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October 12, 2026 at 1:33pm EDT

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Fall is finally here (in our minds anyway), which means we’ve fully immersed ourselves in baking season. That also means that we’ve been looking to Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa herself, for recipe ideas and inspiration. Her fall recipes are so comforting and delicious, and her Thanksgiving side dishes are so tasty that they pretty much steal the show from the turkey. So just imagine what this woman can do with some pumpkin! Even something as simple as pumpkin pie turns out like magic in Garten’s capable hands, and the rest of her pumpkin recipes are just as foolproof. Grab that can of Libby’s Pure Pumpkin that’s been sitting in your pantry (it’s the brand Garten recommends on her website), and get ready for a world of pumpkin delights, from pie and flan to cupcakes and parfaits.

Everyone needs a good pumpkin pie recipe, but Garten’s isn’t just good — it’s the ultimate. The filling is flavored with spices, orange zest, and rum, and it’s topped with a decadent mascarpone, rum, and vanilla whipped cream.

Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa.

If you want to make a pumpkin dessert that looks as impressive as it tastes, then you should try making Ina Garten‘s pumpkin roulade with ginger buttercream. The cake roll is light and fluffy, and the mascarpone and crystallized ginger filling is good enough to eat with a spoon.

Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa.

We don’t mean to be hyperbolic, but the maple caramel sauce on this flan is life-changing. It tops a rich flan made with pumpkin puree, sweetened condensed milk, mascarpone, and spices.

Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa.

The combination of banana and pumpkin might sound strange at first, but this pumpkin banana mousse tart from the Barefoot Contessa has rave reviews. “I make this tart every year now for about 5 or 6 years. This tart is such a treat and everyone I’ve made it for loves it!” shared one happy home cook.

Get the recipe from Food Network.

For bake sales, birthdays, and potlucks, you can’t go wrong with these pumpkin spice cupcakes. Each one is topped with a cloud of maple mascarpone frosting, and gets showered with chopped Heath bars for some satisfying crunch.

Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa.

Layered parfaits aren’t just fun to eat, but they also add a bit of visual pizzazz to the dessert table.

Get the recipe Barefoot Contessa.

Before you go, check out the gallery below: