Chef John's 17 Best Pumpkin Recipes of All Time
From sweet to savory.
Dotdash Meredith Studios
Don't miss this autumn collection of Chef John's favorite pumpkin recipes, featuring all of his top-rated sweet hits, like pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin cinnamon rolls, and pumpkin bread, plus savory recipes like pork shoulder braised inside a pumpkin! And here's more good news for pumpkin people — many of these recipes call for pumpkin puree, so you can thrill with your favorite pumpkin treats all year long.
Chef John's Pumpkin Pie
Let's kick this off with a classic. "After many years of experimentation, I've finally perfected what I think is the ideal formula for a rich pumpkin pie that's also much less likely to crack on top," says Chef John. "Serve garnished with whipped cream and freshly grated nutmeg."
Chef John's Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
These gorgeous harvest gold-colored cinnamon rolls are filled with cinnamon sugar and topped with a cream cheese glaze. They're the ultimate fall treat. "The addition of pumpkin puree made these the best cinnamon rolls I've ever tasted," says Chef John.
Pumpkin Conchas
Chef John
Chef John's twist on Mexican sweet rolls with a crunchy sugar top have pumpkin puree in the dough and spices in the topping. "What makes conchas such a unique treat is the contrast between the light, airy, barely sweet bun, and the crisp, crunchy, much sweeter topping. Hot coffee sold separately."
Pumpkin Zeppole
SharkChaser
These light, not-too-sweet Italian doughnuts are made with a thick batter of flour, cinnamon, ricotta cheese, sugar, and pumpkin puree. You'll drop spoonfuls of batter into hot oil and fry them up for two to three minutes. "I usually toss these in cinnamon sugar when they're still slightly warm," says Chef John. "As in virtually every other pumpkin dessert, I think using pure canned pumpkin will give you the best results."
Chef John's Pumpkin Scones
Norma P
Have a little leftover pumpkin puree? This delicious recipe for pumpkin scones with toasted pine nuts (many cooks used pepitas instead) and a super-simple maple glaze is a terrific way to use it up. "Here's an example of how I would convince the public that pumpkin is great for any time of the year. Ironically, I did this because I had leftover pumpkin from Thanksgiving," Chef John says.
Chef John's Pumpkin Pancakes
LYNNINMA
Meet the perfect holiday brunch recipe. These pancakes are made with pumpkin puree and seasoned with cinnamon, ginger, and allspice. "This basic pancake recipe turns into a delicious holiday breakfast simply by adding pumpkin and some fall spices!" says Chef John.
Chef John's Pumpkin Bread
Perfect with a hot cup of coffee, this pumpkin bread puts a fall-friendly twist on banana bread. Delicious and super easy. "Better then any other pumpkin bread recipe I’ve tried, will definitely make again. Wonderfully moist, fluffy and not too sweet." – Amanda Winner
Low-Fat Pumpkin Flan
A rich and delicious custard dessert, pumpkin flan is perfect for fall dinner parties and could be an amazing dessert for Thanksgiving dinner. "First I want to say that I am a Spaniard and have tasted many a flan. I know my flans because I have grown up eating them my whole life. Your recipe has completely impressed my Spanish family and this is the third year we will be using this recipe to celebrate autumn. It is AMAZING!" – Seorita Cyra
Pumpkin Cheesecake
"We're combining America's favorite cheese-based dessert with America's favorite gourd!" says Chef John. "There's a lot of ingredients, but the good news is it's super-easy to do. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkling of toasted pumpkin seeds."
Chef John's Pumpkin Creme Brulee
"This is a great seasonal twist on the restaurant classic. The texture is actually closer to a pudding than a classic creme Brulee [sic], and of course, the star of the dish is the crisp sugar top. This is great for your busy holiday schedule since you can make them the day before and then finish the sugar torching before you serve," Chef John says.
Chef John's Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
Chef John
Chef John tweaked his original pumpkin bread recipe, adding "a little more of this, and a little less of that, but the most significant change was tossing in a large handful of chocolate chips." One reviewer raved, "Made this for my husband's boss, he said that if I made this for everyone it would bring about world peace. Chef John, you are a master."
Old Fashioned Pumpkin Butter
Chef John
Chef John says, "I can't think of a nicer thing to bring to a holiday gathering or to give as an edible gift" than a jar of pumpkin butter. You'll need a nice deep pot for this, so that as the mixture reduces, it doesn't spatter and burn your skin. This recipe calls for two cans of pumpkin puree, but you can always use fresh pumpkin.
Chef John's No-Knead Pumpkin Bread
"The flavor is very subtle, just a slight earthy undertone, and the tiny dash of spice is perceivable only to the nose," says Chef John. Reviewer Deb C writes, "This is the perfect bread for the busy holidays because it takes very little effort to put together the day before. The next morning simply shape it, let it rise, and bake. The bread has wonderful flavor and texture."
Salted Pumpkin Caramels
Chef John
Toasted pepitas add crunch to these delicious caramels. Chef John says, "Contrary to popular belief, making your own caramel candy is a relatively simple procedure, which doesn’t require any special skills or years of experience to pull off. You do need a trustworthy thermometer, some patience, and (most importantly), the ability to not stick your finger in the pot of boiling sugar while it’s cooking. But, other than that, this incredible salted pumpkin caramel recipe is absolutely something you can master. "
Chef John's Pumpkin-Braised Pork
This has to be the most autumn-appropriate way to cook pork shoulder ever. You'll marinate pieces of pork shoulder in a simple spice rub and brown them before cooking them in a large cooking pumpkin, like a sugar or pie pumpkin, with some hard cider to cover. "Season the pork any way you want," says Chef John. "I plated mine up with buttery mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts."
Spicy Pumpkin Pork Noodles
Chef John
This Italian Asian fusion dish "features a very unusual combination of pumpkin and Korean chile paste, which makes for one of the most delicious noodle dishes I've had in a long time. It's the perfect recipe for fall, but really, can be enjoyed any time of the year."
Red Curry Chicken and Pumpkin Soup
Chef John
"As the weather turns colder and the days get shorter, and maybe you start feeling those winter blues, make a big pot of this red curry chicken and pumpkin soup," says Chef John. "When people think of comfort food, they usually don't think of it as exciting and interesting, but this incredibly tasty soup is the rare exception."
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Read the original article on All Recipes.
