What To Do With The Pumpkins After Halloween? – Here’s How to Make Use of the Leftovers!

by Stephanie Yankova

Pumpkin carving is one of the most fun rituals for both kids and grown-ups to participate in during the spooky season. However, at some point, every celebration comes to an end, and we must decide what to do with the pumpkins after Halloween. You may be surprised to learn that there are quite a few sustainable ways for you to breathe new life into this fruit! Let’s take a look at some of them.

What to Do with the Pumpkins After Halloween? – Turn Them into Planters

making a flower pot from halloween pumpkin
@Meteoritka, Envato Elements

If your pumpkin is still looking good and fresh, why not turn it into a beautiful seasonal planter? If the pumpkin is already carved, simply cut off the top and use it as a pot for your favorite plants and flowers. In case the pumpkin is still whole, firstly you’ll have to remove all the insides, then fill it with soil and turn it into a planter.

Read also: How to Make Succulent Pumpkins: DIY Project for The Entire Family

Roast the Pumpkin Seeds

how to use pumpkin leftovers after halloween roast pumpkin seeds
@voltan1, Envato Elements
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If you like to snack on roasted pumpkin seeds, especially around Halloween, you can make a fresh batch by using the leftovers from your carved pumpkin:

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
  2. Place the pumpkin seeds on a baking sheet with olive oil.
  3. Add salt and pepper.
  4. Put them in the oven.
  5. Roast the pumpkin seeds for 45 minutes.

Tip: Add fresh lime juice for a slightly tangy flavor.

Turn them into Butter

In the fall, there’s nothing better than a slice of warm toasted bread with a fresh pumpkin seed spread. It’s actually incredibly easy to make your own at home:

  1. First, wash the seeds well and grind them in the blender until smooth.
  2. Add olive oil and salt to taste.
  3. If you want your pumpkin butter to have a more potent, seasonal flavor, add some honey and cinnamon!

Make a Face Mask from the Pumpkin Meat

make face mask out of pumpkin meat
@Wavebreakmedia, Envato Elements

Pumpkin is rich in vitamins A and C, antioxidants, minerals, and exfoliating enzymes. So if you’re in the mood for a SPA day and have some pumpkins lying around after Halloween, simply turn them into a face mask! In order to do that you are going to need pumpkin meat. Here’s how to make your beautifying facial remedy:

  1. Put enough pumpkin skin in the blender to get about 1/4 cup of pulp.
  2. Then add a tablespoon of honey, cinnamon, and one egg.
  3. Stir thoroughly.
  4. Apply a small amount of the mixture on your face and wait for 10 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.

Read also: DIY Pumpkin Face Mask: The Recipes That Will Transform Your Skin

Make Compost

what to do with the pumpkins after halloween compost scraps
@OksaLy, Envato Elements

Halloween without any waste – doesn’t it sound wonderful? Pumpkin is easy to compost, especially if it’s chopped up. In fact, that’s all you need to do – cut it into small pieces, so it decomposes faster. This nutrient-rich compost is ideal for all the plants in your garden and will provide them with an extra dose of vitamins.

Bake a Pumpkin Bread

pumpkin bread recipe reusing leftover halloween pumpkin
@PeteerS, Envato Elements

This pumpkin bread recipe is a wonderful way to turn your leftovers into a delicious treat. The rest of the ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, so you can easily make this recipe with ease. Please note that for this recipe you can only use pumpkins that are in good condition, and are not moldy or painted.

Ingredients:

  • 200 g pumpkin
  • 80 g butter
  • 100 g sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 125 g flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Instructions:

  • Preheat the oven to 170°C and grease and flour the baking pan.
  • Cut the pumpkin into equal pieces and steam for 10–15 minutes until soft. Mash the pumpkin until smooth, then drain in a colander for 20–30 minutes, or until no more water runs through the colander.
  • Cream the butter and sugar together until they are pale. Then, add the egg and continue to stir until the mixture is light and frothy.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.
  • Gently mix the wet and dry ingredients until you get a homogenous mixture – don’t worry if there are a few lumps.
  • Pour the batter evenly into the greased and floured loaf pan and bake for 45 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
  • Enjoy warm. You can store it in an airtight casserole.


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