Name: Homemade Pumpkin Puree
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Ingredients: 1 pie or sugar pumpkin (2 to 3 lbs)

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Skip the canned pumpkin puree and make homemade pumpkin puree from scratch, it is literally the easiest thing to make. It’s perfect to use in all of your favorite pumpkin recipes.

Once you give this recipe a try, you will wonder why you didn’t make your own pumpkin puree sooner. It tastes fresher than the canned version and your kitchen will smell delightful while the pumpkin is roasting.

Recipe Highlights

There is only one ingredient required to make this recipe for homemade pumpkin puree – a pumpkin!
It’s easy to make, has many uses and it can be frozen.

Here is What You Will Need

a pumpkin cut in half with a knife on the side

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2 to 3-pound pumpkin
Sharp knife
Baking or roasting pan
Food processor or blender

Here is How to Make Pumpkin Puree

Use a sharp knife to cut the stem off of the top of the pumpkin and cut the pumpkin in half. Scoop out the pumpkin seeds (it’s ok to leave the stringy pieces that are difficult to remove).

Place the pumpkin halves into a baking dish pulp side down and bake for about 45 minutes. The pumpkin should be soft when inserted with a fork. When it’s done, remove the pumpkin from and let it cool off. Once it’s cool, flip the halves over.

two halves of baked pumpkin in a blue baking dish

Use a spoon to scrape out the pulp.

a spoon scooping out the pumpkin to place it in a food processor

Place the pulp into a food processor.

pumpkin flesh in a food processor before blending it

Run the food processor until the pumpkin is smooth and pureed.

Total Estimated Time to Make This Recipe: 50 to 60 minutes

What is the best pumpkin to use to make homemade pumpkin puree?

I like to use pie or sugar pumpkins to make pumpkin puree. They are smaller in size and sweeter in taste. Look for a pumpkin that weighs 2 to 3 pounds which will make 2 to 3 cups of puree.

TIP! If pumpkin isn’t available, you can roast winter squash such as acorn or butternut squash the same way you would roast the pumpkin.

Is Canned Pumpkin and Pumpkin Puree the Same Thing?

Not always. The canned pumpkin puree that you buy in the supermarket is sometimes made with winter squash too. That’s not a bad thing, but if you want pure pumpkin puree, it’s better to make your own.

Canned pumpkin puree should also not be confused with canned pumpkin pie filling which has added sugar and spices.

How Long Does pumpkin puree last?

Pumpkin puree will last for up to 5 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

You can also freeze pumpkin puree in one to two cup quantities. I like to use these reusable stasher bags for this. They save space in the freezer and it’s easy to thaw the puree. You can place the sealed bag in a bowl of water.

Uses for Pumpkin Puree

Aside from sweet recipes like pumpkin pie, muffins, and pumpkin bread, there are many ways to use pumpkin puree in savory dishes. Here are a few recipes from my blogging friends:

Pumpkin and Cheddar Grits with Bacon and Apples from Sweet Beginnings Blog
Pumpkin Mac and Cheese from Every Day Eileen
Pumpkin Lasagna from West Via Midwest
Goat Cheese and Sage Pizza from the Spiffy Cookie
Pumpkin Parmesan Risotto with Bacon from Cheesecurd in Paradise
Vegan Savory Stuffed Pumpkins from the Baking Fariy
Savory Pumpkin Cheddar Biscuits from Shockingly Delicius
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili from Palatable Pastime