15 Desserts That Call for a Can of Pumpkin (That Aren't Pumpkin Pie)

These desserts will have you saying, “Pumpkin pie who?”

By
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora's passion for cooking began early on as a young girl, working in the kitchen at her father's Greek diner in Brooklyn, NY. Her recipes have appeared on Delish, Spruce Eats, Today.com, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon, Dinnerly, Simply Recipes, and in various cookbooks.
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Published November 15, 2025
Theodora Kaloudis
Stack of pumpkin blondies with white chocolate and nuts

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

If you have a can of pumpkin handy and are looking for something easy to make other than pumpkin pie, you’re come to the right place. Chewy cookies, decadent no-bake cheesecake, no-churn ice cream, and warm spiced cakes: Canned pumpkin has so much potential. Whip up one of these delicious desserts as a weekend baking project or to wow your friends and family at Thanksgiving. Move over, pumpkin pie! There are new desserts in town.

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  • Easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cake

    Pumpkin chocolate chip cake in a baking dish

    Simply Recipes / Molly Allen

    “Really liked this cake recipe. It was very easy to come together and the texture was very moist and the cake was loaded with chocolate chips. The spice level is just right and it's a great cake for the fall.” —Stephanie C, Reader

  • Pumpkin Blondies

    Pumpkin Blondie on a Plate with More in the Background in a Pile on a Plate

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    “Yum! Made these in 8x8 pan with half recipe but used the whole egg. Lovely texture and flavor almost like gingerbread. I might omit the white chocolate chips next time or switch to dark choc. But my daughter says the white choc chips are what make these amazing.” —Francie, Reader

  • Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

    Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
    Marta Rivera

    “This recipe is going to do you a solid and make your home smell and feel like fall—all warm and cozy. What’s even better is that this pumpkin cake uses a whole can of pumpkin purée, which means no forgotten containers of pumpkin in the back of the fridge. Delicious and resourceful? Yes, please!” —Marta Rivera, Recipe Developer

  • Pumpkin and Coconut Ladoo

    Pumpkin Ladoo on a Plate Next to Delicata Squash

    Simply Recipes / Karishma Pradhan

    “Ladoos are spherical sweets often made with flour, some form of fat—I use ghee— and sugar. Ladoos can vary in flavor and texture. For example, there are creamy coconut ladoo, crunchy ladoos made with nuts and dates, and ones made with dal (lentils). Many ladoos are rich in flavor, similar to fudge, so one or two are the perfect portion per person.” —Karishma Pradhan, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 5 of 15 below

  • 2-Ingredient Pumpkin Mousse

    Overhead shot: 2-ingredient pumpkin mousse topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin spice, all in a sherbert glass. On the counter, a spoonful of mousse

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

    “This simple recipe is great for making ahead since it needs to chill for at least an hour in the fridge. It’s easy enough for a weeknight but elevated enough for a dinner party. I can imagine serving it at Thanksgiving, its lightness a welcome change after a heavy meal. And it’s so easy that kids can make it.” —Annika Panikker, Recipe Developer

  • Pumpkin Quickies

    Plate of pumpkin quickies, and in the background, a cup of coffee and more quickies on a cooling rack next to a coral kitchen towel

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    “The 1960s recipe calls for just two ingredients: spice cake mix and a whole can of pumpkin purée. You stir them together, dole them out with a cookie scoop, and bake them. That’s it. That’s the recipe. Since it doesn’t get much easier than that, I was in.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • 3-Ingredient Pumpkin Bread

    Angled view of a loaf of pumpkin bread on a marble cutting board with two slices in front and one on a plate to the side

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    “Simple, delicious, and perfect leftovers in am as toast.” —Smur, Reader

  • No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake

    Slice of no-bake cheesecake slightly lifted from platter with the rest, using a pie server, and in the surroundings, an orange kitchen towel and a plate with a slice of cheesecake

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    “A no-bake recipe is an excellent contender for parties, whether you're the host or a guest assigned with dessert. It doesn't require the effort or fuss of a baked cheesecake, and as a Thanksgiving bonus, you won't compete for precious oven time.” —Mark Beahm, Recipe Developer

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  • Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars

    Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars on a platter in the background, 2 plates with one bar each

    Simply Recipes / Molly Allen

    “These pumpkin cream cheese bars are as easy as can be. To put them together, you’ll mix up one simple dough that becomes both a buttery, cookie-like base and a crumbly topping for the dessert. Sandwiched in between is a subtly sweet, lightly spiced cream cheese pumpkin filling.” —Molly Allen, Recipe Developer

  • Old-Fashioned Pumpkin Cookies

    Old-Fashioned Pumpkin Cookies
    Elise Bauer

    “Freeze the unbaked balls of cookie dough on a parchment-lined baking sheet until hard, then transfer them to a freezer container or bag. No need to thaw before baking; just arrange them on a cookie sheet and add a minute or two to the baking time.” —Garrett McCord, Recipe Developer

  • Pumpkin Tiramisu

    Slice of Pumpkin Tiramisu on a Serving Spatula with More in the Pan in the Background

    Simply Recipes / Micah Siva

    “Tiramisu can feel intimidating for a first-timer, but this no-cook dessert (except for making espresso!), couldn’t be simpler. Tiramisu is often made with a mixture of egg yolks whipped with sugar over a double boiler to create a custard-like sabayon. This version uses whipped cream for an easy (but equally delicious) version.” —Micah Siva, Recipe Developer

  • Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

    Pumpkin spice snickerdoodle cookies topped with pumpkin spice sugar mixture on a cooling rack

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    “As a New Englander, I hesitate to mess with one of our classic recipes. But a sugar cookie covered in cinnamon sugar is just begging for an autumnal upgrade. It’s not much of a jump to combine snickerdoodles and pumpkin spice, but I wish I had made that leap much sooner.” —Mark Beahm, Recipe Developer

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  • Pumpkin Gingerbread

    Pumpkin Gingerbread
    Elise Bauer

    “Probably the nicest cake I've ever made! I added orange zest to the cake batter and also made an orange zest icing glaze and wow. Really amazing recipe.” —Katie, Reader

  • No-Churn Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream

    No-Churn Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream
    Lisa Lin

    “Ohmygosh! I just made the pumpkin spice ice cream and I can not stop "taste testing." I never leave reviews, but this is so amazing and super easy to make, I just had to share. My only problem is to not eat it all before it freezes. Thank you Ms. Lin!” —Amy Smith, Reader

  • Pumpkin Scones with Maple Glaze

    Pumpkin Scone with Maple Glaze on a Plate

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    While scones are typically a breakfast item, just imagine nibbling on one of these just-sweet-enough scones while sipping coffee after Thanksgiving dinner. Yum! The prep time is only 15 minutes, so consider doubling the batch to ensure there's plenty for breakfast the next day, too.

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