Why stop at soup when pumpkin can join every course?
Roast it until caramelized, blend it into a creamy sauce, or fold purée into dessert batter. From family dinners to Friendsgiving, pumpkin brings color, richness, and plenty of possibilities to the party.
Here are three ways to build your celebration around it, with something savory, something sweet, andpalm leaf plates for catering and serving.
1. The Family Table
Comfort food, generous portions, and a little room for dessert.
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Pumpkin Lasagna — Layers of pasta, pumpkin-and-sage filling, and creamy cheese sauce. Serve on dinner-size large palm leaf plates, with a salad on the side.
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Pumpkin Cupcakes — Soft pumpkin cupcakes topped with tangy cream cheese frosting. Give each one a small dessert plate and a wooden fork for catching every last bit of frosting.
Table talk: “Which family favorite deserves a pumpkin version next?”
2. The Cocktail Party
Small bites that leave one hand free for a drink.
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Pumpkin & Ricotta Crostini — Toasted baguette, whipped ricotta, caramelized pumpkin pieces, and sage. Arrange two or three on small appetizer plates so guests can sample and mingle.
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Pumpkin Pie Bites & Espresso Martinis — Mini phyllo shells filled with pumpkin, cream cheese, and vanilla, paired with an espresso martini made with a syrup containing real pumpkin. Serve the bites on small party plates. For the drink, try a chocolate-dipped marshmallow on a cocktail bamboo skewer.
Serving tip: assemble the crostini in small batches to keep the toast crisp.
3. Friendsgiving, Your Way
A casual spread, a coffee bar, and plenty of reasons to stay a little longer.
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Mini Pumpkin Mac and Cheese — Stir pumpkin purée into a creamy cheese sauce, toss with pasta, and finish with crunchy breadcrumbs. Serve modest portions on small disposable plates, with wood forks ready.
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Pumpkin S’mores Blondies & a Coffee Bar — Pumpkin in the batter, chocolate and cookie pieces throughout, and marshmallow cream tucked inside. Cut into squares and serve on palm leaf dessert plates.
Pair with pumpkin lattes, iced matcha with pumpkin cream, or hot cocoa. Lay a bamboo pick threaded with marshmallows across each cup for a playful finishing touch.
Taste test: “Best pairing — coffee, matcha, or cocoa?”
Easy Serving, Simple Cleanup
Premium single-use palm leaf plates keep the table stylish and cleanup simple.
Pass the pumpkin.
