How to Make Pumpkin Puree

Learn how to make pumpkin puree at home from scratch to use in your favorite fall recipes. This homemade puree is simple and so easy to make.

Learn how to make pumpkin puree for pumpkin pie and all your other favorite pumpkin-y treats. That orange can in your cupboard? It’s just pureed pumpkin! Here’s how to make it yourself especially if you can’t find canned pumpkin.

Homemade or canned, pumpkin is bursting with fiber (for fullness) and nutrients like calcium, potassium, magnesium, and iron.

HOW TO MAKE PUMPKIN PUREE

• Prep the pumpkin by first removing the stem. Then, cut the pumpkin in half and scoop out the seeds and fiber with a large spoon. Reserve the seeds for roasting.
• Sprinkle the flesh with salt
• Lay the halves flesh side down on the prepared baking sheet.
• Cook until a knife or fork slides right through the skin and flesh.

• After it’s cooled, remove the flesh with a spoon and you can throw away the skin.
• Now place in a food processor and you may have to do this in batches depending on the size of your machine.
• Blend the pumpkin flesh in a food processor until very smooth and you’ve got homemade pumpkin puree ready for your recipe!

TIPS FOR MAKING HOMEMADE PUMPKIN PUREE

1. Buy the right kind of pumpkin. Look for those labeled “sugar” or “pie” pumpkins. They are bred for making puree. Often they are small and round but can come in different shapes (and colors!).
2. Roast thoroughly for even blending and the best finished texture. A paring knife should glide smoothly right through a well-roasted pumpkin.
3. Do not forget the salt. Salt brings out flavor.
4. Maybe ditch the parchment paper. If you don’t mind scrubbing down your baking sheet, for optimum caramelization, lightly oil a sheet pan roast directly on the metal.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If a recipe calls for one can of pumpkin how much homemade pumpkin puree is the equivalent?

A typical 15-ounce can of pumpkin is a scant (slightly less) than two dry measuring cups of pumpkin puree. You can also use a scale to weigh your homemade.

Can I steam my pie pumpkin instead of roasting?

Roasting brings out the richer flavors plus roasting will dehydrate the pumpkin making for a less watery puree. However, you may use a steamer insert and cook until the flesh is easily pierced with a knife.

Can I mix and match my squash purees for “pumpkin pie?”

Definitely. In fact, many bakers advocate either mixing purees or using butternut squash puree alone because they prefer the flavor and other squashes have a higher yield of useable flesh than sugar pumpkins.

Just keep in mind that while the pumpkin puree from scratch is an excellent substitution for canned pumpkin, some recipes will still advocate against using the homemade version. That’s because homemade tends to have more water content and there is a slight difference in texture: canned is very smooth and homemade more toothsome.