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: Kid's Pumpkin Ideas

5 Kid's Knife Free Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

1. 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.
2. Paint a face or design using poster paint.


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


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


5. 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!)

Try a Pumpkin Decorating Kit.











Pumpkin Aroma
Cut the top off a pumpkin and hollow the seeds and insides out. Using an  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.

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.) Place 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.

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 pumpkin
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, pumpkin, 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 ½ Cups sugar
1 Cup oil
Mix flour, baking powder, cinnamon and 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
¼ Cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 Cups powdered sugar
Blend cream cheese and butter with mixer. Add in 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
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon ginger
¾ 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
1 1/4 Cups flour
3/4 Cup oats
1/2 Cup brown sugar
1/2 Cup pecans, chopped
2/3 Cup butter
4 eggs
4 Cups of fresh cooked pumpkin or 2- 15 ounce cans pumpkin
2 cans sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix in bowl, flour, oats, pecans and brown sugar. Melt butter then mix with oat mixture until crumbly. Press onto bottom of 9x13 baking dish. Bake 15 minutes. While baking, beat eggs, pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, spices and salt until smooth. When crumbly crust is done pour mixture over top. Bake 30-35 minutes. Cut into squares. You can top with whipped topping, if desired.

Traditional Pumpkin Pie
This is the recipe you will usually find on the back of a can of pumpkin. Probably the most used pumpkin pie recipe.
¾ Cup sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon ginger
¼ teaspoon cloves
2 large eggs
1 -15 oz can pumpkin
12 oz. evaporated milk
unbaked 9 inch deep dish pie shell
Mix dry ingredients (first 5) in small bowl and set aside. Beat eggs in large bowl and stir in pumpkin. Then add dry ingredients. Gradually stir in evaporated milk and pour into pie shell. Bake in a 425 degree oven for 15 minutes then reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake 30-40 minutes, until knife inserted near center comes out clean.
**1 ¾ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice can be substituted for the cinnamon, ginger and cloves.

2 weeks of Pumpkin Recipes

Week 1
1. Pumpkin Dip
2. Pumpkin Puff Donuts
3. Dinner in a Pumpkin
4. Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce
5. Pumpkin Chip Cookies
6. Pumpkin Spread
7. Pumpkin Sauce Pizza

Week 2
1. Pumpkin Pancakes
2. Pumpkin Syrup
3. Cream of Squash Soup
4. Pumpkin Pudding
5. Pumpkin Milkshake
6. Pumpkin Truffles
7. Pumpkin Fudge



Pumpkin recipes and Halloween go hand and hand if you'd like to see some Halloween Recipes and Ideas visit here

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