25 Fall Desserts That Use Canned Pumpkin

Canned pumpkin is one of the best baking ingredients cause it keeps forever in your pantry and makes everything super moist. You don’t have to wait for fall to make these – canned pumpkin tastes the same year-round and is way easier than dealing with fresh pumpkins.

These 25 recipes give you everything from simple cookies to fancy desserts that’ll impress your friends. Most pumpkin desserts freeze really well too.

Pumpkin Pie

This is the classic that everyone expects at Thanksgiving. The filling is just pumpkin, eggs, cream, and spices mixed together and baked in a pie crust. The trick is not overbaking it – the center should still jiggle slightly when done. You can use store-bought crust to save time and nobody will care. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

This combines two amazing desserts into one. The pumpkin makes regular cheesecake more interesting and the cream cheese makes pumpkin dessert more rich. You gotta be careful not to crack the top which means baking it in a water bath or cooling it slowly. Takes forever to set up but it’s worth the wait. Perfect for when regular pumpkin pie feels too basic.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Bread

This is basically cake disguised as bread so you can eat it for breakfast without feeling guilty. The pumpkin keeps it incredibly moist for days. You can add chocolate chips or nuts if you want but it’s perfect plain too. Makes great gifts cause it keeps well and everyone likes it. Way easier than making actual bread with yeast and rising time.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Muffins

These are perfect for busy mornings cause you can grab one and go. The pumpkin makes them stay fresh longer than regular muffins. You can make a big batch and freeze half for later. Kids love these in their lunch boxes especially if you add mini chocolate chips. The batter comes together in one bowl which means less dishes to wash.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Cookies

These are soft and cake-like, not crispy like sugar cookies. The pumpkin keeps them from getting too dry even if you overbake them a little. You can frost them with cream cheese frosting or just dust with powdered sugar. They’re great for fall parties cause they’re easy to make a lot of and everyone can grab one. Store well in containers for several days.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Bars

These are like brownies but with pumpkin instead of chocolate. The cream cheese frosting on top is what makes them special – it’s tangy and balances the sweet spiced bars. You bake them in a big pan which makes them perfect for feeding a crowd. Cut into squares and they look all professional. Great for potlucks or bake sales.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Roll

This looks super fancy but isn’t actually that hard once you get the hang of rolling it without cracking. The key is rolling it in a towel while it’s still warm. The cream cheese filling is amazing and the whole thing looks impressive when you slice it. Takes some practice but even the ugly ones taste great. Perfect for holidays when you want something special.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Fudge

This is way easier than regular fudge cause you don’t have to worry about candy temperatures. Just melt white chocolate, mix in pumpkin and spices, then let it set up. The texture is smooth and creamy and the pumpkin flavor is subtle. Cut into small squares cause it’s rich. Great for giving as gifts during the holidays.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Tiramisu

This puts a fall twist on the classic Italian dessert. Instead of coffee you use pumpkin and spices in the mascarpone mixture. The ladyfingers soak up all the flavors and get soft and creamy. This needs to sit overnight to get the flavors right so plan ahead. Definitely a grown-up dessert that’s perfect for dinner parties.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Crème Brûlée

The hard sugar top on these makes them feel super fancy even though the custard underneath is pretty simple. You need a torch to caramelize the sugar which is always fun. The pumpkin flavor is subtle and sophisticated, not like pie filling. These look professional when you serve them. Perfect for when you want to show off but don’t want to spend all day cooking.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Mousse

This is light and airy unlike heavy pumpkin desserts. You fold whipped cream into pumpkin custard which makes it fluffy. It’s elegant enough for company but easy enough for weeknight dessert. You can serve it in fancy glasses with a dollop of whipped cream on top. Good for when you want something pumpkin-y but not too heavy after a big meal.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Pancakes

These turn regular weekend breakfast into something special. The pumpkin makes them extra fluffy and adds natural sweetness. They’re perfect with butter and maple syrup or even just powdered sugar. You can make the batter the night before which makes morning easier. Kids think these are a treat even though they’re basically just breakfast.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Brownies

Adding pumpkin to brownies makes them more moist and gives them a beautiful orange color. They’re not as intensely chocolatey as regular brownies but the pumpkin spice flavor is really good. Some recipes swirl pumpkin into chocolate batter which looks pretty when you cut them. These are less guilty than regular brownies cause of the vegetables, right?

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Donuts

These baked donuts are way easier than fried ones and less messy too. The pumpkin keeps them moist and the cinnamon sugar coating makes them taste like cake donuts from a good bakery. You need a donut pan but they’re cheap and worth having. Fresh warm donuts at home beat store-bought ones any day.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Ice Cream

This is perfect for when you want pumpkin dessert but it’s still hot outside. The spices make it taste like frozen pumpkin pie. You can make it with or without an ice cream maker depending what equipment you got. Serve with gingersnaps or graham crackers for crunch. Way more interesting than vanilla and perfect for fall dinner parties.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Trifle

Layer pumpkin mousse with cake and whipped cream in a big glass bowl so everyone can see all the pretty layers. You can use store-bought pound cake or make your own. The presentation is impressive but it’s actually pretty simple to put together. Great for feeding a crowd cause you can make it ahead. Everyone gets a different ratio of layers which keeps it interesting.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

These are like soft cookies with cream cheese frosting sandwiched between them. They’re bigger than regular cookies which makes them feel special. The cookies stay soft for days if you store them right. Kids love these cause they get to eat what’s basically cake with their hands. Perfect for lunch boxes or afternoon snacks.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Cake

This can be as simple or fancy as you want – sheet cake with cream cheese frosting or fancy layer cake with decorations. The pumpkin makes it incredibly moist and the spices smell amazing while baking. You can add nuts or leave them out depending on what people like. Perfect for birthday parties in the fall or just cause you want cake.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Pudding

This is like pumpkin pie filling but you eat it with a spoon instead of in a crust. It’s quicker to make than pie and you don’t have to worry about the crust getting soggy. You can serve it warm or cold depending on your mood. Top with whipped cream or eat it plain. Good for when you want pumpkin flavor but don’t want to make a whole pie.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Cupcakes

These are perfect for parties cause everyone gets their own individual dessert. The cream cheese frosting is traditional but you could do chocolate or caramel too. They’re easy to transport and kids can eat them without making a huge mess. You can decorate them all fancy for Halloween or just keep them simple. Freeze really well if you make too many.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Scones

These make regular breakfast feel special and fancy. They’re not as sweet as American scones – more like British ones. Perfect with coffee or tea on weekend mornings. The pumpkin makes them tender and adds flavor without being too strong. You can add dried cranberries or chocolate chips if you want but they’re great plain with butter.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

These take regular cinnamon rolls to the next level with pumpkin in the dough and extra spices. They’re perfect for special occasion breakfasts like Christmas morning or when you have overnight guests. The pumpkin makes the dough super soft and adds beautiful color. Takes some time but most of it is just waiting for the dough to rise.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Bread Pudding

This is a great way to use up stale bread and turns it into something amazing. The pumpkin custard soaks into the bread and makes it all creamy. Serve warm with caramel sauce or vanilla ice cream. You can make it ahead and just warm it up when you’re ready to eat. Perfect comfort food for cold nights.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Macarons

These are definitely the hardest thing on this list but they look so impressive when you get them right. The pumpkin adds color and flavor to the shells and you can fill them with pumpkin buttercream or cream cheese filling. They take practice to get perfect but even the ugly ones taste good. Great for when you really want to show off your baking skills.

Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

These combine the best parts of snickerdoodles and pumpkin cookies. They get rolled in cinnamon sugar before baking which makes them sparkly and sweet. The pumpkin makes them soft and chewy instead of crispy. They smell incredible while baking and taste even better. Perfect for when you can’t decide between regular cookies and pumpkin ones – now you don’t have to choose!

Get the recipe here.