Recipe Roundup for a Pumpkin Themed Dinner Party

Raise your hand if you love pumpkin spice everything. *Raises hand*. Fall is my absolute favorite season of the year. I love the smell of the crisp air. I adore the clothes (sweater weather!).  And I get giddy about taking my kids to do all the things. But mostly, I swoon over all things pumpkin flavored. And today, I’m sharing with you all my favorite recipes from Pinterest that are actually tried and true. I would not lead you astray, reader! No #pinterestfails here. Are you ready to put on a pumpkin-themed dinner party to end all dinner parties? Me too!

First Thing’s First

Pumpkin & Apple Cider Cocktail via Suburbia-Unwrapped

Every great dinner party starts with a good cocktail, and this Pumpkin & Apple Cider Cocktail from Suburbia-Unwrapped is a perfect opener. When I discovered pumpkin pie vodka, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. You know, I’ve even put it in my coffee with a little cream, sugar and pumpkin pie spice as a sort of fall version of an “Irish Coffee” (all you die-hards out there don’t judge me for not liking whiskey!) It is the very best thing on a cool Saturday morning- I’m telling you! Anyway, this cocktail is just the most delicious thing. I promise you’ll be the hostess with the mostest if you serve this up! 

 

 

Maple Butternut Squash, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Pumpkin Seeds, & Cranberries from JuliasAlbum.com

Let’s Talk Starters

I’m a sucker for salads. And not just because that’s what every single twenty-something, figure-conscious mama is supposed to say. I really do! I love the texture variations, the endless salad dressing options, and the CHEESE! This is the most important topping, in my opinion. Where my feta friends at?! While this recipe isn’t exactly a salad – I mean it sort of is, and it doesn’t have cheese *gasp*, I fully support it because the flavors of fall are a close second in my book. Butternut squash is an autumn staple in our house, as are brussels sprouts and pumpkin seeds. Gotta put those babies to use! You can find the recipe here for this scrumptious salad of sorts. 

The next “starter” is a heart-warmer. Nothing, I repeat, nothing beats a good bowl of soup on a cold fall day. And the only thing that could possible make it better is to add pumpkin. So that’s what I did. I found this recipe for Pumpkin Sage Soup that is divine! And it’s healthy. Bonus points for mom!

Pumpkin & Sage Soup from LaurenCarisCooks.com

You actually peel and cook a legit pumpkin for this bad boy. So make sure you have some extra time set aside to do that. But honestly, it’s worth it. I also like to roast my pumpkin in the oven to give it extra depth of flavor – just like butternut squash. The flavor is just amazing. You won’t get that with a can, my friends. If you just don’t have the time to roast your pumpkin, throw canned pumpkin in a skillet with some chopped up shallots and olive oil. Then follow the recipe directly. 

 

 

The Main Event

Pumpkin Alfredo Tortellini from FamilyFreshMeals.com

Y’all. My mouth is watering before I even get started sharing this amazing recipe with you. It has been a family favorite every October for several years now. I get excited when I get the green light from the hubs (he has to reign me in on my pumpkin addiction) to start buying the cans of orange goodness for a Pumpkin Alfredo with Cheese Tortellini. AH! I need to put this on my menu like now. It just ticks all the right boxes! Big flavors, cheesy goodness, soul warming. It will be one of your fall favorites, for sure! If you decide to make this for a crowd, have a stack of recipe cards ready. I’ve added several things to my recipe over the years: sauteed spinach for extra color and veggie flavor, bacon- because how can that be bad??, and grilled chicken for added protein. All of these were excellent additions, but definitely not needed. 

The Grand Finale

Apple Pumpkin Dump Cake from WineAndGlue.com

Are you prepared to wow your family and friends with the easiest, most delicious dessert on the planet? Okay, good! Look no further than this Apple Pumpkin Dump Cake from Wine and Glue. Four ingredients. That’s it! I’m telling you, it’s the best fall dessert recipe I’ve found that is simple and delightful! It’s also adaptable. You can use gluten-free cake mixes in place of the yellow cake mix. I highly recommend adding vanilla bean ice cream and salted caramel sauce (store bought, of course, because #momlife). 

This is one of those recipes that I couldn’t wait to try when I saw it, and it lived up to every bit of my expectation for it. I hope it does for you too!

 

So, there you have it! A pumpkin recipe round up that will make your dinner guests unbutton their britches and go back for seconds. I’m looking forward to making every single one of these recipes again this year, and it’s been my joy to share them with you! Bon Appetite!! 

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Mollie Ryan
Mollie lives in Edmond and is a working mom of three children ages 6, 4, and 3. She is married to a wonderful, caring, and driven entrepreneur who turns dreams into reality! She was fortunate to stay home with her sweet littles for a couple short years, but returned to teaching in the fall of 2018- a rewarding and challenging experience. She is passionate about education, essential oils, and enjoys Masterpiece Classic on PBS. You can find her on Instagram @anessentialeducation.

2 COMMENTS

  1. These look awesome – can’t wait to try some of them! I have heard great things about that soup and I love sage anyway, so that may be on my menu soon. Great recipe roundup!

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