Substitutes for Pumpkin: 8 Best Alternatives +FAQs!

There are a plethora of pumpkin recipes in cookbooks and on the internet. Pumpkin is used in a variety of soups, significant courses, desserts, and even hot drinks and cocktails.

Autumn is the perfect time to use pumpkin in dishes. This time of year, pumpkin is readily available in supermarkets at a reasonable price and of decent quality.

It’s possible, however, that you’ll need a pumpkin for your recipe but don’t have any on hand. It may be out of season, and you don’t want to waste your money on a low-quality pumpkin. Or, for whatever reason, you wish to utilize something else. Is there anything else you could use as pumpkin substitutes?

Butternut squash, acorn, sweet potato, carrot, zucchini, apple sauce, banana, and peanut butter are excellent pumpkin substitutes.

More information about these pumpkin replacements can be found in this article. You may learn when and how to utilize these substitutes to succeed in your favorite pumpkin-free recipes. It’s possible that you’ll like them even more than the originals.

Substitutes for Pumpkin

So, if you’re seeking some pumpkin alternatives, keep reading. Below each option, I’ll explain what kinds of recipes you can use instead of pumpkin. This advice will assist you in making the best decision when it comes to selecting the best alternative.

No.1 Butternut Squash

It is the most effective pumpkin substitute. It has a texture, color, and flavor that is highly similar to pumpkin.

Butternut squash is a type of winter squash that is high in nutrients. It has a low glycemic index, which means it can help with high blood pressure and weight gain. Butternut squash, like pumpkin, can be used in various ways. It can be boiled, roasted, or eaten raw.

In any dish that calls for pumpkin, butternut squash is a beautiful substitute. You may substitute butternut squash for pumpkin in any recipe that calls for pumpkins, such as a warm soup, roasted pumpkin, or pumpkin pie. Don’t worry, and the outcome will be identical; you will not be able to detect the difference.

No.2 Squash acorn

Acorn squash is a variety of winter squash that, like butternut squash, can be used in place of pumpkin in almost any dish. Although it is not as well-known as pumpkin or butternut squash, it tastes just as wonderful, if not better.

The acorn squash has a sweet and flavorful flavor. It is most typically baked, but it can be prepared in various ways. And you can use it in almost any dish that calls for pumpkin. You don’t need to make any changes; follow the same steps with the pumpkin.

The best thing about acorn squash is that it lasts much longer in the season than pumpkins. Acorn squash is a good alternative if you want to cook something with pumpkin in the winter.

No.3 Baked sweet potatoes

Although sweet potatoes are not physiologically related to pumpkins, they are an excellent substitute. Because it is sweet, as its name implies, you will not notice much of a change in taste.

Sweet potatoes are becoming increasingly popular since they are healthier than white potatoes. You may eat it raw, cooked, or baked, and you can even make sweet potato fries with it.

It works best as a pumpkin alternative in salty dishes. As you would with pumpkin, you can prepare a creamy soup or a sweet potato puree. You may also make a lovely quiche or other savory pastries with the sweet potato puree.

No.4 Carrot

This one was had to happen. Another orange vegetable that can be used as a pumpkin alternative. Although the flavor will not be identical to pumpkin, there are numerous advantages to using carrots instead of pumpkin. Carrots are available virtually all year and are less expensive than pumpkin. If you don’t have any pumpkin on hand, there’s a good chance you have some carrots on hand that you may substitute.

Carrot puree can be made just as quickly, if not faster, than pumpkin puree. Then it’s up to you whether you want to use it as a dipping sauce, a spaghetti sauce, or a vegetable tart. It works best in salty recipes, but if you’re feeling brave, you may also use it in sweet muffins and cakes.

No.5 Zucchini

If you don’t have any pumpkins on hand to make your favorite recipe, I might be able to help. There are a few recipes that call for zucchini instead of pumpkin.

However, unlike the replacements mentioned earlier, zucchini has a distinct flavor and color from pumpkin. So, if you don’t mind a somewhat different flavor, you may still prepare your dish with zucchini. However, a handmade zucchini puree can be used in many of the same dishes as a pumpkin puree.

However, you should only use zucchini  in salty meals. It isn’t a good option for sweets because it isn’t as sweet as a pumpkin.

No.6 Apple sauce,

Then there are some strange pumpkin substitutes. Yes, apple sauce can be substituted for pumpkin in some recipes.

Because apple sauce has such a sweet flavor, it’s best used in sweet foods like cakes, muffins, and cookies. Replace the pumpkin puree with an equal amount of apple sauce.

The result will be sweeter if you use apple sauce instead of pumpkin puree. As a result, you might want to reduce the amount of sugar you use.

No.7 Banana

Bananas can replace pumpkin puree in dessert recipes in the same way that apple sauce can. Of course, you’ll need to mash your bananas before mixing them in with the rest of the ingredients.

Three mashed bananas will suffice if your recipe calls for 1 cup of pumpkin puree. You get the most satisfactory results, make sure to use ripe bananas.

You can use it in any sweet recipe, but people use it most commonly in pumpkin bread. Add pumpkin spice to it if you want the flavor to be similar to pumpkin.

No.8 Peanut butter

Peanut butter can also be used as a substitute for pumpkin in sweet recipes. Peanut butter is an excellent alternative for low-carb desserts, especially if you want to keep it low-carb.

You can even manufacture your peanut butter at home if you have a food processor and some peanuts. One cup of peanut butter equals 1.5 cups of pumpkin in sweet dishes.

Related inquiries:

Is it possible to use pumpkin pie filling for pumpkin puree?

Yes, but only for sweet dishes because pumpkin pie filling contains sugar. You’ll also need to make some changes, like utilizing fewer sweeteners.

Is it possible to substitute potato for pumpkin?

Yes, you can use white potato instead of pumpkin, much as sweet potato. On the other hand, sweet potato is preferable if you want a more pumpkin-like flavor.

Is it possible to substitute something else for pumpkin puree in the pumpkin latte?

You may quickly leave out the pumpkin puree if you want to make a pumpkin latte at home and your recipe calls for it. You can achieve a similar outcome by combining pumpkin spice and cinnamon.