Roasting Pumpkins for Pumpkin Bread

A roasted sugar pumpkin split in half and flesh-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Close to Thanksgiving, there are pumpkins in everyone’s shopping cart, generally in a can. If you want a real treat, that will allow you to skip the canned aisle in the grocery store, try roasting pumpkins at home. You’ll be shocked at how easy it is.

A sugar pumpkin with a long stem, sitting on a marble countertop.

Baking pumpkins caramelizes the sugars and makes for a sweeter puree than boiling. You’ll want to start with a “pie” or “sugar” variety and avoid the BIG Jack-o-Lantern pumpkins which are great for carving but are too watery to eat. Once you have roasted pumpkin you can use it in a simple Pumpkin Bread Recipe, the rest is for your pies and other favorite pumpkin recipes.

Roasting Pumpkins

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Split the pumpkin in half starting at the stem.

split pumpkin
split pumpkin

2. Place the cut end down on a piece of parchment paper or silpat.

split pumpkin

3. Bake for 45 minutes, until the flesh is soft to the touch.

baked pumpkin

4. Cool and scoop out the seeds.

scoop out seeds

5. Scoop out the flesh of the pumpkin and puree it in a food processor.

scoop out flesh and puree

6. Use the for a great pie or double the bread recipe.

Pumpkin Bread Recipe

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5 thoughts to “Roasting Pumpkins for Pumpkin Bread”

  1. zoe! congratulations – this is a WONDERFUL achievement – you do a great job capturing the true lorraine (in her enthusiasm for your book and HER BAKING!) she’s convinced half the studio (brought a bread to a staff meeting the other day and that’s what i remember the most (haha, don’t tell her…) i’d like to order 2 books for christmas – lorraine said that there was a discount offered if i came to zoebakes.com…?
    true? or has that promo ended? just let me know…either way, it’s on my shopping list for this holiday season!
    congrats again…cheers!
    tracy

  2. Hi Tracy,
    Thank you for your kind words. It is all very exciting and I hope you enjoy baking from the book nearly as much as my mom does! I think the discount she was referring to is on Amazon. I actually pay more, even with my author discount than you will on Amazon. Sad but true fact about the publishing world!
    Enjoy!!! Thanks!

  3. Zoe, thanks for taking the time to explain what can be taken for granted – like how to roast a pumpkin for puree. I would have automatically peeled the lot, simply because that’s how my hubby likes to eat his roast pumpkin! This will make preparation a LOT easier!!

  4. Hi Zoe I love watching your shows , I have learned so many tips from that has made the baking process enjoyable, you have a beautiful family, thanks for your humor and for being real it’s refreshing.

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