perfect pumpkin recipes

Perfect Pumpkin Recipes – Gluten-Free, Vegan, and More!

by Anne Middleton, on November 15th, 2018

This time of year, it’s hard to find a place where there isn’t something being sold that features pumpkin flavors. As soon as the leaves begin to fall from the trees, Americans begin to crave the round, orange squash in countless forms. Every restaurant, coffee house, and fast-food joint seems to offer special pumpkin recipes. 

 

Annually, an estimated two billion pounds of pumpkins are harvested in the United States.  Although many locations grow this squash, the largest agricultural producing state of this popular winter treat is Illinois, producing up to five times as many pumpkin acres as any of the other top states.

 

Let’s Eat!

 

Pumpkins can be made into dishes that are sweet or savory. They can be baked in a muffin or blended into a soup. This Autumn delight seriously does it all.

 

If you, your family, and your friends are fond of this fall food, give these recipes a try.  There is something for everyone, regardless if they are vegan, gluten-free, or just plain hungry!

 

More Than a Basic Bread

 

No pumpkin recipe guide would be complete without a link to pumpkin bread. Pumpkin Bread is perfect at breakfast or for a snack any time of day.

 

Make the traditional family favorite that includes the customary cinnamon spice. But then step out of the box and create a loaf or two with a flavor twist.

 

A melt-in-your-mouth option is Pumpkin Banana Bread that is sweet, but not overly so. Both the pumpkin and the banana are excellent for keeping baked goods moist. Use canned pumpkin in this recipe as a supermarket time saver. The directions allow you to bake several mini-loafs for gift giving.

 

If pumpkin bread is to be served as a dessert, the addition of melted semisweet chocolate will make it irresistible. Chocolate Swirl Pumpkin Bread will become your new favorite fall dessert. Not only is the sugary taste of this combination hard to put down, but the chocolate-swirl also makes a festive presentation.

 

Many gluten free breads are dry, hard, and quite simply unappealing.  But not this moist and flavorful recipe! It requires only ten minutes of prep time and yields a spongy, divine loaf with the ideal texture.  Those who try this gluten-free pumpkin recipe will be happily surprised at its mouth-watering taste.


Sensational Pumpkin Soup

 

Soup is a wonderful comfort food, especially when it's chilly outside. Warm the tummy of your friends and family with a perfectly creamy pumpkin soup. This fresh pumpkin recipe takes a little more time to prepare, but the final taste is more than gratifying.

 

Switch it up a little make it a pumpkin bisque with smoked gouda cheese. The gouda will add an unexpected flavor of smokiness that just tastes just like the Fall season should taste. Serving your potion in a pumpkin tureen will make the occasion more joyful.

 

Soup for All Vegans

 

And if your circle of family includes gluten-free and vegan followers, there is no need to fret.  They can enjoy a full-bodied and filling pumpkin soup, too! Try this simple vegan pumpkin recipe  and garnish it with some of the pumpkin seeds for a special looking dish.

 

Whichever recipe you choose, make enough for leftovers.  You will appreciate having extra servings at the ready as the chaos of the holiday season gets underway. 

 

Pre-Meal Treats

 

Don’t overlook the popular orange squash for appetizers!

 

Savory pumpkin hummus is sure to be a healthy hit. Make it for your own holiday gathering or take it with you when you’re required to bring an hors-d’oeuvre for a potluck.

 

• Transform the common layered dip by including pumpkin and experience unexpected flavors. This savory pumpkin recipe does not require any cooking time!

 

• If you want to impress your guests, surprise them with pumpkin empanadas. Purchasing ready-made dough will save you time without losing any flavor.

 

• Basic roasted pumpkin seeds are a great alternative to a bowl of nuts or pretzels this time of year. The seeds can be seasoned with anything from salt to taco mix to please any pallet. Not only are the delicious to munch on, as an added bonus, they are also packed full of valuable nutrients and have numerous health benefits.

 

Perfect Pumpkin Pancakes (Vegan, Too!)

 

If your family has embraced the tradition of a Sunday morning pancake breakfast, this is the time of year to focus on pumpkin pancakes. Richly satisfying, a freshly cooked pancake starts off any morning with a smile.

 

This savory pumpkin recipe is ideal for vegan pancake lovers and includes a hint of cinnamon. Top off these fluffy delicacies with agave for an extra taste of sweetness. Let the kids join in and mix the ingredients with a holiday themed spatula for added giggles.

 

Just remember, patience is key to achieve perfectly thick and light pancakes. Cook them over low to medium heat and allow the edges of the pancakes to brown lightly before flipping.

 

Turning the pancake is an art in itself.  Use a spatula that slides under the pancakes with ease and won’t damage your nonstick cooking surface.

 

(Stock up on everything you might need to make your best pumpkin concoction with a Sur la Table coupon code!)

 

Satisfying Cookies

 

Baking pumpkin cookies at home will make your house smell like a fabulous Fall day. There are literally hundreds of pumpkin recipes for all types of cookies.  Many are soft, some are iced, others add ingredients like nuts and chocolate.

 

The trick is to find a version that is simple and quick so it is a joy (not a chore) to cook. Single bowl recipes with minimal prep time are usually the best.

 

But if you dare, kick it up a notch.  For example, most people already love snickerdoodles, the popular treat with a distinctive crackling and cinnamon-sugar topping.  With a bit of modification, pumpkin snickerdoodles become light treats, ideal for the season. Cinnamon, sugar, allspice, and vanilla bean ingredients make it a party in every bite!

 

A Favorite Fall Food

 

Clearly, there is no end to the ways we can use pumpkin for every meal. Many would say that we are a nation that is now obsessed with pumpkin the as the seasons change.

 

Quite simply, these dishes offer a warm, fuzzy feeling during the fall, which is a key reason pumpkin recipes have become an inspiration to cooks all over the country.