Beyond Pumpkin Pie: 10 Creative Ways to Use Pumpkin

When you think of fall, you probably think cooler temps, earlier sunsets, changing leaves, Halloween, and pumpkins.

I love the cooling off of fall, I'm good with getting The Dudes in bed earlier, I have offspring to rake my leaves, and Halloween is my favorite holiday.

But, pumpkins?

Shiver.

They're a mess to carve and I hate pumpkin pies, passionately. I swore off of pumpkin flavored things in the 8th grade and haven't looked back.

Until I got this pumpkin flavored latte.

World. Opened!

I've started baking pumpkin into all sorts of edible treats and, believe it or not, there are just so many other ways to enjoy pumpkin in this world!

Here are a few cool ones to try.

Iced pumpkin coffee cake.

Anything with icing is a yes for me, especially if you get to eat it with a side of coffee.

Pumpkin bread pudding with caramel pecan sauce.

I'm not a huge fan of bread pudding (soggy bread is so not my jam), but the caramel sauce on this one is really trying to win me over. Either way, super good dessert idea for a fall sit-down celebration.

{ MORE: 5 Family Activities in Honor of Memorial Day }

Roasted pumpkin seeds.

These are an awesome, low fat, good for you snack idea. Perfect thing to do with all of those seeds you yank out of the jack-o-lanterns you carve for Halloween!

Pumpkin dessert.

It's kinda like cake, but with pumpkin and a crunchy topping. Hello, tasty things that are winning!

Diabetic Friendly Pumpkin Pie.

If you really, really, really need to have pie, especially to share with your diabetic family members, this one is a guaranteed win. Everything (a)Musing Foodie makes is deliciousness. Added bonus: if for some reason you don't want to eat the pumpkin pie (me, me, me!), looking at it will be pleasing too.

{ MORE: Check Out These Ultra-Quick, Ultra-Healthy, Ultra-Delicious Frozen Dinner Ideas }

Pumpkin syrup.

Not really down with a whole entire pumpkin thing? Yeah, sometimes me either. Pumpkin syrup adds a hint of pumpkin flavor to your mornings. You can serve it with pancakes or waffles or go all fancy and make the crepes in this recipe!

Painted pumpkins.

Technically, you don't really have to eat pumpkins to have fun with them. I love this idea because I kinda hate carving them for Halloween. Mine always come out terribly and the squirrels just eat them anyway. This looks like a natural way to keep the squirrels away!

Pumpkin Playdough.

Yep, your kid can eat it. They probably shouldn't (it's salty and probably crummy from their hands), but if your offspring is a dirt eater you can at least rest assured that this won't kill them! And, in fairness, the aroma of this stuff will probably have YOU sneaking a taste.

{ MORE: Strawberry Oatmeal Cookies: The Perfect Toddler Breakfast }

Pumpkin bowls.

For added table awesome, carve out the insides of some of those mini pumpkins and use them as bowls to serve a savory fall soup in. Or, to put dip in. Or, even a pumpkin flavored cider. It allows you to enjoy a hint of pumpkin flavor while also looking like a creative fall decor genius. Win. Win.

Pumpkin Whoopie pies.

Probably the most edible way to eat anything is when it's made into a whoopie pie.

{ MORE: The Very Best Toys for Imaginative Play }

What's your pumpkin jam?