Aside from the fact that eating anything pumpkin spice feels like a warm hug, my favorite thing about baking pumpkin recipes would have to be their flexibility. The flavor combinations are greatly customizable since pumpkin puree serves as a great unifying ingredient in baking. This unifier is physically flexible; it can add wonderful moisture to a bread, and great fluff to a cookie. Pumpkin is also a powerhouse of a flavor, pairing well with lots of different complements. As you will notice as this article goes on, I have experimented with many different pumpkin flavor combinations. While each of these pumpkin recipes is unique, one thing is guaranteed across all three: there is no shortage of pumpkin spice and everything nice.
Pumpkin Bread
I decided to start off with a classic: pumpkin bread. This pumpkin bread is wonderful because it is super forgiving and creates a loaf that is filled with fantastic fall flavors. The chocolate chips and dried cranberries complement the pumpkin flavor so well. In my opinion, nothing represents fall quite like pumpkin bread, so if you are looking for a more straightforward pumpkin recipe to get into the seasonal spirit, look no further. Plus, this recipe will give you two loaves, which works great as one to eat and one to gift to a friend (or, alternatively, two to eat). This pumpkin recipe will fill your home with an amazing sweet autumnal aroma.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Picking a favorite of these three pumpkin recipes is much like picking a favorite child. However, if I had to pick a favorite I think these cookies take the cake (or for this matter, the pumpkin). These cookies are nothing like your standard chocolate chip cookie: they are light and fluffy, very reminiscent of a muffin top. I think we can all agree that the top of the muffin is objectively the best part, so I have done you the favor of crafting a recipe that will give you just that. This recipe embraces a simple flavor combination - the classic pumpkin and chocolate - so our reliability with this one is high. Enjoy these delicious cookies as a great fall dessert, snack, or breakfast.
Pumpkin Maple Muffins
These muffins are, dare I say, the most exciting of the three pumpkin recipes. The maple flavor is so pleasantly sweet, balancing beautifully with the pumpkin base and autumnal spices. The brown butter, maple syrup, and brown sugar create a magnificent nutty flavor that really sets this recipe apart from any average pumpkin muffin. I tried making these muffins separately with chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and walnuts, and each one was delightful in its own way. However, if you want to really enjoy all the maple-pumpkin goodness this recipe has to offer, I would recommend keeping things simple and opting for no add-ins - pumpkin and maple in their truest forms.
Next stop: the kitchen! Go pumpkin spice up your life by trying these fall recipes. I promise you will thank me later.