12 Pumpkin Desserts So Good You Might Forget About Pie This Year

Pumpkin pie is great, but have you ever wondered what else that can of pumpkin can do? These pumpkin desserts take all the cozy fall flavor you love and turn it into rolls, bars, donuts, mousse and more. Most are easy enough for a beginner, and every one of them will make your kitchen smell like autumn. Which one will win your heart this season? Let us find out..

1. Classic Pumpkin Roll, the Showstopper of Pumpkin Desserts

The pumpkin roll is the dessert that always gets a gasp when you slice it. A soft, spiced pumpkin sponge cake is rolled around a sweet cream cheese filling, making a pretty swirl in every slice. It looks hard, but the towel trick makes it simple. Bake it a day ahead, chill it, and dust it with powdered sugar right before serving. Have you ever made one?

You will need: 3 eggs, 1 cup sugar, 2/3 cup pumpkin puree, 3/4 cup flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, pinch of salt. Filling: 8 oz cream cheese, 4 tbsp butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla.

How to make it: Heat oven to 375 F and line a 10×15 pan with parchment. Beat eggs and sugar, add pumpkin, then dry ingredients. Spread in pan and bake 13 to 15 minutes. Roll the warm cake in a towel dusted with powdered sugar and cool. Beat the filling, unroll, spread, roll again and chill 1 hour.

2. Pumpkin Bars With Cream Cheese Frosting (Crowd Favorite Pumpkin Desserts)

If you need a pumpkin dessert for a crowd, this is it. These soft, cakey bars bake in one big pan and get covered in tangy cream cheese frosting. They are moist, perfectly spiced and so easy to cut and share. Bring them to school events, potlucks or Thanksgiving and watch the pan empty fast. Who in your life would ask for this recipe first? It is one of the easiest pumpkin desserts to share.

You will need: 4 eggs, 1 2/3 cups sugar, 1 cup oil, 1 can pumpkin puree (15 oz), 2 cups flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, 2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 1/2 tsp salt, cream cheese frosting.

How to make it: Heat oven to 350 F and grease a 10×15 pan. Beat eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin. Stir in the dry ingredients. Spread in the pan and bake 25 to 30 minutes. Cool fully, then spread frosting and cut into squares.

3. Soft Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

These soft and pillowy pumpkin cookies are a fun project for kids and adults. The dough is made with real pumpkin, so the cookies stay tender for days. Decorate them with orange icing and chocolate faces for Halloween, or just roll them in cinnamon sugar for a simple treat. Quick poll: how do you like your cookies? A) Soft and cakey B) Chewy C) Crispy. Kids love helping with pumpkin desserts like these.

You will need: 1/2 cup butter softened, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup pumpkin puree, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, 2.5 cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp salt, icing to decorate.

How to make it: Heat oven to 350 F. Cream butter and sugar. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients. Drop spoonfuls on a lined sheet and flatten slightly. Bake 12 to 14 minutes. Cool and decorate with icing.

4. Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Pumpkin spice lovers, this one is for you. These tender cupcakes are full of warm spices and topped with a big swirl of cream cheese frosting. They are perfect for fall birthdays, bake sales or a cozy weekend baking session. A sprinkle of cinnamon on top makes them look bakery fancy with zero effort. Would you add A) cinnamon B) caramel drizzle or C) chopped pecans on top? Cupcakes are the most party ready pumpkin desserts on this list.

You will need: 1.5 cups flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup pumpkin puree, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup oil, 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla, cream cheese frosting.

How to make it: Heat oven to 350 F and line a muffin pan. Whisk dry ingredients. In another bowl mix pumpkin, sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla. Combine. Fill cups two thirds full. Bake 18 to 20 minutes. Cool and frost.

5. Baked Pumpkin Spice Donuts

No fryer needed for these! Baked pumpkin donuts are soft like cake and covered in a sweet maple glaze. They come together in one bowl and bake in only about ten minutes. Make them on a weekend morning and enjoy them warm with coffee. If you do not have a donut pan, bake them in a muffin tin and call them donut muffins. Nobody will complain. Pumpkin desserts for breakfast? Yes, please.

You will need: 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp baking powder, 1.5 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 cup pumpkin puree, 1/4 cup oil, 1 egg, 1/4 cup milk. Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tbsp milk.

How to make it: Heat oven to 350 F and grease a donut pan. Mix dry ingredients, then stir in pumpkin, oil, egg and milk. Pipe batter into the pan. Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Cool 5 minutes, then dip in the maple glaze.

6. Mini Pumpkin Hand Pies

All the joy of pumpkin pie, but in a cute little pocket you can hold. These hand pies use store bought pie crust, so they are quick to make. A creamy spiced pumpkin filling is folded inside, and the tops get brushed with egg and sprinkled with sugar for a golden, crisp finish. They are perfect for lunch boxes, parties and fall picnics.

You will need: 2 refrigerated pie crusts, 3/4 cup pumpkin puree, 2 oz cream cheese softened, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 1 egg beaten, coarse sugar.

How to make it: Heat oven to 400 F. Mix pumpkin, cream cheese, sugar and spice. Cut 4 inch circles from the crusts. Add a spoon of filling to each and fold over. Press edges with a fork. Brush with egg and sprinkle sugar. Bake 15 to 18 minutes.

7. No Bake Pumpkin Mousse Cups (Quick Pumpkin Desserts)

Short on time? This no bake pumpkin mousse is light, fluffy and ready in about fifteen minutes. Whipped cream is folded into a spiced pumpkin and cream cheese mix, then spooned into small cups. Add a crumble of graham crackers for a pie like crunch. It is an elegant dessert for guests and an easy treat for a weeknight. Would you serve it in A) glasses B) jars or C) mini pie shells? It is one of the fastest pumpkin desserts you can make.

You will need: 1 cup pumpkin puree, 4 oz cream cheese softened, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1.5 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 cup heavy cream, crushed graham crackers.

How to make it: Beat cream cheese, pumpkin, powdered sugar, spice and vanilla until smooth. In another bowl whip the cream to stiff peaks. Gently fold the cream into the pumpkin mix. Spoon into cups over graham crumbs. Chill 1 hour and top with whipped cream.

8. Pumpkin Crumble With Oat Topping

This is a lazy baker dream. A creamy pumpkin custard layer gets covered with a buttery oat and pecan crumble and baked until golden. It tastes like pumpkin pie and apple crisp had a delicious baby. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and watch it melt into every corner. It is the easiest holiday dessert you will ever make. Lazy pumpkin desserts like this are perfect for busy holidays.

You will need: 1 can pumpkin puree (15 oz), 1 can evaporated milk, 2 eggs, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice. Topping: 1 cup oats, 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup chopped pecans, 1/2 cup cold butter.

How to make it: Heat oven to 350 F. Whisk pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar and spice and pour into a greased 9×13 dish. Mix the topping until crumbly and sprinkle over. Bake 45 to 50 minutes until set. Cool 15 minutes and serve warm.

9. Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

These cinnamon rolls have pumpkin right in the dough, which makes them extra soft and gives them a pretty golden color. They are filled with brown sugar and cinnamon and covered in a sweet glaze. Bake them for a slow weekend breakfast or a holiday morning. Pro tip: assemble them the night before, chill, and bake fresh in the morning.

You will need: Dough: 3/4 cup warm milk, 2 1/4 tsp yeast, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup pumpkin puree, 1/4 cup melted butter, 1 egg, 3.5 cups flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice. Filling: 1/3 cup butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tbsp cinnamon. Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tbsp milk.

How to make it: Mix milk, yeast and sugar. Add pumpkin, butter, egg, flour, salt and spice and knead 5 minutes. Rise 1 hour. Roll out, spread filling and roll up. Cut 12 rolls. Rise 30 minutes and bake at 350 F for 22 minutes. Drizzle with glaze.

10. Pumpkin Bread Pudding With Caramel

Got leftover bread? Turn it into one of the coziest desserts of the season. Cubes of bread soak up a rich pumpkin custard and bake into a soft, warm pudding with crispy edges. Drizzle with caramel sauce and add a few toasted pecans on top. It is comfort in a bowl. Quick question: A) caramel sauce or B) vanilla ice cream on top? Why not both? It might be the coziest of all pumpkin desserts.

You will need: 6 cups day old bread cubes (brioche or challah), 1 cup pumpkin puree, 3 eggs, 1.5 cups milk, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 1 tsp vanilla, caramel sauce, pecans.

How to make it: Heat oven to 350 F. Place bread in a greased baking dish. Whisk pumpkin, eggs, milk, cream, sugar, spice and vanilla. Pour over the bread and press down. Let soak 15 minutes. Bake 40 to 45 minutes until set. Top with caramel and pecans.

11. No Churn Pumpkin Ice Cream

Who says ice cream is only for summer? This no churn pumpkin ice cream tastes like frozen pumpkin pie and needs no ice cream machine. Sweetened condensed milk and whipped cream make it smooth and scoopable straight from the freezer. Serve it in cones, between two ginger cookies, or on top of a warm slice of pumpkin bread pudding. Frozen pumpkin desserts are a fun surprise at any fall party.

You will need: 2 cups heavy cream, 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz), 1 cup pumpkin puree, 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 1 tsp vanilla, pinch of salt.

How to make it: Whisk condensed milk, pumpkin, spice, vanilla and salt in a large bowl. Whip the cream to stiff peaks. Fold the cream into the pumpkin mix in two parts. Spread in a loaf pan and cover. Freeze 6 hours or overnight. Scoop and enjoy.

12. Silky Pumpkin Tart to Finish Your Pumpkin Desserts List

A pumpkin tart is the dressed up cousin of pumpkin pie. It has a buttery press in crust and a smooth, silky filling that bakes up perfectly flat and shiny. Since the crust is pressed by hand, there is no rolling pin needed. Finish each slice with a little whipped cream and a pinch of cinnamon. Will this one earn a spot on your holiday table? Thanks for baking along with these pumpkin desserts. Want more fall treats? See our cozy fall desserts and our Thanksgiving pies.

You will need: Crust: 1.5 cups graham cracker or cookie crumbs, 6 tbsp melted butter, 2 tbsp sugar. Filling: 1 can pumpkin puree (15 oz), 3/4 cup heavy cream, 2 eggs, 2/3 cup brown sugar, 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 1/2 tsp vanilla.

How to make it: Heat oven to 350 F. Press the crust mix into a tart pan and bake 8 minutes. Whisk all the filling ingredients until smooth. Pour into the crust. Bake 30 to 35 minutes until the center barely jiggles. Cool, chill and serve with whipped cream.