It’s almost fall, y’all, and you know what that means. It’s time once again to bust out your boots and comfy knit sweaters, admire the vibrant hues of rust, orange and gold that line the landscape and pay homage to the season’s principal plant: the mighty pumpkin!
For many, nothing says autumn like a generous slice of pumpkin pie (preferably topped with a big dollop of whipped cream!). But pumpkin isn’t just for pie anymore. The seasonal staple has come a long way in recent years, and can now be found in everything from fudge, cookies and cakes to flavorful curry, risotto and pasta dishes.
There so many delicious and creative uses for pumpkin puree, we’d be hard-pressed to list them all. So here are 10 of our faves (the last three aren’t even food!):
- Enjoy it a latte. Recipes abound for homemade pumpkin spice lattes that rival the one at your local coffee shop.
- Season your smoothie. A few spoons of pumpkin puree can give your go-to smoothie recipe a seasonal boost!
- Add autumn to oats. Start your fall morning off right by mixing some pumpkin puree into your bowl of hearty oatmeal (tip: begin with just a spoonful and add to taste).
- Make a better butter. All you need are pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, sugar and a saucepan or slow cooker, and soon you’ll have a buttery, decadent topping for bagels, biscuits and scones.
- Elevate your dip. A little pumpkin puree can go a long way toward enhancing your favorite dip recipes (hint: it’s especially good in hummus and caramel dip!).
- Pump(kin) up your yogurt. Mix pumpkin puree with cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and plain, low-fat regular or Greek yogurt and top with granola and/or raisins for a seasonal twist on an old favorite.
- Lend fall flavor to chili. Add pumpkin puree to your favorite chili recipe for a sweet, subtle, earthy flavor that brings to mind everything autumn.
- Care for your hair. Pumpkin also makes an effective conditioning treatment! Mix a tablespoon of honey with a half cup of yogurt and a cup of pumpkin puree and apply to your hair, starting at the roots. Cover with a plastic shower cap for 15 minutes and then rinse and follow with your regular shampoo and conditioner.
- Whip up a facial mask. A moisturizing pumpkin mask is a great way to combat the dry fall air. Add two tablespoons of brown sugar (a powerful exfoliant!) to the hair conditioner recipe above for a simple one that’s perfect for all skin types! Spread a thin layer on your face and neck and let it set for 10 minutes.
- Make your own moisturizer. Create a soothing skin lotion by combining a half teaspoon of cinnamon with a half cup of canned pumpkin and a half cup of coconut oil. Apply the mixture to dry areas and rinse it off after 15 minutes. Store leftovers in your fridge for up to two weeks!