Imagine staring at a stack of pumpkins and thinking, "Now what?" You’ve carved the jack-o’-lantern and baked a few pies, but pumpkins are still everywhere. Before you toss them, consider this: those pumpkins can do way more than you think.
Whether you’re looking to spruce up your home, boost your skincare routine, or find fun activities for the kids, we have 23 clever and unexpected ways to use every last pumpkin. Why waste them when you can turn them into something amazing? Let’s make those pumpkins work for you!
1. Experiment with New Pumpkin Recipes
What better time to experiment with new recipes than when you have a surplus of fresh, seasonal ingredients at your fingertips? Pumpkins, in particular, offer endless culinary possibilities, and their rich, flavorful flesh can be transformed into a wide variety of dishes.
The versatility of pumpkins means you can even whip up fluffy pumpkin pancakes for a cozy autumn breakfast. With so many creative recipes available online, it’s the perfect opportunity to try something new in the kitchen. Don’t let that delicious pumpkin go to waste! Try making pumpkin pastries or pastas.
2. Add Shredded Pumpkin to Food
Not keen on following specific recipes? No problem! You can still make your pumpkin a star ingredient in the kitchen with creativity. Grate some pumpkin and add it to cakes, stir-fries, soups, or breads for a fun and unique twist.
Just be mindful of the extra moisture grated pumpkin introduces—it can affect the liquid balance in your dish. Adjust your recipe quickly, and you'll be ready to try endless culinary recipes.
Plus, by incorporating pumpkin, you're adding flavor and packing your meals with essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It’s a delicious and nutritious way to elevate your cooking!
3. Mix Up a Delightful Beverage
Pumpkin spice lattes are popular during the fall and colder seasons. If you love this drink, you'd be delighted to know you can easily make it home! The recipe below for homemade pumpkin latte calls for fresh puree—just what you have plenty of!
To recreate a Starbucks-inspired Pumpkin Spice Latte at home,
Try this Recipe
You can savor your homemade version of the classic Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte!
But wait—there are numerous pumpkin shake recipes, from healthy vegan pumpkin smoothies to pumpkin milkshakes.
4. Can Away!
If your garden has blessed you with many pumpkins or a few impressively large ones, kudos to you! While it might be challenging to use all that produce in one season, there's no need to worry—pumpkins can be preserved for later. Canning is a great option to ensure you can enjoy your homegrown pumpkins throughout the year.
The process might seem a bit daunting, but with the right techniques, it’s doable.
A quick search online will reveal plenty of helpful guides and tips on how to safely and effectively can your leftover pumpkin. With this method, you can savor the flavors of your harvest long after the season ends.
5. Share the Love
As the season of giving approaches, why not share the abundance of your pumpkin harvest with friends, family, and neighbors? A gift of fresh, homegrown pumpkins will surely be appreciated, but if you want to make it extra special, consider offering them a freshly baked pumpkin pie instead.
The warm, comforting flavors of pumpkin pie are perfect for the holidays and will undoubtedly be a hit. As a thoughtful touch, you could also include a small leaflet with a few delicious pumpkin recipes tailored to your gifting type.
6. Use Pumpkins as Soup Bowls
If your crop consists of various-sized pumpkins, you may be able to turn them into serving dishes. To do this, remove the seeds and brush the inside of the pumpkin with olive oil. Then grill until you have a nice crust inside. Fill it with thick, creamy soup right before serving time.
Buttercup squash pumpkins or Turban Squash varieties can make gorgeous soup bowls. A knucklehead pumpkin could make a good serving dish and will surely be an interesting point of conversation over the dinner table.
7. Turn the Pumpkin into a Vase
If you have a thick-skinned pumpkin or squash that's just the right size, you can transform it into a charming flower vase. Cut off the top, scoop out the seeds and flesh, and fill the hollow space with water. Arrange your favorite seasonal flowers inside, and voilà—you've created a unique and festive vase!
While it's a temporary option, it adds a beautifully rustic, seasonal touch to your decor. It's the perfect way to showcase your autumn harvest and floral arrangements in one creative display.
Witness the incredible growth of a 700 lb Giant Pumpkin Grows Before Your Eyes In 30-Second Time Lapse Video!
8. Add Pumpkins to Hanging Baskets
No, we're not suggesting that you use pumpkins as hanging baskets. But if you have a good plant container hanging outside your house walls, why not fill it with a few miniature pumpkins?
This will work best if you already have a few plants inside the container. For a dramatic effect, the bottom of the container should be covered with reindeer moss. Its wild and rustic look will contrast the pumpkin's uniform, shiny luster.
9. Guess the Seeds in a Pumpkin Game
Need to keep kids busy? Take a large pumpkin and create a guessing contest, challenging kids to guess exactly how many seeds it contains. Adults are likely to want to try their luck at guessing, too.
Once you write down everyone's guesses, cut open the pumpkin and help the kids scoop the contents into a strainer. Wash the seeds and then let the kids try to count them.
Pumpkin Seed Game
10. Fill Old Lanterns with Pumpkins
Another bright idea—quite literally—is to stack miniature pumpkins inside old lanterns for a spooky, eye-catching display. Carve eerie faces into the pumpkins; then place LED lights inside to give them a creepy glow.
You can adjust the brightness of the lights to make the carved pumpkins stand out even more, enhancing the eerie ambiance. This creative twist on traditional jack-o'-lanterns creates a hauntingly fun decoration that adds a spooky vibe to your porch or indoor decor.
11. Build a Miniature Pumpkin Wall
Create a fun and eye-catching display by stacking miniature pumpkins into a charming pyramid that adds a festive touch to any space. To enhance the visual appeal, use at least four pumpkins in varying colors, like orange, white, and green, to introduce contrast and texture.
Choose pumpkins in different shapes and sizes for the best effect, carefully arranging them to ensure a sturdy and balanced structure. The variation in shades and forms will give your pumpkin pyramid an artistic and dynamic look.
12. Fill Up the Fireplace
If your fireplace is taking a break from the flames, why not transform it into a stunning seasonal display? Fill the space with pumpkins of all shapes, sizes, and colors to create a warm, cozy look that embraces the spirit of fall. Even if you only have orange pumpkins, don't worry!
Get creative with paint to introduce different hues and textures, making your arrangement more visually striking. Weave in some soft, twinkling string lights around the pumpkins for an extra touch of magic.
13. Arrange Them on a Staircase
Arrange them on a staircase for a charming, festive display—this works especially well if you have pumpkins in different colors. Place one pumpkin on each step, ensuring they are aligned neatly for a balanced and cohesive look.
Vary the sizes and shapes for added visual interest, and consider mixing in some gourds or fall foliage to enhance the seasonal vibe. This simple yet elegant arrangement instantly elevates your staircase into a welcoming autumn display, perfect for greeting guests as they enter your home.
14. Create a Beautiful Pumpkin Pathway
Transform your entryway with a magical pumpkin-lined pathway. For this project, you’ll need around 20 to 30 pumpkins, depending on the length of your path.
Arrange them along the walkway to your front door for a warm, autumnal welcome. To elevate the look, sprinkle vibrant autumn leaves between the pumpkins for an extra charm. It’s a delightful way to celebrate the season and impress your guests.
15. Paint with Golden Luster
You can add a touch of glamour to your pumpkin by painting its skin in shimmery gold, transforming it into a striking decor piece. Try dabbing the surface with your brush for an even more artistic look, allowing the paint to drip down the sides slowly.
This creates a natural, textured effect that adds visual intrigue and dimension. Whether you fully coat the pumpkin in gold or opt for a chic half-painted design, the result will be stunning.
The glimmering gold finish makes the pumpkin a perfect centerpiece for your living room, adding elegance and a festive autumn vibe to your space.
16. Wrap the Pumpkin in Bandages
Want to make your pumpkin extra creepy for Halloween? Wrap it in strips of gauze or bandages to give it a spooky, mummy-like appearance. Use hot glue to hold the strips and ensure they stick securely to the surface.
For a finishing touch, attach two buttons to serve as eerie eyes, bringing your mummy pumpkin to life. This simple yet fun idea adds a spooky twist to your Halloween decor, perfect for making your porch or home look hauntingly festive!
17. Create a Polka Dot Pumpkin
Start by painting the pumpkin in white or any dark color, creating a clean canvas. Once the paint is dry, draw circles using a contrasting color that pops against the base coat.
For an easier alternative, you can skip the painting and opt for uniformly round stickers, applying them all around the pumpkin's surface. The result is playful and quirky, adding a fun, modern twist to your pumpkin decor.
18. Give Your Pumpkin a Warm Wrap
Do you have an old sweater lying around? Use it to give your pumpkins a cozy makeover. As the weather cools, you can repurpose those unused sweaters by turning them into snug pumpkin wraps.
To do this, cut the sweater into sections that fit around your pumpkin, then stretch and secure the fabric for a soft, textured look. It’s a fun and unique way to add a warm, autumnal touch to your decor!
19. Create a Family Handprint Pumpkin
Turn your pumpkin into a special keepsake by adding your family's (or friends') handprints. Use different paint colors for each handprint to make the design pop.For a sweet touch, layer smaller handprints (like the kids') over the larger ones, creating a beautiful, multicolored collage of memories.
Using a fine-tip paint pen, you can also write the names and ages (or dates) next to each handprint!
20. Design Stylish Two-Toned Pumpkins
Consider giving your pumpkins a modern two-toned design for a chic and minimalist touch to your fall decor. Choose contrasting color combinations like black and white, gold and white, or the classic orange and black to create a sleek and elegant look.
The bold contrast will make each pumpkin stand out while maintaining a sophisticated vibe. You can also experiment with pumpkins of different sizes, arranging them in clusters for a dynamic and visually striking display.
21. Carve a One-Pumpkin-Eating-Another Design
It’s a pumpkin-eat-pumpkin world out there. This idea is very creative but will require expert carving skills. For starters, you will need a miniature pumpkin and a normal-sized pumpkin. Carve a sinister-looking mouth and two eyes on the larger pumpkin. Now, carve a sad face on the miniature pumpkin and place it on the ‘teeth’ of the larger pumpkin.
22. Carve a Classic Jack-O'-Lantern
When it comes to pumpkins, you can never go wrong with the classic jack-o'-lantern. This timeless design, featuring triangular eyes, a triangle nose, and a wide, toothy grin, perfectly captures the essence of Halloween with its simple yet iconic look.
It’s a fun, no-frills approach that brings instant nostalgia and festive spirit to your decor. Place a candle or LED light inside the pumpkin to enhance the atmosphere, casting a warm, flickering glow that adds the right touch of spooky charm to your Halloween display.
23. Save Seeds for Next Year
Don’t let those pumpkin seeds go to waste! After enjoying your pumpkins, set some seeds aside for next year's garden. Saving and replanting your seeds is a rewarding way to continue the pumpkin tradition year after year. To prepare the seeds, scoop them out, clean off any pulp, and let them dry completely. Once dried, store them in a cool, dry place until planting season arrives.
Growing pumpkins from your harvested seeds connects you to the full cycle of gardening and adds a personal touch to next year’s harvest. Plus, it's a great way to ensure you'll always have pumpkins on hand for future projects!
Which Ideas Have You Tried?
Which of these ideas have you tried? We'd love to hear from you! Leave us a comment to let us know which suggestions are your favorite or which you plan to try. If you have any additional creative pumpkin ideas, that's even better—share them with us! We can't wait to see what you come up with.
Ready to grow bigger, healthier pumpkins this season? Check out our list of the 10 Best Liquid Fertilizers for Pumpkins and give your garden the boost it needs!
Use seeds to make pumpkin seeds. They are very tasteful.