18 delicious recipes with pumpkin to enjoy this autumn

These recipes with pumpkin go beyond the usual pumpkin spice. From classic pumpkin bread to savoury soup and more. 

Here in Australia, autumn is officially upon us, and what better time to cook up some pumpkin recipes? 

While pumpkin is typically associated with North American autumns (or fall, as they say), there's no denying the influence our overseas counterparts play in shaping food trends down under. 

In recent years, pumpkin's popularity has skyrocketed in Australia - and for good reason. This versatile veg is equally delicious in a sweet bread as it is in a comforting soup. 

Read on for recipe inspiration, breakfast ideas and even a few tips for using up your leftover pumpkin puree. 

Jump to a Recipe

Jump to:

• Classic Pumpkin Bread Recipe 
• Pumpkin Bread - Once Upon a Chef
• How to Make Pumpkin Puree 
• Creative uses for leftover pumpkin puree
• The Best Pumpkin Overnight Oats
• Pumpkin White Bean Dip
• Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte
• Dreamy Pumpkin Pie Protein Smoothie
• Savoury Pumpkin Recipes 
• Delicious Roasted Pumpkin Pasta - Daen's Kitchen
• Vegetarian Pumpkin Chili - Sally's Baking Addiction
• Pumpkin risotto - Caroline's Cooking
• Easy Creamy Pumpkin Soup
• Pumpkin Desserts (That Aren't Pie) 
• Pumpkin Biscotti - Barley & Sage
• No-Churn Pumpkin Ice Cream - Wholefully
• Pumpkin Tiramisu Recipe (No Eggs) - This Italian Kitchen
• Pumpkin Shortcakes with Cinnamon Apples and Maple Whipped Cream Cheese - Pinch of Yum
• Pumpkin Cheesecake - Preppy Kitchen
• Start Your Day With a Pumpkin Breakfast 
• Best Pumpkin Scones (With Maple Glaze) - Pretty. Simple. Sweet.
• Pumpkin Pancakes - Cookie and Kate
• Pumpkin Maple Pecan Granola - Minimalist Baker
• Spiced Pumpkin Cream Cheese Recipe - Pantry Mama
• Tips for Baking With Pumpkin 

Classic Pumpkin Bread Recipe 

It would be remiss of us not to start with what may be the best pumpkin recipe of all: classic pumpkin bread! 

This recipe from Once Upon a Chef is beloved in our test kitchen, and over 2,700 reviewers agree . . . it's phenomenal. 

While it can be challenging to find canned pumpkin in Australia, we've found that these loaves bake up equally well when made with homemade pumpkin puree (recipe below). Note that we also said loaves. Another winning factor from this recipe is that you bake once, and end up with - not one - TWO delicious loaves of bread. 

Enjoy them both or give one to a friend to sweeten their day.

How to Make Pumpkin Puree 

Our foolproof method for DIY-ing pumpkin puree is super simple. Best of all, this puree works just like the canned stuff, meaning you can expect the same great results in baked goods and savoury meals. 

With frozen pumpkin 

1. Place pumpkin chunks in a microwave-safe bowl.
2. Microwave in 1-minute intervals until the pumpkin has thawed. 
3. Using a food processor or immersion blender, blend pumpkin until smooth. 

With fresh pumpkin

1. Cut pumpkin in half and remove seeds. 
2. Cut away any skin or stem on your pumpkin. 
3. Cut pumpkin into 1-2 cm cubes. 
4. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. 
5. Drop pumpkin cubes into boiling water. 
6. Boil the pumpkin, until it's soft enough for a fork to pierce easily.
7. Strain the soft pumpkin chunks into a colander.
8. Transfer the softened pumpkin cubes to a food processor and blend until smooth. 

Pro-tip: For a thicker puree - similar to the canned stuff - drain your homemade version with a cheesecloth. See 'Tips for Baking With Pumpkin' below for more info. 

Creative uses for leftover pumpkin puree

Made heaps of puree and don't know what to do with the leftovers? Instead of wasting it, you can use it in one of these delicious recipes. 

Savoury Pumpkin Recipes 

Pumpkin's not just for dessert! While pumpkin is technically a fruit, it's often cooked and served as a vegetable - plus, its high fibre content is reason enough to incorporate more pumpkin into your meals. 

Check out some of our favourite main courses starring pumpkin:

Pumpkin Desserts (That Aren't Pie) 

Look, pumpkin pie is great. But there are so many other delicious pumpkin desserts that deserve equal recognition. Because we trust you can find your own pumpkin pie recipe - after all, it's the most common pumpkin dessert - we're recommending pumpkin-filled dessert recipes that can expand your horizon beyond the crust. 

Start Your Day With a Pumpkin Breakfast 

Wake up and smell the pumpkin! These delicious pumpkin breakfasts will give you that warm, cosy feeling as soon as you wake up. Perfect for lazy Sunday mornings. 

Tips for Baking With Pumpkin 

Baking with any fruit ingredient can change the texture, taste and baking time, and pumpkin is no different.

To ensure your pumpkin treats turn out, keep these tips in mind: 

• Butternut is best: Generally, it's best to use butternut pumpkin for baking. If you can find it, sugar pumpkin is also a great option, but it's much less common in Australia. 
• Make up for moisture: Homemade pumpkin puree will be much moister than its canned counterpart. To reach a similar texture, drain your puree in cheesecloth for at least two hours or overnight. If you use a wetter puree, make sure to reduce the amount of wet ingredients elsewhere in the recipe. Because pumpkin adds moistness to a recipe, keep in mind that your baked goods may take a little bit longer to bake when pumpkin puree is added. If your pumpkin treats don't seem done after the expected baking time, continue baking, checking for doneness in 5-minute intervals using the toothpick test to determine when they're fully baked. 
• Avoid overmixing: While you may be tempted to whisk your pumpkin puree into your baked goods, it's generally best to use a gentle fold to incorporate it into your mixture. This will prevent tough cakes, muffins and breads. 

We'd love to hear what you think of these recipes! Let us know in the comments below.

Cover Image: Pretty. Simple. Sweet.