How Sweet It is: 6 uses for Pumpkins after Halloween

Halloween is officially over, which means it’s time to think about Thanksgiving!. As with every holiday, decorating can be the most fun or the most time-consuming preparatory task. Since Halloween and Thanksgiving share the same season, here are a few ideas for keeping the holiday transition seamless. Pumpkins, squash, gourds, colorful leaves and bare branches all work as natural decor for both holidays. Here are six different ways to use pumpkins, specifically, as Thanksgiving decoration and in your holiday sweets!

1. Create a Festive Centerpiece

Pumpkins, gourds, berries, nuts and leaves make for great natural, earthy centerpieces. Don’t forget candles for soft lighting.

2. DIY Pumpkin Votive Candles

Speaking of candles, how about making some of these pumpkin votives? Place them on the coffee table, mantel or even your fall tablescape (see #1.)

3. Make a Vase

We’ve shown you this DIY project before, but it’s so good we had to include it again. Place seasonal flowers or berries in the top of a pumpkin for a rustic fall display.

4. Paint, Decorate, Decoupage

This might be the most fun suggestion of all. Spray-paint a cluster of different sized pumpkins gold for a glam arrangement or create a unique design with studs, pom-poms, lace or stencils.

5. Arrange a Fall Display

Grouping pumpkins and gourds together in varying sizes, shapes and colors makes a beautiful, rustic display, outside or inside.

6. The Star of This Season…Pumpkin

Pumpkins are versatile in their uses for cooking; nearly every part of the pumpkin can be eaten. The cooked pulp is fabulous in pies, cookies, breads, soups, appetizers, main dishes . . .

Here are a few of our favorite pumpkin desserts!

The Black Bottom Pumpkin Cheesecake