Does anyone else just get giddy this time of year?? I don’t know if it’s the beautiful fall colors, the chill in the air, or the fact that Christmas is right around the corner, but I just get giddy and so cheerful this time of year! It really is a magical few months ;).

One of the best things about fall is pumpkin-flavored EVERYTHING! I’ve had so much fun this year trying new recipes that involve pumpkin or pumpkin spice or some combination of the two ;). The only problem I seem to run into is that most recipes don’t use all the pumpkin I have! Inevitably, there is always leftovers- and I hate seeing anything go to waste;). So what can you do with that leftover pumpkin you have sitting in the fridge?

Really- anything!! Pumpkin can go with sweet OR savory, making it a delectable and versatile special ingredient! It makes your recipes creamier and gives it that subtle fall flavor that’s just too good to pass up :).

If you’re thinking savory, try adding a little bit of pumpkin to your homemade pasta. Whether it’s homemade Mac n’ Cheese or Alfredo spaghetti, a little pumpkin can add a subtle fall taste that’s truly delicious! If you like homemade hummus, why not try a pumpkin variety? And while we’re all familiar with pumpkin chocolate chip bread, why not try a more savory variation, like pumpkin garlic knots? Definitely an intriguing idea, don’t you think?

Tasty :).

Now, if you’d like to stick with sweet pumpkin flavors, there’s really no end to what you can do! There’s endless cookie variations you could try, but don’t stop there! Why not add a little pumpkin to your pancake mix, or even your homemade cornbread? You could also add a little pumpkin to spice cake mix and have pumpkin cake balls- can you just imagine how delectably moist those would be?? But don’t stop there ;).

Add a few tablespoons of pumpkin and a dash of pumpkin spice to your favorite hot chocolate recipe for pumpkin hot cocoa. Add several tablespoons of pumpkin (and a teaspoon or two of pumpkin pie spice) to a blender with some vanilla ice cream and leftover pie crust to create a delicious pumpkin pie shake. Add it to your oatmeal, your rice krispie treats, I mean really- is there really an end to the possibilities? When in doubt, you can always freeze it ;).

Well, going back to the cookies, I recently tried a recipe that I thought was definitely worth sharing! It went over very well with the group of young women I work with for my church, and I had several people ask for the recipe afterward, so I’m pretty sure it was a hit ;). White Chocolate Pumpkin Snickerdoodles- definitely worth trying, my friends!

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What’s your favorite way to use up leftover pumpkin? I’d love to hear in the comments below!