21 Pumpkin Spice Recipes You'll Want to Make Forever (2024)

Pumpkin spice is one of the defining smells and tastes of fall. Everything from the unforgettable pumpkin spice latte to the soft and creamy pumpkin pie itself holds a nostalgic and delicious place in our hearts. Each of these recipes holds four- and five-star ratings from EatingWell readers and uses just the right amount of pumpkin spice to make you feel the coziness of autumn. With recipes like these, It's always a good idea to start your day with dishes like our Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal or end the night with flavorful bites like our Pumpkin Spice Latte Cookies.

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Pumpkin-Oat Mini Muffins

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These gluten-free pumpkin muffins are packed with oats and chocolate chips. Plus, these mini pumpkin muffins are made entirely in the blender, making cleanup a breeze. If you'd rather make 12 regular-size muffins, bake for 18 to 20 minutes and let cool for 10 minutes before turning them out of the pan.

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Pumpkin Spice Latte Cookies

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Indulge your PSL obsession with these pumpkin spice cookies. Instant espresso powder gives these soft, cakey cookies a subtle yet recognizable coffee flavor. Spread with cream cheese frosting (with more pumpkin pie spice flavors) and sprinkle with cinnamon to finish. And, go ahead, drink a pumpkin spice latte while you eat them for the full PSL experience. After all, it's only fall for so long (though we'd eat these cookies year-round). To make these cookies kid-friendly, simply omit the espresso powder.

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Pumpkin Spice Butternut Squash Soup

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Simmer up a light and tasty fall soup, made creamy with coconut milk and Greek yogurt.

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Pumpkin Zucchini Bread

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This pumpkin zucchini bread is the perfect marriage of classic pumpkin bread and zucchini bread. Zucchini helps keep the bread tender and moist, while canned pumpkin gives it an orange hue that carries the flavor of pumpkin pie spice for a touch of fall.

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Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

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These pumpkin sugar cookies are soft and moist with just the right amount of spice and a delicate pumpkin flavor topped off with a nice lightly spiced glaze. They're perfect for a fall after-school snack or light dessert.

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Basic Crustless Pumpkin Pie

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This low-fat crustless pumpkin pie is a perfect dessert for the dieters at your holiday meal or people who are watching their carbs.

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Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal

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This pumpkin baked oatmeal is warm and comforting with the combination of pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon. The pecans add toasty flavor to this easy breakfast dish that's perfect for guests. Serve with yogurt for creaminess and maple syrup for added sweetness.

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Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Cookies

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Classic chocolate chip cookies get a fall update by mixing in pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice. Not only are these pumpkin cookies even more flavorful than regular chocolate chip cookies, they're also oh-so-soft and cakelike. Use chocolate chunks for big gooey bites of chocolate or opt for mini chocolate chips to ensure a bit of chocolate in each bite.

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Cream Cheese Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Streusel

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This riff on the Thanksgiving favorite combines a traditional pumpkin pie filling with swirls of sweetened cream cheese. And since it's only Thanksgiving once a year, we've topped it all off with a buttery spiced-pecan topping. This easy pie recipe will please anyone at your table this holiday.

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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

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What could possibly make pumpkin muffins even better? Mini chocolate chips! Our healthy pumpkin chocolate chip muffins are made with white whole-wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour and are sweetened with just the right amount of brown sugar to make them sweet without being cloying.

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

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This healthy smoothie recipe has all the flavor of a pumpkin spice latte without all the sugar. Made with real pumpkin and frozen banana, this whips into a creamy, luscious grab-&-go breakfast (or snack) in just 5 minutes.

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Pumpkin-Spice Hot Toddy

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Flavored decaf tea adds a seasonal twist to a traditional hot toddy recipe. You can use any flavor of tea for this easy co*cktail, but we love the comforting notes of pumpkin-spice in the fall and winter.

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Chocolate-Swirled Pumpkin Loaf Bread

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Chocolate and pumpkin flavors pair perfectly together in this diabetic-friendly loaf bread recipe.

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Vegan Carrot Cake

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This vegan carrot cake recipe with almond flour is packed with carrots, raisins and pecans, which add wonderful texture. Vegan butter and vegan cream cheese combine with rice flour to create a creamy, tangy frosting. Letting the frosting chill in the fridge is crucial so it thickens, giving it a more spreadable consistency.

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Pumpkin Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

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This healthy pumpkin sheet cake is perfectly spiced from the pumpkin pie spice blend, a mixture of cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg. A tangy, sweet cream cheese frosting helps balance the flavors. This cake is perfect for any fall gathering.

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Pumpkin Pie Nice Cream

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Can't get enough pumpkin spice and pumpkin? Get those fall flavors you love in this dairy-free and vegan ice cream alternative made with bananas and pumpkin puree. This easy and healthy dessert contains no added sugar, unless you use the optional maple syrup--which is a delicious touch. Add some chopped pecans to make it really special.

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Banana-Coconut Bread

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A unique take on banana bread, this recipe introduces the banana-coconut flavor combination. This creative, diabetic-friendly recipe is the perfect solution for using over-ripe bananas and is easy to make.

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Mini Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

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This sweet little treat is made with good-for-you whole wheat flour, but even the pickiest of eaters won't notice. These mini pumpkin and chocolate chip muffins are also incredibly easy to make--just stir all of the ingredients together, no mixer required. For a more filling and indulgent snack, smear your bite-size piece with almond butter or Nutella.

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Vegan Pumpkin Bread

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Flaxseed meal, which develops a gelatinous texture when mixed with water, replaces the eggs and provides structure to this moist, flavorful loaf.

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Diabetic Carrot Cake

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With this luscious take on an all-time favorite, you can fit this low-sugar cake into a diabetic meal plan with style.

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Pumpkin-Oatmeal Muffins

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These healthy pumpkin-oatmeal muffins will get you in the mood for fall. Sprinkling the muffins with pecans adds a nutty crunch to every bite. Serve them for breakfast or as a grab-and-go snack.

21 Pumpkin Spice Recipes You'll Want to Make Forever (2024)

FAQs

What WTF is pumpkin spice? ›

Pumpkin spice, also known as pumpkin pie spice, is a mixture of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Some pumpkin spice mixes might leave out a spice or two, but most consist of at least two or three of the spices listed above.

What main two chemicals gives pumpkin spice its flavor? ›

The major and common ingredient in pumpkin spice lattes include: cinnamic aldehydes for cinnamon, eugenol for clove or allspice, terpenes such as sabinene for nutmeg, and zingiberene for ginger. They may also contain vanillin and cyclotene for the burnt butter or maple notes to round off the flavor.

What does McCormick pumpkin pie spice have in it? ›

McCormick Culinary Pumpkin Pie Spice is a premium blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice delivering a warm brown-spice flavor. Delicious in pumpkin pie and so much more. Use in sweet potatoes, apple dishes, streusel toppings, candied nuts.

Who started the pumpkin spice craze? ›

The big boom of pumpkin spice truly came in the 1990s with the launch of the PSL. A little coffee shop named Starbucks launched the PSL, hesitantly, and initiated the pumpkin spice craze. The latte became the talk of the town with customers everywhere patiently awaiting the fall season just for their coveted PSL.

What does pumpkin spice do to your body? ›

Pumpkin spice can be good for you, too!

Fortunately, the ingredients in pumpkin spice also can be good for your health: Cinnamon can help lower blood pressure and blood sugar. Allspice can support digestive health, help reduce inflammation, and keep your immune system functioning well.

Is pumpkin spice inflammatory? ›

The spices in pumpkin spice have anti-inflammatory properties, which may help to reduce chronic inflammation. Boosts the immune system: Some of the spices in pumpkin spice, such as ginger and cloves, have immune-boosting properties. This means that they may help to protect your body from infection.

What's the difference between pumpkin spice and pumpkin pie spice? ›

Pumpkin pie spice, also known as pumpkin spice, is an American spice mix commonly used as a flavoring for pumpkin pie, but does not include pumpkin as an ingredient. Pumpkin pie spice is similar to the British and Commonwealth mixed spice.

What flavor goes best with pumpkin spice? ›

WHAT FLAVOR GOES WELL WITH PUMPKIN? Pumpkin is a versatile ingredient that pairs well with both sweet and savory flavors. To complement pumpkin with sweet flavor pairings, consider using spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and vanilla, or sweet ingredients like chocolate, maple, honey, cranberries or brown sugar.

Why is pumpkin spice so addictive? ›

Scarcity, flavor, and nostalgia equal obsession.

People's obsession with pumpkin spice is an intriguing psychological occurrence. The taste of pumpkin spice may be desirable due to its scarcity, as it's only available during the fall. In addition to flavor and taste, pumpkin spice can also create nostalgia.

What is a substitute for a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice? ›

To get 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, use ¾ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon ginger, allspice, cloves or nutmeg, whatever you have! If you have two of the above spices, use ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon of whichever two spices you do have.

Can I use pumpkin pie spice instead of nutmeg and cinnamon? ›

Since it contains nutmeg and other similar spices, you can easily replace nutmeg with pumpkin pie spice in equal quantities in most recipes. Pumpkin pie spice is a spice blend made with nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, and ginger. It has a similar taste to that of nutmeg and can be swapped in at a 1:1 ratio.

What was pumpkin spice originally used for? ›

Historical Context: The term "pumpkin spice" likely originated from traditional pumpkin pie spices used in American and Western cuisines. These spices have a long history of being used in pumpkin pie recipes, which date back to the early days of American colonial cooking.

What state is the most pumpkin spice obsessed? ›

Pumpkin spice desserts appear to be the most popular dish on the map by a long shot. Pumpkin spice cakes, donuts, rolls, pie, pudding, and Oreos reign supreme in states like Florida, Louisiana, California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada.

What is a fun fact about pumpkin spice? ›

In 1675 the first recipe to call for the mix of pepper, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon known today as pumpkin spice was used. The four spices can also be combined with ginger and all spice depending on where you live. A company known to prepackage these spices in a handy shaker started doing so in the late 1930's.

What is the weirdest pumpkin spice product? ›

10 Of The Weirdest Pumpkin-Spiced Flavored Items
  • Salmon. The first thought that comes to my mind is, “Why would anyone want to ever eat this?” The fishy flavor of salmon can't taste good with the delicacy of pumpkin spice. ...
  • Cough Drops. ...
  • Cat Litter. ...
  • Kraft Mac and Cheese. ...
  • Deodorant. ...
  • Butter. ...
  • Lube. ...
  • Toilet Paper.
Oct 9, 2023

What is the significance of pumpkin spice? ›

After all, pumpkin spice is more than just a spice blend used in drinks and desserts. It's a symbol of fall and all the joy that comes with the season: leaves falling from trees, the cooler weather, and the impending holidays.

What is the actual flavor of pumpkin spice? ›

What Is Pumpkin Spice? Pumpkin spice, originally known as pumpkin pie spice, is typically made with a blend of ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and occasionally allspice. It doesn't actually have any pumpkin flavor in it — however, it is used to flavor a pumpkin pie, which is likely how it got its name.

Why do people go crazy for pumpkin spice? ›

Scarcity, flavor, and nostalgia equal obsession.

People's obsession with pumpkin spice is an intriguing psychological occurrence. The taste of pumpkin spice may be desirable due to its scarcity, as it's only available during the fall. In addition to flavor and taste, pumpkin spice can also create nostalgia.

What is the story of pumpkin spice? ›

The original pumpkin spice recipe was recorded in 1675 in Britain. It was then called 'pumpion pye'. It consisted of pepper, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. With the popularity of this spice in Britain and pumpkin, the winter squash gaining traction in America gave birth to the pumpkin pie spice.

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