Pumpkin’s friendly orange hue signals a turning towards the chillier months, our most festive occasions, family traditions and, of course, thinking up variations on ways to eat pumpkin. Pumpkin also offers a lot of health benefits like weight loss, better vision, boosting the immune system and lowering cancer risk, among others. Here are a few of the most creative, delectable and healthy pumpkin recipes for you to try for yourself. Donning your chunkiest sweater while preparing them is highly recommended.
1. Pumpkin Pie Reese’s
Playing with nostalgic favorites, this recipe creates a perfect mash-up between the beloved Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and our autumnal obsession: pumpkin pie. This healthified dessert recipe is made with no refined sugars, fillers or artificial ingredients, while being just as sweet and delectable as ever! It’s a deceptively simple, fun take on staples we grew up on.
2. Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
These gluten-free, dairy-free and paleo cinnamon rolls have an incredibly chewy flaky dough, cinnamon glaze and sweet luscious pumpkin flavor, all without common allergens or refined sugars. Easy on the tummy, easy on the eyes and easy on the taste buds, this decedent pumpkin-y breakfast treat will fill your home with the scents of fall, while helping you to avoid the sugar crash caused by carb-loading on your average cinnamon roll.
3. Gluten-Free Pumpkin Spiced Bread with Crystalized Ginger and Walnuts
Pumpkin and ginger are great friends. With the candied element of crystalized ginger and the warm crunch of toasty almonds, with this recipe you’ve got a fall bread recipe for the ages. The best part: it’s gluten-free!
4. Pumpkin Ginger Soup
Okay, not all pumpkin recipes have to be dessert, as is proven with this flavorful, gently spiced soup to warm you up. Creamy and vibrant in color and flavor, you’ll love this nourishing and beautiful autumnal bowl.
5. Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream with Caramel Flavored Topping
Okay, back to dessert. On the opposite end of the spectrum, for those fall days that aren’t quite so chilly or… what the heck even if they are, we still love ice cream. But a lot of people have difficulty digesting dairy, which can leave them out of the ice cream game. Bummer. Luckily a little coconut milk, pumpkin puree and a low GI natural sweetener can take care of that! Enjoy these frosty, pumpkin-y scoops without suffering any intestinal difficulties or exhausting your insulin reserves.
6. Pumpkin Pie Quinoa
If you’re the kind of person who wakes up with pumpkin on the brain this time of year, this pumpkin pie breakfast porridge is for you. Using quinoa as the high protein and fiber base to this pumpkin lover’s dream absolutely justifies having pumpkin pie for breakfast. No judgement here.
7. No Bake Sugar-Free Pumpkin Cheesecake
Who doesn’t love pumpkin cheesecake? Who doesn’t love feeling super guilty after eating it? Oh you don’t love feeling guilty? Well then try this sugar-free, no-bake version. It’s a creamy, fluffy slice of pumpkin cheesecake, but much lighter and easier to make.
8. Pumpkin Pie Protein Smoothie
For those mornings when you need something quick, protein-filled and, let’s be honest, you want to get away with having a milkshake for breakfast, this low sugar smoothie is just the thing.
9. Healthy Homemade Pumpkin Spiced Walnut Butter
Oh, the schmearing you’ll do. On toast, on pancakes even on veggies like cucumbers or celery, this pumpkin spiced walnut butter will win your heart and then leave you far too soon. But don’t be sad, another batch will come along before long. You just have to reach out and make it. Happy fall!
