Pumpkins have sustained and inspired us for centuries, rising to great acclaim as a social media darling after centuries in the root cellar. They were one of the first domesticated crops, dating back over 9000 years in Mexico. Those earliest ancestors were comparatively tiny, bitter, and tough, with little in common with any of the 45 different varieties that currently exist. It’s a good thing that all parts of the pumpkin are edible, including the leaves, flowers, and stems, securing the pumpkin’s place on homestead farms as it continued to evolve.
Of course, the pumpkin’s greatest claim to fame today has more to do with the associated spices than any of its natural charms. My feelings for the trend have come full circle. I’m no longer dismayed by the disconnect, but encouraged by the possibilities. Now we’re primed to fully embrace all the squash has to offer.
Get ready to fall harder for pumpkin this year. I’ve got the very best vegan recipes right here for you to explore both the sweet and savory sides of pumpkin, ranging from wholesome to indulgent, simple to complex. Canned puree is always available, but pumpkin cravings only peak this season. Don’t waste another autumn without knowing just how incredible pumpkin can taste.
Best Vegan Pumpkin Recipes
Take a walk on the sweet or savory side with these tried-and-true pumpkin recipes. There's a little bit of something for everyone!
Chai-Spiced Pumpkin Sauce
Sweet, spicy, and full of autumnal flavor, this pumpkin spice sauce is an intense, concentrated treat to flavor drinks and desserts all season long. Chai takes the place of the usual pie palate for a brighter, bolder change of pace.
Pumpkin Pie Shake
Liquid pumpkin pie, full of protein and kicked up with warm spices.
Pumpkin Butter
A rich spread with the deep, brassy tones of pumpkin and spice, highlighted by the refined and delicate sweetness of maple syrup.
Pumpkin Matzo Dumpling Soup
Completely nontraditional and aligned with entirely the wrong Jewish holiday, these are definitely not your Bubbie’s matzo balls. Bound together with roasted pumpkin puree, I prefer to think of them more as matzo dumplings, since they bear a denser, more toothsome texture than the fluffy pillows of Passover lore. The goal of this wintery interpretation was not to perfect the vegan matzo ball, but to create something with the same sort of comforting flavors, revamped with a more seasonal spin.
Black Mac and Pumpkin Cheese
Classic mac and cheese gets a mischievous twist with black pasta and a pumpkin-enriched sauce. Perfect for Halloween but delicious all year round, it's hard to resist such an enchanting dish.
Halloween Pizza (Charcoal Pizza Crust with Pumpkin Garlic Sauce and Sweet Potato Topping)
Dark as night, this black pizza dough gets it's devilish color naturally from food-grade charcoal. Rich, garlicky pumpkin sauce tops it off along with tender slices of roasted sweet potato. It's hauntingly delicious!
Pumpkin Pot Pie
Humble pot pie pulls on an autumnal cloak beneath a buttery, golden brown crust. A rich stew of tender pumpkin meatless protein is bolstered by creamy pumpkin puree and warming spices.
Pumpkin Protein Burgers
Hearty, protein-packed veggie burgers get a boost from the savory side of pumpkin. They're the quick and easy answer for a weeknight meal, any season.
Pumpkin Spice Blondies
Folded into a dense yet soft blondie batter enriched with a healthy dose of genuine pumpkin puree, most of the marshmallows seemed to melt while baking, but that’s not to say they disappeared. Leaving gooey pockets of sweetness, almost like a highly spiced caramel sauce, each void contained an incredible wealth of flavor.
Applejack-O'-Lantern Pumpkin Pie
Boo! Don't be afraid of what lurks beneath the layer of pumpkin pie here... It's just apples simmered in brown sugar and warming spices!
Pumpkin Struesel Pie
Crisp, buttery streusel turns ho-hum pumpkin pie into the legendary dessert that everyone will crave all year long. The creamy filling is sweetened with a balanced hand and highly aromatic, redolent of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
Marshmallow Chiffon Pumpkin Pie
Even for those not fond of traditional pumpkin pie, this chiffon filling is the light, dreamy antidote to a heavy Thanksgiving meal.
Translucent Pumpkin Spice Pie
Clear pumpkin pie, glossy and ethereal, is a wild departure from tradition. Sweetly spiced but without any pumpkin puree, it's a mesmerizing and whimsical change of pace.
Pumpkin Melon Pan
Pumpkin spice sweet buns wrapped in a buttery cookie exterior are a fresh autumnal twist for Japanese melon pan.
Pumpkin Flat Bread with Caramelized Onions
Lightly spiced with a dash of nutmeg and a pinch of sage, this bright orange bread is topped with caramelized onions for a sweet and savory finish.
Best Basic Pumpkin Bread
Tender, soft, rich, and warmly spiced, this is the pumpkin bread you've been looking for. It comes together in mere minutes with basic pantry staples, so you'll never have to forgo or delay sweet satisfaction ever again.
Banana Pumpkin Spice Muffins
Tender and fluffy yet substantial and satisfying, these muffins are the best parts of banana bread and pumpkin bread combined.
Self-Frosting Speculoos Pumpkin Cake
Sweet and warmly spiced, the soft crumb on this pumpkin cake swirled with cinnamon cookie butter spread is positively irresistible.
Easy Pumpkin Ice Cream
This creamy, soft, scoopable ice cream is like a bite of frozen pumpkin pie! This recipe takes zero prep work, little effort, and a bare minimum of pantry staples. You're ready to start churning anytime!
Pumpkin Pâte de Fruits
Soft yet toothsome, the crunch of sugar coating the outside gives way to
smooth pumpkin jelly, tinged with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. A hint
of molasses adds depth, contrasted by a bright splash of cider vinegar.
Pumpkin Patties
Coated in a crisp cocoa butter shell, these festive treats do indeed have real pumpkin in them! The sweet candy center is infused with pie-inspired spices for that perfect autumnal taste.
Pumpkin Spice Gummies
Sweet and chewy, light spiced, and full of pumpkin goodness, these little morsels are truly a mouthful!
Pumpkin Bread Pudding
Warm, creamy, and comforting, bread pudding is the perfect dessert to ward off those autumn chills while celebrating the season's bounty. It's a snap to customize depending on your preference; consider the spices as a mere suggestion, and a handful of nuts, chocolate chips, or dried fruit never hurt anything.
Thanks, this is such a wonderful collection of recipes!
What a great roundup, amazing recipes