16 Easy Pumpkin Recipes for Fall

Easy Pumpkin Recipes – Pumpkin season is one of my favorite times of year for baking. These 16 easy pumpkin recipes include pumpkin cakes, breads, muffins, breakfast recipes, bars, donuts, and other simple fall desserts.

I put this collection together for those times when you have a can of pumpkin in the pantry and want to make something good with it. There are classic pumpkin flavors here, along with a few fun twists like chocolate pumpkin bread, pumpkin spice pound cake churros, and pumpkin cinnamon roll cake.

If you love pumpkin desserts and easy fall baking, start here.

16 Easy Pumpkin Recipes

I’ve included a mix of easy pumpkin desserts and pumpkin breakfast recipes, so you can find something for almost any fall occasion.

I hope you enjoy browsing through the recipes. Click the photo or the title for the recipe.

Easy Pumpkin Recipes

1. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Crumb Cake

This pumpkin cream cheese crumb cake works for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. The pumpkin cake, cream cheese layer, and crumb topping make this one a great recipe to keep on hand during pumpkin season.

2. Pumpkin Spice Pound Cake Churros

These bite-size treats are a fun way to use pound cake. The cake cubes are toasted in butter and oil, then coated with sugar and pumpkin pie spice. They’re especially good served warm.

3. Pumpkin Pecan Pie Muffins

Pumpkin muffins are always a good idea for fall. Adding pecans gives these muffins a little crunch and makes them perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon snack.

4. Chocolate Pumpkin Bread Recipe with Browned Butter Maple Glaze

Chocolate and pumpkin are a great combination in this easy quick bread. The recipe uses pumpkin puree for moisture and finishes with a browned butter maple glaze.

5. Easy Buttermilk Pumpkin Coffee Cake with Brown Sugar Streusel Recipe

This pumpkin coffee cake belongs on your fall breakfast table. The buttermilk makes a tender cake, while the brown sugar streusel adds a sweet topping.

6. Praline Glazed Pumpkin Pound Cake

This is one of my favorite ways to bake with pumpkin. The cake is made with pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice, then topped with a pecan praline glaze. It’s a beautiful dessert for Thanksgiving, fall dinners, or any time you want a special pumpkin cake.

7. Pumpkin Scones

Make a batch of pumpkin scones for breakfast or brunch. They’re an easy way to bring pumpkin spice to the breakfast table without making a complicated recipe.

8. Marbled Pumpkin Chocolate Bread

This pumpkin bread has two favorite fall flavors in one loaf. The pumpkin and chocolate batter are swirled together for a pretty marbled effect.

Can I Use Fresh Pumpkin Instead of Canned Pumpkin?

Yes, you can use homemade pumpkin puree in many recipes. For baking, choose a small sugar pumpkin or pie pumpkin rather than the large pumpkins used for carving.

Fresh pumpkin can contain more water than canned puree, so excess moisture may need to be drained before using it in baked goods.

More Easy Pumpkin Recipes

9. Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Blondies

These pumpkin blondies are loaded with chocolate chips and have the soft, chewy texture you want from a good blondie. They’re an easy choice when you want pumpkin dessert without making a layer cake.

10. Baked Pumpkin Donuts with Caramel Glaze

These baked pumpkin donuts are a fun fall breakfast or dessert. The caramel glaze takes them from simple pumpkin donuts to something you’ll want to make again.

11. Gooey Pumpkin Bars with Praline Topping

If you like pumpkin pie, give these pumpkin bars a try. They have a cake mix crust, pumpkin pie filling, and a cinnamon pecan topping. They’re also a great option when you need dessert for a group.

12. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast

Pumpkin French toast makes a weekend breakfast feel special. The cream cheese filling pairs especially well with the pumpkin and warm fall spices.

13. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins

These pumpkin muffins are a great addition to a fall breakfast or brunch. Cream Cheese gives them a rich texture while keeping the pumpkin flavor front and center.

14. Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Cake

This cake combines the flavors of pumpkin cake and cinnamon rolls in one easy dessert. It’s a good choice for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.

15. Skinny Pumpkin Snickers Poke Cake with Whipped Cream Frosting

Pumpkin, chocolate, caramel, and whipped cream come together in this fun poke cake. It’s a good recipe for fall parties and family gatherings.

16. Texas Pumpkin Sheet Cake

Texas sheet cake is always a good option when you need to serve several people. Adding pumpkin makes it a great fall dessert for potlucks, parties, and holiday gatherings.

Easy Pumpkin Recipes Baking Tips

Use pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling

This is one of the most important things to remember when baking with pumpkin. Pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie filling are not interchangeable.

Pumpkin puree is simply pumpkin, giving you a neutral ingredient you can season and sweeten yourself. However, pumpkin pie filling is already sweetened and spiced, so substituting it can change the flavor and texture of a recipe.

Keep canned pumpkin in your pantry

Canned pumpkin makes fall baking much easier. You can use it in pumpkin bread, muffins, cakes, bars, scones, and plenty of other recipes.

Measure flour correctly

Too much flour can make baked goods dry or heavy. For the most consistent results, spoon flour into your measuring cup and level it off rather than scooping directly from the flour bag.

Don’t overbake pumpkin bread and cakes

Pumpkin adds moisture to baked goods, so it’s important to bake each recipe according to its directions. Start checking for doneness near the earliest recommended baking time.

Make your own pumpkin pie spice

Pumpkin pie spice is an easy shortcut for fall baking. It typically combines warm spices such as cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.

What Can I Make With a Can of Pumpkin?

There are plenty of ways to use leftover canned pumpkin. Try it in:

• bread
• muffins
• coffee cake
• pound cake
• scones
• bars
• donuts
• French toast
• cake
• cookies

A partial can of pumpkin doesn’t have to go to waste. Portion leftover pumpkin into small freezer-safe containers and freeze it for another recipe.

Easy Pumpkin Recipes Frequently Asked Questions

More Fall Recipes

If you’re planning your fall baking calendar, don’t stop with pumpkin. These other collections are worth saving, too.

Fall Pound Cakes To-Die-For

Perfect Pound Cake Recipes

Pound Cake Recipes Reviewed

Pecan Pumpkin Cobbler Recipe

Easy Pumpkin Recipes Final Thoughts

Pumpkin season doesn’t have to mean making the same pumpkin pie every year. These 16 easy pumpkin recipes give you plenty of options for breakfast, brunch, snacks, and fall desserts.

Start with a pumpkin bread or muffin recipe for breakfast, make a pumpkin cake for dessert, or try something different like the Pumpkin Spice Pound Cake Churros.

Save this collection now so you have plenty of easy pumpkin recipes for fall ready when pumpkin season arrives.