Bake Edible Pumpkin Dough Bowls for Fall Soups, Salads & Sweets

Making Pumpkin Dough Bowls for Fall

As the air turns crisp and the leaves start to fall, it can only mean one thing: fall is here! One of the best parts about fall is all the pumpkin-flavored everything. From pumpkin spice lattes to pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie, there's no shortage of tasty pumpkin treats to enjoy. This year, impress your family and friends by making edible pumpkin dough bowls, the perfect vessel for holding fall soups and dips. Keep reading to learn all about making these Instagram-worthy pumpkin dough bowls from scratch.

What are Pumpkin Dough Bowls?

Pumpkin dough bowls are a fun, decorative way to serve food in the fall. They are made out of a sweet, slightly orange-hued dough that mimics the look and texture of a real pumpkin. The dough is molded into the shape of a bowl and then baked. Once cooled, the dough maintains its shape, creating a sturdy edible bowl ready to be filled.

Benefits of Pumpkin Dough Bowls

There are several benefits to making your own pumpkin dough bowls:

• They look very festive and seasonal
• You can customize the size and shape
• The dough adds a sweet hint of pumpkin flavor to the food
• They can be made ahead of time
• It's an easy, inexpensive DIY project

Whether serving chili, autumn salads, or candy on Halloween, these bowls make a fabulous presentation.

How to Make Pumpkin Dough Bowls

Ingredients

Making pumpkin dough bowls starts with gathering a few simple ingredients:

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Light brown sugar
• Pumpkin pie spice
• Cold butter
• Ice water
• Pumpkin puree

Equipment

You'll also need:

• Large mixing bowl
• Rolling pin
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper

Instructions

Follow these simple steps:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or two forks until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Stir in the pumpkin puree until just blended.
2. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead a few times. Divide into balls based on how many bowls you want to make.
3. On a floured surface, roll each ball out into a 1⁄4 inch thick round. Place rounds over the inverted bowls you want to use as molds.
4. Gently press the dough rounds into the bowl shapes, allowing excess dough to drape over the edges.
5. Slide a spatula carefully underneath each dough bowl to transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
6. Bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes until lightly browned. Cool before carefully removing from pans.
7. Fill bowls with soup, chili, salad, candy, dips or anything else that goes great with fall!

Decorating Ideas

Customize your pumpkin dough bowls by adding decorative touches before baking:

• Brush tops with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar or cinnamon sugar
• Use mini cookie cutters to make leaf or pumpkin shapes from excess dough and apply to tops
• Brush with maple syrup and sprinkle with chopped nuts

Get creative with toppings to make your pumpkin bowls extra special!

Things You Can Serve in Pumpkin Bowls

Once you've baked your edible pumpkin dough bowls, it's time to fill them! Here are some delicious ideas:

Hearty Soups & Chilis

Fill your pumpkin bowls with piping hot soup or chili, like:

• Pumpkin Soup
• Butternut Squash Soup
• Baked Potato Soup
• Chicken Noodle Soup
• Beef Chili
• White Chicken Chili

Tasty Salads

These healthy salads taste great served in pumpkin bowls:

• Pumpkin Caprese Salad
• Fall Harvest Salad with Chicken & Pears
• Waldorf Chicken Salad
• Cranberry Pecan Salad

Sweet Treats

Satisfy your sweet tooth with these sweet fillings:

• Pumpkin Pie Parfaits
• Maple Pumpkin Seed Brittle
• Caramel Apples
• Candy Corn
• Mini Snickers

Anything pumpkin flavored or seasonal makes for a perfect autumn treat served in an edible pumpkin bowl!

Tips for Making Pumpkin Dough Bowls

Here are some helpful tips to ensure your pumpkin dough bowls turn out looking great and tasting delicious:

• Make sure your butter is very cold before cutting it into the flour mixture
• Work quickly when shaping the dough into bowls so it doesn't get too warm and become difficult to handle
• If dough starts to crack when molding it, allow it to rest 5 minutes before resuming
• Place shaped dough bowls on parchment so they bake evenly without burning on the bottom
• Underbake slightly so bowls remain strong and sturdy after cooling
• Let cool completely before attempting to remove bowls from pans
• Use a small offset spatula to gently loosen edges if dough sticks
• Serve bowls within a day for the best texture

With a little practice, you'll be a pro at creating gorgeous golden pumpkin dough bowls your family and friends will be impressed with.

Get Creative with Pumpkin Dough Bowls

One of the best things about pumpkin dough bowls is seeing just how creative you can get with them. So feel free to play around with the shape and size, as well as different decoration ideas.

For Halloween, shape them like jack-o-lanterns. Or make them into fall wreaths for your Thanksgiving tablescape. You can go mini with bite-sized bowls for edible party favors too. The possibilities are endless!

However you choose to whip up and decorate your pumpkin dough bowls this fall, they're sure to be a huge hit!

FAQs

Can I make pumpkin dough bowls ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the dough up to 2 days in advance or make and bake the shaped bowls, then freeze until 1–2 hours before ready to serve. Thaw frozen bowls completely at room temperature before filling.

What kind of pumpkin puree should I use?

Use unsweetened pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. Be sure to stir pumpkin puree well as it tends to separate during storage.

Can I shape dough bowls by hand instead of using pans?

Yes, with well floured hands you can gently press and smooth dough into bowl shapes on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Just keep thickness even at 1/4 inch.

How long do baked pumpkin dough bowls last?

Pumpkin dough bowls will start to lose their crispness and become stale after about 1-2 days. For best texture and presentation, bake bowls the same day you plan to serve them.