Pumpkin Recipes and Ideas

Whether it is for pumpkin recipes, jack o lanterns or decoration, pumpkins are a memorable part of autumn time. They are not only great for carving and lighting a candle you can do some amazing holiday ideas with pumpkins. Here are some of our favorite pumpkin recipes and pumpkin ideas for kids.

Pumpkin recipes for kids cooking activities

Pumpkin Recipes: Kids Pumpkin Ideas

5 Kids Knife Free Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

Use markers to decorate. Permanent markers are best so if you are using them make sure kids only mark the pumpkin and wear aprons to protect clothes.
Paint a face or design using poster paint.

Glue felt pieces the kids cut out, pompoms, or use yarn for hair.

Buy face stickers with eyes, nose, mouth, etc.

Try decorating a face with real candy or food to create a face. Try marshmallow eyes stuck in with a toothpick and a gum drop nose.

If they just really want the cut out version, have the kids draw with a black marker the face they want and have dad cut the face out (the best he can!)

Pumpkin Decorating Kit

Pumpkin Aroma
Cut the top off a pumpkin and hollow the seeds and insides out. Using a apple corer make holes all over the pumpkin or other design. On the underside of the lid, press in ginger, cinnamon, cloves or use pumpkin pie spice. Light a candle in the pumpkin and enjoy the pumpkin aroma that will fill your house.

Lighted Pumpkin walkway
Using the pumpkin aroma idea above, hollow out and put holes in 3-4 pumpkins. You can use the spices if desired or leave out. Place the pumpkins along the pathway or driveway at night and enjoy the illuminated pumpkin path.

picture of fall centerpiece with leaves, pumpkins, squash, and fruit.

picture of fall centerpiece with leaves, pumpkins, squash, and fruit.

Pumpkin Centerpiece
Choose a few mini pumpkins and then take the kids on a nature walk to finish this centerpiece idea. While you are out for a nature walk collect acorns, pine cones, fall leaves or other items you'd like that remind you of autumn time. Take these home and arrange a centerpiece with your mini pumpkins and collections.

Pumpkin Punch Bowl
Have an adult cut the top off a pumpkin and kids can take out the insides and seeds (save the seeds for roasting). Clean out the pumpkin with water and pat dry. Use the hollowed out pumpkin for a punch bowl and serve the apple cider recipe found here. This is a great way to serve this favorite autumn time drink.

Pumpkin Recipes: Cooking with Pumpkins

How to Cook a Pumpkin
Cut pumpkin in half and hollow out the seeds and stringy parts with your hands or spoon. Save the seeds if you like for roasting. (We have a recipe below.) Bake on cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. Pierce with a fork to see if it is tender. When it cools off, scrape out the pulp and use it for breads, pies, desserts, or other pumpkin recipes below. Cooked pumpkin also freezes well if you have some leftover.

Did you know pumpkins are winter squash? Read about winter squash food facts.

Pumpkin Soup
onion diced
1 garlic cloves, minced
6 cups chicken broth
2 cups cooked fresh pumpkin or one small can pumpkin
1 teaspoon salt or to taste
Dash black pepper
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/2 cup coconut milk, canned
Saute onion and garlic in 1 tablespoon olive oil. In mixing bowl or blender add pumpkin, broth, onion and garlic, salt, pepper, sugar, ginger and milk. Puree in blender or mix until smooth. Place in saucepan and simmer on the stove until heated. Serve in a hollowed out, clean pumpkin shell.

pumpkin recipes with kids cooking activities washing pumpkin seeds

pumpkin recipes with kids cooking activities washing pumpkin seeds

Flavor Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Fresh Pumpkin seeds out of hollowed out pumpkin
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
Clean pumpkin seeds with water and pat dry. Let dry overnight. Mix ingredients together and toss pumpkin seeds to coat evenly. Place on a cookie sheet in an even layer and bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour or until seeds are browned. Stir once or twice during cooking time.

Pumpkin Recipes: Find a recipe for Coconut Pumpkin Bread.

Pumpkin Recipe Pancakes
2 1/2 cups pancake mix
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 12-ounce can evaporated milk
1/2 cup pumpkins
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 eggs
raisins or chocolate chips for decorating the face
Mix first pancake mix, brown sugar and cinnamon in bowl. Add in milk, pumpkins, vegetable oil, vanilla and eggs and blend together until smooth. Fry on griddle or skillet. Then have kids decorate with raisins or chocolate chips to make a jack o lantern face.

Pumpkin Bars
2 Cups flour
2 teaspoon Baking powder
2 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Baking soda
4 eggs
16 oz. Pumpkin
1 � Cup sugar
1 Cup oil
Mix flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda in mixing bowl and stir together. Beat in eggs, pumpkin, sugar, oil and mix together. Spread mixture in ungreased 13x9 pan. Bake for 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees. Allow to cool and frost with cream cheese frosting.
Cream cheese Frosting:
3 oz. Cream cheese
� Cup butter
1 teaspoon Vanilla
2 Cup powdered sugar
Blend cream cheese and butter with mixer. Add in butter, vanilla and powdered sugar.

Try some of our Healthy Halloween recipes with pumpkin.

Pumpkin Recipes: Pumpkin Pie Recipes

Easy Pumpkin Pie
The traditional pumpkin pie is always great but here is a simple recipe for the kids to enjoy making.
9 inch unbaked pie shell
2 cups pumpkin or 1 15 oz. can
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 egg
� teaspoon Salt
� teaspoon Nutmeg
� teaspoon Ginger
� teaspoon Cinnamon
In large bowl, blend all ingredients together except pie shell. Pour mixture into pie shell and bake at 375 for 50-55 minutes. Chill 1 hour.

pumpkin pie squares for kids cooking with pumpkin recipes