Creative Ways to Cook with Pumpkin

Want to become the hero of your next gathering (or your office, book club, kids’ school, or any place you’re trying to make new friends)? Bring a batch of these delicious, flavorful pumpkin muffins and you’ll be seriously set. They’re hearty enough to eat for breakfast, but decadent enough to enjoy for dessert, and–as we’ve said time and time again–it’s simply impossible to beat that seasonal flavor. Honestly, you might want to make two batches to be safe…

Speaking of breakfast, picture this: it’s a crisp, fall Saturday, you have no plans until the evening, and you want to whip up a breakfast that keeps you full long enough to fuel you through a full read of the newspaper (or a fabulous book). And–you guessed it–we have the perfect breakfast in mind: our fluffy pumpkin pancakes. These are pancakes made perfect; thanks to the addition of canned pumpkin, they’re ultra-dense and rich (and packed with nutrients like beta-carotene and vitamin A) and packed with all of the spices that make fall foods sing.

Yes, we know pumpkin pie is the classic when it comes to holiday meals (and don’t worry–we’ll get to that). But what if we told you there’s an even better, more decadent way to enjoy the autumnal treat? Four words: pumpkin pie spiced cheesecake. Yes, it’s as good as it sounds. Though it takes a while to come together, thanks to the 3 hours (minimum!) of chilling time, it’s easy for even a first-time chef to whip up. It’s the perfect activity for whiling away the extra hours spent indoors.

Like we said: we couldn’t get through an entire roundup of our fave pumpkin-based recipe picks without recommending a classic pie. But wait: ours has a special twist–maple cream–which brings a delicious Canadian twist to the all-time classic.

Bonus pick for your leftover pumpkin: try a smoothie! For days you’re on-the-go, why not try a protein-packed pumpkin smoothie?