17 Delicious Pumpkin Recipes

17 Delicious Pumpkin Recipes

Tasty treat

It's a shame that pumpkin is only popular for two months out of the year.
This low-calorie squash is rich in potassium and loaded with beta-carotene (a powerful antioxidant), and its natural sweetness brings flavor to baked goods without any added guilt.

Pumpkin Dip

Bring out the best of fall's flavors with this super-easy pumpkin dip. Canned pumpkin mixed with maple syrup and cinnamon will be a treat for your taste buds. The cream cheese used in this recipe has a third less fat and makes the dip rich and soft without too many added calories. Serve with fresh apple slices for an extra serving of vitamins and fiber.

Ingredients: Reduced-fat cream cheese, brown sugar, canned pumpkin, maple syrup, ground cinnamon

Calories: 107 

Pumpkin Cheesecake With Glazed Hazelnuts

Enjoy fall-flavored cheesecake without guilt! Use Neufchâtel and fat-free cream cheese to radically reduce the amount of saturated fat. Ground coriander and cardamom mixed with vanilla enrich each bite. Sprinkle chopped hazelnuts, a good source of vitamin E, over the brown sugar-and-butter topping. 

Ingredients: Graham cracker crumbs, sugar, butter, Neufchâte, fat-free cream cheese, flour, vanilla extract, pumpkin-pie spice, coriander, cardamom, eggs, canned pumpkin, hazelnuts

Calories: 334

Whole-Wheat Bread With Walnuts, Sesame, and Pumpkin Seeds

Try whole-wheat bread with a new twist—add walnuts, sesame, and pumpkin seeds! Whole-wheat flour is low in fat and cholesterol, and high in figure-friendly fiber. As a bonus, walnuts are chock-full of omega 3 fatty acids, and pumpkin seeds are a great source of protein, magnesium, and zinc.

Ingredients: Dry yeast, sugar, plain low-fat yogurt, honey, butter, whole-wheat flour, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, all-purpose flour, egg white

Calories: 202 

 Pumpkin-Carrot Cake

Pumpkins and carrots in one dessert? Well, they are both orange—and nutritious! Canned pumpkin combined with grated carrot, orange rind, raisins, and dried cranberries gives this unique cake a natural sweet boost. No need for heaps of added sugar! Use egg whites and whole-wheat flour for less cholesterol and saturated fat.

Ingredients: All-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, eggs, brown sugar, canned pumpkin, vegetable oil, butter, grated orange rind, raisins, grated carrot, dried cranberries, walnuts

Calories: 219

 Pumpkin and Caramelized-Pecan Pie

This decadent pie has a nutritious side, too. It has more than a day's worth of vitamin A. Plus, it contains 3 grams of fiber. Cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger spice up the flavor—with only 1/3 cup added brown sugar. Use whole-wheat crust for extra fiber. Ingredients: Sugar, pecans, butter, canned pumpkin puree, whipping cream, egg, brown sugar, vanilla extract, ground cloves, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, salt

Calories: 332

Pumpkin Muffins

These tender muffins have a sugary crunch on top and make a perfect low-fat breakfast or snack. Replace up to half the white flour with whole wheat for extra fiber, and/or toss in 1/2 cup of toasted, chopped pecans to add some heart-healthy fats.

Ingredients: All-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, canned pumpkin, fat-free sour cream, fat-free milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, egg, brown sugar

Calories: 164

Pumpkin-Orange Cake

Wow your guests with this beautiful fall cake topped with colorful, antioxidant-rich pomegranate seeds and mandarin oranges. Each slice provides an entire day’s worth of vitamin A, thanks to the addition of pumpkin, which also keeps the spiced cake layers tender and moist.

Ingredients: Sugar, butter, canned pumpkin, egg substitute, vanilla extract, cake flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, evaporated fat-free milk 

Calories: 338  

 Pumpkin Pie Pudding

There's no need to be concerned about your diet while enjoying this dessert as it has half the fat of other popular puddings. And don’t worry about satisfying your sweet tooth, because the sweetness of the pumpkin won’t disappoint.

Ingredients: 2% milk, dark brown sugar, cornstarch, eggs, canned pumpkin, salt, pumpkin-pie spice

Calories: 168

Pumpkin Pancakes

Festive and flavorful, these pancakes contain half the calories of those made with buttermilk. Plus, pumpkin contains beta-carotene, which may reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer and offer protection against heart disease.

Ingredients: Canned pumpkin, low-fat vanilla yogurt, baking soda, eggs, cake flour, egg whites, salt, maple syrup

Calories: 90 

Pumpkin Pie Cake

Pie or cake? You won’t have to choose with this delectable dessert. It incorporates all the cinnamon spice of pumpkin pie, as well as the fiber and beta-carotene of pumpkin, into a delicious cake layered with velvety cream cheese frosting—no pastry crust required. 

Ingredients: Flour, sugar, brown sugar, canola oil, eggs, egg substitute, unsweetened canned pumpkin, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin-pie spice, salt, butter, reduced-fat cream cheese, powdered sugar, orange juice, toasted pecans, orange slices

Calories: 318 

Pumpkin Ravioli

The meat and cheese in traditional ravioli can send calorie counts through the roof. However, using pumpkin keeps this dish at less than 200 calories per serving. 

Ingredients: Canned pumpkin, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, wonton wrappers, chicken broth, butter, parsley

Calories: 162 

Healthier Pumpkin Pie

Unlike your traditional, flour-based crust, this recipe calls in graham cracker crumbs to get the job done. To make it even healthier, use whole-wheat graham crackers. This recipe also features coconut milk, which may help improve your cholesterol.

Ingredients: Graham cracker crumbs, sugar, vegetable oil, pumpkin, coconut milk, eggs, light brown sugar, salt, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, optional whipped cream

Calories: 276 

Pumpkin-Chai Quickbread

This sweet bread uses a half-cup of whole-wheat pastry flour, which is less processed and contains more fiber than white flour. And at less than 200 calories a slice, it's a figure-friendly alternative to pumpkin pie. 

Ingredients: Baking spray with flour, all-purpose flour, whole-wheat pastry flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, ground cardamom, ground allspice, eggs, egg white, 2% reduced fat milk, canola oil, canned pumpkin puree, pumpkin seeds

Calories: 184 

Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes

In a hurry? Canned puréed pumpkin is a good option if you're short on time. A half-cup serving is loaded with nutrients, including 4 grams of filling fiber. Just be sure to buy 100 percent pure pumpkin, not sugary pumpkin pie filling.

Ingredients: Whole-wheat pastry flour, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, salt, unsalted butter, dark brown sugar, egg, canned pumpkin, plain yogurt, reduced-fat cream cheese, vanilla extract, confectioner's sugar 

Calories: 101  

 Spiced Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Is it a cookie, a cake, or a pie? No matter how you categorize it, this pumpkin treat is delicious. Bonus: coconut oil's main type of saturated fat, lauric acid, may help boost healthy HDL cholesterol levels.

Ingredients: All-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, coconut oil, light brown sugar, pumpkin puree, large eggs, cinnamon, allspice, ground ginger, nutmeg, cream cheese, coconut cream, confectioners' sugar, crystallized ginger 

Calories: 207