pure pumpkin chocolate heaven!
6. Pumpkin Peanut Butter Truffles
The only way to make peanut butter any better is to add some pumpkin spice. Taking a bite out of these Pumpkin Peanut Butter Truffles is like taking a bite out of the best orange-leaved, scarf-wearing fall day you’ve ever had. Warming cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Rich, creamy peanut butter. Cozy maple syrup. Homemade pumpkin-kissed chocolate. Oh, and they totally melt in your mouth.
7. Moroccan Miso, Lentil, and Pumpkin Soup
When autumn arrives, pumpkin soup is mandatory. This Miso, Lentil, and Pumpkin Soup is inspired by the fresh, vibrant flavors of Morocco. Although it’s not a traditional Moroccan ingredient, the addition of miso paste gives the soup a deeper, more umami flavor. The lentils make this soup a hearty and filling meal.
8. Pecan Pumpkin Spice Butter Cups
What do you do if you can’t decide between having pecan pie and pumpkin pie for dessert? Mash them together, add chocolate and you get these Pecan Pumpkin Spice Butter Cups. They have a thick layer of creamy pumpkin puree and nutty pecan butter sandwiched between two layers of bittersweet chocolate and topped with crunchy spiced pecans.
9. Pumpkin Pasta With Tomatoes and Basil
This colorful Pumpkin Pasta with Tomatoes and Basil has creamy pumpkin combined with tomato and basil to make a dish packed with fall flavors. To give the pasta an extra boost of iron and to stick with the pumpkin theme, it’s topped off with a sprinkling of pumpkin seeds. This dish is ready in less than half an hour, so it’s great for quick weeknight dinners!
10. Pumpkin Spice Breakfast Cookies
Not only are these Pumpkin Spice Breakfast Cookies delicious and good for you, but they also look like a bountiful harvest on your plate. Pumpkin and oats are mixed with cranberries, pumpkin seeds, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. This is the perfect excuse to eat cookies for breakfast more often!
11. Pumpkin Enchiladas
Enchiladas are so great because they can be filled with whatever your heart desires and baked to perfection. These Pumpkin Enchiladas are filled with creamy pumpkin and sweet potato seasoned with chile powder. Top them with vegan cheese or avocado for a delicious dinner.
12. Pumpkin Spice Biscuits with Vegan Feta Cheese
These Pumpkin Spiced Biscuits with Vegan Feta Cheese are light, flaky and filled with autumn-y pumpkin flavor. The salty vegan feta pairs perfectly for the best gluten-free and vegan pumpkin biscuits ever. Pass the gravy!
13. Pumpkin Pudding
This vegan Pumpkin Pudding is a beautiful, dense and sweet dessert. It’s easy to make and looks absolutely stunning. The maple syrup gives a lovely rich caramel taste that works so well with the pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice. This is the perfect dessert to amaze your favorite people!
14. Avocado Pumpkin Panini With Caramelized Onions
This Avocado Pumpkin Panini with Caramelized Onions is going to make you forget all about grilled cheese. It’s got creamy pumpkin, smooth avocado, and sweet caramelized onions all between two toasty slices of gluten-free bread. Is it lunch time yet?
15. Red Lentil Curry With Black Tahini and Roasted Cashews
This quick Red Lentil Curry with Black Tahini and Roasted Cashews is simply delicious. The combination of red lentils, pumpkin, carrots, apples, and chickpeas is hearty and healthy. The black tahini, roasted cashews, and coconut add texture and flavor to this beautiful dish.
Autumn brings a bounty of beautiful and delicious produce, and pumpkins are deserving of the limelight. These ultimate pumpkin recipes will keep you happy all season long.
Lead image source: PumpkinPudding
