28 Pumpkin Dessert Recipes, Including Everything from Pies to Cheesecake (2024)

Pumpkin recipes are synonymous with fall foliage, warm spices, and two of our favorite holidays: Halloween and Thanksgiving. From pumpkin cakes and pies to muffins and tarts, we're sharing a selection of tasty pumpkin dessert recipes that will carry you through fall.

When shopping for pumpkin in the grocery store, choose canned purée pumpkin, rather than pumpkin pie filling, which contains sugar, flavor, and other additives that can affect the flavor and texture of your pumpkin dessert. You can also make pure pumpkin purée using fresh pumpkin; the kind you find in the store is simply cooked and puréed raw pumpkin, so it will add natural flavor, moistness, and color to your recipes.

How to Freeze (and Thaw) Pumpkin Pie So It Tastes Freshly Made

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Deep-Dish Pumpkin Icebox Pie

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No pie dough here! We've turned up the volume on a classic graham cracker crust by swapping in gingersnap cookies. The extra tall filling is made with pumpkin puree, Marsala wine, gelatin, and spices, and sweetened with sugar.

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Pumpkin-Orange Bread

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The batter for this bread comes together in just 15 minutes and gets its flavor from pumpkin purée, nutmeg, and allspice, while grated orange zest works to brighten the dessert. Top it off with a sprinkling of pepitas for a welcome crunch.

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Pumpkin Cupcakes

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Create the sweetest pumpkin patch ever! Garnished with handmade marzipan pumpkins, these moist cupcakes are perfect for Halloween parties at school or work.

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Perfect Pumpkin Pie

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Consider this your tried-and-true pumpkin pie recipe—once you make this version you'll never need another one again. Follow our test kitchen's method to prevent sinking and cracks.

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Citrus-Glazed Pumpkin-Carrot Cake

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This pumpkin and carrot cake mash-up combines two favorites into one dessert. Baked in an angel food cake pan, this easy treat is made for a crowd, which means it's perfect for holiday dinners.

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Ruffled Pumpkin Milk Pie

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This love letter to milk pie—a custard tart pastry—makes baking with phyllo a breeze. The pumpkin-infused batter is poured over the unleavened dough, which has been brushed with clarified butter and scrunched into accordion-like shapes.

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Pumpkin-Spice-Latte Cake

Turn your favorite seasonal coffee drink into a delicious cake. Instant espresso powder blends in seamlessly to create a latte flavor. It's a rich, divine dessert that tastes like autumn.

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Pumpkin Crunch Pie

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Can't decide between pumpkin or pecan pie for Thanksgiving? Now you don't have to. This cream cheese and pumpkin-based pie topped with a crunchy pecan crumble offers the best of both worlds.

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Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

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Sugar, spice, and everything nice. This twist on snickerdoodle cookies features canned pumpkin—why haven't we been doing this all along?

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Pumpkin Bars

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A mix between pumpkin sheet cake and bars, this tender dessert is finished off with a delightful cream cheese frosting. It's easy to slice and serve to a crowd.

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Pumpkin-Chocolate Cheesecake

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Give cheesecake a richer bite by opting for a chocolate crust, instead graham cracker. The filling is flavored with pumpkin and topped with a drizzling of stove-top chocolate-caramel glaze for a glossy, impressive finish.

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Pumpkin Roulade with Mascarpone and White Chocolate

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The key to a perfect pumpkin-shaped cake is using a jelly roll pan, which helps create an even roll, sans breakage. It's filled with a light-as-air mascarpone and white chocolate filling—don't expect there to be any leftovers.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake Crunch Bites

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Wish you could have just one more bite of cheesecake? Now you can with these mini pumpkin cheesecake bars, topped with a pecan crunch.

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Pumpkin-Gingerbread Ice Cream Sandwiches

Chewy chocolate-molasses gingerbread cookies enclose homemade pumpkin ice cream in this make-ahead Thanksgiving dessert. If you don't have an ice cream maker, you can use store-bought pumpkin ice cream instead.

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Deep-Dish Pumpkin-Meringue Pie

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Dress up your pumpkin pie for a special occasion with a glorious mountain of meringue. Make the crust and filling up to one day in advance to save prep time on Thanksgiving (if that's when you plan to serve it), then top it off with meringue right before serving.

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Pumpkin-Chocolate Whoopie Pies

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Hand-held whoopie pies are a great dessert for kids—but with a rich chocolatey filling between two soft pumpkin-flavored cookies, grown-ups will want these treats, too.

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Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread

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Everyone can enjoy this sweetly spiced fall favorite. Buttermilk keeps it rich and moist and a good ratio of sugar to eggs creates an airy filling.

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Brûléed Pumpkin Pie

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The filling for this pie is covered with a thin layer of superfine sugar, which turns into a beautiful, brittle sheet of caramel when brûléed with a small kitchen blowtorch.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake

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We keep things traditional with a graham-cracker crust, but the filling takes things up a notch. Pumpkin purée creates an ultra-rich and creamy cheesecake that is sure to be a crowdpleaser at holiday dinners, potlucks, and more.

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Mile-High Pumpkin-Pecan Pie

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An instant classic, this delicious hybrid is both impressive and irresistible, you'll want to make it again and again.

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Pumpkin Cream Pie

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An easy gingersnap crust sets this pumpkin pie apart. The silky-smooth custard filling is cooked on the stove top.

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Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins

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With a cake-like interior and sugar-coated exterior, these treats capture the essence of doughnuts without the mess of deep-frying. Buttermilk and pumpkin purée make them melt-in-your-mouth soft.

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Pumpkin Layer Cake

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Cinnamon, nutmeg, and fresh ginger deepen the flavor of this pumpkin-buttermilk cake. The combination of cream cheese and goat cheese in the frosting gives it a unique, tangy twist.

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Pumpkin Icebox Pie

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This pumpkin icebox pie is an easy solution to Thanksgiving dessert. Rather than the usual baked custard filling, this pie gets its silky texture courtesy of cream cheese and gelatin. The only baking needed is for the graham-cracker crust.

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Maple Pumpkin Tart

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Maple syrup and lemon zest give a nuanced sweetness to the filling of this seasonal tart. Fold fresh breadcrumbs into the pumpkin custard before baking for a unique texture.

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Pumpkin Cream Pie

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An exceptionally creamy spiced-pumpkin filling is the centerpiece of this pie. The whipped cream topping is stabilized with gelatin so it doesn't collapse, making it possible to assemble the entire pie the day before you need to serve it.

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Pumpkin Swirl Brownies

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Rich chocolate brownies are made extra-tender with swirled layers of spiced pumpkin. The brownie batter is made with bittersweet chocolate and a touch of cayenne pepper to appeal to sophisticated palates.

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Five-Spice Pumpkin Pie with Phyllo Crust

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Give classic pumpkin pie a unique twist by baking the filling, which uses recognizable flavors like maple syrup, into a flaky phyllo crust.

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28 Pumpkin Dessert Recipes, Including Everything from Pies to Cheesecake (2024)

FAQs

What is the most popular dessert made from pumpkins? ›

The Great Pumpkin Pie Recipe

My beloved pumpkin pie recipe is one of the most popular recipes on my website every fall. It's rich, smooth, and bursting with flavor thanks to a careful combination of pumpkin puree, spices, and one very special ingredient.

What pairs well with pumpkin sweet? ›

To complement pumpkin with sweet flavor pairings, consider using spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and vanilla, or sweet ingredients like chocolate, maple, honey, cranberries or brown sugar. Create savory dishes by pairing pumpkin with spices like chilies, cajun, cayenne or pepper.

What is the best way to cook pumpkin? ›

Place pumpkin cubes on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper (add any other spices you'd like!) Roast at 375 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until pumpkin cubes are fork-tender, flipping halfway through.

What can you do with a pumpkin? ›

Top 20 pumpkin recipes
  1. Pumpkin pie. This classic Thanksgiving dessert is well-deserving of a place in our top 20. ...
  2. Pumpkin curry with chickpeas. ...
  3. Halloween pumpkin cake. ...
  4. Pumpkin soup. ...
  5. Stuffed pumpkin. ...
  6. Pumpkin pie s'mores. ...
  7. Pumpkin hummus. ...
  8. Roast pumpkin & spinach lasagne.

What is the most eaten dessert in the world? ›

  • Mar 31, 2023, 08:13 PM IST. 10 Most Popular Desserts in the World. ...
  • Apple Pie. This traditional American dessert is popular due to its flaky crust and sweet apple filling. ...
  • Tiramisu. ...
  • Baklava. ...
  • Crème Brûlée. ...
  • Panna Cotta. ...
  • Cheesecake. ...
  • Mochi.
Mar 31, 2023

What is the number one dessert? ›

1. Pie. Pie earns a spot on the top of everyone's list of popular desserts merely for its delicious versatility. From fruit pies to cream pies, from seasonal favorites like pumpkin to year-round standards like apple, what's not to love?

What cheese goes well with pumpkin? ›

Blue cheeses like gorgonzola team up well with the notes of dried fruit typical of pumpkin. Another excellent pairing is with a nice fresh goat's cheese since its acidulous notes offset the sweetness of pumpkin.

What is the difference between a pumpkin and a sweet pumpkin? ›

Sugar pumpkins

These much smaller pumpkins are less stringy and sweeter. Their skin is softer, which makes it easier to cut as well. Look for round pumpkins that have a dark orange color, are about 10 inches (25 cm) and weigh no more than 10 pounds.

What can I add to pumpkin to make it taste better? ›

Instead of using premixed pumpkin pie spice (which has probably been sitting around for months on a grocery store shelf), make your own by combining cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice.

Can dogs eat pumpkin? ›

Yes, dogs can eat pumpkin and it is actually often added to dog foods. Check the label of some dog treats and you may find pumpkin on the ingredient list there too. However, if you are feeding fresh pumpkin, you will need to be careful about which part you're feeding as the stem and leaves are covered in prickly hairs.

Why is canned pumpkin better to use in baking? ›

So, Why Used Canned Pumpkin Instead of Fresh?
  • Canned Pumpkin Saves Time and Effort. “Making pumpkin puree is time-consuming,” says Maggie. ...
  • Canned Pumpkin Delivers Consistent Results. ...
  • Canned Just Tastes Better. ...
  • Canned Pumpkin Is Cost-Effective. ...
  • Canned Pumpkin Is Readily Available.
Nov 21, 2022

Are pumpkins healthy for dogs? ›

Due to its high soluble fiber content, pumpkin is very good for your dog's digestion. If you feed your dog some pumpkin, it will add bulk to their stool. This helps reduce issues with diarrhea. In addition, fermentation of the same fiber produces beneficial fatty acids that supply energy to cells.

What are 5 ways pumpkins can be used? ›

Five ways to use your pumpkin after Halloween
  • Roasted pumpkin seeds. Use the part of a pumpkin that most would throw away and make roasted pumpkin seeds. ...
  • Pumpkin pie. Pumpkin pie is a traditional American favourite. ...
  • Stuffed pumpkin. ...
  • Pumpkin soup. ...
  • Pumpkin cake.

What are 5 uses for pumpkins? ›

Here are eight ways to use pumpkins.
  • New coffee. Cosy up with a spiced pumpkin latte as a change from your usual cappuccino or mug of hot chocolate. ...
  • Baked and filled. Turn pumpkins into edible shells for all sorts of tasty fillings. ...
  • Sweet tart. ...
  • Dainty dumplings. ...
  • Savoury snack. ...
  • Super seeds. ...
  • Smoky supper. ...
  • Party essentials.

What are 3 interesting facts about pumpkins? ›

The average pumpkin weighs in at approximately 13 pounds. Pumpkins are 90% water. And yes, they float. A pumpkin is a fruit because it comes from a flower and has seeds.

What dessert can be made from pumpkin? ›

Pumpkin dessert recipes
  • Best ever pumpkin pie with stem ginger cream. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
  • Pumpkin cheesecake. A star rating of 3.8 out of 5. ...
  • Spiced pumpkin Halloween cake. A star rating of 4 out of 5. ...
  • Pumpkin muffins. ...
  • Pumpkin pie. ...
  • Pumpkin cupcakes. ...
  • Pumpkin & pecan strudel. ...
  • Pumpkin & caramel cake.

What is the most common favorite dessert? ›

Ice cream is America's favorite dessert and is a key driver of the frozen food category.

What is the most sweet pumpkin? ›

Kabocha. A popular Japanese variety, the Kabocha has a rough but edible peel, and a round plump shape. It can be dark green or bright orange-red, and has firm, orange flesh. One of the sweetest varieties of pumpkin, its flavour has been compared to sweet potato, while its firm flesh holds together well in the oven.

What is the most common use for pumpkins? ›

Pumpkin is popular in pancakes, pies, custards, and muffins, but it also works well in savory dishes. You can cook it into a soup or roast it with other vegetables. Canned pumpkin can be combined with coconut milk and spices to make a creamy curry base. You can also eat other parts of the pumpkin plant.

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