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27 Cozy Pumpkin Dessert Recipes for Fall

Shareba Abdul, founder and editor of In Search Of Yummy-ness.
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Looking for pumpkin dessert recipes that go beyond classic pumpkin pie? You're in the right place!

I've rounded up 27 delicious pumpkin desserts from my own kitchen and from some talented food bloggers who create their recipes without AI.

You'll find easy bars and a simple pie for busy days, plus a few showstopping bakes for special occasions.

Many of these recipes you can make ahead, which helps when you're baking for a holiday dinner, a potluck, or a bake sale.

I've sorted the recipes into groups so you can find the right dessert for your plans.

A collage of four different pumpkin desserts. The text overlay reads "27 Pumpkin Dessert Recipes".
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Pumpkin Bars and Brownies

These are the pumpkin desserts I make when I want something simple and dependable. They're easy to serve and pack up nicely for a potluck or bake sale.

A pumpkin cheesecake bar studded with chocolate chips, with a dark brown chocolate graham crust, on a shallow white plate, on a dark brown table.

Cheesecake Bars (Without a Water Bath)

These pumpkin cheesecake bars have a chocolate graham cracker crust and a creamy pumpkin filling dotted with chocolate chips. They bake without a water bath, so they're simpler than a classic cheesecake. They do need at least five hours in the refrigerator to set, so plan ahead.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
A parchment-lined baking tray full of pumpkin chocolate chip bars.

Blondie-Style Bars With Chocolate Chips

These pumpkin chocolate chip bars are soft and chewy, like a blondie, with cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves in the batter. Chocolate chips get stirred in, and more are sprinkled on top before baking
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars
Photo credit: whatsgabycooking.com
A pile of sliced pumpkin cheesecake brownies on a cooling rack with a white towel.

Brownies With Double Pumpkin

These brownies have pumpkin purée in both the fudgy chocolate layer and the cream cheese layer on top. The two layers are swirled together before baking to create beautiful marbled brownies.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies
Photo credit: elmundoeats.com
Moist pumpkin spice brownies on a piece of parchment on a cutting board, with a pumpkin behind it.

A Box Mix Brownie with Pumpkin Spice

This recipe is a good choice when you want a pumpkin treat without much effort. It starts with a box of brownie mix, and uses a "flax egg", so the brownies are egg-free.
Pumpkin Spice Brownies
Photo credit: toshistable.com
A close up of four pumpkin cookie bars stacked on top of each other.

A Bake Sale Favourite

These pumpkin cookie bars are my fall twist on the classic Hello Dolly bar. A graham cracker base is topped with a layer of pumpkin and condensed milk with chocolate chips, coconut, and pecans. They come out chewy and gooey, and all you have to do is layer and bake.
Pumpkin Cookie Bars

Pumpkin Pies

When you want something different from the usual pumpkin pie recipe on the back of a can, try one of these fun alternatives.

Slices of pumpkin chocolate chip pie on white plates next to two cups of coffee and a tub of ice cream, and the rest of the whole pie in the pie tin.

Pumpkin Pie Meets Chocolate Chip Cookies

This pie has the soft, silky texture of pumpkin pie with the gooey edges of a chocolate chip cookie. The batter is spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and allspice, then poured into a deep-dish pie crust with mini chocolate chips folded in.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie
Photo credit: joaniesimon.com
A slice of pumpkin pie made with a graham cracker crust topped with a dollop of fresh whipped cream on a matte white plate.

Pumpkin Pie (Without Rolling Out Dough)

If you love pumpkin pie but don't enjoy making pastry from scratch, this one is for you. Just mix the graham cracker crust and press it into the pie plate, then add the silky, warmly spiced filling. No rolling pin required!
Pumpkin Pie with a Graham Cracker Crust
Several individual mini pumpkin pies decorated with whipped cream and pie dough cut-out shapes.

Individual Pies Made in a Muffin Pan

These mini pumpkin pies are baked in a muffin pan, and each round of pie crust is dipped in cinnamon sugar before baking. You can use homemade or store-bought pie crust for this recipe.
Mini Pumpkin Pies
Photo credit: floralapron.com

No-Bake Pumpkin Desserts

If you want a pumpkin dessert without turning on the oven, try one of these recipes. These three are creamy and smooth and come together without any cooking at all.

A mini pumpkin cheesecake with a bite taken out of it on a plate.

Mini Cheesecakes (No Oven Required)

These no-bake mini pumpkin cheesecakes have a graham cracker crust and a light filling made with cream cheese, pumpkin puree, and whipped cream. They set in a muffin pan lined with paper liners and chill overnight. This recipe is egg-free
No-Bake Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes
Photo credit: brokenovenbaking.com
An orange pumpkin-shaped bowl full of pumpkin cream cheese dip, surrounded by cookies.

A Sweet Pumpkin Dip for Cookies and Apple Slices

This pumpkin cream cheese dip has just five ingredients and takes about 10 minutes to make. Real whipped cream is folded in at the end to keep it light and fluffy. Serve it with pecan sandies, ginger snaps, graham crackers, or apple slices.
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Dip
Photo credit: quichemygrits.com
A glass full of pumpkin milkshake topped with a caramel drizzle over whipped cream.

A Five-Minute Pumpkin Pie Milkshake

This milkshake blends vanilla ice cream, pure pumpkin puree, milk, and pumpkin pie spice into a thick, frosty drink in about five minutes. Top it with whipped cream and a caramel drizzle if you'd like.
Pumpkin Pie Milkshakes
Photo credit: joaniesimon.com

Pumpkin Desserts for Brunch and Coffee Time

These recipes are lovely for weekend brunch and an afternoon cup of tea or coffee.

A pile of three pumpkin spice donuts topped with crushed nuts, with a fourth leaning on the side of the plate.

Baked Donuts With a Maple Pecan Glaze

These baked pumpkin spice donuts start with a cake mix, so they come together in under 30 minutes. A maple glaze and chopped pecans go on top once the donuts have cooled.
Pumpkin Spice Donuts
Photo credit: quichemygrits.com
A slice of pumpkin coffee bake on a white plate with gold trim. There is a piece of the cake on a gold fork as well.

A Snacking Cake with Streusel

This pumpkin spice coffee cake is made in one pan with pumpkin purée and pumpkin pie spice, then topped with a cinnamon streusel. You don't even need an electric mixer to make it.
Pumpkin Spice Coffee Cake
Photo credit: brokenovenbaking.com
A stack of 4 golden pecan pumpkin waffles on a beige plate, topped with a pat of butter and drizzled with maple pecan syrup.

Waffles With a Maple Pecan Syrup

These pecan pumpkin waffles are light and delicately spiced with toasted pecans in the batter. The homemade maple pecan syrup tastes like pecan pie filling, so don't skip it. You can make the batter the night before.
Pecan Pumpkin Waffles with Maple Pecan Syrup
Heart-shaped pumpkin mochi waffles on a fluted white plate, next to a fork and a box of milk.

Chewy Waffles Made With Mochi Flour

These pumpkin mochi waffles are made with mochiko, a Japanese rice flour, so they come out crisp on the outside and chewy inside. A mashed ripe banana replaces the sugar, and the batter mixes in one bowl with a whisk.
Pumpkin Mochi Waffles
Photo credit: bitesbybianca.com
Pumpkin halwa, a Pakistani dessert made with pumpkin, milk, and ghee, flavoured with cardamom and topped with chopped pistachios, almonds and rose petals.

Warm Pumpkin Halwa With Cardamom

Pumpkin Halwa is a flavourful, soft, spoonable dessert. The pumpkin is roasted in the oven, then cooked on the stovetop with milk, sugar, and ghee until it turns thick, glossy, and amber. Crushed cardamom, pistachios, and almonds go in at the end,.
Pumpkin Halwa
Photo credit: untoldrecipesbynosheen.com
A blue plate with three folded pumpkin crepes on it. The crepes are topped with chocolate syrup and chopped pecans.

A Dessert You Make on the Stovetop

These pumpkin crepes are filled with a warm pumpkin pie-style filling and topped with chocolate syrup and toasted pecans. You cook them on the stovetop, which leaves your oven free, and you can make the batter and filling ahead of time.
Pumpkin Pie Crepes

Pumpkin Cakes and Cupcakes

These crowd-pleasing cakes were made for sharing, and would be a welcome addition to any gathering of family and friends.

A whole pumpkin seed cake topped with pumpkin seeds and sliced red pears, with a slice taken out to show the bright green crumb.

A Cake With a Surprising Green Colour

This pumpkin seed cake gets its vivid green colour and nutty flavour from ground pumpkin seeds and roasted pumpkin seed oil. Then slices of pear and extra pumpkin seeds are placed on top before baking.
Pumpkin Seed Cake
Photo credit: bakeschool.com
Sprinkling nuts over a beautiful pumpkin bundt cake on a table surrounded by greenery.

A Bundt Cake With a Raisin Swirl

This pumpkin bundt cake has a spiced raisin swirl running through the middle. The batter uses buttermilk, sour cream, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and the cake is finished with a buttermilk glaze.
Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Raisin Swirl
Photo credit: adventuresincooking.com
A pumpkin spice cupcake garnished with a star anise pod on a white marble cake stand.

Soft Cupcakes With Pumpkin Frosting

These pumpkin spice cupcakes are made with buttermilk, sour cream, and pumpkin puree, then topped with a pumpkin cream cheese frosting. The recipe makes 20 cupcakes, so it's a good one to bring to a party
Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes
Photo credit: dollopofdough.com
Two slices of pumpkin loaf cake on small plates next to a cup of tea and a napkin.

A Simple Loaf Cake for Snacking

This pumpkin loaf cake uses the two-bowl method, so you don't need an electric mixer. It's flavoured with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, and works well with either canola oil or melted butter.
Pumpkin Loaf Cake
Photo credit: bakeschool.com

Pumpkin Cookies and Small Bakes

These small bakes are easy to share and look nice on a plate for guests.

Cute pumpkin-shaped snickerdoodle cookies cooling on a wire rack. One is decorated like a jack-o'-lantern.

Snickerdoodle Cookies Shaped Like Pumpkins

These egg-free pumpkin snicker doodles are shaped like cute little pumpkins, complete with a stem made from cocoa-tinted dough. The cookies are rolled in pumpkin spice sugar, and you can draw jack-o'-lantern faces on top with melted chocolate.
Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
Photo credit: bitesbybianca.com
A pile of pumpkin spice cookies decorated with tiny white icing flowers.

Pumpkin Cookies for Beginner Bakers

These soft pumpkin spice cookies don't need a mixer. You just stir the dough in a bowl, scoop it, chill it, and bake. The recipe makes eight cookies, so it's an easy one to whip up on a weeknight.
Soft Pumpkin Spice Cookies
Photo credit: sparklecakerie.com
Nine pumpkin madeleines on a black cooling rack over a piece of parchment paper.

Madeleines with Spiced Maple Glaze

These pumpkin madeleines are baked in a shell-shaped pan and finished with a spiced maple glaze. The recipe makes 36 mini cakes, so there's plenty to share!
Pumpkin Madeleines
Photo credit: foodnouveau.com
Adding filling to an open macaron, next to several other macrons, both filled and unfilled.

A Fun Baking Project

These pumpkin spice macarons have a delicious pumpkin cream cheese filling. The author shares plenty of tips to help you make these successfully.
Pumpkin Spice Macarons
Photo credit: floralapron.com

Pumpkin Desserts for Special Occasions

If you want something that looks impressive on the dessert table, either one of these recipes is a great choice. They do take longer to make than a pan of bars, but you can prepare both ahead of your event.

A tall slice of pumpkin tiramisu on a plate.

A No-Bake Dessert You Can Make Ahead

This pumpkin tiramisu layers coffee-soaked ladyfingers with a spiced pumpkin sauce and a pumpkin mascarpone cream. It's egg-free and no-bake. It does need at least eight hours in the refrigerator, so make it the day before a big dinner.
Pumpkin Tiramisu (Egg-Free)
Photo credit: elmundoeats.com
A pumpkin cream pavlova in the shape of a soft pumpkin with a green stem.

A Pumpkin Pavlova

Crunchy meringue is piped into the shape of a pumpkin, then filled with pumpkin cream, pumpkin salted caramel, and a spiced pepita crunch. It does take some time to bake, but it makes a lovely centerpiece. You can prepare the components ahead and assemble it just before serving.
Pumpkin Cream Autumn Pavlova
Photo credit: youthsweets.com

Bonus: Make Your Own Pumpkin Spice

Many of these recipes call for pumpkin pie spice. If you can't find it at your grocery store, you can make a homemade pumpkin spice blend instead.

A jar of a homemade pumpkin spice blend with a black lid, next to various whole spices including cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice and a knob of fresh ginger.

This blend uses cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. It's my favourite ratio of those spices, and it's generally more cost-effective than buying a pre-made spice blend.

Common Pumpkin Dessert Questions

What's the difference between pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie filling?

Many pumpkin desserts are made with plain pumpkin purée, which is simply cooked pumpkin with nothing added.

Canned pumpkin pie filling differs because it already contains sweeteners and spices, so it can't replace purée in every recipe.

Read each recipe to see what it requires. For example, my pumpkin cookie bars use pumpkin pie filling, but my pumpkin cheesecake bars use plain canned pumpkin puree.

Don't forget to check the can labels at the grocery store.

Is there pumpkin in pumpkin spice?

No, pumpkin spice, also called pumpkin pie spice, is a blend of warm spices that is traditionally used to flavour pumpkin pie. It usually includes cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, and sometimes allspice.

What can I make with leftover pumpkin puree?

Look for recipes that use just a small amount of pumpkin. For example, the pumpkin macarons above use just 2 tablespoons of puree in the filling.

I hope you found a pumpkin dessert you're excited to make. If you try any of these recipes, I'd love to hear how they turn out. Leave a comment and let me know which one becomes your go-to.

If you're planning a full holiday menu, my collection of easy Thanksgiving recipes includes appetizers, sides, and mains to pair with your dessert table.

If you're looking for something to sip with these desserts, I also have a collection of fall drink recipes you can check out, too.

More Fall Recipes

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