17 easy pumpkin recipes that deserve a permanent place in the binder

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Some pumpkin recipes are worth keeping close because they work just as well for an ordinary morning as they do for a fall get-together. These 17 dishes cover easy breakfasts, cozy desserts, a creamy soup, and a savory salmon bowl for something different. Several use canned pumpkin and familiar pantry staples, while others turn a simple cake mix or ready-made pastry into something special. There are plenty of reasons to bring out the recipe binder long after the first batch of fall baking is finished.

A piece of Pumpkin Patch Brownie Cake. sits on a plate with a fork. More cake is visible in the background on a wooden board.
Pumpkin Patch Brownie Cake. Photo credit: The Bite Stuff.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Recipe

A plate with pumpkin whoopie pies filled with white cream, surrounded by cinnamon sticks, star anise, and a small pumpkin decoration.
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Recipe. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Soft cake-like cookies with a creamy middle make Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Recipe an easy treat to pack for an autumn afternoon. Pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice flavor the cookie layers, while cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar form the filling. The recipe makes twelve sandwich cookies in about 42 minutes. Let the cookies cool fully before adding the filling, then refrigerate any extras so they are ready when someone wants a sweet bite with coffee.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Recipe

Pumpkin Spice Salmon Bowl

Salmon bowl on a black plate.
Pumpkin Spice Salmon Bowl. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

A colorful dinner with savory fish and a sweet-spiced finish gives Pumpkin Spice Salmon Bowl a place beyond the usual fall desserts. Salmon gets a brown sugar, thyme, and pumpkin pie spice rub, then joins cooked quinoa, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and greens. Toasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds add crunch, with a citrus dressing spooned over the top. The card lists four bowls in 25 minutes. Keep the components separate until serving for a fresh, filling lunch or supper.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Salmon Bowl

Pumpkin Dump Cake

A slice of layered pumpkin dessert topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon on a white plate.
Pumpkin Dump Cake. Photo credit: Bake What You Love.

A soft pumpkin layer under a golden, buttery topping makes Pumpkin Dump Cake a convenient dessert for a weekend family meal. Stir pumpkin puree with evaporated milk, eggs, brown sugar, and pumpkin pie spice, then scatter dry yellow cake mix and butter over the filling before baking. The recipe yields twelve servings in about an hour and five minutes. Let the pan settle before cutting, then offer a spoonful of whipped cream alongside each square if you like.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Dump Cake

Crumbl Caramel-Pumpkin Cookies

Crumbl Caramel-Pumpkin Cookies are arranged on a metal tray, accompanied by fall-themed decorations and cinnamon sticks.
Crumbl Caramel-Pumpkin Cookies. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Thick, soft cookies with a swirl of caramel frosting give Crumbl Caramel-Pumpkin Cookies a bakery-style finish without a trip to the shop. Pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice go into the dough, while cream cheese, caramel sauce, and powdered sugar make the topping. The recipe yields twelve cookies in about 32 minutes, plus cooling before frosting. Arrange them on a plate for an afternoon coffee break, or chill the frosted cookies until it is time to serve dessert.
Get the Recipe: Crumbl Caramel-Pumpkin Cookies

Cake Mix Pumpkin Spice Muffins

A white rectangular plate Cake Mix Pumpkin Spice Muffin topped with chocolate chips.
Cake Mix Pumpkin Spice Muffins. Photo credit: Bake What You Love.

A short ingredient list makes Cake Mix Pumpkin Spice Muffins useful on mornings when mixing a full batter from scratch sounds like too much. Yellow cake mix, canned pumpkin puree, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and chocolate chips are all you need for the batter. The recipe makes eighteen muffins in about 30 minutes. Set a few beside the coffee pot for breakfast and freeze the cooled extras so there is a homemade snack ready on another busy day.
Get the Recipe: Cake Mix Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Pumpkin Waffles

A plate with three stacked pumpkin waffles drizzled with syrup, with a glass of orange juice and more waffles in the background.
Pumpkin Waffles. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Crisp edges and a soft, lightly spiced middle make Pumpkin Waffles a welcome change from a plain weekend breakfast. Pumpkin puree, milk, melted butter, flour, and cinnamon mix into a simple batter that cooks in a preheated waffle iron. The current recipe card lists six servings in about 28 minutes. Serve them warm with maple syrup or sliced fruit, then freeze any extra waffles and reheat them in the toaster for another morning.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Waffles

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

A Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins cut in half on a plate reveals a creamy filling, with more muffins in a basket and a bowl of diced fruit in the background.
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

A sweet crumb topping hides a creamy center in Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins, which are substantial enough for a leisurely breakfast or afternoon snack. Pumpkin puree and buttermilk keep the spiced batter tender, while cream cheese and sugar form the filling. A cinnamon streusel adds a little crunch on top. The recipe makes twelve muffins in about 35 minutes. Let them cool slightly before serving so the filling has time to settle inside each muffin.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Pumpkin Chocolate Cake

Pumpkin Chocolate Cake on a white circular plate with gold rim.
Pumpkin Chocolate Cake. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Dark chocolate and a tender pumpkin crumb make Pumpkin Chocolate Cake a good choice when the usual spiced loaf does not seem quite special enough. Pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, semisweet chocolate chunks, and melted butter go into the batter before it bakes in a Bundt pan. The recipe serves ten in about an hour. Let the cake cool before adding its spiced glaze, then cut thick slices for dessert with coffee or tea.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Chocolate Cake

Pumpkin Crunch Cake

A slice of Pumpkin Crunch Cake served on a white plate with a dollop of whipped cream, napkin beside it, and a baking dish in the background.
Pumpkin Crunch Cake. Photo credit: Bake What You Love.

A crisp pecan topping over smooth pumpkin filling gives Pumpkin Crunch Cake two textures in each slice. Pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice form the base, with dry yellow cake mix, chopped pecans, and melted margarine layered above. The recipe makes twelve servings in about an hour and ten minutes. Allow the cake to cool before cutting, then add a spoonful of whipped topping when serving it after dinner or at a fall potluck.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Crunch Cake

Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Canned Pumpkin

A bowl of creamy pumpkin soup with canned pumpkin garnished with a swirl of cream and sprinkled with pumpkin seeds, placed on a white plate beside a spoon.
Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Canned Pumpkin. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

A smooth, savory bowl makes Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Canned Pumpkin an easy way to work pumpkin into lunch instead of another dessert. Canned pumpkin simmers with onion, garlic, broth, heavy cream, nutmeg, and a pinch of cinnamon before being blended. The recipe makes four servings in about 30 minutes without any peeling or roasting. Finish with toasted pumpkin seeds or a little sour cream, and serve with crusty bread for a simple cool-weather meal.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Canned Pumpkin

Pumpkin Blondies

A white rectangular plate with pieces of pumpkin blondies.
Pumpkin Blondies. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Chewy squares dotted with two kinds of chocolate give Pumpkin Blondies a different place in the fall baking tin. Pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice go into the batter with brown sugar, cinnamon, white chocolate chips, and dark chocolate chips. The recipe makes twenty-four squares in about 50 minutes, making it useful when more than a few people want dessert. Cool the pan before slicing and pack the bars in a covered container for sharing the next day.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Blondies

Pumpkin Spice Scones with Vanilla Glaze

Pumpkin Spice Scones with Vanilla Glaze are arranged on a light surface, surrounded by cinnamon sticks and star anise.
Pumpkin Spice Scones with Vanilla Glaze. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Flaky wedges under a pale glaze make Pumpkin Spice Scones with Vanilla Glaze a pleasant companion to a morning cup of coffee. Cold butter, pumpkin puree, cream, and pumpkin pie spice go into the dough, which is cut into twelve wedges before baking. The recipe also calls for chilling the shaped scones before they reach the oven. Drizzle on the vanilla glaze after they cool a little, and serve them while the edges still have some crunch.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Scones with Vanilla Glaze

Grandma’s Pumpkin Bread with Streusel

A loaf of pumpkin bread with streusel sits on a wooden cutting board; one slice is cut, and a knife rests on top.
Grandma’s Pumpkin Bread with Streusel. Photo credit: Retro Recipe Book.

A golden loaf with a crumbly top makes Grandma’s Pumpkin Bread with Streusel worth writing down for slow fall mornings. Canned pumpkin puree, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves flavor the bread, while brown sugar, butter, flour, and cinnamon make the streusel. A honey glaze finishes the cooled loaf. The recipe serves eight in about an hour and fifteen minutes. Cut generous slices for breakfast with coffee, or wrap individual pieces for an afternoon treat later in the week.
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Pumpkin Bread with Streusel

Pumpkin Brownies

A square piece of pumpkin brownies sprinkled with chocolate chips, placed on a white plate.
Pumpkin Brownies. Photo credit: Bake What You Love.

Deep chocolate flavor with a hint of fall spice makes Pumpkin Brownies a good option when a pan of plain brownies sounds too familiar. Melted chocolate, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice create rich squares, with chocolate chips added on top if you want more chocolate. The recipe yields sixteen servings in about an hour. Let the pan cool before cutting into neat pieces, then set them out with milk or coffee after dinner.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Brownies

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

Six square pumpkin cheesecake bars are arranged on a wooden tray, displaying marbled orange and white patterns on top.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars. Photo credit: Bake What You Love.

Swirls of pale cheesecake and spiced pumpkin make Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars an appealing dessert to prepare before guests arrive. A graham cracker, butter, and brown sugar crust supports a cream cheese filling mixed with eggs, sour cream, and pumpkin puree. The recipe makes nine squares and needs about five hours, including at least four hours of chilling. Make the bars earlier in the day or the night before, then slice and serve cold with a little whipped cream.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

Tasty Pumpkin Turnovers

A plate of Pumpkin Turnovers arranged in a stack, with autumn-themed decorations and a small bowl of orange spread nearby.
Tasty Pumpkin Turnovers. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Flaky pastry triangles with a softly spiced center make Tasty Pumpkin Turnovers a simple treat to bring to the breakfast table. Thawed puff pastry holds a filling of pumpkin puree, brown sugar, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice, while cinnamon sugar goes over the egg-washed tops. The recipe makes twelve pastries in about 30 minutes once the pastry is thawed. Let them cool a little before serving so the filling stays tucked inside each crisp triangle.
Get the Recipe: Tasty Pumpkin Turnovers

Pumpkin Patch Brownie Cake

A piece of Pumpkin Patch Brownie Cake. sits on a plate with a fork. More cake is visible in the background on a wooden board.
Pumpkin Patch Brownie Cake. Photo credit: The Bite Stuff.

Little orange strawberry pumpkins make Pumpkin Patch Brownie Cake a playful dessert for a fall party, even though the cake itself is chocolate rather than pumpkin-flavored. Butter, cocoa powder, eggs, and flour form the brownie base, with dark chocolate and cream used for the topping. Strawberries dipped in orange candy melts become the small pumpkin decorations. Cut the finished cake into squares and serve it as a festive chocolate treat beside the pumpkin-spiced desserts on the table.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Patch Brownie Cake

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