What to Do with Leftover Pumpkin

Find the easiest ideas for what to do with leftover pumpkin you may have left from cooking or baking. Find recipes for pumpkin cookies, muffins, cupcakes, smoothies, oatmeal, and more.

Leftover Pumpkin Ideas

I know firsthand how irritating it can be to buy a can of pumpkin, use some in a recipe, then try to figure out what to do with the rest of it. This list is here to help. Included below are recipes that use less than a full can of pumpkin puree (or that work with leftover homemade pumpkin puree) so you have easy ideas at the ready to use the pumpkin up.

Recipes for Pumpkin Puree

All of these pumpkin recipes use less than a cup of pumpkin puree, so they’re a perfect way to use it up if you have some left. (These are especially great for doing kid-friendly Thanksgiving recipes or if you’re cooking or make-ahead Christmas breakfast ideas when you might have extra.)

(You might also like Healthy Pumpkin Muffins, Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting, Switch Witch, and Pastina Soup.)

Easy Pumpkin Oatmeal

Start the day on a nutritious and totally delish note with this super easy Pumpkin Oatmeal. It has all the spice you expect from a pumpkin recipe but requires just 5 ingredients and about 10 minutes (or less!) of cooking. Win!

Easy Pumpkin Oatmeal

You can make this in about 15 minutes on any morning, or make the whole recipe ahead and simply warm right before serving. See the Notes for variations to make it with other types of oats.

Easy Pumpkin Oatmeal

Favorite Pumpkin Smoothie

If you find yourself wanting to serve up a delicious pumpkin treat that packs serious nutrition, try this Pumpkin Smoothie. It’s creamy, indulgent, and a nice way to serve up a veggie for breakfast! And it’s a perfect option for finishing up leftover pumpkin puree you may have from baking.

Favorite Pumpkin Smoothie

This creamy Pumpkin Smoothie has delicious pumpkin-pie-like flavor and is a delicious meal component or snack. This makes two toddler-size servings, or a smoothie to share for a parent and toddler. You can freeze any leftovers into a freezer pop!

Favorite Pumpkin Smoothie

Healthy Pumpkin Bars Recipe

You can quickly stir together this Healthy Pumpkin Bars recipe (with oatmeal and low added sugar) for breakfast, snack time, or even dessert. The method is so quick and easy, and the result is moist and full of pumpkin goodness. Win, win!

Healthy Pumpkin Bars Recipe

You can quickly stir together this Healthy Pumpkin Bars recipe (with oatmeal and low added sugar) for breakfast, snack time, or even dessert. The method is so quick and easy and the result is moist and full of pumpkin goodness. Win, win!

Healthy Pumpkin Bars Recipe

Mini Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

With a simple stir-together method, and just-sweet-enough flavor, these mini Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins are a yummy fall treat to share with the kids. Plus, they store so well!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

These whole grain Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins have delicious pumpkin flavor and just enough chocolate chips. They're moist and a great breakfast or snack to share with the kids.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Healthy Pumpkin Mini Muffins

With just a handful of nutritious ingredients, these Healthy Pumpkin Muffins are a treat we love to make and enjoy each fall for breakfast, snack time, or as a simple side dish for dinner. And the recipe is easy to adjust for allergies as needed!

Healthy Pumpkin Muffins

With just a handful of nutritious ingredients and an easy method, these Healthy Pumpkin Muffins are a perfect treat to share. We love to make and enjoy these each fall for breakfast, snack time, or as a simple side dish for dinner. (This recipe has very little flour—that is not a mistake.)

Healthy Pumpkin Muffins

Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins

Make these healthy (and so easy) Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins to share with the kids for breakfast or snack—with or without chocolate chips!

Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins

These store well in the fridge so you can make them a day or two ahead if you prefer—or bake and serve warm from the oven. These taste like a cross between baked oatmeal and a traditional pumpkin muffin (they don’t have any flour, so they’re a little denser than a traditional muffin, but still super moist!).

Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins

Pumpkin Pancakes

These are the fluffiest pancakes and are so delicious to use up a little bit of pumpkin puree.

Favorite Pumpkin Pancakes

These Pumpkin Pancakes stir together in one bowl, are fluffy and flavorful, and are a perfect breakfast to share with the kids. They're made with whole wheat flour and just enough spice.

Favorite Pumpkin Pancakes

Pumpkin French Toast

This method for making French Toast is super easy and versatile. Look in the Notes of the recipe for the pumpkin version.

Easy French Toast Sticks (Freezer-Friendly)

Use this easy method to make the best French Toast Sticks to share with your kids. They freeze so well!

Easy French Toast Sticks (Freezer-Friendly)

Pumpkin Quesadilla

Whenever a holiday comes around, I feel like the internet explodes with ideas that always look a little too complicated for me. With three kids usually in close proximity, I have more of the “give me the easiest thing possible!” mentality, which brings me to: Halloween quesadillas!

5-Minute Halloween Dinner: Pumpkin Quesadilla

Have fun with Halloween dinner in just a few minutes—and get the kids fed before the festivities—with this easy pumpkin quesadilla. (It also works for lunch too!)

5-Minute Halloween Dinner: Pumpkin Quesadilla

Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas

Learn how to make a big batch of quesadillas for the family all at the same time with these easy oven-baked Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas. They’re flavorful, straightforward, and so delish!

Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas

These easy quesadillas can be made with pumpkin puree, sweet potato puree, or butternut squash puree. You can also skip it and just go with beans and cheese! I make these as half moon shapes since it helps contain the mess a little when feeding these to kids.

Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas

Pumpkin Chocolate Baked Donuts

If you’re looking for a fun and easy breakfast for the littles come fall, these Baked Chocolate Pumpkin Donuts are a yummy option. Plus: They’re flourless, nut-free, packed with protein, and so easy to make!

Pumpkin Chocolate Baked Donuts

Share a batch of flourless chocolate baked donuts for breakfast, snack time, or dessert. They're easy enough that the kids can help make the batter!

Pumpkin Chocolate Baked Donuts

Fluffy Pumpkin Cookies

These soft-baked cookies taste like mouthfuls of the most delicious pumpkin bread, in cookie form. They are made with just a few ingredients and are so perfect to share with the kids. I love this as a component on a cookie platter, a Thanksgiving dessert, or just something to bake (a few times!) during the fall.

Soft Pumpkin Cookies

These fluffy and Soft Pumpkin Cookies are soft and delicious, and they almost melt in your mouth. They take only 20 minutes to make and are perfect for Thanksgiving or winter holidays—or any time you have a craving. They're particularly pretty with a sprinkles on top!

Soft Pumpkin Cookies

Healthy Pumpkin Cookies with Chocolate Chips

These Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies are so impressively soft and light—and have a surprisingly small amount of added sweetener. Plus, the batter simply stirs together, so this is a recipe that even your little kids can help you make!

Healthy Pumpkin Cookies (with Chocolate Chips)

Light, tender, and bursting with cozy flavor, these Healthy Pumpkin Cookies are a yummy snack or dessert. (These fluffy cookies are not super sweet, so you can add 1-2 tablespoons granulated sugar to the batter if desired. We like them just fine as is with the chocolate chips for sweetness!)

Healthy Pumpkin Cookies (with Chocolate Chips)

Chewy Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Perfect for dessert, snack, or breakfast, these nutritious cookies are seriously delicious. And so easy to make!

Chewy Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Made with just a few pantry staples and an easy one-bowl method, these Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies are a satisfying snack, breakfast, or dessert to share. (Add more or less chocolate as you like!)

Chewy Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Mini Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

With a simple stir-together method, these easy Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting are a perfect fall dessert to share with the kids! They have less sugar than similar cupcakes yet deliver big time on both texture and flavor.

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

With a simple stir-together method, these easy Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting are a perfect fall dessert to share with the kids! They have less sugar than similar cupcakes yet deliver big time on both texture and flavor.

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

How to Store Leftover Pumpkin Puree

Transfer leftover pumpkin to a storage container and store in the fridge for up to a week. Or, transfer to a freezer bag, press flat, and freeze for up to a year. It’s best to measure out a common amount you may use in a recipe—so ½ cup or 1 cup—so you can thaw it in the fridge and use it in a recipe easily.

You can also freeze pumpkin puree in an ice cube tray, then freeze for 24 hours. Transfer the frozen cubes to a freezer bag, remove as much air as possible, and store in freezer. You can then add the frozen cubes directly to hot oatmeal and stir in to thaw. Or use them to make Pumpkin Smoothies.

Best Tips for Success

• Transfer leftover canned pumpkin puree to a storage container to keep in the fridge or freezer.
• If freezing, freeze in an amount you plan to use in a future recipe (so in ½ or 1 cup amounts) to ensure it’s easy to use.
• Use these recipe ideas with canned pumpkin or homemade pumpkin puree.

Related Recipes

Recipes

20 Best Healthy Apple Recipes for Kids

Recipes

Favorite Easy Pumpkin Recipes

Recipes

Kid-Friendly Thanksgiving Recipes

Vegetables

How to Roast Pumpkin (to Make Puree)

I’d love to hear your feedback on this post or know your favorite canned pumpkin recipe, so please comment below.

This post was first published November 2022.