Pumpkin Recipes We Absolutely Love (2024)

Enjoy the rich taste of pumpkin in pies, cakes, soups, cupcakes, bar cookies, cheesecakes and more.

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Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake Bars

Sure, you've seen this combo before. But not done this well. This recipe doesn't use a whole can of pumpkin, so add leftovers to a smoothie, a pot of chili, hot oatmeal or even hummus.

Our Best Bar Cookies

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Pumpkin-Spice Icebox Cake

Like the chocolate-and-vanilla retro classic, this gingery icebox cake requires some make-ahead assembly—but no baking. And it's absolutely drool-worthy.

Video—How To Make Pumpkin-Spice Icebox Cake

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Pumpkin Cream Cheese Pie

Cream cheese strudel inspired the owner of Just Pies in Westerville, Ohio, to build a pumpkin pie with a surprise cream cheese layer. For the creamiest pumpkin pie, don't overbake.

Perfect Pumpkin Pies

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Pumpkin-Praline Layer Cake

This nutty layer cake is a favorite dessert with Midwest Living readers. Whipped cream topping complements a moist filling of pumpkin, brown sugar, pecans, butter and more whipping cream.

Ultimate Cake Recipes

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Hazelnut Pumpkin Cheesecake

Trot this one out at the holidays and watch those pies quake in their aluminum plates. Gingersnaps in the base and tangy sour cream topping balance the pumpkin-spice sweetness.

Rich and Creamy Cheesecakes

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Maple Pumpkin Pie with Salted Pecan Brittle

The combination of maple and pumpkin flavors make a second slice of this pie hard to resist. Prepare the pecan brittle up to a week ahead, then sprinkle on just before serving.

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Bourbon-Spiked Pumpkin Bread Pudding

Rather than cube the bread, we made sandwiches, layering cinnamon-raisin swirl bread with a creamy pumpkin filling. Serve with a generous drizzle of boozy cheaters' caramel sauce.

Decadent Bread Pudding Recipes

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Pumpkin Bread with a Chocolate-Pepita Swirl

With its ripple of chocolate, cinnamon and toasted pumpkin seeds (and browned butter in the batter!), this pumpkin bread is an indulgent afternoon treat.

20 Sweet Quick Bread Loaves

Marbled Chocolate-Pumpkin Brownies

Swirl a layer of cream cheese and pumpkin into chocolate batter to create these luscious brownies, and sprinkle walnuts on top for extra crunch.

Rich, Moist Brownie Recipes

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Pumpkin-Pecan Tassies

These tiny pies, baked in a muffin tin, showcase the flavors of pumpkin and pecans in a one- or two-bite dessert.

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Chocolate Pumpkin Cake

This utterly unforgettable autumn cake layers moist chocolate-pumpkin cake, luscious milk chocolate ganache and fluffy pumpkin-spice whipped cream. The recipe comes from Minnesota blogger Amanda Rettke (iambaker.net). See a short video about how to make this cake.

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Mommy's Pumpkin Pie

"This recipe is adapted from my mother's classic pumpkin pie," says Linda Hundt, owner of Sweetielicious Bakery Cafe in DeWitt, Michigan. "I added cream to make it a bit richer and orange zest for flavor." The result is a dark mahogany pumpkin pie with ginger-cinnamon-clove spiciness.

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Spiced Pumpkin Bisque

The Inn at Irish Hollow in Galena, Illinois, serves this creamy, curried soup throughout the fall and winter. You can make your own crème fraîche for the garnish, or use purchased crème fraiche or sour cream.

Simmering Soups and Stews

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Pumpkin Spice Whoopies

A spiced marshmallow filling is sandwiched between cakelike pumpkin cookies in this easy-to-make dessert.

Quick and Easy Dessert Recipes

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Pumpkin Fudge

Set this pretty golden fudge on a plate with traditional chocolate fudge and a white fudge for an appealing array of colors. The recipe is from a Cherokee, Iowa, reader and was a winner at the Clay County Fair.

Fabulous Fudge Recipes

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Pumpkin Bread

The innkeepers at Burchell's White Hill Farmhouse Inn in Minden, Nebraska, make this moist spiced bread using homegrown heirloom pumpkins, but this version of their recipe uses canned puree.

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Aint Sug's Punkin' Puddin'

Baked in a casserole dish, this unusual dessert channels the spirit of marshmallow-topped sweet potato, with the added spice of pumpkin pie. This recipe comes from Patty Pinner's cookbook Sweets (Crown Publishing).

Soul Food Desserts

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Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

A spiced filling, made from whipped cream, creates a lighter-tasting version of traditional pumpkin pie. The gingersnap crust adds more kick than classic crusts.

Favorite Holiday Pie Recipes

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Chocolate-Glazed Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake

Cream cheese, pumpkin, dark chocolate, whipping cream ... this pumpkin dessert is pure decadence!

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Pumpkin-Banana Bread

Lisa Johnson of Gardner, Kansas, added banana to pumpkin bread for a new twist on quick bread treats. "This pumpkin bread is a favorite with our family," she says. "It's easy to make, and my two girls enjoy helping me. They especially enjoy it when it's done baking. It makes the house smell wonderful."

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Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars with Chocolate Topping

Cream cheese, oatmeal cookie mix, pumpkin and semisweet chocolate combine for a sensational seasonal treat.

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Paradise Pumpkin Pie

A cheesecake layer and nut topping help this pumpkin pie stand out from its peers. This recipe was a winner at the Morton, Illinois, Pumpkin Festival baking competition.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake with a Caramel Swirl

This dessert comes from a Hayward, Wisconsin, cafe. It's creamy, cool and not overpowered by the pumpkin or the spice.

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Apple Pumpkin Sunflower Bread

We packed a bushel of fall into this homey loaf: pumpkin, apple, nuts and spices.

Recipes for Sweet Quick Bread Loaves

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Apple Butter Pumpkin Pie

The classic pumpkin pie gets even better with the addition of apple butter, which gives extra sweetness and a slightly softer texture to the dessert. A streusel topping adds a bit of crunch.

Favorite Apple Pie Recipes

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Melt-in-Your-Mouth Pumpkin Cookies

These cakelike pumpkin drop cookies are delicious by themselves, but even better topped with a simple brown sugar frosting.

Easy Drop Cookies

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Pumpkin Parsnip Bisque with Hazelnut Toasts

Puree wintry vegetables like potato, leek and parsnip into a velvety soup. Don't skip the crisp, buttery dippers. They're delicious dunked in the soup.

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Toffee-Pumpkin Pie Bars

Love sweet and salty combos? You'll fall for these bars with sweet toffee, toasted pecans and a spiced Ginger Crumb Crust.

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Spiced Pumpkin Dip

Satisfy your sweet-salty afternoon cravings with this nutrient-packed dip, made with canned pumpkin, white beans and maple syrup. It's fab with honey-wheat pretzel twists, and very kid-friendly.

Easy Dip Recipes

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Pumpkin, Chickpea & Red Lentil Stew

This hearty soup boasts a bounty of veggies and seasonings, including pumpkin or squash, fresh ginger, lime juice, cumin and fresh cilantro.

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Pumpkin Cake Roll

Our "twist" on the pumpkin craze. Nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon add even more flavor.

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Pumpkin-Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Pecan Streusel

Pumpkin, cranberries and brown sugar swirl through a tender, moist coffee cake with a golden pecan topper.

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Pumpkin Cream Cheese Sandwich Cake

A cream cheese layer and rich chocolate frosting make this pumpkin cake a crowd-pleaser.

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Pumpkin Chess Pie

The bakers at Wick's Pies in Winchester, Indiana, crossed chess pie with pumpkin pie, adding more eggs, more spices and a little cornmeal to their pumpkin recipe. The result: a pie with a more intense pumpkin and spice flavor, and a slightly thicker filling.

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