There’s nothing like pumpkin picking in the fall. Going to the patch with friends, picking the biggest, or best looking pumpkin and enjoying an apple cider donut. After you pick your pumpkin, it’s always exciting to bring it back and carve a jack-o-lantern. Or, it just happens to sit on your table until it rots and you throw it away after Halloween. Now, you can put that pumpkin to use without throwing it away with one of these fun ideas:
Pumpkin Puree This is going to be a staple in majority of your favorite fall recipes, so skip the can and make your own! All you need is your picked pumpkin, an oven, and a blender and ~voila~ pumpkin puree is born.
Pumpkin Seeds These are a classic autumn snack everyone enjoys. You can roast them in the oven with a little salt or you can get creative and try roasting them with cinnamon and sugar.
Smoothie bowls are all the latest craze. Step up your smoothie bowl game by making a pumpkin pie smoothie—perfect for fall. You can even get crazy with toppings too and make it look like it came from an actual store.
It might be easier to make a pie with a can of pumpkin puree, but get creative by using that pumpkin you just picked. And once you’re done carving out your pumpkin, you’ll have a delicious treat waiting for you.
Nothing beats pumpkin bread- except maybe banana bread- on a fall day. This is a great way to put the puree of your picked pumpkin to use! You can customize your bread by adding chocolate chips, nuts, or coconut. You can even make it gluten free!
Pumpkin Cooler
You’ll be the coolest person living at the beach or townhouses with a homemade pumpkin cooler. Just cut the top off and fill it with ice and your favorite drinks. You can fill it with your favorite pumpkin beer, or hard cider, or if you’re under 21; your favorite soda!
Soup on a fall day is the perfect fix to warm you up. Roast your pumpkin before making this delicious soup.
Who would have thought that putting pumpkin on your face was actually beneficial? You probably didn’t know pumpkin is loaded with vitamins, zinc, and antioxidants. This mask will not only leave you feeling exfoliated, but will also help to prevent wrinkles. And it’s a fun way to get rid of all that pumpkin puree you made.
Ditch the Starbucks PSL and save some money by making your own. It will taste just like the real thing, and the best part? It’s free.
Carve a Jack-O-Lantern
I know this is pretty basic, but there’s nothing more fun than getting together with friends and carving a pumpkin. Get creative with different designs and faces. You can even have a contest for the best jack-o-lantern.