What To Do With Pumpkin: Recipe Roundup
You'll be wanting to stockpile pumpkin purée to make these recipes!
Do you get all enthused about pumpkins when visiting farmer markets or preparing for Thanksgiving or Halloween?
Me too.
But I can't let any of it go to waste either. So I prepare pumpkin purée and freeze it in batches to use up all during the year. By the time fall rolls around, I'm ready for more pumpkin and just can't wait to make some of my favorite recipes.
I asked a few friends for their favorites too, so here we have a collection with something to please everyone.
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Pumpkin Panna Cotta Pumpkin does something to add a fleeting, exotic, je ne saie quoi flavour to this deceptively easy dessert. Pumpkin Panna Cotta. (uses one 398 mL can of purée, roughly 1-3/4 cup) |
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Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins This is a go-to, moist pumpkin oatmeal muffin recipe. Great for breakfast or snack. (uses one 398 mL can of purée) |
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Pumpkin Spice Waffles If you want to give your usual waffle recipe a break, this recipe for Pumpkin Spice Waffles makes for a nice seasonal switch. (uses 3/4 cup or 180 mL) |
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Pumpkin Brûlée Equally welcome at the breakfast table or as a party dessert, take a look at all the topping ideas for this tasty Pumpkin Brûlée (uses 1/2 cup or 125 mL of purée) |
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Pumpkin Halwa This fragrant Indian sweet is often made for special occasions, but don’t let that hold you back from making Pumpkin Halwa (uses 2 cups or 500 mL of purée) |
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Pumpkin Pie Why only make pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving when it can be as easy as Crustless Pumpkin Pie? (uses one 398 mL can) |
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Pumpkin Granola Bars Sure to be a lunchbox favourite, these Pumpkin Granola Bars capture the best of fall in the ingredients: hazelnuts, cranberries and pumpkin! (uses 2/3 cup or 180 mL of purée) |
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Maria’s Pumpkin Cheesecake Utterly delicious and decadent, but easy to make, is Maria’s Pumpkin Cheesecake. Be sure to save some purée for this special dessert. (uses one 398 mL can of purée) |
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Pumpkin Spice Latte Make your latte as you usually do, but add in 1 Tbsp (15 mL) of pumpkin purée and 1/4 tsp (1 mL) pumpkin spice mix (see below) per cup of milk. Sweeten as you wish. If you love Pumpkin Spice Latte, when you set aside your pumpkin purée in the fall, be sure to portion some into an ice cube tray or tiny storage containers to make little portions handy for your latte. (uses 1 Tbsp or 15 mL) |
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Pumpkin Seeds Finally, don’t let those seeds go to waste either! Just spread them on a cookie sheet and bake them for a crunchy pumpkin seed snack. Toss them with salt, or try seasoning salt or a combo of paprika, salt and pepper. For extra delicious flavour, try sautéeing the seeds in a pan with butter instead of baking them in the oven, then sprinkling on your favourite seasonings. |
Handy Tips
Many recipes call for canned pumpkin purée, where a can measures in at 398 mL. If you are using your own purée, this amounts to about 1-3/4 cup. Don't confuse canned pumpkin purée with pumpkin pie filling. The latter is sweetened.
Here's another handy tip: If you don't have pumpkin pie spice on hand, simply substitute it with ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg and ground cloves in a 4:1:1 proportion. For example, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves will yield 1-1/2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice. If you use this combo often, premix a batch and store it in a small jar.