Pumpkin Recipes We Absolutely Love (2024)

FAQs

What flavor pairs best with pumpkin? ›

To complement pumpkin with sweet flavor pairings, consider using spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and vanilla, or sweet ingredients like chocolate, maple, honey, cranberries or brown sugar. Create savory dishes by pairing pumpkin with spices like chilies, cajun, cayenne or pepper.

Although they both come in cans and the packaging looks almost identical, they can't be used interchangeably. Pumpkin puree doesn't have anything added to it, but pumpkin pie filling comes with pumpkin spice and sugar already mixed in.

Canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree are the same thing, and you'll often see the terms used interchangeably in recipes and cookbooks. Unlike pumpkin pie mix, canned pumpkin does not have any spices, sugars, or other additives. In many cases, the only ingredient is pumpkin.

Before baking or cooking, mix the pumpkin with any spices or flavorings called for in the recipe. For example, if you're making a simple pumpkin pie, mix the filling ingredients and let it sit in the fridge for an hour or so before filling the pie shell and baking. This works for savory recipes, too.

Pumpkin pie filling shouldn't be used in place of pumpkin puree since the finished dish will be too sweet. You can always set the can aside to make a quick pumpkin pie another day.

Due to its high soluble fiber content, pumpkin is very good for your dog's digestion. If you feed your dog some pumpkin, it will add bulk to their stool. This helps reduce issues with diarrhea. In addition, fermentation of the same fiber produces beneficial fatty acids that supply energy to cells.

Canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree are the same thing. These terms are often used interchangeably in recipes, though you may also see the term solid-pack pumpkin. All these terms mean 100% steamed and pureed pumpkin—no extras, no add-ins—not even in the canned variety.

Libby's, the quintessential canned pumpkin brand, uses a proprietary strain of the Dickinson pumpkin variety in their product, which is also often called a Dickinson squash. On Libby's website, it states that their product is 100 percent pumpkin.

Pumpkin Puree Taste Comparison:

Fresh: Squashy/pumpkiny, subtle almost herbaceous flavor. Regular Canned: Deep, slightly intense unique flavor. Organic Canned: More similar to the fresh stuff than the regular canned, but with more flavor than homemade.

What is the healthiest way to eat pumpkin? ›

Pureed, baked or roasted pumpkin is a nutrient-dense food that is low in calories and fat while being high in fiber, helping you feel full for longer.

Cook it on the stove

This trick works because adding heat to the purée releases the natural pumpkin flavor, elevating it from barely there to wow. Strangely enough, heating canned pumpkins can also help tamp down the metallic taste that often robs canned vegetables of their greatness.

Cucurbits can contain cucurbitacin, a toxic compound that gives off a bitter taste. The bitterness is bred out of domesticated cucurbits. But sometimes insects moving from one field to another cross-pollinate a cultivated plant with a wild or ornamental one.

Mandarin oranges have a distinct flavor profile that make them easy to use in many different recipes. But one pairing you might not have considered is the pumpkin. You can taste for yourself with our Foodpairing-inspired dessert creation: Pumpkin Ice Cream with Mandarin oranges and Chocolate mousse.

Pumpkin Pie

The hallmark of the holiday dessert table. To make your pumpkin pie taste shiny and bright, pair it with an Oloroso Sherry. Sweet and nutty, this fortified Spanish dessert wine will enhance the addictive autumn flavor of your pumpkin pie. Another great pairing for pumpkin pie is Tawny Port.

Pumpkin Vanilla Scent

Both notes complement each other perfectly. Vanilla carries the proverbial mouth-watering aroma while pumpkin adds a hint of freshness and spiciness. This is the reason why many skincare products like lotions and shower gels come in the pumpkin vanilla fragrance.

Sweet Treats to Enjoy with Your PSL

Here are a few of our bakery-style favorites: The Best Blueberry Muffins: Bursting with juicy berries and a crackly sugar top. My Favorite Coffee Cake: A classic with irresistible cinnamon-sugar streusel. Perfect Banana Bread: Moist, flavorful, and always a crowd-pleaser.