It’s that time of year where everyone is starting to bake holiday treats! Whether fans of pumpkin spice “everything” or not, it’s traditional that many people bake using pumpkin puree during the holiday season, especially November and December. With that in mind, the Traina family offers the following recipes for incorporating dried fruit into pumpkin-centric desserts for that extra “pop” of taste, texture and color for presentation!

Pumpkin Cookies — These pumpkin cookies are yummy and made with wholesome ingredients, without any refined sugar.

Ingredients:

¼ cup coconut oil

¼ cup honey, agave syrup or 100 percent maple syrup

2 cups old fashioned oats

2/3 cup dried fruit (such as Traina® Home Grown dried cranberries, chopped apricots or fruitons® All-American blend)

2/3 cup sunflower or pumpkin seeds

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon

¼ teaspoon salt 

½ teaspoon vanilla extract 

½ cup 100 percent pumpkin puree

2 eggs

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper

Melt coconut oil with honey, agave or maple syrup

In a large bowl, combine all other ingredients, starting with the dry ingredients then mixing in the wet ingredients 

Drop generous spoonfuls of the mixture onto the cookie sheet and gently flatten with the back of a spoon or silicone spatula.

Bake for 15 minutes or until edges are golden brown

Remove from oven and let cool before storing or enjoying!

Whipped Pumpkin Dip — An easy and fun dessert, after school snack or dish for a holiday party pot luck, pumpkin lovers will love this dip that’s easy to whip together!

Ingredients:

16 ounces cream cheese, softened

15 ounces 100 percent pumpkin puree

1 ½ cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon

½ cup Traina® Home Grown dried fruit of choice

Directions:

Whip cream cheese and pumpkin puree with a mixer until smooth, then add sugar and spices. Refrigerate for at least one hour.

Fold in dried fruit before serving. 

Serve with fruit (such as fresh apple slices, graham crackers, toast points, etc.)

Super-Easy Pumpkin Muffins — This recipe takes a little help from a store-bought cake mix, but the secret is safe with the Traina family!

Ingredients:

1 box spiced cake mix

1 15-ounce can 100 percent pumpkin puree

3 eggs

¼ cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla

¼ cup dried cranberries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Line muffin tins with paper or reusable silicone liners (recipe will make approximately 18 muffins)

Mix all ingredients together until well combined.

Distribute batter evenly into cups.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Let cool and enjoy!

Whether a pumpkin spice fan or not, it has certainly become the unofficial flavor of the season! The Traina family invites pumpkin-lovers to get in on all the creative ways to enjoy pumpkin this fall.