Life
15 Cozy Pumpkin Recipes Because You Can Do Better Than a Starbucks Latte
Pumpkin, you are too good to us. Even after we leave you behind for summer cherries and watermelon, after we reduce you to the most questionable of latte flavors, you always come back, usually bearing pie. We don’t deserve you.
This fall, though, we promise to do better than the Starbucks counter. Pumpkins are the superhero of everything fall, and it’s time to let them do their thing. We’ll start off with the seasonal favorites, from pumpkin bread to cupcakes, and then, we’ll leave no cozy fall food unturned. There will be curried pumpkin, pumpkin salad — and in our wildest hour, we will even whip up the creamiest mac and cheese. Back off, Cinderella. This magical pumpkin is ours.
Image: Half Baked Harvest
Waffles
Perfect, fluffy waffles are the only way to start the pumpkin love fest right. Pastry Affair spices hers up with cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
Image: Pumpkin Waffles
Coffee Cake
This crumbly, pecan-studded loaf from Honestly Yum would be heavenly dunked in your morning coffee.
Image: Honestly Yum
Mauritian Bean Curry
Pumpkin wants to be savory, too. This bean curry ditches the usual cinnamon and nutmeg for thyme and cayenne. Thanks, Wandercrush!
Image: Wandercrush
Mac and Cheese
Pumpkin in your mac? Duh. I Am a Food Blog blends everyone’s favorite gourd into an especially creamy sauce.
Image: I Am a Food Blog
Cookies
Move over, pie. Pumpkin’s for cookies, too. Food Fanatic frosts these bad boys with white chocolate and shredded coconut.
Image: Food Fanatic
Za'atar Salad
Kick things up with za’atar-roasted slivers of pumpkin. Our friends at Tucker show us how to whip up our own spice blend with sumac, cumin, and dried herbs.
Image: Tucker
Pesto Pumpkin Soup
Now this is what we call nose-to-tail — or should we say stem-to-seed? Half Baked Harvest serves up pumpkin soup in a pumpkin bowl, all topped off with pumpkin seeds.
Image: Half Baked Harvest
Pumpkin S'mores Cupcakes
Pumpkin pie and s’mores are pretty much everything we want from fall desserts…and here they are in one pretty cupcake from How Sweet Eats.
Image: How Sweet Eats
Bread Pudding
We know you already have your favorite pumpkin bread recipe down pat. Now, turn it into a spectacular bread pudding, à la Pass the Sushi.
Image: Pass the Sushi
Pumpkin Tots
Yes, pumpkin tots exist. And no, you’re not dreaming. Half Baked Harvest pairs hers with a creamy avocado blue cheese ranch.
Image: Half Baked Harvest
Pumpkin Seed Hummus
Don’t throw away the seeds! Half Baked Harvest turns her leftovers into hummus.
Image: Half Baked Harvest
Brown Butter Cake
Need a show-stopping dessert? Look no further than this three-tiered, cream cheese-filled confection from Adventures in Cooking.
Image: Adventures in Cooking
Pumpkin Pie
Let’s be honest — you were really just waiting for the pie. Here it is, with a latke-inspired twist, courtesy of My Name Is Yeh.
Image: My Name Is Yeh
Vegan Pumpkin Pie
OK, vegans. You can have some pie, too. Our friends at Love and Lemons show us how to whip up mini, vegan-friendly versions.
Image: Love and Lemons
Punch
No fall celebration would be complete without a seasonal bowl of punch. Honestly Yum makes a Halloween-worthy edition, complete with rum and dry ice.
Image: Honestly Yum
