45 Pumpkin Recipes We Absolutely Love

By By the editors of MidwestLiving.com
Enjoy the rich taste of pumpkin in pies, cakes, soups, cupcakes, bar cookies, cheesecakes and more.
Start Slideshow

1 of 44

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.Pumpkin-Spice Icebox Cake

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 44

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.Maple Pumpkin Pie with Salted Pecan Brittle

3 of 44

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.Pumpkin Cream Cheese Pie 

Advertisement

4 of 44

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.Pumpkin-Praline Layer Cake

5 of 44

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.Bourbon-Spiked Pumpkin Bread Pudding

6 of 44

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.Marbled Chocolate-Pumpkin Brownies

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 44

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.Pumpkin Bread

8 of 44

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.Pumpkin-Pecan Tassies

9 of 44

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).Chocolate Pumpkin Cake recipeSee a short video about how to make this cake

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 44

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.Mommy's Pumpkin Pie

11 of 44

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.Spiced Pumpkin Bisque

12 of 44

Pumpkin Spice Whoopies

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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 44

Chocolate-Glazed Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake

Cream cheese, pumpkin, dark chocolate, whipping cream ... this fall pumpkin dessert is pure decadence!Chocolate-Glazed Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake

14 of 44

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.Pumpkin, Chickpea & Red Lentil Stew

15 of 44

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.Pumpkin Fudge

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 44

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.Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

17 of 44

Sour Cream Pumpkin Bars

Browned Butter Frosting tops moist Sour Cream Pumpkin Bars, a favorite fall recipe.Sour Cream Pumpkin Bars

18 of 44

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars with Chocolate Topping

Cream cheese, oatmeal cookie mix, pumpkin and semisweet chocolate combine for a sensational seasonal treat. Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars with Chocolate Topping

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 44

Double-Flavored Muffins

Pumpkin and chocolate blend beautifully in these spiced muffins from Thorp House Inn of Fish Creek, Wisconsin. Cinnamon, mace, nutmeg and cloves flavor the batter.Double-Flavored Muffins

20 of 44

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.Paradise Pumpkin Pie

21 of 44

Pumpkin Cheesecake with a Caramel Swirl

This fall dessert comes from Mooselips Java Joint in Seeley, Wisconsin. It's creamy, cool and not overpowered by the pumpkin or the spice.Pumpkin Cheesecake with a Caramel Swirl

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 44

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.Apple Butter Pumpkin Pie

23 of 44

Sunflower Pumpkin Muffins

Hailing as they do from the Sunflower State, Kansas cooks have a knack for creatively including crunchy sunflower seed kernels in all sorts of treats. These tender pumpkin morsels are from the American Institute of Baking in Manhattan, Kansas. The muffins get a double dose of sunflower from both sunflower oil and the seeds.Sunflower Pumpkin Muffins

24 of 44

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.Melt-in-Your-Mouth Pumpkin Cookies

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 44

Apple Pumpkin Sunflower Bread

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

26 of 44

Pumpkin Chili

This recipe, submitted by Melanie Madore of Ashland, Missouri, was a finalist in our recipe contest. Unlike many pumpkin chilis, what sets this one apart is using cubed pumpkin (or butternut squash) rather than canned.Pumpkin Chili

27 of 44

Easy Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

You decide how easy you want these to be! We're partial to our homemade Pumpkin Cupcakes with Sweetened Whipped Cream Frosting, but you can substitute purchased plain cupcakes or purchased whipped white frosting to make this recipe even simpler.Easy Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 44

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 (crownpublishing.com).Aint Sug's Punkin' Puddin'

29 of 44

Streusel-Topped Pumpkin Muffins

For Streusel-Topped Pumpkin Muffins, we took the classic pumpkin bread and added dried fruit, lemon zest and spices, along with a sprinkling of a crunchy sugar topping.Streusel-Topped Pumpkin Muffins

30 of 44

Pumpkin Corn Chowder

This thick chowder blends corn, pumpkin and chunks of sweet potato.Pumpkin Corn Chowder

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

31 of 44

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.Pumpkin Chess Pie

32 of 44

Gingered Pumpkin Soup

Maple syrup adds sweetness to Gingered Pumpkin Soup, which makes a creamy side dish or appetizer.Gingered Pumpkin Soup

33 of 44

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."Pumpkin-Banana Bread

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

34 of 44

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.Pumpkin Parsnip Bisque with Hazelnut Toasts

35 of 44

Pumpkin Pie Cake

Sprinkle moist pumpkin filling with a cake mix topping for a quick and easy cake. The recipe is from Farmer's Inn in Havana, North Dakota.Pumpkin Pie Cake

36 of 44

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.Spiced Pumpkin Dip

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

37 of 44

Pumpkin Cake Roll

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

38 of 44

Pumpkin-Chocolate Cheesecake Bars

This make-ahead bar cookie offers an irresistible stack of flavors: sweet graham cracker crust, rich chocolaty cheesecake, spicy pumpkin cheesecake and a topping of sour cream.Pumpkin-Chocolate Cheesecake Bars

39 of 44

Pumpkin-Bourbon Pudding

This baked pudding features pumpkin, raisins and bourbon. Serve it in individual dishes for company or in one casserole for your family.Pumpkin-Bourbon Pudding

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

40 of 44

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Sandwich Cake

A cream cheese layer and rich chocolate frosting make this pumpkin cake a crowd-pleaser. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Sandwich Cake

41 of 44

Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake

The famous St. Louis dessert gets a makeover from Emily Hobbs of Springfield, Missouri. She adds pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice to the moist cake. The recipe was one of the finalists at Midwest Living's first Best of the Midwest cook-off.Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake

42 of 44

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.Pumpkin-Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Pecan Streusel

Advertisement
Advertisement