My Bestselling Pumpkin Recipes for Fall (Plus Where to Find Every Recipe)

More often than not, the first week of September brings 90 degree weather and sometimes a heat advisory. So if you're expecting the all-out fall vibes on September 1st, good luck with your melting goods.

Still, pumpkin season doesn't care what temperature it is. Come October, pumpkin is everywhere and people are craving it, and the good news is that the season runs all the way from September through Thanksgiving. You can start in September, you can start in October, you can lean in for one month or three, there's no wrong way to do it. Some of the bakers I know in cooler climates begin their pumpkin season way before the warmer climates, and the coffee shops are advertising pumpkin spice lattes as early as mid-August. So wherever you're starting from, take advantage of it.

Every fall, these five pumpkin recipes are what my customers ask for again and again. I'm sharing all of them here, with the full recipe linked under each one, so save this post for when you're ready to start your own pumpkin baking.

Pumpkin Roll (My #1 Fall Seller, Hands Down)

If I only sold one pumpkin item all season, it would be this one. A pumpkin roll looks like you spent all day on it. They’re beautiful, stunning and the kind of thing people assume took real skill. But, it's actually simple once you know the trick to rolling it. I adapted my recipe from the classic Libby's version, and it is tried and true.

I used to sell these at a local coffee shop, starting right after Labor Day and running clear through Thanksgiving, and they never slowed down. These days, at my home bakery, I sell full rolls around Thanksgiving and slices at fall pop-ups and farmers markets.

If you want to sell pumpkin rolls yourself, I teach a full tutorial including supply list, my personal recipe, and video walkthroughs included.

Pumpkin Roll Perfection course

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies (Handheld)

These have almost the same flavor and texture as my pumpkin roll filling, without any of the rolling or slicing. Think of them as a pumpkin roll you can eat in a couple of bites, right out of your hand. Easy to make, easy to grab, and just plain good.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pie Recipe

Pumpkin Crumb Muffins

These were a hit back at the coffee shop, and I still love making them. They're pretty enough for a bridal or baby shower brunch table, and I've made them plenty of times for fall breakfast catering. I never really sold them at farmers markets (the markets I baked for ran in the afternoon, and muffins just don't move that time of day). But for morning events, they're a win every time. Want something a little different? Turn the same recipe into mini loaves.

Pumpkin Crumb Muffins Recipe

Iced Pumpkin Cookies

These are special because I have genuinely never seen them anywhere else, not at another bakery or market. The first time I found this recipe, I knew it was a keeper. They're loaded with pumpkin flavor, and the icing puts them over the top. One Thanksgiving, I packaged these up in cookie boxes for a pop-up shop and sold them by the half dozen and dozen… they got snatched up immediately. They're perfect for a Thanksgiving dessert table, or for anyone who wants a quick sweet bite instead of committing to a full dessert. I also just make these for my own family and for potlucks throughout the fall.

Iced Pumpkin Cookies Recipe

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

To be honest, these won't win any beauty contests since they look like a plain, ordinary cookie. But they pack a punch. Take a regular snickerdoodle, add pumpkin spice, and you get that cinnamon-pumpkin flavor that says fall in one bite. They're easy to make and easy to transport, which makes them perfect for a fall gathering with friends, a simple Friday night family dinner, or anything you need to bring along to a fall event. Most people have never had a pumpkin snickerdoodle before. It's a small twist on something familiar that ends up surprising people.

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

That's My Pumpkin Lineup

Five recipes, one season, and every single one of them tried, tested, and sold to real customers who came back for more. I hope this gives you a place to start with your own fall pumpkin baking, whether you're baking for your family, your farmers market table, or your own home bakery.

-Michelle