10 pumpkin purée recipes
Put your Halloween leftovers to good use by making a pumpkin or winter squash purée, then use it in delicious seasonal suppers and bakes.
Transform homemade pumpkin purée (or a can of this seasonal ingredient) into a showstopping cake, perfectly spiced pie or batch of fluffy pancakes. This versatile veg is sure to satisfy both sweet and savoury cravings.
Check out even more seasonal soups, pies and pasta dishes with our ultimate pumpkin collection.
Take a look at our leftover pumpkin recipes, pumpkin desserts and pumpkin soups for more ideas on how to put your pumpkin to good use.
What type of pumpkin is best to use for purée?
- Different varieties of pumpkin make different textures and flavours of purée, so while you can use any pumpkin for purée, they'll give different results.
- You can also try using different varieties of winter squash: butternut squash have orange flesh, a very dense texture and a sweet flavour.
- Kabocha (Japanese squash) have yellow flesh, an earthier flavour and turn fudgy once cooked.
- The orange pumpkins you see everywhere at Halloween usually don’t have much flavour and can have watery flesh. To cook pumpkin, steam it over a pan of boiling water or cook in a microwave (see below).
How to make pumpkin purée
Prep 10 mins
Cooking time 20-30 mins
Ingredients 750g pumpkin or butternut squash
1. To steam the pumpkin, peel and seed it, then cut into evenly sized cubes. Put the cubes in a steamer or colander set over a pan of simmering water and cook for 10 mins. Test with the point of a knife and cook for a further 5 mins if not cooked through. Mash and leave to cool.
2. Alternatively, to microwave the pumpkin, cut it in half (there's no need to peel it or cut out the seeds) and sit cut-side up in the microwave. Cook for 20 mins, then check the flesh is soft by poking it with a fork. Keep cooking if you’d like it softer. Scoop the flesh into a bowl, then mash and leave to cool.
What to do with pumpkin purée
1. Pumpkin pancakes with salted pecan butterscotch
Get brunch off to a brilliant start with our fat, fluffy pumpkin pancakes with salted pecan butterscotch sauce. The thick batter creates luxurious pancakes perfect for stacking smothered in our sweet and salty pecan sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For the best possible results, purée your pumpkin the night before and leave in the fridge to chill. Try even more brilliant breakfast dishes with our best ever pancake recipes.
2. Pumpkin muffins
These pumpkin muffins are the perfect Halloween or Bonfire Night treat. Gently spiced with cinnamon, these muffins are light, fluffy and easy to make. Plus, they make a great mid-morning snack.
3. Classic pumpkin pie
Deciding what to make for a crowd-pleasing dessert is as easy as pie. Turn leftover pumpkin into an easy purée and whip up our American-inspired classic pumpkin pie. These hearty wedges of golden goodness are infinitely better than anything shop-bought and all ages will love the mellow flavours. Turn up the volume on this confirmed classic with our best ever pumpkin pie with stem ginger cream.
4. Pumpkin & caramel cake
Who could resist layer upon layer of pumpkin-spiced sponge, dulce de leche and soft cheese frosting? This glorious pumpkin & caramel cake is an instant win that uses clever shortcuts to make a towering treat everyone will want to try. Decorate with pumpkin-laced soft cheese icing and toasted pecans. Bake more stunning autumn cakes using our favourite recipes.
5. Pumpkin pie s'mores
Combine two mouthwatering desserts to create the ultimate Bonfire Night nibble. Squidge pumpkin purée and melty marshmallow between ginger nut biscuits for our pumpkin pie s'mores – they're a gooey masterpiece. Want to try more campfire treats? Check out our 10 super-melty sweet and savoury s'more recipes.
6. Pumpkin spice latte
Drink up all the flavours of the season with our indulgent pumpkin spice latte recipe. This comforting drink is bursting with fragrant spices and a dollop of rich pumpkin purée. Warm up on a chilly autumnal morning with this aromatic treat. Get your mitts wrapped around even more delicious mugfuls with our top 10 warming drinks for your flask. Watch our simple video tutorial and learn how to make a pumpkin spice latte.
7. Pumpkin & pecan strudel
Mix pumpkin purée with ground almonds, seasonal spices and breadcrumbs and wrap in a snug pastry casing in our pumpkin & pecan strudel. This delicious hybrid somewhere between an apple strudel and pumpkin pie is perfect for feeding a crowd on a special occasion – just add maple syrup and custard.
8. Squidgy pumpkin & gingerloaf
Need something sweet to go with your afternoon cuppa? Bake our squidgy pumpkin & ginger loaf with your Halloween leftovers. The sweet pumpkin and warming ginger are a perfect flavour match in this deliciously dense cake. Even confirmed pumpkin haters will be converted.Browse our loaf cake collection for even more easy bakes.
9. Pumpkin cheesecake
Celebrate autumn's bounty with this seasonal baked cheesecake. The moreish, lightly spiced, creamy filling pairs perfectly with a crunchy ginger base. There's a bit of effort involved, but it's well worth it – it makes a stunning centrepiece at a seasonal dinner party.
10. Healthy pumpkin pancakes
Try our healthy pumpkin pancakes for a lighter way to start the day. These filling bites make a wholesome breakfast the whole family will enjoy – their subtle sweetness is hard to resist. Top with a dollop of yogurt and your favourite fresh fruit for a picture-perfect brunch.
Enjoyed these recipes? Try our other awesome autumn dishes...
How to use pumpkin seeds
10 new ways with pumpkin
Our best ever pumpkin soup recipes
What's your favourite pumpkin recipe? Leave a comment below...
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