37 Pumpkin Purée Recipes That Aren’t Just Another Pie
If you’re looking for the best pumpkin pie to bake, you’re in the wrong place. (Head over here!) Still with us? Great! Because we’ve compiled our favorite pumpkin purée recipes here, including fall cakes, perfectly spiced doughnuts, soothing soups, easy quick breads, and creamy pastas. These recipes give you options for using up the dregs of a can of leftover pumpkin purée—as well as ideas for what to do with any additional cans taking up precious cabinet space. But be forewarned, once you start scrolling you might just realize you don’t have enough canned pumpkin purée to make every recipe that catches your eye. Need to stock up? Find our favorite brand right over here.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Pearl Jones1/37Marbled Pumpkin-Maple Cheesecake Bars
Some pumpkin purée recipes aren't that far off from pie—but they might be just the change-up you need for Thanksgiving this year. These creamy cheesecake bars sport a pretty swirl and a lovely pairing of flavors. To make them, you'll just reserve a small amount of maple-sweetened cheesecake batter before whisking in the pumpkin purée, ground ginger, and pumpkin pie spice; then swirl the two together over a graham crust before baking.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton2/37Clarified Pumpkin Spice Latte Milk Punch
No, your eyes are not deceiving you. This fall cocktail has all the flavors of a pumpkin spice latte, but it’s completely transparent. Learn how to make it—and clarify it—and then batch one up for your next gathering.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Stevie Stewart3/37Pumpkin Bread
When you want to bake something that's not a whole big project, quick breads are here for you. This tender and delicious pumpkin bread gets a boost from equally autumnal apple cider.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Jerri Joy, Food Styling by Anna Hampton6/37Pull-Apart Bread With Pumpkin and Spinach
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks7/37Ricotta-Pumpkin Gnocchi with Brown Butter
Don't be intimidated by making gnocchi. Just tie a piece of kitchen string into a tightrope across your pasta pot, then use the string to slice off portions of the tender pumpkin and ricotta dumpling dough so that they fall right into the bubbling pot. Toss the cooked pasta with broccolini, squash, brown butter, and pine nuts to finish—it's the perfect fall dinner party dish.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson8/37Pumpkin Cheesecake With Bourbon–Sour Cream Topping
The caramelized flavor of bourbon and the tang of sour cream add balance to the rich, spiced filling of this cheesecake. This is one of those beloved recipes from Gourmet that Epicurious readers make year after year.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Anna Hampton9/37Pumpkin and Cookie-Butter Sheet Cake With Toasted Meringue
A combo of canned pumpkin and store-bought cookie butter makes this cake a do-not-miss holiday dessert. And just look at that dramatic meringue topping!
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Anna Surbatovich, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson10/37Chocolate and Pumpkin Zebra Cake
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Anna Hampton11/37Curried Pumpkin Soup
Photo by Lisa Hubbard12/37Maple Pumpkin Pots de Crème
We're not saying you need to turn these pumpkin and spice baked custards into a fall-forward crème brûlée, but if you want directions for topping them with caramelized sugar, here you go.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Laura Rege14/37White Chocolate Pumpkin Mousse
White chocolate adds both sweetness and luxurious texture to this mousse. It works on its own as a gluten-free dessert, or can be presented as a play on pie filling in this make-your-own, mix-and-match treat. The prep time? Just 30 minutes.
