Whenever fall comes around, I dream of pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread and all sorts of savory pumpkin recipes. But most importantly, my first task of the season is making homemade pumpkin puree. Of course, you can always buy up cans of pumpkin puree in bulk for your fall baking and cooking needs, but trust me, with fresh pumpkins so abundant this time of the year, it just makes so much more sense to make a huge batch of your own pumpkin puree. It’s way fresher, doesn’t have any preservatives and so much cheaper!
How to Make Pumpkin Puree
If you’ve never made a batch of pumpkin puree before, don’t worry. It’s really as simple as roasting the whole pumpkin in the oven (or cooking it in the microwave), then slicing into it, removing the pumpkin seeds and then mashing the soft flesh into puree with a potato ricer or the back of a fork. For a smoother puree, you can always blend the cooked pumpkin flesh to get the desired consistency and texture (adding a bit of water as required).
How Long Does Pumpkin Puree Last in the Fridge?
Once you’ve got your pumpkin puree made, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for three to five days. Make sure you use homemade pumpkin puree within this period. Commercially canned pumpkin puree will last five to seven days in the fridge once opened.
Best Pumpkin Puree Recipes
Now that we’re stocked up on how to make pumpkin puree, it’s time to put it to good use! Pumpkin puree can be used in pumpkin desserts such as pumpkin blondies, pumpkin coffee cake, pumpkin bars and of course, pumpkin pie. But if can also be used in savory recipes like pumpkin pasta sauce, pumpkin gnocchi, pumpkin bagels, pumpkin risotto and creamy pumpkin soup. Here are 50 of the best pumpkin puree recipes to use up leftover puree—including healthy, gluten-free and vegan dishes too! Get the recipe: Make Your Own Pumpkin Puree Get the recipe: Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip Get the recipe: Pecan Pumpkin Pie Bars Get the recipe: Bourbon Pumpkin Cheesecake Get the recipe: Spiced Pumpkin Rum Cake Get the recipe: Pumpkin Pie Pops Get the recipe: Leftover Pumpkin Pie Spice Bread Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Pumpkin Bread Get the recipe: Pumpkin Cranberry Cornbread Muffins Get the recipe: Spiced Pumpkin Bread Get the recipe: Easy Pumpkin Spice Muffins Get the recipe: Dirty Chai Pumpkin Muffins with Chocolate Ganache Get the recipe: Easiest Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins Get the recipe: Dorie Greenspan’s Skinny Pumpkin Muffins Get the recipe: Creamy Pumpkin Soup Get the recipe: Gluten-Free Pumpkin Scones Get the recipe: Easy Pumpkin Gnocchi (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free) Get the recipe: Super Moist Pumpkin Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free) Get the recipe: Creamy Pumpkin Risotto (Gluten-Free, Vegan) Get the recipe: Homemade Pumpkin Puree Get the recipe: Crustless Pumpkin Pie Get the recipe: Easy Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins Get the recipe: Easy Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread Get the recipe: Soft Chewy Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cookies Get the recipe: Easy Pumpkin Waffles (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free) Get the recipe: Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cheesecake Get the recipe: Moist Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cornbread Get the recipe: Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bagels Get the recipe: Moist Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bars Get the recipe: Pumpkin Pasta Sauce Get the recipe: Pumpkin Crinkle Cookies Get the recipe: Easy Pumpkin Coffee Cake Get the recipe: Cinnamon Spice Pumpkin Hummus Get the recipe: Pumpkin Coconut Cookies Get the recipe: Pumpkin Spice Cream of Wheat Get the recipe: Banana Pumpkin Bread with Streusel Topping Get the recipe: Pumpkin Overnight Oats Get the recipe: Pumpkin Spice Mug Cake Get the recipe: Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Filling Get the recipe: Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Get the recipe: Pumpkin Butter Get the recipe: Vegan Pumpkin Swirl Brownies Get the recipe: Pumpkin Blondies Get the recipe: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars Get the recipe: Pumpkin Spice Cookies Get the recipe: Pumpkin Pie Bites Get the recipe: Baked Pumpkin Donuts Get the recipe: Pumpkin Pancakes Get the recipe: Pumpkin Pie Smoothie Get the recipe: Pumpkin Zucchini Muffins
