23 Brilliant Ways to Use Leftover Pumpkin Purée, From Breakfast to Dinner and Drinks

Leftover pumpkin purée is a good thing. Whether you have extra pumpkin purée after making pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving or a pumpkin bread just because, many recipes that call for pumpkin purée don’t call for the entire can, leaving you with a few tablespoons or more that you should never let go to waste. What isn’t baked into all of those delicious pumpkin-flavored treats can be repurposed into delicious sweet and savory dishes that are fit for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So don’t toss the dregs of that can—we have 24 ways to put it to good use.

Pancakes, Waffles, and French Toast

Pancakes and Waffles

Canned pumpkin purée is a great way to add both flavor and moisture to certain dishes, including quick breads and breakfast items like pancakes and waffles. Substitute a small amount of the liquid, whether it's milk, sour cream, or yogurt, for a spoonful of pumpkin purée. A touch of warming spices (think cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger) will help play up the pumpkin flavor. 

French Toast

Even French toast can be made better with leftover pumpkin–whisk a big spoonful into the egg custard mixture before soaking and pan-frying the toast. Dust each slice with some cinnamon sugar for good measure.

Oatmeal

Whether you go sweet or savory with youryour morning bowl of oatmeal, it could use a dollop of pumpkin purée. The pumpkin brings a sweet and festive feel to even the most basic bowl of oats, especially when you add some pumpkin pie spice. Top each serving with a dollop of pumpkin-swirled yogurt if you really want to go all out. 

Savory Bowls

Pumpkin also adds an earthy flavor to savory bowls. Add pumpkin purée and some grated Pecorino Romano cheese to creamy oats (or whatever grain you like) and top it off with a fried or poached egg.

Drinks

Pumpkin Spice Latte

What would fall be without a pumpkin spice latte? No need to find out. Pour your double espresso over a spoonful of pumpkin purée before adding the frothed milk and top it with a generous dash of cinnamon and nutmeg to make a PSL at home. 

Smoothie

For morning smoothies, pumpkin pairs well with peanut butter, bananas, and apples, to name a few flavors. Milkshakes—otherwise known as dessert smoothies— are another great way to use up leftover pumpkin purée. Add a spoonful to classic flavors, like vanilla and chocolate, for a subtly autumnal flavor. 

Cocktails

Espresso martinis are still all the rage and can also benefit from the pumpkin spice treatment. Add a tablespoon or two of pumpkin purée to the cocktail shaker, making it even more creamy and frothy.

Dips

Savory Dips

Pumpkin purée can work its sweet and savory magic in all kinds of fun dips, too. Stir some into store-bought or homemade hummus for a quick after-school snack, or whisk it into a creamy labneh spread topped with crunchy pumpkin seeds. 

Sweet Dips

Creamy ricotta or yogurt can be combined with pumpkin to make sweet dips, as well. Serve them with cinnamon sugar-coated pita chips and sliced apples for dipping.

Sandwiches

Grilled Cheese

A smear of pumpkin can turn an ordinary sandwich into something quite special. When paired with sharp, nutty cheese like Gruyère and caramelized onions, pumpkin purée turns an ordinary grilled cheese on its head. 

Toast Topper

Elevate a slice of cinnamon toast by adding a layer of pumpkin underneath–breakfast will never be the same, and you might still be using this trick months later.

Soup and Chili

If there is one way to make a bowl of soup or chili even more hearty and comforting, it’s adding some pumpkin to the mix. Plus, isn’t making soup all about cleaning out your refrigerator anyway? We especially like to use leftover purée in recipes that already have pumpkin, sweet potatoes, or winter squash in the ingredient list.

Pasta

Turn ordinary tomato or Alfredo sauce into a seasonal feast by including some pumpkin purée. It'll make things extra creamy. Along with some ricotta and a dash of freshly grated nutmeg, pumpkin is a delicious savory filling for hand-filled ravioli or tortellini.

Rice and Grains

Risotto

Risotto is one of the easiest dishes to make, and it’s a wonderful way to clean out your pantry. Pumpkin purée just makes sense! The sweet flavor is a perfect match for bowls of rice topped with smoky crumbled bacon and fried sage leaves. 

Grain Dishes

The sweetness can also mellow out the slightly spicy flavors of grain-based dishes like kitchari, a savory lentil porridge with a couple of tablespoons of pumpkin purée.

Pumpkin Butter

Make your own homemade pumpkin butter with whatever you have left in the can. Boil it down with some cinnamon and your sweetener of choice–we recommend maple syrup or brown sugar. Spread it on toast and waffles or smear it onto bagels alongside cream cheese.

Cornbread

Moist pumpkin purée can be swapped for a portion of the milk in just about any standard cornbread recipe (we already did it for you with this one).

Banana Bread

Pumpkin purée functions the same way bananas do in a loaf bread like this. Substitute up to half of the bananas for pumpkin and combine the two powerhouse flavors. Add some toasted walnuts or pecans, or stir in a handful of semisweet chocolate chips.

Whipped Cream

Drive home the flavor of your pumpkin pie by serving each slice with a delicate dollop of pumpkin whipped cream. Once the cream has been whipped to stiff peaks, gently swirl in a few spoonfuls of pumpkin purée until it has streaked through the cream. It tastes great and it looks even better.

Egg Substitute

Pumpkin purée is sometimes used as a replacement for eggs in baked goods like muffins. Use about ¼ cup of pumpkin purée for each large egg.

Dog Treats

Our canine companions are big fans of pumpkin purée. They’re sure to lick it right off of a spoon, but it’s even better when baked into dog-friendly treats with other pet-safe foods, such as bananas, peanut butter, or low-sodium chicken broth.

How to Store Leftover Pumpkin Purée

In order to turn that pumpkin purée into all of these delicious dishes, it’s important to store the leftovers properly. Transfer the purée to an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.