20 PUMPKIN RECIPES: EASY DISHES AND DESSERTS
Fall season brings with it a parade of pumpkin pies that line the aisles of grocery stores and bakery windows, but pumpkin pie only scratches the surface of the sweet and savory dishes you can create with this iconic and versatile gourd. From soups, salads and entrées to pumpkin desserts and even drinks, read on to discover easy pumpkin recipes featuring pumpkin front and center. Plus, find out which types of pumpkins are suited to cooking and which flavors complement the fruit best.
WHAT CAN I MAKE OUT OF MY PUMPKIN?
The possibilities for culinary exploration with mouthwatering results are endless when you’ve got the right kind of pumpkin at your fingertips. Look through the recipes below to find inspiration for your next seasonally inspired dish, and find out how KitchenAid® food processors, blenders, stand mixers and stand mixer attachments can help you make the most of the season.
1. HOMEMADE PUMPKIN PURÉE
Pumpkin purée is the cornerstone of countless fall and winter dishes, so adding a basic recipe to your repertoire can be essential for whipping up foods packed with seasonal flavor. Use this recipe to create homemade pumpkin purée with nothing but a sugar pumpkin, or add warmth with various seasonal spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice or cloves. Once your pumpkin is cooked, you can quickly create a smooth and creamy purée using a KitchenAid® food processor.
2. PUMPKIN CHAI HOLIDAY CUPCAKES
Think outside of the mug with this sweet and spiced dessert that mimics the flavors of a pumpkin spice latte. Use a KitchenAid® electric kettle to prepare an aromatic chai tea, then combine ingredients and effortlessly churn out a light and airy chai buttercream frosting with the help of a KitchenAid® stand mixer.
3. PUMPKIN PIE TART
Try this twist on a classic pumpkin pie recipe for your next holiday party. Use a KitchenAid® stand mixer or food processor to create a light and flaky shortbread crust, then fill your tart pan with a rich and fragrant mixture featuring cinnamon, ginger, almond extract and vanilla extract. Garnish your tart with whipped cream piping and serve to satisfy your guests’ fall season dessert cravings.
4. QUINOA SALAD WITH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Pumpkin can be the star of both sweet and savory dishes. To create this refreshing and nutrient-packed entrée, use a KitchenAid® 7-Cup Food Processor with the slicing blade to rapidly slice fresh vegetables like red, green and yellow peppers, onions, tomatoes and radishes. Top the salad with steamed pumpkin and grapefruit, then swap out the slicing blade for the multipurpose blade and use your food processor to whip up a zesty vinaigrette dressing.
5. PUMPKIN APPLE BUNDT CAKE
Packed with quintessential fall flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves, this pumpkin apple bundt cake leverages popular fruits and spices of the season to create a moist, dense and rich dessert. Get the most out of the preparation process when you use a KitchenAid® stand mixer fit with the Flat Beater Accessory to quickly and evenly combine ingredients.
6. PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE BARS
These festive and decadent cheesecake bars provide the perfect opportunity for working on your decorating skills. This spiced cream cheese and pumpkin mixture sits atop a chocolate cookie crust and is adorned with piped frosting ghosts, pumpkins and candy corn. Quickly process cookie sandwiches into crumbs, combine the cheesecake mixture and whip frosting using a KitchenAid® stand mixer.
7. PUMPKIN SOUP
Stay warm inside and out on a chilly autumn evening with this simple but stunning entrée. This pumpkin soup combines the earthy flavors of pumpkin with the tartness of Granny Smith apples and subtle sweetness of cooked shallots for a satisfying flavor profile. You can achieve a smooth and silky texture when you use a blender to incorporate ingredients and purée baked apple, pumpkin and shallots. Garnish each bowl with a swirl of sour cream and toasted pepitas for a sophisticated look.
8. PUMPKIN SPICE CARAMEL CORN
Cook up a batch of pumpkin spice caramel corn to take along on your next festive hayride, pumpkin patch or scenic drive adventure. Walnut halves and pumpkin seeds give this recipe just the right amount of crunch, while pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract, brown sugar and corn syrup create warm, sticky and aromatic textures and flavors.
9. PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE
Add a hint of seasonal flair to your morning routine with a pumpkin spice latte. This concoction combines the milky, rich texture of cashews with the warmth of vanilla, sweetness of pure maple syrup and festive flavors of pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. You can use a KitchenAid® espresso machine to prepare authentic tasting espresso, then add all ingredients to the KitchenAid® K150 3 Speed Ice Crushing Blender to seamlessly blend them into a smooth and creamy latte.
10. PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE SMOOTHIE
Swap out your typical morning smoothie for a seasonal breakfast alternative with this pumpkin spice latte smoothie. Use a KitchenAid® espresso machine to prepare espresso, then combine creamy pumpkin purée, yogurt and milk with fragrant fresh ginger, ground cinnamon and maple syrup in a KitchenAid® blender for a chilled, thick and creamy start to your day.
11. PUMPKIN MUFFINS
With a dash of cranberries mixed in, these pumpkin muffins are a tender and fluffy treat with a tart and chewy cranberry contrast. Use a KitchenAid® stand mixer to evenly incorporate ingredients, and consider using the KitchenAid® Sifter + Scale Attachment to accurately measure, sift and automatically add dry ingredients to your stand mixer bowl for consistent results that will please any sweet tooth.
12. BLENDER PUMPKIN PANCAKES
Meet autumn mornings with a breakfast that captures the flavors of the season when you cook up a batch of these blender pumpkin pancakes. Easily prepare thick and smooth homemade pancake batter when you combine flavorful ingredients like brown sugar, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon with pumpkin puree, flour, sugar and other pancake essentials in a KitchenAid® blender.
13. NAKED PUMPKIN CAKE WITH CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM
Hone your baking technique with this three-tiered, decadent dessert that tastes as satisfying as it looks. This cake features all of the fall staples—from ground ginger and cloves to vanilla, pumpkin, brown sugar and cinnamon—with a combination of caramel buttercream frosting and caramel sauce dividing its layers. Quickly mix cake batter and create a creamy, smooth frosting using a KitchenAid® stand mixer.
14. MINI VEGAN PUMPKIN-GLAZED DOUGHNUTS
Get creative with dietary preferences and restrictions when you whip up a batch of these vegan bite-sized treats. Use a KitchenAid® blender to purée red kidney beans for a rich and fudgy base, then blend in other vegan-friendly ingredients like coconut sugar, soy milk, cocoa powder and more. Once baked, top each donut with a pumpkin-infused glaze and garnish with flaky sea salt and crushed nuts for a gratifying flavor contrast.
15. PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CREAM PUFFS
Keep guests coming back to the dessert table with these light but rich cream puffs. Find your perfect KitchenAid® stand mixer and use it for this recipe to create a firm and puffy cocoa shell, then use a KitchenAid® food processor to whip heavy cream, sugar, spices and pumpkin purée into a light and airy whipped cream.
16. PUMPKIN RAVIOLI WITH BROWNED BUTTER SAUCE
Invite a burst of fall flavors to the table with this unique stuffed pasta dish. Knead pasta dough to the perfect consistency when you outfit a KitchenAid® stand mixer with the Dough Hook Accessory, then prepare pasta for shaping into ravioli squares with the KitchenAid® Pasta Roller Attachment. Stuff homemade ravioli shells with a creamy filling of ricotta cheese, pumpkin purée, dried sage, nutmeg and more. For large batches, consider using a bowl-lift stand mixer from KitchenAid brand to evenly knead pasta dough.
17. PUMPKIN PIE ICE CREAM
Enhance the sweet treats you love most with this pumpkin pie ice cream recipe. Use a KitchenAid® stand mixer to evenly combine festive flavors like pumpkin purée, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves with basic ice cream ingredients, then use the KitchenAid® Ice Cream Maker Attachment to churn the mixture into a thick and creamy dessert worthy of the season. Top with homemade candied pecans.
18. CREAMY PUMPKIN SOUP
You can never have too many pumpkin soup recipes in your fall lineup. Create this satisfyingly silky dish by combining peppery seasonings and herbs like garlic, onions, turmeric and ground ginger with pumpkin purée, chicken stock and other base ingredients in a KitchenAid® blender until creamy.
19. PUMPKIN MOUSSE WITH MAPLE-GLAZED PECANS
Serve autumn in a glass with this silky and spongy mousse recipe. Indulge in classic fall flavors—including maple, nutmeg, allsplice, pumpkin, cinnamon and more—when you use a KitchenAid® hand mixer to form the stiff peaks of a delicate Swiss meringue, then fold it into a white chocolate and pumpkin mixture. Pipe the mixture into serving glasses and top with maple-glazed pecans for a luxurious treat.
20. TUSCAN BEAN AND PUMPKIN SOUP WITH PARSLEY PESTO
Enjoy this savory, hearty soup for lunch or dinner on a frosty fall day. Use a KitchenAid® 7 Cup Food Processor to create an herby pesto, then clear out the work bowl and use the food processor to chop vegetables like carrots, celery, onion and potatoes to make quick work of preparing ingredients. You can also use the food processor to purée a portion of finished soup, then mix it back in with the full batch to create a thick and creamy base.
SHOP KITCHENAID® STAND MIXERS FOR MAKING PUMPKIN DISHES
KitchenAid® stand mixers can help you whip up doughs and batters with ease or experiment with new cooking techniques using stand mixer attachments. A sturdy base and powerful motor provide the stability you need to combine heavy ingredients, and attachments like the All Metal Grain Mill Attachment allow you to customize the grain texture in your pumpkin-infused bakes. Use this stand mixer comparison chart to find the right configuration, capacity, color and performance features.
CAN I COOK ANY TYPE OF PUMPKIN?
Though you can eat any pumpkin variety, different types of pumpkins come with unique textures and flavors that are more or less suited to cooking. The best pumpkins for cooking are typically labeled as “sugar,” “sweet” or “pie” pumpkins, and are small and round. These pumpkins are sweeter than other varieties with thicker flesh and a smoother texture. Field pumpkins—the kind we often carve— have watery and stringy flesh less conducive to producing flavorful culinary creations.
WHAT CAN I COOK WITH OLD UNCARVED PUMPKINS?
You can roast pie pumpkins (also known as “sugar” or “sweet” pumpkins) and use the flesh in pumpkin-based recipes after it’s been pureéd. Other common types of pumpkin, like field or “carving” pumpkins, may not have flesh ideal for cooking but include seeds that are perfect for roasting. If you have an old pie pumpkin you plan to cook with, be sure that the pumpkin has no deep nicks, bruises or soft spots, as that may indicate rot. You can compost old or decaying pumpkins, or allow local wildlife to consume them.
SHOULD I EAT PUMPKIN SKIN?
Though you can technically eat all the parts of a pumpkin aside from the stem, not all pumpkin skin tastes equally appealing. Smaller pumpkin varieties like onion squash have skin that’s delicate and easier to consume, but larger varieties are often coated in skin that’s tough and difficult to soften.
WHAT FLAVOR GOES WELL WITH PUMPKIN?
Pumpkin is a versatile ingredient that pairs well with both sweet and savory flavors. 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. Pumpkin also works well with the subtle flavors of nuts like almonds, pecans and walnuts, or common base ingredients like oats, rice or pasta.
SHOP KITCHENAID® FOOD PROCESSORS FOR YOUR KITCHEN
Food processors from KitchenAid brand can help streamline ingredient prep to help you create the seasonal soups, salads, entrées and desserts you crave. Quickly purée baked apple or pumpkin to infuse into your favorite fall desserts, or use the dough blade available on select models to knead dough for a savory pumpkin pizza.
