October and its seasonal traditions have arrived, and it would not be the season without pumpkins everywhere. Carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns can only go so far in passing the time, but there are different hobbies that involve pumpkins, such as baking.
If you just came from the Jefferson United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch, Mrs. Heather’s Pumpkin Patch or the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens and you have the urge to create more than just a porch decoration, here are some pumpkin-centered baking recipes perfect for the fall season.
Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Muffins
While typically you would expect to find recipes in a cookbook, a baking website or a YouTube video, this first recipe comes from a user on X, formerly known as Twitter. Topped with fluffy swirls of cream cheese, these pumpkin spice muffins are a perfect first bite into autumn.
While the recipe is pretty straightforward, it does allow for leeway with the amount of cinnamon and nutmeg added to these handfuls of pumpkin sweetness. It is up to the baker’s desire how strong they wish for their muffins to taste, although they will end up scrumptious no matter the volume.
Brown Butter Pumpkin Cheesecake Snickerdoodles
Are you looking to spice up the traditional snickerdoodle cookie recipe? If so, this recipe will satisfy both your craving for something different and your yearning for typical fall festivities.
Instead of using straight-out-the-can, wet pumpkin puree, the instructions require you to squeeze dry ⅔ of a cup, so be ready for even more kitchen messiness than usual. The cinnamon sugar sparkling off the surface of these treats will only strengthen your longing for colder weather in this mild Louisiana weather, and those bites full of cheesecake filling will leave you wanting more.
Pumpkin Pie Bars
Regular pumpkin pies usually come out of the woodwork closer to Thanksgiving; however, that doesn’t stop the flavor from presenting itself in other orange delights, such as these pumpkin pie bars. The crust, the best part of a pie, in this recipe will be made primarily from graham crackers and pecans. These nuts allow for a toastier flavor, according to the recipe’s author, Sally McKenney.
Interestingly enough, McKenney shares her secret ingredient of this recipe: a pinch of black pepper. While it does seem a little unconventional, McKenney guarantees it only enhances the delicious flavor.
Pumpkin Roll
Cinnamon rolls? Nope. Pumpkin cinnamon rolls? Not quite. This recipe is simply one long pumpkin roll. It may seem slightly odd to those venturing out of the typical roll-like recipes, but this Swiss roll cake will definitely live up to the mouthwatering reputation of the traditional treats.
As cinnamon sugar is typically rolled between the swirls of dough, the fluffiness of a roll increases tenfold with cream cheese laced within the sponge cake instead. Do not be discouraged by the inclusion of ground cloves in the cake portion and apple cider vinegar in the cream cheese frosting; it is more fulfilling to play around with ingredients one is not as familiar with, especially in the case of baking.
Pumpkin Brownies
If you’re looking to combine the delectable richness of chocolate and the seasonal taste of pumpkin, look no further than these pumpkin brownies. Coated with the specks of flaky salt and the two contrasting batters swirled together, these brownies offer a different spin on how you can make use of the edibility of a pumpkin.
What makes them even more tempting is the ease of the recipe. You only need to make one batter from scratch because the brownie portion simply calls for a store-bought package. As for the creation of the pumpkin batter, you will only need cream cheese, pumpkin, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla.
Pumpkin Pie
While I did mention it usually makes its appearance more so by Thanksgiving, it wouldn’t be a pumpkin baking recipe list without the classic pumpkin pie. The recipe calls for the typical ingredients one would think of for a pumpkin pie. However, it does stand out with its creative add-ons.
The instructions tell you how to make sugared cranberries and cut-out, leaf-shaped pie crust pieces, which these extras will be adorned on the top of the pie. These edible decorations will only enhance your dessert’s presentation and its overall taste.
