Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin! There’s a ton of reasons to love pumpkin. From its health benefits to its amazing taste, here are several recipes including my famous pumpkin bread pudding with chocolate chips (and donuts!)
I’m not sure when a certain large chain of coffeehouses unofficially kicked off fall, but every year when the #PSL debuts on the menu, Pumpkin-poolza hits. Everything from granola to gelato gets pumpkified and for someone like me that’s obsessed with the flavor du jour, it’s my happy time.
And just in case you need a little convincing, here are more reasons why you should be eating pumpkin. right. now.
Health Benefits of Pumpkin
Pumpkin is full of reasons to enjoy it – on the inside and the outside. Full of nutrients, vitamins, and other good stuff, just eating it will make you look good too.
Here are several reasons you should be eating pumpkin:
- Pumpkin helps your eyesight with tons of Vitamin A (200% of your daily need!)
- Pumpkin helps your immune system with Vitamin C
- Pumpkin helps you lose weight because it’s full of fiber (3 grams per one cup!)
- Pumpkin helps the heart
- Pumpkin may reduce cancer
- Pumpkin helps your mood
- Pumpkin helps the skin
- Pumpkin gives you afterworkout power with potassium
Pumpkin Basics
Since all of these recipes have pumpkin in them, you’ll need to make pumpkin puree and in many cases, have pumpkin pie spice. Sure you could buy these both at the store, but when the homemade product doesn’t take too much time and tastes so much better you’ll want to do it yourself! So check out my recipe for pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice.
Best Pumpkin Recipes Ever: Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Chocolate Chips (and doughnuts)
Even is pumpkin is good for you, sometimes you just have to enjoy it because it taste so freaking good, right? The tradition of this recipe started 10 years ago. Over time, it’s seen a little change with cranberries, chocolate chips and now a new twist with pumpkin, chocolate and oh, yes – a dozen day old donuts (preferably from Dunkin Donuts.)
- 4 cups milk
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 8 whole eggs
- 1/4 cup vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 (16-ounce) can pumpkin pie filling
- 1 dozen Dunkin Donuts, cubed (my favorite)
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- Butter Rum Sauce
- 1 stick butter
- 1 pound box confectioners’ sugar
- Rum, to taste
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a mixing bowl, blend all ingredients, except for bread and chocolate chips.
- Fill a 9 by 13-inch baking dish with donuts.
- Sprinkle choclate chips over donuts.
- Pour custard mixture over donuts, making sure that all cubes are submerged (push cubes down if necessary).
- Bake for about 1 hour, or until pudding is set.
- Serve with Rum Sauce, Pecan Praline Sauce or even ice cream!
Some other great pumpkin recipes to try:
Pumpkin White Chocolate Truffles
Stuffed Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
And there’s even more where that came from with the best Pinterest board ever!
Follow Autumn Reo {mamachallenge.com}’s board Oh, Pumpkin on Pinterest.
And don’t miss this #mamachallenge:
Pumpkin Trifle (Part of a collection of No Trouble Trifles on Good Morning Texas)
More from mamachallenge.com
Caramel Stuffed Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Three Must-Have Pumpkin Recipes for Fall
Pumpkin Honey Butter
Get Your Pumpkin Fix: Celebrate Fall with Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
The Perfect Thanksgiving Pairing: Donut Pumpkin Bread Pudding & Thanksgiving Sangria {Recipes}
Satisfy Your Craving for Pumpkin without the Calories
You had me at Pumpkin! Okay, okay..it was actually at Rum.. But pumpkin is great too! Great job on this recipe, it looks awesome 🙂
Let’s see… I love pumpkin bread. I love bread pudding. I love chocolate in any form. Sounds like a winner! Thanks for sharing.
What a yummy recipe. This certainly won’t last long at my house when I make it. And it will be made SOON!
Oh yes, this bread pudding looks so good! I want to try it ASAP!
That is some SERIOUSLY delicious nom noms. I’m going to make this the very next time I have time for baking. It looks so yummy!
I LOVE pumpkin recipes. This sounds like the perfect fall treat, I’m going to have to try it!
This recipe has made my mouth water. I really want to make this over the weekend. It looks delicious.
We’re big on bread pudding in my house. I’ve never tried this variation before, and I can’t wait to make it. Pumpkin and chocolate are always a good pair.
now that is the most festive and unique bread pudding I”ve seen yet! And perfect timing for the Harvest holidays coming up!
Pumpkin bread pudding with chocolate chips sounds like the best thing ever. I will have to try this recipe. It looks delicious.
That is straight up awesome! I love pumpkin, and bread pudding is delicious. This is going to be great!
Oh my heavenly goodness, this sounds amazing. I love that you added chocolate chips… um, hello – delicious!
The bread itself sounds delicious… but rum sauce? Yum! Delicious!
My husband would absolutely love this. I am going to try it out for breakfast this weekend!
These sound so yummy. I totally agree why not make things from scratch when you have the time. Things taste way better fresh.
I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact this recipe is made with Krispy Kreme doughnuts…say what?!?! And, then chocolate chips… AND, rum?! I died. lol
Anything with a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts in it has my vote for yummiest dessert EVER!
I’ve made a lot of different bread puddings… Can you believe it never occurred to me to make pumpkin??!! I so need to make this happen now!
Wow, those look amazingly good. I love this time of year.
I absolutely love bread pudding, but don’t have it very often. That needs to change! Your pumpkin version looks amazing. Yum!
I make bread pudding all the time but I never thought to put pumpkin in it! Yum!
OH my gosh Krispy Creme donuts!! My girls had these for the first time the other day. I can imagine how yummy this tastes!
LOVE pumpkin recipes! This looks mouth watering!
Two of my favorite baking ingredients: pumpkin and chocolate chips. Your recipe sounds delish and I can’t wait to make this for the holiday.
I love pumpkin – I like pumpkins especially its color characteristics and the great benefits that it brings. I drink pumpkin milk daily. And “Pumpkin Bread Pudding” is great idea – my children will very surprised to see that. Thanks for sharing!!!