It’s every baker’s worst nightmare: You push your cart down the baking aisle looking for all the ingredients you need for your favorite fall recipes—and the store is out of canned pumpkin. If you love pumpkin bars or pumpkin pie, this really does feel like a bad dream.
But there’s some good news: There are substitutions for canned pumpkin puree. You can still make your favorite treats, just with a few tweaks. Here’s what you can use while your store restocks.
1. Fresh Pumpkin Puree
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While our Test Kitchen recommends using canned pumpkin whenever possible, it doesn’t mean that fresh pumpkin puree doesn’t have a place in your kitchen. Fresh pumpkin is the ideal alternative for recipes that call for solid-pack canned pumpkin.
To make pumpkin puree, first make sure you’re grabbing the right kind of pumpkin. Look for pumpkins labeled as pie, sugar pie or baking pumpkins (regular carving pumpkins don’t fit the bill here!). Then you’ll clean, roast and puree the pumpkin in a food processor.
It’s not difficult to do, but it’s definitely more time-consuming than popping open a can.
2. Canned Sweet Potatoes
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Canned yams or sweet potatoes can also be used in place of canned pumpkin puree. It’s a simple swap to make. Just drain the sweet potatoes and use them in the same proportion as the canned pumpkin.
Sweet potatoes and pumpkin do taste a little different, of course, but the texture and color are very similar. Also, once you layer on the baking spices, these differences won’t be as prominent.
3. Roasted Squash
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When all else fails, you can always roast up another type of squash and use it in recipes that call for pumpkin. Butternut, buttercup, honeynut and acorn squashes are all suitable substitutes. Each of these types of squash has a similar texture to pumpkin and some natural sweetness. To substitute these squashes for pumpkin, prepare them as you would pumpkin for fresh pumpkin puree: clean, roast, puree in a food processor. Use in the same proportions as pumpkin puree.
We get it if acorn squash pie doesn’t have the same appeal as pumpkin, but these substitutions can be especially useful in savory pumpkin recipes.
With these easy substitutions for pumpkin in mind, you don’t need to fret if you don’t see your go-to brand of pumpkin on the shelf. Just search for some canned yams or head to the produce department.
FAQs
Butternut, buttercup, honeynut and acorn squashes are all suitable substitutes. Each of these types of squash has a similar texture to pumpkin and some natural sweetness. To substitute these squashes for pumpkin, prepare them as you would pumpkin for fresh pumpkin puree: clean, roast, puree in a food processor.
What can I use instead of canned pumpkin? ›
Butternut, buttercup, honeynut and acorn squashes are all suitable substitutes. Each of these types of squash has a similar texture to pumpkin and some natural sweetness. To substitute these squashes for pumpkin, prepare them as you would pumpkin for fresh pumpkin puree: clean, roast, puree in a food processor.
What is a good substitute for diced pumpkin? ›
Luckily, we also make two of the best substitutes for pumpkin as well! Organic Butternut Squash Puree and Sweet Potato puree! You can sub these in a 1-to-1 ratio with no issue in just about any recipe.
What can I use instead of canned pumpkin muffins? ›
I'm happy to report that butternut squash works great as an alternative to canned pumpkin. We used it to make my Pumpkin Sourdough Muffins recipe, and my family thought it tasted even better than when I make it with pumpkin!
What is the closest thing to pumpkin? ›
If you're looking for a substitution for pumpkin, look no further than butternut squash. This winter squash is not only comparable in texture, color, and taste to pumpkin, but it also boasts a host of health benefits.
What can I use instead of a pumpkin at Halloween? ›
Alternative fruit and vegetables to carve
- A pineapple is perfect for a spine-tingling party piece. ...
- Squashes can be carved using the same technique as a pumpkin and the variety of sizes, shapes and colours are sure to thrill passing trick-or-treaters.
If the pumpkin in your recipe takes the place of fat, rather than serving as flavor, try replacing it with apple sauce, apple butter or yogurt. The flavor will change, but these substitutes can provide moisture, just as pumpkin does.
Can I substitute banana for pumpkin? ›
Are Pumpkin Purée and Mashed Bananas Interchangeable? Yes! In most quick bread and muffin recipes, pumpkin purée and mashed bananas can be used interchangeably. The two purées are similar in texture and function, although bananas provide more sweetness to the baked good.
What fruit is similar to pumpkin? ›
Butternut Squash
If you like pumpkin but want to try something different, butternut squash is the perfect fruit for you. Similar to pumpkin but slightly sweeter, butternut squash is high in fiber and potassium and known to help reduce blood pressure.
Can you substitute potatoes for pumpkin? ›
However, anything with a similar texture would work. If you don't care so much about the taste, you could substitute a tuber such as potato, turnip, rutabaga, carrot, parsnip, celery root, or parsley root. Sweet potatoes or yams would be closer in taste, but might be mushier than you want.
Dickinson pumpkins, also known as Dickinson squash, are the pumpkins used to make the majority of canned pumpkin we eat today. But Dickinson pumpkins are tan pumpkins with uniform, smooth skin that are much larger than the average field pumpkin. They're also sometimes called squash, not pumpkins.
Can you substitute canned pumpkin for eggs? ›
Great for substituting into prepackaged mixes, canned pumpkin puree is an easy swap that can replace both eggs and oil. For each egg, a recipe calls for, add in one quarter cup of pumpkin puree.
What does pumpkin replace in baking? ›
Use Libbys Pumpkin Instead of...
- 1 EGG = ¼ cup LIBBY'S Pumpkin.
- 1 TBSP. OIL = 1 tbsp. LIBBY'S Pumpkin.
- 1 TBSP. BUTTER = 1 tbsp. LIBBY'S Pumpkin.
Butternut Squash and Sweet Potatoes
These ingredients, in these amounts, are interchangeable in most recipes to achieve the same texture and most similar flavor. For 1 cup canned pumpkin or pumpkin puree, substitute 1 cup cooked, mashed sweet potato or butternut squash.
Can you substitute carrots for pumpkin? ›
Can you substitute carrots for pumpkins? Kind of! You can substitute carrots in a cake, bread, or muffin recipe, but you're going to notice the difference in a pie. That said, carrot pie is definitely a thing, just know that it doesn't taste quite the same as pumpkin pie!
Why is canned pumpkin better to use in baking? ›
Canned Just Tastes Better
Our pros said that the pie made with canned pumpkin was more flavorful with a perfectly silky texture. Canned pumpkin also tends to have a more vibrant color, which makes all sorts of recipes, including pumpkin bread, look all the more appetizing.
Can I substitute canned pumpkin for vegetable oil? ›
Although canned pumpkin is a good substitute for oil and eggs, it can negatively impact the final product. So, you may need to experiment with proportions until you achieve a satisfying taste and texture.
Is canned pumpkin puree just pumpkin? ›
Canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree are the same thing. These terms are often used interchangeably in recipes, though you may also see the term solid-pack pumpkin. All these terms mean 100% steamed and pureed pumpkin—no extras, no add-ins—not even in the canned variety.
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