11 Delicious Things You Can Make from a Pumpkin

Canned is cool, but cooking with actual pumpkins, from scratch, is better. Maybe you went pumpkin picking and ended up with a few too many. Or you carved some pretty amazing jack-o’-lanterns and now you have a pile of pumpkin innards on your table. Fear not: Here are 11 ideas to turn fall’s iconic porch decoration into something delicious. Most of these recipes start with a base of pumpkin purée (see number 1 below) that is simple to make and keeps for months in the freezer.

1. PUMPKIN PURÉE

Follow Pioneer Woman's easy instructions and pumpkin purée can be on your table in less time than it takes to walk to the store to pick up a can. Freeze it in ice trays and you’ll have cubes of homemade pumpkin flavor to add to your recipes for weeks.
Photo: Soups & Roots & Rants

2. PEPITAS!

Save the seeds from jack-o’-lantern carving and spread them out on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 7 minutes, checking frequently to make sure they’re not burning. Take a peek at our guide for interesting flavors to try out.
Photo: Chris Rochelle / CHOW.com

3. SMOOTHIES

Use some of the aforementioned purée (see number 1) to add some great nutrition to a breakfast smoothie, the way Pham Fatale does. Combine pumpkin purée in the blender with ice, spices, and milk (dairy- or nut-based) with a little honey or agave or maple syrup to sweeten.
Photo: Pham Fatale

4. PUMPKIN SEED & NUT BRITTLE

This CHOW recipe is a great way to get some healthy nuts and seeds into dessert.
Photo: Chris Rochelle / CHOW.com

5. PUMPKIN BUTTER

If you think apple butter’s good, wait until you try its pumpkin cousin. This recipe is loaded with seasonally appropriate spices (ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg) and makes an amazing spread for toast.
Photo: Serious Eats

6. PUMPKIN DIP

Served in a hollowed-out pumpkin, this dip looks great as a centerpiece and is a no-fuss no-bake treat you can whip together in minutes. It goes great with any kind of cookie or even apple slices.
Photo: Carolina Charm

7. PUMPKIN BREAD

Banana, zucchini—why not pumpkin bread? For better flavor, use your homemade purée instead of canned in this CHOW recipe.
Photo: Chris Rochelle / CHOW.com

8. ROASTED PUMPKIN

Delicious tossed with olive oil and shallots or even turned into soup. Our CHOW recipe for the latter is a great way to use up the pieces of the jack-o’-lantern you discarded in the name of art.
Photo: Chris Rochelle / CHOW.com

9. PUMPKIN FRIES

Instead of sweet potatoes, make fries from pumpkin! The color is amazing and you can experiment with different seasonings like onion powder, curry, garlic, cayenne, and more.
Photo: Marisolio Tasting Bar

10. PUMPKIN CHIPS

Get rid of the guilt and make pumpkin chips your new go-to afternoon snack. Use a mandolin slicer to make them uniform and you won’t be able to tell the difference between store-bought Terra Chips and your own baked-not-fried alternative!
Photo: Fig and Pepper

11. PUMPKIN PUDDING

Use your homemade purée (see number 1) to make this simple pumpkin pudding. Warm or chilled, this comforting dessert is a homey addition to an autumn dinner party.
Photo: La Fuji Mama

Caitlin M. O'Shaughnessy is a New York City–based food writer and editor at Penguin who has worked on and recipe-tested several cookbooks. She is currently in search of NYC's best ramen, and is one of the few people who admit to disliking brunch.