5 Of The Best Pumpkin Recipes In Time For Halloween

Thanks to ancient Celtic beliefs – and modern American hysteria – pumpkins are inextricably linked to Halloween. As that great festival is upon us, we thought we’d dig up some mouth-watering pumpkin recipes to inspire you. It is time to head to lay claim to one of the 20 million pumpkins sold in the UK at this time of year and get cooking. The creative carving of a jack o’ lantern afterwards is an optional extra.

Pumpkin Pasta

Julius Roberts


This easy, five-ingredient pumpkin pasta is creamy and soothing with just a little kick of spice. The sauce combines pumpkin, chilli, sage and parmesan in a warming autumn dish that typifies Julius Roberts’s trendy, earthy, farm-to-table style.

Pumpkin Bundt Cake

Nigella Lawson


The Domestic Goddess’s pumpkin bundt cake epitomises autumn cosiness. You bake moist, spiced pumpkin batter in a gorgeous ring tin and drizzle it with orange-infused icing, topped with grated dark chocolate. Elegant but simple, it is the perfect way to show off at Halloween. (Head here for more autumn cake ideas).

Easy Pumpkin Soup And Crunchy Croutons

Jamie Oliver


All you do to achieve this nourishing bowl of joy is arrange the simple ingredients in a roasting tray and blitz them all up with stock 40 minutes later. Genius. The sage croutons, should you choose to produce them, are the crowning glory. And if that gets you in the spirit, you can find more our healthy, cockle-warming soup ideas here.

Pumpkin Pie

Delia Smith


Revered in the US but underrated over here, pumpkin pie is an exquisite treat on any occasion. In Delia’s recipe, you fill a flaky pastry base with a smooth, spiced pumpkin custard and bake it for 40 minutes. Double cream, crème fraiche or really good vanilla ice cream make the perfect accompaniment.

Roast Pumpkin With Tomato And Yoghurt

Nigel Slater

Trust Nigel Slater to elevate a pumpkin side dish to these dizzy heights. Introducing the recipe, he says: ‘The leaves are swept, the fire is lit, the evening will be spent around the table, candles burning.’ The man’s grasp on seasonal cosiness is unmatched. Here, tender pumpkin pieces mingle with spices, mustard seeds and curry leaves, a herby tomato sauce and a clean hit of yoghurt. With simple ingredients and big flavour, this is one of our very favourite pumpkin recipes.