Pumpkin Desserts That Go Way Beyond Pie

By Nina Friend
October 04, 2018
So you love pumpkin season but you’re tired of plain old pie. Good news for you: There’s a world of non-pie pumpkin desserts out there, and we’ve compiled our favorites. From pumpkin-shaped cakes to iced pumpkin cookies, these 20 inventive recipes are sure to make you say, “Oh my gourd!”
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Pumpkin Desserts That Go Way Beyond Pie

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Pumpkin Cheesecake with Pecan Praline Topping

© Stephanie Foley

It’s like pumpkin pie and pecan pie had a love child, minus the pie.

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Pumpkin Tiramisu

In this recipe from former Food & Wine Editor-in-Chief Dana Cowin, silky pumpkin mousse gets cozy with coffee-dipped ladyfingers in this fall-inspired version of tiramisu.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars with Caramel Swirl

© Alexandra Rowley

With these cheesecake bars, Food & Wine Culinary Director Justin Chapple has created the perfect fall dessert. In addition to loads of pumpkin, there’s a crust of chocolate wafer cookies and a decadent homemade caramel.

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Pumpkin-Gingersnap Tiramisù

© Lucy Schaeffer

This pumpkin-centric take on classic tiramisu layers pumpkin mascarpone with Calvados-brushed gingersnap cookies to create a dessert that’s equal parts creamy and crumbly.

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Cinnamon-Brown Sugar Pumpkin Seeds

If you’re a pumpkin lover, you’ve likely had toasted pumpkin seeds. This version calls for tossing the seeds in butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar, making a traditionally savory snack sweet.

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Warm Pumpkin Cake

This take on English steamed pudding calls for a variety of flavors and spices, from dates and lemon juice to ginger and cloves.

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Pumpkin Pudding with Mile-High Meringue

© John Kernick

These puddings are kind of like miniature pumpkin pies without any crust, but there’s a special addition of hot caramel cream that’s whisked into the pudding.

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Pumpkin Cookies

The spice in these cakey cookies is well balanced: they’re filled with candied ginger yet topped with a sugary glaze.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart with Cranberry Gelée

© Anna Williams

This unique tart gets its beautiful, ruby-red finish from fresh cranberries that are made into a gelée.

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Pumpkin Spice Latte

© Evi Abeler

We know what you’re thinking: a coffee drink isn’t dessert! But this homemade PSL, topped with a mountain of whipped cream, might as well be liquid pumpkin pie. So yes, we’re counting it as dessert.

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Harvest Mousse with Spiced Almond Tuiles

Although Barbara Lynch’s harvest mousse calls for butternut squash, you can definitely sub in pumpkin—either fresh or canned.

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Mini Spiced Pumpkins

© David Malosh

When pumpkin is the name of the game, go big or go home. Though these personal pumpkin spice cakes are small in size, they definitely go big in terms of flavor and decoration.

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Pumpkin-Gingerbread with Lemony Cashew Cream

© Sarah Bolla

The density of this dairy-free gingerbread cake pairs perfectly with the lightness of the lemony cashew cream.

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Pumpkin Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting

The slight tang in the caramel-cream cheese frosting gives this cake a flavor not often found in super sweet pumpkin desserts.

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Chocolate Panna Cotta with Spiced Pepita Brittle

Con Poulos

This chocolate panna cotta has just a hint of pumpkin, thanks to the spiced pepita brittle served on the side.

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Gluten-Free Pumpkin-Ginger Cupcakes

Why have one frosting when you can have two? These gluten-free pumpkin-ginger cupcakes are topped with cream cheese mascarpone frosting that’s drizzled with caramel sauce.

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Toasted Hazelnut Pumpkin Cake with Espresso Icing

© Sarah Bolla

There are a ton of flavors going on in this cake, from cardamom to espresso, yet somehow they all work together. And they’re made even better with a cappuccino.

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Pumpkin Parfaits

© Christina Holmes

These silky parfaits are an instant crowd-pleaser. Make them in mini cups for individual desserts or a large bowl for a trifle-style masterpiece.

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Pumpkin Cookies with Dried Fruit and Pistachios

More similar to scones than cookies, these pumpkin-filled treats get their great texture from a smattering of ingredients typically found in fruitcake: dried cherries, dried currants, dried apricots, and pistachios.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake with Brown-Butter Pears

This rendition of pumpkin cheesecake is elevated by the topping of pears sauteed in brown butter. The final product is rich, nutty, and of course pumpkin-y.

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