These 5 Pumpkin Desserts Will Make You Trick-o-Treat Your Way Through Halloween

Pumpkin is a Halloween staple and what better way to enjoy the spooky season than by trying pumpkin desserts? Don on your baking gear and get baking with these easy pumpkin bakes!

Halloween is around the corner and there’s no better a time than now to get cooking with the humble pumpkin! We’ll go the unconventional route and pick desserts made of kaddu. Trust us on this, your guests or you won’t crinkle your nose at these lip-smacking pumpkin desserts.

While the pumpkin is an Indian staple, it’s not as popular in the form of a dessert as it is for Americans. But, we do love a good Halloween party, don’t we? So why not try your hand at these simple pumpkin desserts from scratch?

1. Pumpkin Cupcakes

Cream cheese frosting and moist pumpkin cake come together for the ultimate autumnal delight, especially when they are in miniature bite-sized forms. Beyond pumpkin pie and lattes, pumpkin cupcakes have become a beloved treat during this season.

Pumpkin cupcakes derive their flavor and color from the pumpkin puree; even a half cup of pumpkin puree is enough to impart that signature pumpkin flavor uniformly through the cupcake. If that is not orangey enough for you, consider adding orange food coloring. Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger are commonly added to complement the almost subtle taste of pumpkin. For extra richness and moisture, consider adding cream cheese or yogurt to the batter.

Once baked, the cupcakes will have a tender crumb and a slightly sweet taste. Add a touch of frosting or glaze to top them off. Cream cheese frosting is a classic choice that pairs beautifully with the pumpkin. Buttercream frostings and cinnamon glazes are also delicious options. For those watching their sugar intake, a dusting of powdered sugar provides a lovely light finish.

2. Baked Pumpkin Donuts

Light and spongy baked donuts topped with cinnamon sugar are a festive indulgence perfect for Halloween gatherings. Rather than deep frying the donuts, bake them; this allows you to enjoy all the pumpkin spice flavor without extra calories or fat.

Simply mix pumpkin puree into the dough along with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. The pumpkin adds moisture and natural sweetness so less sugar is needed. Shape and cut the dough into donut rounds, which are the perfect shape for decorating.

Once baked (they will be lightly golden), sprinkle a simple mixture of cinnamon and granulated sugar over the warm donuts, which will caramelize slightly and thicken the flavor. Go all out by decorating with orange or black sprinkles, halved chocolate chips for eyes, and biscuit sticks stuck in for fangs.

3. Pumpkin Pie

Nothing quite says "Halloween" like pumpkin pie, as compared to other pumpkin bakes. Its deep orange filling and spicy pumpkin flavor have made it a quintessential part of Halloween celebrations for generations.

While pumpkin pie is enjoyed year-round, it finds itself in the limelight during the Halloween season. Pumpkin puree, eggs, milk, and cream, come together to create pumpkin pie's moist and velvety center. Subtle hints of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves are interspersed throughout, evoking the cozy aroma of autumn.

Baking the pie allows the flavors to deepen as the spices unfurl. A light golden brown crust cradles the velvety filling, contrasting beautifully with the pie's orange interior. To decorate, consider a spooky Jack-o'-lantern face on the pie.

4. Spooky Eyeball Pops

Get in the spooky spirit by making these pumpkin-based eyeballs in the form of pops. To make your own pumpkin puree, add pumpkin pieces on a baking tray and roast at 180°C until the flesh is very soft, for about 1 hour. Scoop out the pulp and mash it until smooth.

This pumpkin puree will have a texture similar to gelatin. Simply add it to a mold along with 2-3 tbsp of a sweetener of your choice, such as honey. Once set, remove from the molds and attach popsicle sticks. For an extra spooky touch, use food coloring to tint sections of the "eyeballs" different shades of orange and add 1/2 tsp black sprinkles for pupils. You can also get creative drawing on veins or adding googly eyes.

If this feels like too much effort consider dipping the balls in white chocolate and adding googly eyes right after. The eyes won’t stick if the chocolate cools down. Using an edible food ink pen, add the red arteries and veins to make it look more realistic.

5. Pumpkin Pudding

The base of pumpkin pudding is the pumpkin puree. The pumpkin is mixed with milk or cream, and sweet condensed milk is often added to thicken the pudding and act as a sweetener. Spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves are stirred in as well to accentuate the pumpkin’s flavor.

The mixture is then poured into a baking dish and baked until just set, about an hour. Alternatively, it can be chilled in the refrigerator overnight to allow the flavors to fuse together. A topping of whipped cream provides a nice contrast in texture and cuts any richness.

With its silky smooth texture and subtle pumpkin flavor, a pudding allows the taste of the pumpkin to really shine. Unlike a pie, which can be heavy with its crust and thick filling, a pudding is more delicate and easier to enjoy without being heavy on the stomach.