Pumpkins are much more than just jack-o'-lanterns. This vibrant autumnal veg can be eaten in a variety of sweet and savoury dishes, adding colour and texture to meals for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Bonfire Night. Once you've carved your spookiest face, why not put the leftovers to good use in comforting dinners, easy bakes, classic desserts and drinks?

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Check out our best-ever pumpkin ideas below, then get more inspiration from our collection of pumpkin recipes.

1. Pumpkin pie

Pumpkin pie with slice taken out

This classic Thanksgiving dessert is well-deserving of a place in our top 20. With a sweet pastry and warming spiced filling, this simple recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Alternatively, try our vegan pumpkin pie for a luxurious dairy-free treat.

Try more of our pumpkin pie recipes.

2. Pumpkin curry with chickpeas

Pumpkin and chickpea curry

Warm up on autumn nights with a fragrant pumpkin and chickpea curry. This vegan dish is low in calories but super-satisfying, with flavours of Thai yellow curry paste, lemongrass and creamy coconut milk. Serve it as a main or flavourful side.

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We've got plenty more vegan pumpkin recipes.

3. Halloween pumpkin cake

Pumpkin cake with frosting, cut into squares

Put pumpkin leftovers to great use in a moist and moreish Halloween traybake. Like carrot cake, it combines grated squash with subtle spices and citrus, topped with a fluffy soft cheese frosting. It's sure to become a family favourite.

Check out our impressive pumpkin and caramel layer cake.

4. Pumpkin soup

Bowl of pumpkin soup topped with croutons and pumpkin seeds

One of our most popular pumpkin recipes, this silky soup makes a sensational starter or comforting dinner. Serve with a scattering of crunchy croutons and pumpkin seeds.

Looking for a touch of heat? Try our spicy pumpkin soup instead, flavoured with warming garam masala, cumin and a touch of chilli. Or, try our healthy vegan pumpkin soup for a lighter, dairy-free alternative.

Discover more of the best-ever pumpkin soup recipes.

5. Stuffed pumpkin

A plate of pumpkin with pomegranates, wild rice and sauce

Need a vegan centrepiece to impress? Bake a pumpkin with a gorgeous stuffing of rice, fennel, apple, pomegranate seeds and pecans. Finish with a zingy tahini dressing for the perfect plant-based dinner party dish.

Make the most of your leftover pumpkin seeds by roasting them in tamari, maple syrup and chilli flakes for a savoury snack. Or, check out more ideas for how to roast pumpkin seeds.

6. Pumpkin pie s'mores

A pile of S'mores filled with pumpkin puree and cream

We've combined two classic American sweets to bring you the ultimate Bonfire Night snack. Sandwich a melty marshmallow and pumpkin purée filling between ginger biscuits to create an oozing stack of s’mores. Use our recipe for homemade pumpkin purée, or if you’re short of time, try shop-bought canned purée.

We've got lots more sweet and savoury s'mores recipes to try.

7. Pumpkin hummus

Open pumpkin filled with hummus and peppers

Decorate your Halloween table with this colourful party centrepiece. Hollow out a pumpkin, then roast the flesh and blend it with lemon juice, tahini and chickpeas to make a creamy hummus. Add it back to the pumpkin and serve with peppers, breadsticks and pitta chips for a healthy vegan buffet treat.

Take a look at our healthy Halloween recipes.

8. Roast pumpkin & spinach lasagne

Roast pumpkin and spinach lasagne in a baking dish

Bake a comforting veggie lasagne and freeze portions for busy nights. It features alternating layers of roasted pumpkin with cherry tomato sauce, nutmeg-spiced spinach and creamy béchamel. It's well worth the effort for the irresistible combination of sweet, earthy flavours and crisp parmesan topping.

9. Pumpkin spice scones

Plate of halved pumpkin spice scones topped with butter

These lightly spiced scones make a great autumnal afternoon tea treat or Halloween party snack. Serve them warm and generously slathered in butter or soft cheese. Kids can get involved with baking them, too.

10. Pumpkin risotto

Bowl of pumpkin risotto

This hearty dinner is great for teaching older kids how to cook. Follow our step-by-step instructions for preparing and roasting the squash, then making the risotto. You'll have a budding chef in no time!

11. Pumpkin spice latte

Glass of pumpkin spice latte with ingredients pots

The pumpkin spice latte has become an autumnal café favourite, but it's not hard to recreate at home. Just combine smooth pumpkin purée, espresso coffee, fragrant spices and frothy steamed milk.

Warm up with more of our autumn drinks recipes.

12. Prawn, pumpkin & coconut stew

Prawn, spinach and pumpkin stew in a cooking pot

It doesn't get more comforting than this aromatic one-pot. The prawns balance well with a creamy coconut sauce and the mild-flavoured pumpkin. Add a touch of heat with red chillies and serve with rice for a simple, impressive dinner.

13. Pumpkin cupcakes

Four pumpkin cupcakes with frosting and pecan nut topping

These pretty cinnamon-spiced cupcakes are not to be ignored. Similar to carrot cake, you grate the pumpkin to make a moist sponge, dotted with juicy sultanas. If the grated pumpkin flesh is quite wet, give it a good squeeze before using. Finish with a simple soft cheese frosting and chopped pecans.

14. Baked pumpkin fondue

Pumpkin filled with cheese fondue

Calling all cheese lovers! This gorgeously gooey showstopper is perfect for Bonfire Night or Halloween celebrations. Fill a whole roast pumpkin with a creamy three-cheese fondue, then serve with crusty bread and potatoes for everyone to dunk in.

15. Pumpkin cheesecake

Pumpkin cheesecake on a stand, topped with whipped cream

Looking for a dessert with the wow-factor? This stunning pumpkin cheesecake pulls out all the stops and is well worth the effort. The luxuriously creamy spiced filling sits on a bed of crunchy ginger biscuits and is topped with fluffy peaks of whipped cream and oozing caramel sauce. It's sure to convert even the most ardent pumpkin naysayers.

If you are short on time, then try our frozen pumpkin cheese, instead. The filling and base of this cheesecake can be made ahead using just 5 ingredients. It can be prepped in under half an hour then frozen – just add maple cream and ginger biscuits on top to serve.

16. Creamy pumpkin pasta

Bowl of pumpkin pasta topped with parmesan

Transform your pumpkin leftovers into a silky smooth pasta sauce, along with mascarpone, tomato purée and parmesan. Chunky, short pasta such as rigatoni or penne work especially well with this thick sauce as they are easily coated.

17. Pumpkin pancakes with salted pecan butterscotch

Pumpkin-pancakes

Get your weekend off to a sweet start with this indulgent brunch. We've taken pancakes to the next level by adding pumpkin purée and cinnamon to the batter. The fluffy, American-style stack is then drizzled with a rich salted pecan butterscotch sauce. Add a dollop of ice cream if that still isn't sweet enough.

18. Pumpkin, fennel & taleggio galette

pumpkin, fennel and taleggio galette

With buttery, flaky pastry, creamy Italian cheese and autumnal vegetables, this stunning tart makes a wonderful lunch or dinner. Leftovers taste great the next day, too.

19. Pear, pumpkin & ginger juice mocktail

Pumpkin cocktail with face on glass

Raise a bright orange glass to Halloween with our spine-tingling pear, pumpkin and ginger mocktail. Give the non-alcoholic drinks the fright-factor by piping scary faces onto the serving glasses with black icing.

20. Pumpkin cornbread with whipped jalapeño butter

Sliced pumpkin cornbread in a steel pan

This moist cornbread combines mild pumpkin with punchy chillies, as well as a fiery whipped jalapeño butter. The perfect accompaniment to soups, chillis and roasts. Got more leftover squash on your hands? Use it to make our punchy pumpkin pickle – it's equally delicious served dolloped on this cornbread.

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Discover more of our perfect pumpkin ideas...

Top 10 ways to use up leftover pumpkin
Pumpkin recipes for kids
Top 20 best pumpkin recipe
How to carve a pumpkin
Pumpkin purée recipe ideas
How to roast pumpkin seeds
Our best ever pumpkin soup recipes
How to cook with pumpkin

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