Chef John's 15 Best Pumpkin Recipes (2024)

Chef John's Pumpkin Pie

Let's kick this off with a classic. "After many years of experimentation, I've finally perfected what I think is the ideal formula for a rich pumpkin pie that's also much less likely to crack on top," says Chef John. "Serve garnished with whipped cream and freshly grated nutmeg."

Chef John's Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

These sinfully delicious pumpkin cinnamon rolls are filled with cinnamon sugar and topped with a cream cheese glaze. They're the ultimate fall treat. "The addition of pumpkin puree made these the best cinnamon rolls I've ever tasted," says Chef John.

Pumpkin Conchas

Chef John's twist on Mexican sweet rolls with a crunchy sugar top have pumpkin puree in the dough and spices in the topping. "What makes conchas such a unique treat is the contrast between the light, airy, barely sweet bun, and the crisp, crunchy, much sweeter topping.Hot coffee sold separately."

Pumpkin Zeppole

These light, not-too-sweet Italian doughnuts are made with a thick batter of flour, cinnamon, ricotta cheese, sugar, and pumpkin puree. You'll drop spoonfuls of batter into hot oil and fry them up for two to three minutes. "I usually toss these in cinnamon sugar when they're still slightly warm," says Chef John. "As in virtually every other pumpkin dessert, I think using pure canned pumpkin will give you the best results."

Chef John's Pumpkin Scones

Have a little leftover pumpkin puree? This delicious recipe for pumpkin scones with toasted pine nuts (many cooks used pepitas instead) and a super-simple maple glaze is a terrific way to use it up. "Here's an example of how I would convince the public that pumpkin is great for any time of the year. Ironically, I did this because I had leftover pumpkin from Thanksgiving," Chef John says.

Chef John's Pumpkin Pancakes

Meet the perfect holiday brunch recipe. These pancakes are made with pumpkin puree and seasoned with cinnamon, ginger, and allspice. "This basic pancake recipe turns into a delicious holiday breakfast simply by adding pumpkin and some fall spices!" says Chef John.

Chef John's Holiday Pumpkin Bread

Perfect with a hot cup of coffee, this pumpkin bread puts a fall-friendly twist on banana bread. Delicious and super easy. "A quick bread would make a handsome addition to any holiday dessert table. It is almost like banana bread, but uses pumpkin puree instead," Chef John says.

Low-Fat Pumpkin Flan

A rich and delicious custard dessert, pumpkin flan is perfect for fall dinner parties and an amazing dessert for Thanksgiving dinner. "This delicious pumpkin flan is the result of an experiment in replacing the recipe's usual cream and half-and-half with low-fat milk," says Chef John.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

"We're combining America's favorite cheese-based dessert with America's favorite gourd!" says Chef John. "There's a lot of ingredients, but the good news is it's super-easy to do. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkling of toasted pumpkin seeds."

Chef John's Pumpkin Creme Brulee

"This is a great seasonal twist on the restaurant classic. The texture is actually closer to a pudding than a classic creme Brulee, and of course, the star of the dish is the crisp sugar top. This is great for your busy holiday schedule since you can make them the day before and then finish the sugar torching before you serve," Chef John says.

Chef John's Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles

"I'm usually not a big fan of snickerdoodles, but I had a feeling the pumpkin spice would work perfectly with the buttery, cinnamon sugar cookie, and it did," Chef John says.

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Old-Fashioned Pumpkin Butter

Chef John says, "I can't think of a nicer thing to bring to a holiday gathering or to give as an edible gift" than a jar of pumpkin butter. You'll need a nice deep pot for this, so that as the mixture reduces, it doesn't spatter and burn your skin. This recipe calls for two cans of pumpkin puree, but you can always use fresh pumpkin.

No-Knead Pumpkin Bread

"The flavor is very subtle, just a slight earthy undertone, and the tiny dash of spice is perceivable only to the nose," says Chef John. "For plain bread, just use water in place of the pumpkin puree, and follow the steps the same way."

Chef John's Pumpkin-Braised Pork

This has to be the most autumn-appropriate way to cook pork shoulder ever. You'll marinate pieces of pork shoulder in a simple spice rub and brown them before cooking them in a large cooking pumpkin, like a sugar or pie pumpkin, with some hard cider to cover. "Season the pork any way you want," says Chef John. "I plated mine up with buttery mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts."

Spicy Pumpkin Pork Noodles

This Italian Asian fusion dish "features a very unusual combination of pumpkin and Korean chile paste, which makes for one of the most delicious noodle dishes I've had in a long time. It's the perfect recipe for fall, but really, can be enjoyed any time of the year."