Decadent pumpkin and cream cheese recipes showcase two of our favorite fall ingredients in some seriously pretty desserts.
21 Pumpkin and Cream Cheese Recipes for the Sweetest Fall Combo
Updated on Oct. 30, 2024
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Pumpkin Bars
Pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting are the ultimate fall treat. But my family likes them so much, they ask me to make them all year long! —Brenda Keller, Andalusia, Alabama
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Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread
This combination of pumpkin, nuts and dates makes a delicious, golden pumpkin cream cheese bread. The surprise inside—a rich creamy swirl—is like a luscious layer of cheesecake in each slice. —Cindy May, Troy, Michigan
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Caramel Pumpkin Dip
Served with vanilla wafers, graham cracker sticks or even apple slices, this cool, creamy dip from our home economists makes a special autumn snack.—Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
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Pumpkin Cheese Ball
No one will guess that this make-ahead pumpkin cheese ball has pumpkin in it, but that subtle ingredient lends harvest color and added nutrition. —Linnea Rein, Topeka, Kansas
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Pumpkin Cake
This pumpkin cake is packed with a warm, seasonal taste from ground cinnamon and pumpkin, bits of crunchy pecans and a rich cream cheese frosting. The flavors combine for a cozy, sweet treat you’ll want to have year-round. —Leon Dellinger, Elwood, Indiana
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Pumpkin Chiffon Pie
Whip up an smooth, airy fall dessert this season with our pumpkin chiffon pie.
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Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
I first made this recipe back in 1987 and have since made it many times over the years because it’s my children’s favorite muffin recipe.—Wendy Stenman
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Pumpkin Roll
This pumpkin roll recipe is great to keep in the freezer for a quick dessert for my family or unexpected guests, to take to a gathering, or to give as a yummy gift. —Erica Berchtold, Freeport, Illinois
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Pumpkin Cheesecake
Move over, pumpkin pie: This pumpkin cheesecake recipe might just be our new favorite fall dessert.
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Pumpkin Cookies
These easy pumpkin cookies are pleasantly spiced. Everyone enjoys the soft, cake-like texture, too. —Lisa Chernetsky, Luzerne, Pennsylvania
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Pumpkin Muffins
This pumpkin muffin recipe will make you excited to turn on your oven again when the temperature starts to drop.
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Pumpkin Tiramisu
Put a twist on a classic dessert just in time for fall. Learn how to make pumpkin tiramisu filled with cozy flavors.
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Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
This recipe caught my eye and was extremely popular at the annual Christmas party sponsored by our Extension Homemakers. It’s a great dessert for fall.
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Pumpkin Mousse
If you’ve had your fill of pumpkin pie, this cool and creamy pumpkin mousse is perfect for you. Its light and fluffy texture won’t make you feel “stuffed” after your favorite turkey dinner. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Paul's Pumpkin Patch Pudding
This recipe originated with Donna Esh, whose husband, John, is the manager at the restaurant my brother Jim and I operate. I reworked it slightly and named it after our dad.—John Smucker, Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania
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Pumpkin Torte
A local newspaper featured this potluck-friendly recipe years ago. A creamy alternative to pumpkin pie, it quickly became one of my favorites. —Peggy Shea, Lowell, Indiana
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Miniature Pumpkin Cake Towers
I make these pumpkin treats every autumn and they are gone in minutes. The spice combination is perfect for fall, and it is all wrapped up in a pretty little cake.—Deb Lyon, Bangor, Pennsylvania
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Pumpkin Bagels
Enjoy pumpkin pie flavor with these classic bagels. For a change, adjust the spices to suit your taste buds. —Kristy Reeves, LeRoy, Kansas
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Pumpkin Dessert Bars
Put a twist on traditional pumpkin pie with this recipe. It packs the spicy pumpkin flavor you love, but in a new crowd-sized form. —Tena Huckleby, Greeneville, Tennessee
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Purple-Ribbon Pumpkin Cake
I belong to a Christmas village collectors’ club and we all bring a potluck dish to our monthy meetings. The cake is always a hit. It’s one of my family’s favorite Thanksgiving desserts, too, and disappears before the pumpkin pie does. —Debby Powers, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
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Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie
If you’re looking for a classic autumn dessert, try this pumpkiny cheesecake pie. It’s a winner at potlucks and on the Thanksgiving table. The gingersnap crust forms a spicy-sweet foundation. —Sharon Crockett, La Palma, CaliforniaPumpkin and Cream Cheese FAQ
What flavors pair well with pumpkin?
Plenty of fruity flavors pair well with pumpkin. Apples, cranberries and citrus brighten up the earthy notes of the squash. For an extra-cozy flavor profile, lean into the richness by pairing your pumpkin with chocolate and a healthy helping of spices.
What’s the difference between cream cheese and Neufchatel?
Simply put, Neufchatel has less fat and more moisture than cream cheese. It’s made with just milk, while cream cheese is made with both milk and cream. (Hence the name!) Use them interchangeably as a spread for bagels, but it’s best to stick with your recipe’s recommendation when it comes to baking or cooking with these two.
Can I use canned pumpkin pie filling instead of canned pumpkin?
The two are not interchangeable. Pumpkin pie filling has sugar and spices already added. If you do swap one for the other, consult your recipe to determine if you need to add sugar and spice or omit them.
