Pumpkin Time

One of my favorite things about this time of year is the abundance of pumpkin flavored stuff! Pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin candles… I love it all.

Today I thought I’d share a few of my favorite pumpkin recipes (some that I’ve tried and some that I haven’t!) and I hope you’ll join in with some of your fall favorites as well!

pumpkin rollThe first recipe that comes to mind is for pumpkin rolls. I make lots of these around Christmas time and give them away (and keep one for myself, as well), but they are perfect for fall. People sometimes shy away from making rolled cakes because they seem sort of complicated – I couldn’t make heads or tails of the recipes I found when I first started looking (I know you’re surprised by that). I mean, most of them say to wrap up the cake in a dish towel. Makes no sense! Fortunately I came across this recipe – complete with pictures – and I’ve been making them ever since. However, it took me until last year to figure out that you have to dump the cake out of the pan as soon as it comes out of the oven (not after it cools, as I had been doing) to keep it from cracking. Now my cakes are even prettier! And seriously people, if I can do it, anyone can. The recipe is so detailed that I won’t paste it here, but make sure you click over and check it out!

I am also a huge fan of these pumpkin bars. The recipe came from an old college roommate – I’m not sure where it originated. They are fantastic!

Pumpkin Bars
For the cake part:
2 c. sugar
1 c. oil (applesauce works just as well)
4 eggs
2 c. flour
2 t. baking soda
pinch of salt
1-1/2 t. cinnamon
2 c. pumpkin

Mix the sugar, oil, and eggs. Sift flour, baking soda, and salt, and add to egg mixture. Add cinnamon and pumpkin. Pour batter into a jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes (a few minutes less if you use applesauce instead of oil).

For icing:
3 c. powdered sugar
3 oz. cream cheese
6 T. margarine
1 T. vanilla
pinch of salt

Cream all ingredients, and ice cooled bars.

Oh, and this doesn’t have to do with pumpkin, but it is an awesome recipe for the fresh apples around in the fall! I made it with applesauce (after googling how many calories are in a cup of oil, omg) and it was delicious… I served it warm out of the oven with vanilla ice cream on the side.
Mom’s Apple Cake from Smitten Kitchen (you MUST click over and look at the pictures!!)
6 apples, Mom uses McIntosh apples
1 tablespoon cinnamon
5 tablespoons sugar

2 3/4 cups flour, sifted
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a tube pan. Peel, core and chop apples into chunks. Toss with cinnamon and sugar and set aside.

Stir together flour, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together oil, orange juice, sugar and vanilla. Mix wet ingredients into the dry ones, then add eggs, one at a time. Scrape down the bowl to ensure all ingredients are incorporated.

Pour half of batter into prepared pan. Spread half of apples over it. Pour the remaining batter over the apples and arrange the remaining apples on top. Bake for about 1 1/2 hours, or until a tester comes out clean.

Here are a couple of recipes that I’ve come across in the last few weeks that I haven’t tried, but want to!
Pumpkin Pie French Toast from Baking Bites
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars from Musings of a Housewife.

So, what else do you have for me? I am anxious to hear about your favorite fall treats!

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14 Replies to “Pumpkin Time”

  1. Oh, you had me when I saw that cream cheese filling! I might just have to try these out (of course, I’m working on losing weight, but pumpkin is a veggie, and if I use the applesauce, I might feel a tad less guilty). LOVE pumpkin desserts – thanks for sharing!

  2. Those sound yummy! I love this time of the year with all the Pumpkin goodies and the Circleville Pumpkin Show is JUST around the corner! Course truth is, I eat pumpkin year round! 🙂

  3. I love me some pumpkin goodies! My favorite, a pumpkin smoothie.

    Use the premade pumpkin can stuff and freeze it. I usually freeze individual serving sizes because it’s a PITA otherwise.

    Throw that in the blender with some milk, a little cinnamon and nutmeg and whip it on up!

    Top it with a little Cool Whip. Heavenly.

    I suck at writing recipes. 🙂

  4. You read my mind! I made a pumpkin roll (dish-towel method) last year, and my teenage boys LOVED it! I’ve been contemplating making another one, but didn’t know where my recipe was. I will definitely try yours. It looks so yummy!

  5. I LOVE that apple cake from Smitten Kitchen!! That’s one of my favorite blogs (after yours of course).

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