Pumpkin season is officially here! If you haven’t already picked up a locally grown pumpkin from one of our favorite area pumpkin patches, now is a great time to do so! Once you bring it home and the kids have cleaned it out and given it a scary face, you can turn the pumpkin remains into something delicious.
Thankfully, there’s no shortage of fall themed dessert recipes, but it’s a little harder to find wholesome meals that aren’t loaded with sugar. Luckily for us, local Nebraska food bloggers have given us a healthy mix of both, so you can enjoy a plate of pasta, a bowl of oatmeal, or even a donut — all pumpkin themed!
Read through these recipes from Nebraska bloggers and be inspired to serve up some delicious seasonally-inspired meals the whole family will enjoy!
Breakfast
Photo courtesy of An Affair from the Heart
Okay, so this breakfast is a bit more indulgent than the others — but definitely worth it! No one can turn down a pumpkin, French Toast combo. Baking time is about 35 minutes so this is a great recipe to throw in the oven while everyone is getting ready in the morning. Or, bake it on Sunday morning and warm up the house with smells of cinnamon and pumpkin!
Photos courtesy of Lille Punkin’
We loved the addition of butterscotch chips in this pumpkin muffin recipe. They add the perfect amount of sweetness while still embracing a fall taste — and the caramelized butterscotch on the bottom is a welcome surprise! These would be a wonderful grab-and-go breakfast option or the perfect addition to your afternoon snack time.
Photo courtesy of Her Heartland Soul
Pumpkin, Nutella, walnuts and almond milk give this hearty oatmeal a wide range of delicious flavors — all reminiscent of autumn. The natural oats and almond milk also add necessary vitamins and fiber, so you can still stay healthy! It’s a win-win and the kids are guaranteed to love the taste.
Appetizer
Photos courtesy of Hostess at Heart
Unlike standard dessert pumpkin breads, this bread is far less sweet and perfect as an appetizer or side dish. This recipe makes either two loaves of bread or 16 dinner rolls, so you’ll be able to feed the whole family. The subtle pumpkin flavor is the ideal complement to any fall meal. Pair it with one of the soups in the next section!
Dinner
Photo courtesy of You Go Girl!
This soup recipe is quick, easy and is guaranteed to make the whole family happy. You can prepare it vegetarian style or add chicken like Susan at You Go Girl did. The heavy cream makes this a rich and creamy soup — which is perfect for staying warm when the temperature starts to drop this time of year!
Photos courtesy of Bakes In Slippers
This soup recipe is made with butternut squash instead of pumpkin, but it’s way too delicious to leave out — and it’s garnished with pumpkin seeds! Granny Smith apples add a sweet flavor and round out the fall harvest line-up. We suggest serving this with the Pumpkin Yeast Bread to make an impressive pairing and a scrumptious meal!
Dessert
Photos courtesy of Her Heartland Soul
Mookies are a combination of cookies and muffins — with chewy exteriors and doughy interiors (a.k.a the best dessert ever). They’re also one of the easiest desserts to make and they only take 20 minutes in the oven! These pieces of pumpkin heaven will quickly become a family staple.
There’s no shortage of pumpkin cupcake recipes during the fall, but this one turns a store bought cake mix into a pumpkin packed treat. Swapping pumpkin puree for water and adding pumpkin spice make these cupcakes soft, spicy and sweet in the best way possible. Bake a batch today and you’ll be craving more by next week!
Photos courtesy of Sweet Country Chaos
This Nebraska blogger turned her grandmother’s classic pumpkin bread recipe into a gluten-free loaf to satisfy the whole family. She even uses a whole pumpkin her kids choose from a local pumpkin patch, keeping this recipe both natural and gluten-free!
Photos courtesy of An Affair from the Heart
These pumpkin donuts can be finished with the glaze — like Michaela did — or dipped in cinnamon or drizzled with chocolate. Whatever topping you choose, you’ll be sure to impress everyone (and we won’t judge you if you eat these for breakfast, too). Pumpkin puree keeps these donuts soft and fall inspired!
Cocktails
Photo courtesy of An Affair from the Heart
As the weather gets colder and golden leaves fall off the maple trees, warm your hands and your belly with this Pumpkin Spice Hot Toddy. In this autumn variation, Michaela of An Affair From the Heart adds one tablespoon of pumpkin puree and replaces the sugar with her homemade Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup — which can be added to any drink!
Photos courtesy of The Gastronom
This delicious cocktail celebrates the apple harvest and pumpkin season! The caramel and vanilla notes of bourbon, the tartness of apple cider, and the earthy sweetness of pumpkin make this the perfect creamy cocktail. Served over ice, this chilled fall drink would be perfect for sipping by the fireplace.
What’s cooking?
Explore the blogs of these Nebraska bloggers for even more recipes — both pumpkin and non-pumpkin related. Then, share photos and stories of your own successful pumpkin exploits in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter.
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