Homemade Pumpkin Puree – How to Make Fresh Pumpkin Puree

Here is one of my latest cooking tips for the holidays – making your own homemade pumpkin puree.

Pumpkin puree is a staple in Halloween and Thanksgiving cooking. From oatmeal to smoothies, to fudge and energy bites, this raw fresh pumpkin recipe adds an earthy flavor to all your fall recipes.  

You can buy it at the supermarket, of course, but it is super easy to make and much less expensive. Let’s find out how to do it.

Since pumpkins are one of the five symbols of Thanksgiving, using its purée in recipes makes great sense!

Pumpkins are readily available this time of the year.  You can either grow your own if you love gardening, or purchase them from the grocer or Farmer’s market.

If you are wondering what can I make with fresh pumpkin, you can’t do better than making homemade pumpkin puree.

How to make pumpkin puree from fresh pumpkins

All types of pumpkins will work for this recipe but the smaller pie pumpkins and heirloom pumpkins will give your puree the best flavor.

The larger Jack O Lantern pumpkins give a more bland taste to the puree.  So it depends on what you plan to do with it, and what else will go into the recipe.

To start, you will need to clean your pumpkin.  The very inside of the pumpkin has seeds and is quite stringy and you will want to remove those.

Be sure to save the seeds.  Pumpkin seeds can be roasted in many different ways and make a super healthy snack.

Just clean off the excess pumpkin flesh, wash them, and set them aside to dry.

Cut the pumpkin into large-sized chunks and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  

Cooking fresh pumpkin is easy. Just roast slices of it in a 350º F oven for about 45 minutes until the pumpkin is soft and tender.

Roasting the pumpkin pieces brings out their natural sweetness.  This is what gives the puree such a fabulous flavor. 

Don’t boil it or you won’t get this benefit.

Once the pumpkin has cooked, allow it to cool and remove the skin with a knife.  Cut the pumpkin into smaller pieces and place it in a food processor.  

Pulse until it has the consistency of canned pumpkin puree.

Pumpkins will end up either dry or wet, depending on the type.  If too dry, add a bit of water and pulse some more.  

If it is too wet, place the mixture in a sieve lined with cheesecloth and strain until you get a good consistency.

The taste of homemade pumpkin puree is so much better than store-bought.

It’s also cheaper since one pumpkin gives you as much as 6-10 cups of puree and pumpkins are often on sale this time of the year.

This fresh pumpkin puree is gluten-free, Paleo, and also fits into the Whole30 Diet plan.

The puree keeps for about 3 days in the fridge or freezes for up to three months.

What to do with pumpkin puree

There are lots of ways to use pumpkin puree.  Here are some of my favorites:

1. Spoon some of it into your morning oatmeal for a fall-fresh taste and creamy texture. This adds lots of vitamins to a protein-rich breakfast.
2. Add fresh pumpkin puree to your plain applesauce.  You’ll add a lovely additional taste and creaminess to a simple taste.
3. Use it in drinks.  The warm soothing taste of pumpkin puree lends itself to being used in creamy drinks. This pumpkin pie martini is one option.
4. Add it to a morning smoothie.  It’s a smooth and healthy way to enjoy after a workout or as a breakfast on the go.
5. Add it to a chili recipe.  You can add a few cups to give the dish a new earthy taste that is amazing. Try this pumpkin chili recipe.
6. Spread it on a bagel.  Forget the cream cheese. Try a spoonful of pumpkin puree on an onion bagel for a whole new take on a morning bagel!
7. Add it to pancake batter. Using it in waffles is another idea for breakfast.
8. It’s curry time!  Pumpkin puree adds a lovely rustic flavor to any curry recipe.
9. Top a Shepherd’s Pie.  This turns the ordinary dessert into a Paleo creation
10. And of course, use it to make all sorts of yummy desserts, from pumpkin pie to truffles.

Now it’s time to put this homemade pumpkin puree to use in your fall recipes!

Share this recipe for making pumpkin puree on Twitter

If you enjoyed learning how to make fresh pumpkin puree, be sure to share this recipe with a friend. Here is a tweet to get you started:

Take your fall recipes to a new level with homemade pumpkin puree! 🍂🎃 Learn how to make it from scratch in my latest blog post. Say no to canned pumpkin this season! #PumpkinPuree #Homemade #FallFlavors #DIY #FreshPumpkin… Share on X

Fresh pumpkin puree recipes

If you enjoyed making homemade pumpkin puree, be sure to try one of these recipes for fresh pumpkin puree:

• Pumpkin cake with toasted coconut frosting
• Turtle pumpkin chocolate cheesecake
• Pumpkin swirl mini cheesecakes
• Creamy Pumpkin Dip
• Salted  Pumpkin Fudge (paleo and vegan!)
• Pumpkin Spice Mummy Truffles
• No bake pumpkin spice cookies

Pin this recipe for homemade pumpkin puree

Would you like a reminder of this post for making fresh pumpkin puree? Just pin this image to one of your cooking boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.

You can also watch our video on YouTube!

If you would like a reminder of this recipe for fresh pumpkin puree, just pin this image to one of your cooking boards on Pinterest.

Admin note: This post for making homemade pumpkin puree first appeared on the blog in September 2017. I have updated the post to add tips for using the puree as well as nutritional information and a video for your enjoyment.

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