DIY Pumpkins to Cookies

Oct 28, 2014 | Family Life, Meal Time | 0 comments

Fall is my favorite season! We love carving pumpkins, but I don’t like the food to go to waste. I also don’t like to buy puree cans of pumpkin at whatever price it is. So instead, I turn my carved pumpkins into a puree and then use it to make really delicious homemade cookies!

First – Carve & Cut

I only let the pumpkins sit for a day or two at most. I don’t want to let them go moldy and then have to waste the pumpkin. We carve our pumpkins the day of Halloween or the day before. Then the day after Halloween we cut them up & cook them!

Cut the pumpkin into BIG chunks. I clean the pumpkin and then cut off any bits that may look even the slightest discolored. If the skin is scarred I don’t worry because we’ll be slicing that part off.

Second – Choose a method of steaming or cooking

I actually do all three (steaming, baking in oven, and microwave steam), because they all take time & combining means I can finish quicker. When you have a lot of pumpkins to cook this is the fastest way!

When the timer is done, check the pumpkin by stabbing it with a fork. If the fork goes in easy it’s done.

Baking Pumpkins

Place big pumpkin chunks in a 9×13 pan & add a bit of water in the pan for steaming purposes.
Cover with tin foil & put in the oven.
Bake at 400 degrees for 40 – 60 minutes.
(A med/large pumpkin fills two 9×13 pans)

Boil/Steam Method

Put a couple of cups of water in a big pot.
Add big chunks of Pumpkin.
Cover & boil/steam for 15-20 min.

Microwave Steam Method

Put big chunks of pumpkin in Big glass bowl.
Add two inches of water
Cover & cook for 20-25 minutes.

Third – Slice & Blend

Let pumpkin cool before slicing the skin off. Once cooled slice skin & any hard spots off.

Blend Pumpkin until Smooth

I let the pumpkin sit in the blender for 10 minutes to help the water seep out. The steaming/cooking fills the meat with a bit of water, by letting it seep out increases the flavor.

Fourth – Measure out and Freeze / or Use

I measure the pumpkin out into 4 cup increments & put it in a Quart Freezer bag, label & freeze.

4 cups = Large can of pumpkin (28-32oz)

Use like regular pumpkin puree

When making pumpkin pie, or things similar in flavor…I add more pumpkin pie spice. When using cookies & bread, I add a touch more of the spice the recipe recommends.

1 med/large pumpkin made ABOUT 5 cups of puree

Tip: Jack-o-lanterns are made to grow bigger, much like watermelon and so their flavor is a bit diluted. Adding a bit more pumpkin spice makes everything just as yummy as using canned pumpkin.

Instructions in a nutshell:

Carve & Cut into big chunks
Steam/Cook
bake: 400 degrees 45-60 minutes
microwave: cover, add water 20-25 minutes
Boil/Steam: cover, add water 15-20 minutes
Slice skin off & Blend
let sit to seep water out)
Measure & Freeze/Use

Lastly, use your freshly made pumpkin puree for homemade pumpkin cookies or pumpkin oatmeal, or pumpkin spice hot chocolate.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies

How do you use your carved pumpkins?

Rach

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Bio

Aloha,
Rachel is a vlogger and stay-at-home mom! When she's not filming fun videos for the "Ohana Adventure" and the "Rach Bennett" channels, she is sharing amazing lifestyle, travel, parenting, and homeschool tips here on the blog.

Jase is an entrepreneur, surfer, skater, fisherman, and the best dad ever! When he’s not creating silly Reels (@jasebennett), you can find him sharing adventures on the blog & great entrepreneurial tips on his podcast: The Decode.