Pumpkin Recipes - Leather, Roasted Seeds, Crustless Pie & Muffins

Sep 3, 2010
Marcia Claesson

Try Some New Pumpkin Recipes - Photo by Kosak

New uses and ideas for pumpkins include recipes for pumpkin leather, roasted pumpkin seeds, crustless pumpkin pie and healthy pumpkin muffins.

There’s more to pumpkins than tasty pies and outdoor decorations. Pumpkins are a great source of nutrients, particularly Vitamin, A (beta-carotene), Vitamin C, and potassium. Here are some unique ways to eat this healthy treat:

Pumpkin Leather

Combine 1 cup unsweetened applesauce with 1 cup canned pumpkin pie mix. (Make sure you use “pumpkin pie mix” and not pure pumpkin alone.) Spray the bottom of a jelly roll pan, or line the pan with foil or parchment. Spread pumpkin pie mix and applesauce mixture over the bottom of the pan. Dry at 140 degrees for 8 to 10 hours, until it is no longer sticky. Cut into desired lengths, roll, and wrap in plastic or store in plastic bags.

You may also use this recipe with a commercial dehydrator. Follow the directions for dehydrating fruit leather.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

After you carve your jack-o-lantern, save the seeds. Ask your neighbors if you can have the seeds from their pumpkins as well. Wash most of the pumpkin off the seeds, but not completely. A little bit of pumpkin gives flavor to the roasted seeds. Put the seeds in a bowl with a lid. For each cup of seeds, use the following recipe: Combine four tablespoons melted butter, one-half teaspoon garlic salt and two teaspoons Worcestershire sauce. Put over seeds, cover and shake. Spread seeds evenly on a cookie sheet and heat in a 325-degree oven for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown.

Crustless Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie can actually be a healthy side dish for your meal, if you leave out the crust and the whipped cream. To make a crustless pumpkin pie, add one-fourth cup flour to your favorite pumpkin pie recipe. Liberally grease the pan and bake as normal.

For an even healthier pumpkin pie choose evaporated skim milk instead of regular, use whole wheat flour and replace each egg called for with two egg whites.

Healthy Pumpkin Muffins

You can bake a batch of these muffins and freeze them in baggies for a quick healthy snack. To reuse, simply take out ahead of time and thaw, or defrost in the microwave. Be careful not to overheat them, as it will dry the muffins out.