As seasons change, so too does the food we eat. This is never clearer than when fall approaches. Every fall, stores roll out everything they can think of pumpkin spice flavored, including the now famous pumpkin spice latte. This includes things like M&Ms, yogurt, gum, cookies.
This pattern isn’t too surprising – as pumpkin spice probably the single flavor that is most strongly associated with fall. After all, the spice itself is just a mix of other seasonal spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.
But, why get your pumpkin spice fix from over-processed commercial junk?
There are so many fantastic recipes out there that cooks, food bloggers and everyday people have developed. Many of these use the pumpkin spice flavor in ways that you never thought of before.
In fact, some of these recipes should be a staple every fall. Oatmeal, cheesecake, scones… those are just some examples of the pumpkin spice recipes that I’ve dug up for your viewing (and eating) pleasure. You could even bring these along to a fall picnic.
(And if you love pumpkin spice lattes, you’ll really like these other Starbucks secret menu drinks)
Pumpkin Spice Recipes
PS. Even though these are keto, you can also check out these pumpkin spice fat bomb recipes for healthy fats and an energy boost!
Pumpkin Spice Waffles
Who needs pancakes in the morning when you can have waffles? Waffles are a fantastic way to start the day, and adding pumpkin spice to the mix just makes them that much better.
This recipe from agirlworthsaving.net is kid-approved and extremely simple to make. Kelly does note that the end result is a slightly cake-like waffle. For me at least, that sounds like a good thing, and the waffles look delicious.
Pumpkin Spice Bread Pudding (with Maple Bourbon Sauce)
Okay, I’ll admit that the bourbon sauce was what caught my eye first here, but the recipe as a whole is also pretty appealing. Hosted at americanheritagecooking.com this dish is a twist on the traditional bread budding.
The pudding does a fantastic job of tying together multiple fall flavors into an unforgettable dish. Lindsey has really turned a bread pudding into a masterpiece – which certainly isn’t easy to do.
Pumpkin Spice Baked Oatmeal
Pumpkin spice recipes tend to be on the decadent side and often aren’t particularly good for the waistline. There are exceptions though, and this baked oatmeal is one of them.
The recipe is clever, because the end result looks and tastes a lot like a pumpkin pie, but is so much healthier. In my opinion, the texture is also much better and the whole things brings out the flavor of the spices really well. Plus, any recipe that just takes 30 minutes to make is a must-try in my book.
Head on over to apple-of-my-eye.com and check this one out now. You won’t regret it.
Pumpkin Spice Cranberry Trifle
Trifles are always a great option for dessert, especially as there are so many different ways to vary the recipe. Arlene at flouronmyface.com uses jars to serve this trifle in, which is a good way to show off the different layers while still providing individual portions.
The recipe itself is deceptively simple, which is great if you are short on time or don’t want to put a lot of effort in. It would also be pretty easy to adapt the recipe to a larger dish if that was your fancy.
Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal
Becky makes a good point with this recipe. For many of us, mornings are not an ideal time, and having to spend time making a healthy breakfast first thing in the morning is never fun. It’s far to easy to get an extra ten minutes of sleep instead.
I love this recipe for pumpkin pie oatmeal because it is just so easy to make. It should also taste much better than the flavored oatmeal out of a packet. The full recipe can be found at thecookierookie.com, along with a number of other pumpkin spice recipes.
Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars
Finding healthy snacks can often be a challenge. Most of the time, granola bars don’t fall into this category. However, when you make your own, anything is possible.
The recipe from aprettylifeinthesuburbs.com is a great example of this. The recipe uses a range of healthy ingredients, including almonds, dried apricots and oats to create a snack that would appeal to both kids and adults. The end result is a sweet and tasty granola bar that doesn’t have the excessive sweetness that you would find in commercial granola bars.
Plus, it’s guaranteed to taste better than most pumpkin spice granola bars that companies are releasing to tie into the season.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Pops (or Truffles)
Here’s a not-so-healthy option for pumpkin spice. However, these little cake pops (or truffles) are likely to be quite popular. Their small size also makes it easy to keep an eye on how much you eat – in theory anyway.
What I really love about this recipe is that bakinginamoment.com presents a few different ways of coating the truffles and also a simple and more complex way of making them. I also love the way the little truffles look and they would make great gifts for just about anyone.
Mini Pumpkin Pies
Pumpkin pies are a fairly standard option for the season and they tend to be overused. These mini pies are a great deviation from the traditional approach. For one thing, their small size means that you get less filling and more crust per serving.
That’s great for people who don’t like the texture of pumpkin pie. They aren’t as much work as you would think either, as the recipe calls for pre-made shells. Check out mybakingaddiction.com for the full recipe and advice about the shells.
Pumpkin Spice Scones
On their own, scones can have a bit of a bland taste, so making a pumpkin spice variation is a great way to make something just a bit more memorable.
I imagine that these would go great for afternoon tea, along with a pumpkin spice latte. In addition to the recipe, you can also find some general scone making tips over at honeyandbirch.com. If you’re an old pro at scones these might not be necessary, but if you’re new to making them, then the tips may be a lifesaver.
Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese
Most of the time, you find pumpkin spice in drinks, in baking and in sweets, but it is also a pretty powerful addition to main courses – like this macaroni cheese.
The recipe uses both pumpkin spice and pumpkin puree, so you can be sure that it will end up tasting very strongly like pumpkin and fall. That also makes this dish much more flavorful than traditional macaroni cheese and it manages this without adding any meat to the mix. So, it’s great for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.
The full recipe for this comfort food can be found at bitesofbri.com, along with many images of the steps.
Pumpkin Spice French Toast (in a bowl!)
Technically speaking, this recipe isn’t French toast at all. Instead, it is a very healthy variation that tastes like French toast. It also has the advantage of being incredibly easy to make. So, it’s a good option if you want a fast breakfast.
Over at briana-thomas.com Briana also talks about some variations to the recipe and shows how a gluten free version can be made. Personally, I think this would be a great choice for anyone who can’t eat gluten, because the dish means that you can still get that French toast taste – with a pumpkin spice kick.
Pumpkin Spice Spritz Cookies
When I first saw these little cookies, my first thought was how cool they looked. Their shapes and colors makes them look a little like leaves in the fall, so they tie perfectly into the season. Most of the shape does come from the use of a cookie press, but you could still make pretty and tasty cookies without doing that.
Because of the pumpkin spice, the cookies are a great option for the food and I bet they could be turned into gifts as well. The recipe is hosted at diethood.com if you want to give the cookies a try.
White Chocolate Pumpkin Cups
At first glance these look like white chocolate Reese’s cups, but the pumpkin spice addition changes all of that. The recipe might sound complicated, because you have to make the filling and then make the cups. However, all the steps are explained really well at omgchocolatedesserts.com. Even if you don’t have much experience working with chocolate, you should still be able to make these cups just by following the recipe step-by-step.
If you were so inclined, the recipe could also be made using other flavors of chocolate. Personally, I wonder what it would taste like with the pumpkin spice chocolate melts that come out around this time of year.
Pumpkin Spice Brownie Pops
Brownie pops are a great variation on the cake pop craze, because they are so much easier to make. You can probably tell by the coloring, but the trick in this recipe is the use of the pumpkin spice chocolate melts that I mentioned earlier.
This is a Wilton line, which is released around pumpkin spice time each year. To give you an idea of taste, it’s basically just white chocolate with a pumpkin spice flavoring. I think it’s a flavor that goes great with the rich chocolate taste of brownies.
The recipe for the pops is at realhousemoms.com and they are surprisingly easy to make.
Vegan Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake
This recipe has two major things going for it. For one, it is a pumpkin spice cheesecake, which is pretty cool. The pumpkin spice flavor would end up working well with the texture and taste of a cheesecake.
The vegan nature of the cheesecake is the other cool thing, as cheesecakes aren’t normally a vegan option. At theconscientiouseater.com Faith talks in depth about the recipe and how to make it so that it turns out completely perfect.
Pumpkin Brigadeiros
So, a brigadeiro is actually a Brazilian sweet. Essentially, it’s a type of truffle. Typically, the brigadeiro is made using condensed milk and chocolate. The recipe from oliviascuisine.com is a variation on the theme.
Not only do the little truffles taste like pumpkin, but Olivia went to the hassle of making them look like little pumpkins too. This recipe uses condensed milk, so the brigadeiros still have much of the texture and taste of typical brigadeiros – just with a pumpkin twist.
Pumpkin Spice Popcorn
You don’t have to go to a specialty store to get unique popcorn. Recipes like this one from adashofcompassion.com are a really good way of making your popcorn a lot more interesting.
Nicole does a really good job of creating a complex flavor in her popcorn and the recipe does certainly take advantage of pumpkin and pumpkin spice flavors. The popcorn also looks really pretty, which would make it a good option at a party or as a gift. Just be careful, I bet this stuff would disappear quickly.
3 Ingredient Pumpkin Spice Brownies
Simple and easy treats are often the best kind, especially if they are tasty at the same time. This recipe checks all of those boxes. I love the sprinkles she has put on top of these, because they stand out against the darkness of the brownies so well.
As the image shows, you end up with a fudgey and moist brownie. While they are still a treat, the brownies are a bit healthier than many other brownies, as it avoid ingredients like oil. It’s a great recipe to try all around, and can be found at theskinnyfork.com.
Pumpkin Spice White Hot Chocolate
I love white hot chocolates. They are a great treat for people who don’t drink coffee and for kids, and just about everyone will be willing to try one. This pumpkin spice variation sounds wonderful, especially on cold evenings.
The one issue with white hot chocolate is that it is often overbearingly sweet, and the pumpkin spice helps to get around this nicely. It also provides an appealing depth of flavor. Cheryl goes through the recipe at tidymom.com and it’s a great alternative to a pumpkin spice latte – especially if you don’t like coffee.
Cheesecake Pretzel Bites
Most of the recipes in this list involve changing a common recipe to include pumpkin spice (and sometimes pumpkin itself). These bites are a bit different. I’ve never seen anything quite like them before, and this is one recipe that I will probably try myself.
One catch is that it is best to eat these on the day that you make them, as the middle needs to be refrigerated and the pretzels lose some of their crunch when you do that. Still, the recipe from backforseconds.com is easy enough, so making them when you need them shouldn’t be too difficult.
Besides, if these taste as good as they look they probably won’t hang around too long after you’ve made them.
Pumpkin Spice Empanadas
Everything about these empanadas is appealing, and they look absolutely wonderful. Their main filling is apples, but Kevin uses a twist of his own to get the pumpkin spice flavor in the filling.
Even though the end product looks very professional, the post at keviniscooking.com has high quality images for each of the steps – so you can follow along even if you have never made empanadas before.
Pumpkin Spice French Toast Casserole
This recipe, from thecookingjar.com is another type of bread pudding, one that gets its inspiration from French toast. As Farah mentions in her post, bread pudding can be difficult, but this particular recipe looks like it would be relatively easy to make and quite appealing.
The finished product is also quite visually stunning. I think it would be a fantastic thing to bring to a party or a pot luck dinner.
Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Trifle
Okay. I know I featured a trifle at the start of this post, but this one is a little bit different. As the name suggests, this one makes use of a cheesecake layer. That alone really sets it out from the crowd.
Even better, nothing in the recipe needs to be baked, so it’s a surprisingly easy dish. The trifle looks great in the glasses that Jessica uses, and they would also look great in a mason jar. The whole recipe is available at thenovicechefblog.com, if you want to give it a try for yourself.
This would also be tasty in a mason jar!
Pumpkin Pie Jello Shots
These are seriously cool, although they do take a bit of work. Basically, you’re making your own shot glass along with making the jello shots themselves.
I love the way that the finish product looks almost exactly like a mini pumpkin pie. In her post at thewateringmouth.com, Cheri includes a few different options for the shots, including different crusts and different fillings. She even notes that you can make them without the alcohol, although I think they are so much better with it.
Pumpkin Spice Latte Brownies
We’ve already seen a few recipes that combine pumpkin spice and brownies, which should be a strong indication of just how well those flavors work together.
With this recipe, the key is in the frosting, which is what contains the pumpkin spice flavoring. But don’t be fooled, the brownies aren’t ordinary either. Instead, Kathleen’s recipe at yummycrumble.com steps you through the creation of delectable mocha brownies.
Pumpkin Chocolate Trifle
Yes, I know this is the third trifle recipe on the list – but you can see why I had to put it in. Can’t you? This trifle makes use of just two layers. One of these is a cookie crumbs layer and the other is the pumpkin sweet cream layer.
Donna takes an unusual approach by using International Delight creamer in the recipe, but that seems to work surprisingly well. She goes through the whole recipe at theslowroasteditalian.com and its perfect if you are looking for a little more unusual take on a trifle.
Pumpkin Spice Candied Nuts
The best candied nuts are the ones that you make yourself, and this recipe from bbritnell.com is a great one and very easy to follow. As the title shows, the recipe makes use of pumpkin spice to create a very seasonal snack.
It’s also a cool recipe because of how you are essentially just throwing everything in a pot and mixing it up. Brita has a lot of pictures up on the post, so you can see exactly what the dish is supposed to look during every step. That’s pretty important if you haven’t candied nuts before.
Pumpkin Granola
Making your own granola is a really good way of controlling what you are eating and avoiding the excess sugar that too many brands include. I love the combination of pumpkin flavor along with cranberries in this recipe, because you have a really good balance between sweet and tart.
Following the recipe at cookingclassy.com the first time you try to make it is important though, because (as Jaclyn notes), pumpkin granola can be a bit tricky because of the moisture in pumpkin puree.
Chocolate Pumpkin Overnight Oats
Oats are always a fantastic addition to breakfast, because they fill you up so well. Personally, I find the idea of overnight oats especially appealing, because you set the whole thing up the night before and then just leave it to sit.
The flavors in this particular recipe are wonderful, because you get chocolate and pumpkin in the same dish. If that doesn’t sound exactly like fall, I don’t know what does. The recipe is given in detail at blissfulbasil.com if you want to try making it for yourself.
Pumpkin and Apple Spice Layered Cake
This recipe is a bit out of the ordinary. It’s an unbaked and gluten free take on an apple pie and a pumpkin pie. Well, to be technical it’s gluten free, dairy free, grain free and soy free – and if that wasn’t enough, it’s also low sugar. I’m pretty impressed that Lori and Michelle achieved all of that and also made an appealing dessert.
All the details about the cake and how to make it are available at purelytwins.com. Despite it’s appearance, the cake really isn’t as complicated as it looks. In some ways, it’s like a trifle, because you have all of the different layers.
Pumpkin Spice Waffles (Gluten Free!)
Pumpkin spice waffles are a great seasonal breakfast food. The flavor from the pumpkin spice works really well with waffles and with syrup. This recipe has the added bonus of being gluten free, and uses oat flour to achieve this.
This makes for a great alternative to regular waffles for those who can’t eat gluten or who want to cut it out of their diet. As always, the full details can be found over at the site, which in this case is cookieandkate.com.
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spiced Apples
I love spiced apples. They are a fantastic comfort food and pretty easy to make. The addition of pumpkin spice to the dish would work brilliantly. My favorite thing about this recipe is that it is made in the slow cooker. That’s much more appealing than having to watch spiced apples while they are cooking on the stove.
The recipe can be found at maebells.com. It would be a great dessert, as the image shows. It would also make for a relatively healthy snack as long as you didn’t add ice cream or something to it.
Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes
These cupcakes are a good combination of coffee and pumpkin flavors. They would be a great option for anyone who enjoys pumpkin spice lattes. But, even for people who don’t drink coffee, the coffee flavor in food can sometimes be appealing, so don’t write these off too fast.
For this particular recipe, both the coffee and the pumpkin flavors are in the muffin itself, while the frosting is creamy, which pairs perfectly with pumpkin. The recipe for the cupcake and for the frosting are at browneyedbaker.com if you want to give these a try.
Pumpkin Spice Brownies
These are called brownies, but the term isn’t entirely accurate. Instead, it’s kind of a layered cake, that is roughly the size and shape of a brownie. That doesn’t stop it from being fantastic though.
I love the way the layers look, and their different flavors would complement each other well. The first layer is a pumpkin brownie, followed by Pumpkin Spice Oreos and a cheesecake mixture. The steps for making it are posted at insidebrucrewlife.com
Pumpkin Spice Cake (in a Slow Cooker)
Slow cookers are wonderful things and this cake takes advantage of this. It’s a low carb cake and it makes use of pumpkin flavors exceptionally well. One of the great things about making anything in a slow cooker is that it holds onto its moisture well, and that seems to complement this cake.
The texture of the cake actually means that you could treat it as a cake or as bread. Either way, it’s bound to be delicious. You can find all of the information over at alldayidreamaboutfood.com.
Baked Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal
Oatmeal can be a fantastic breakfast, especially if you are actively trying to lose weight. But – it does get old fast, which is why I like this particular recipe so much.
The recipe is a twist on traditional oatmeal and takes advantage of that wonderful pumpkin spice flavor that we have been talking about. By baking oats, Aimee creates a dish that is much more interesting than traditional oatmeal, but just as filling. It also has a completely different texture than normal oatmeal for breakfast, and it ends up being more like a cookie or a oatmeal bar.
That makes it an especially great choice if you have picky kids, because the dish does make breakfast seem a little bit like dessert. The whole recipe is over at theveglife.com and it’s a fast alternative to normal breakfasts.
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