Is it even officially fall until you’ve sipped your first pumpkin spice latte of the season? After all, from tasty seasonal pies to hearty stews—the quintessential fall squash is in just about everything this time of year.
And with Halloween right around the corner, if you’re plant-based, it’s highly likely you’ll be carving pumpkins instead of turkeys this holiday season. Because it’s not officially fall either unless you’ve made the season’s annual rite of passage: a trip to the local pumpkin patch.
But the spooky, gap-toothed grinning jack-o-lanterns inevitably wind up in landfills come November 1. If you want to cut back on waste this holiday season, there are a number of ways you can put your carved pumpkins to use.
How To Reduce Pumpkin Waste This Holiday Season
So, you’ve finished carving your ghoulish-looking pumpkin fit to win any pumpkin carving contest. But now, you may be wondering what to do with the enormous pile of leftover slimy pumpkin innards and seeds.
Instead of tossing the latter, roast them! Roasted pumpkin seeds are quick and easy to make—and they’re delicious. Whip up this roasted pumpkin seed recipe to make your pumpkin seeds savory or sweet.
You can also use up the fleshy pumpkin you’ve scooped out to make a pumpkin purée. Pumpkin purée can be used to make a number of tasty seasonal treats like fresh pumpkin pie and hearty pumpkin soup. Try making your own vegan homemade pumpkin purée using this recipe.
Here are 10 more ways you can ensure your carved pumpkin doesn’t go to waste.
10 Things You Never Knew You Could Do With Pumpkin
Go beyond pumpkin pie. Here are 10 ways you can reduce pumpkin waste this season.
1. Pumpkin Hair Mask
Pumpkins aren’t just good for carving. You’re only 30 minutes away from luscious locks with this pumpkin hair mask. Because pumpkins are a natural antioxidant and are chock-full of healthy vitamins like A, C, E, and B, they can help to moisturize your hair. So give your mane a little TLC and a voluminous boost using this pumpkin and coconut oil DIY hair treatment. Your hair never looked—or smelled—better.
Check out the recipe here.
2. Pumpkin Body Scrub
In addition to being beneficial for your hair, pumpkins also work wonders on the skin! Their vitamins and nutrients help to alleviate dry skin and can also leave your skin feeling softer. Give your skin a makeover with this pumpkin body scrub. It features only a handful of ingredients: pumpkin purée, brown sugar, olive oil, and a myriad of spices. These include ground nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and ginger.
Check out the recipe here.
3. Pumpkin Face Mask
Treat yourself to an at-home spa day with this pumpkin face mask. In addition to beneficial vitamins and nutrients, pumpkins have anti-inflammatory properties making them a great option for helping to relieve acne and other skin ailments. This seasonal-inspired face mask may also help to reduce the appearance of pores. In addition to pumpkin, the face mask features oats, which help to cleanse and exfoliate the skin.
Check out the recipe here.
4. Pumpkin Bird Feeder
Give your carved pumpkins to the birds, literally. Come November 1, instead of chucking your ghoulish jack-o-lantern in the trash, you can give it a new lease on life by turning it into a bird feeder. All you need are twigs to create perches for the birds and twine or string to hang up your DIY bird feeder. The birds will thank you later.
Check out the instructions here.
5. Pumpkin Butter
Put your pumpkin purée to good use by making this homemade pumpkin butter recipe. The creamy spread is perfect on just about anything! Slather it onto a heaping stack of pancakes, or mix it into your morning bowl of oatmeal. Your toast never tasted so good.
Check out the recipe here.
6. Pumpkin Mac N’ Cheese
Who doesn’t love a meal of creamy vegan mac n’ cheese? Give the classic recipe a fall-inspired twist this season with pumpkin. This dairy-free pumpkin mac n’ cheese recipe can be whipped up using only a handful of simple ingredients! Serve this plant-based, pumpkin-infused dish to your friends and family—or enjoy it all by yourself.
Check out the recipe here.
7. Pumpkin Bread Rolls
Dinner isn’t complete without a warm loaf of bread. Round out your holiday meal with these pumpkin bread rolls. They’re light and fluffy—and slightly sweet. Use up your pumpkin purée to make this recipe. It only features five other ingredients: active dry yeast, water, maple syrup, salt, and all-purpose flour. The little pumpkin bread rolls look almost too adorable to even eat!
Check out the recipe here.
8. Pumpkin Nuggets
The kids will love these little vegan pumpkin nuggets. The pumpkin bites feature a crispy coating of spices and Panko bread crumbs with a soft and creamy inside. And they can be served as is, in a wrap or pita, or atop a nutritious salad bowl. They taste so good you’re sure to want seconds.
Check out the recipe here.
9. Pumpkin Ravioli
Craving Italian? Then try your hand at making these tasty, pumpkin-stuffed ravioli noodles. Smothered in brown butter and sage, these vegan pumpkin ravioli are the perfect Italian-inspired dish to serve this holiday season.
Check out the recipe here.
10. Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino
Why make a trip to Starbucks when you can whip up a delicious vegan pumpkin spice frap at home? This recipe is easy to make and features healthy ingredients like pumpkin purée and plant-based milk. Top it with vegan whipped cream, caramel sauce, and cinnamon and you will never want Starbucks again.
Check out the recipe here.
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