Easy Pumpkin Baking Recipes for Fall

When pumpkin season comes around, I always start thinking about warm spices, homemade pumpkin puree, sourdough discard, and cozy fall baking. Pumpkin is one of those ingredients that can be used in so many simple homemade recipes, from soft quick breads to a classic pumpkin roll.

These easy pumpkin baking recipes are a good place to start if you want pumpkin recipes for fall that feel homemade, seasonal, and practical. Most of these recipes use sourdough starter or sourdough discard, which makes them a good fit if you already keep a starter in your kitchen.

I also like including homemade pumpkin puree in this list because it is the starting point for so many pumpkin dessert recipes and fall bakes. Once you know how to roast a whole pumpkin, you can use that puree in pumpkin bread, pumpkin rolls, muffins, pies, and other old-fashioned pumpkin recipes.

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Quick Look

Season: Fall and Thanksgiving baking season
Best For: Pumpkin baking, sourdough discard recipes, quick breads, pumpkin desserts, and homemade pumpkin puree
Main Flavors: Pumpkin, cinnamon, warm spices, cranberry, banana, sourdough, and cream cheese
Recipe Types: Pumpkin roll, sourdough breads, quick breads, and homemade pumpkin puree
Best Served: Fresh, sliced, warm with butter, or as a simple fall dessert

Why You’ll Love These Pumpkin Baking Recipes

I love pumpkin baking because it feels simple, seasonal, and useful. A can of pumpkin puree or a roasted sugar pumpkin can turn into so many recipes, especially when you add sourdough discard, cinnamon, cranberries, banana, or cream cheese filling.

These pumpkin recipes are not complicated, but they still feel special enough for fall. Some work well for breakfast or coffee, while others make a simple dessert for a family meal, Thanksgiving table, or fall weekend.

This roundup is also a helpful place to start if you are trying to use homemade pumpkin puree. Instead of only using pumpkin for pie, you can bake it into pumpkin cranberry bread, banana pumpkin bread, pumpkin sourdough bread, or a soft sourdough pumpkin roll.

Start With Homemade Pumpkin Puree

How to Roast a Whole Pumpkin to Make Pumpkin Purée

If you have never roasted a whole pumpkin before, this is the best place to start. Homemade pumpkin puree is simple to make, and it can be used in many fall pumpkin recipes.

Roasting a pumpkin gives you a soft, smooth puree that works well in pumpkin breads, pumpkin rolls, muffins, pies, and other fall desserts. If you want to use it for a homemade pumpkin pie, you can pair it with a sourdough discard pie crust or a fresh milled wheat pie crust.

This recipe is especially helpful if you want old-fashioned pumpkin recipes that start from scratch. Once the pumpkin is roasted and pureed, you can use it right away or store it for later baking.

Pumpkin Dessert Recipes for Fall

Homemade Sourdough Pumpkin Roll (Discard Recipe)

A homemade sourdough pumpkin roll is one of those fall desserts that looks beautiful on the table, but still feels simple and familiar. It has a soft pumpkin cake rolled around a sweet cream cheese filling, and the sourdough discard adds a little depth to the flavor. It is a classic recipe for fall baking, Thanksgiving desserts, or anytime you want something a little special without making a complicated dessert.

This is a good recipe for Thanksgiving, fall gatherings, or anytime you want a pumpkin dessert that feels special. Pumpkin roll is one of those old-fashioned fall desserts that always looks harder than it actually is once you get the hang of rolling it.

I like this recipe because it uses sourdough discard in a dessert that still feels familiar and seasonal. It is a great one to make when you want something more impressive than a loaf of pumpkin bread.

Pumpkin Quick Breads and Sourdough Bakes

Easy Sourdough Pumpkin Cranberry Quick Bread Recipe

This sourdough pumpkin cranberry quick bread is soft, moist, and full of fall flavor. It uses pumpkin puree, sourdough discard, warm spices, brown sugar, and dried cranberries for a simple pumpkin quick bread that makes a nice breakfast, snack, or dessert.

I like the cranberry with the pumpkin because it adds a little tartness and makes the bread feel especially good for fall and Thanksgiving. The optional orange glaze also gives it a brighter flavor if you want to dress it up.

This is a good pumpkin baking recipe when you want something easy but still a little more interesting than plain pumpkin bread.

Best Sourdough Discard Banana Pumpkin Bread Recipe

This banana pumpkin bread is a good recipe when you want to use both ripe bananas and pumpkin puree. The banana adds natural sweetness and moisture, while the pumpkin gives the bread that warm fall flavor.

Sourdough discard works well in quick breads like this because it adds moisture and flavor without needing a long rise. This is the kind of recipe I like to keep around for fall mornings, afternoon coffee, or a simple homemade snack.

It is also a practical recipe if you have leftover pumpkin puree and a few bananas that need to be used up.

Pumpkin Sourdough Bread Recipe with Cranberries

This pumpkin sourdough bread with cranberries is a more traditional sourdough-style bake with a seasonal fall twist. The pumpkin adds color and flavor, while the cranberries give little bursts of tartness throughout the loaf.

This is a nice recipe when you want a pumpkin bread that is less like cake and more like a real sourdough loaf. It works well sliced with homemade butter, served with a fall meal, or toasted the next day and topped with homemade apple butter.

I like including this recipe in a pumpkin roundup because it gives readers something different from quick breads and dessert recipes. It is still seasonal, but it leans more rustic and bread-like.

Tips for Baking With Pumpkin

Use plain pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling already has sugar and spices added, which can change the recipe.

If you use homemade pumpkin puree, make sure it is not too watery. Homemade puree can sometimes hold more moisture than canned pumpkin, so drain off extra liquid if it looks loose.

Measure pumpkin carefully. Too much pumpkin can make quick breads heavy or gummy in the middle.

Do not overmix pumpkin quick bread batter. Stir just until the ingredients are combined so the finished bread stays tender.

Let pumpkin breads cool before slicing. The crumb sets as it cools, and slicing too early can make the bread seem gummy.

Use warm spices, but do not overdo them. Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and pumpkin pie spice all work well with pumpkin, but too much spice can overpower the pumpkin flavor.

Easy Pumpkin Baking Recipes FAQ