25 Recipes That Prove Pumpkin & Chocolate Are the Perfect Match

Pumpkin-Gingerbread Thumbprint Cookies

These cookies are the result of a recipe inspiration and an afternoon spent experimenting in the kitchen with my daughters. I took the cookies to a meeting and they were a hit. So yummy with a cup of coffee! —Jennifer Needham, Woodstock, Georgia

Turtle Pumpkin Cheesecake

When it comes to Thanksgiving desserts, I can never decide which one I like best: pumpkin pie or cheesecake? So, I decided to put the two together—with a special twist—and got this delicious result. —Yvonne Starlin, Hermitage, Tennessee

Pumpkin Icebox Cake

This tube cake is a fun, simple way to make a quick dessert. Pumpkin, chocolate and spice are very nice. —Juli Meyers, Hinesville, Georgia

Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles

The combination of pumpkin and dark chocolate is unexpected and delectable. These delicious truffles make a pretty addition to a party plate, a sweet way to finish up a meal, or a gift your friends and family will love. —Monica Mooney, Roseville, California

Pumpkin Chip Cake with Walnuts

My grandmother gave me this family recipe. After a few changes, I made the treat even healthier and tastier. Holidays wouldn’t be the same without it!—Amy Bridgewater, Aztec, New Mexico

Pumpkin Pecan Whoopie Pies

These whoopie pies are chock-full of pumpkin flavor—a perfect treat for fall! For a finishing touch, I like to roll the outside edges in mini chocolate chips or chopped nuts and dust with cinnamon sugar. —Rashanda Cobbins, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Pumpkin Toffee Trifle

I wanted to use pumpkin for a quick party dessert. This twist on a cream cheese pie tastes divine when made ahead. It keeps well, too. —Jodie Jensen, Draper, Utah

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cake

I have been baking this cake for friends and neighbors for years. It's an easy to make-and-take treat. —Kellie Moore, Fort Collins, Colorado

Gingerbread Meringue Bars

For the best of both worlds, I combined my grandmother's gingerbread recipe with my aunt's special brown sugar meringue to make these lovable bars. —Eden Dranger, Los Angeles, California

Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie

Although it looks like you fussed, this pretty layered pie is easy to assemble with convenient canned pumpkin, store-bought candy bars and a prepared crust. "This make-ahead dessert is delicious any time of year," reports Suzanne McKinley of Lyons, Georgia.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

I love making this bread in the fall. The aroma is mouthwatering.—Vicki Raboine, Kansasville, Wisconsin

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

I'm one of the cooking project leaders for my daughter's 4-H club, where these soft, delicious cookies were a great hit with the kids. —Marietta Slater, Augusta, Kansas

Pumpkin Chip Muffins

My sisters, brothers and I started cooking and baking when we were young. Mom was a very good teacher—she told us we would learn our way around the kitchen. Now, I tell my kids the same thing! —Cindy Middleton, Champion, Alberta

Butterscotch Pumpkin Puffs

Yummy things come in these little pudding-rich "packages." The puffs can be made and frozen in advance, then filled before serving for a time-saving dessert. —Michelle Smith, Running Springs, California

Day After Thanksgiving Cookies

With your leftover cranberry sauce and pumpkin, bake some Thanksgiving cookies. I’ve used jellied and whole-berry cranberry sauce, and both are equally delicious. —Heather Bates, Athens, Maine

Contest-Winning Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

A touch of cinnamon helps blend the flavors in this tender pumpkin chocolate chip bread. And since the recipe makes two loaves, you can send one to a bake sale and keep one at home for your family to enjoy. —Lora Stanley, Bennington, Kansas

Pumpkin Chip Cookies

These golden cakelike cookies are my favorite, especially around the holidays. They disappear quickly from my dessert trays. The subtle pumpkin and cinnamon flavors pair nicely with chocolate chips. —Tami Burroughs, Salem, Oregon

Pumpkin Chip Cupcakes

I love these cupcakes that are loaded with chocolate chips and chopped walnuts. My mom makes them for dessert on special occasions or for a sweet autumn snack. -Jacinta Ransom, South Haven, Michigan

White Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake

Although my family enjoys all of the dishes I serve on Thanksgiving Day, it's this rich and creamy cheesecake they look forward to the most. — Joyce Schmidt, Lilburn, Georgia

Pumpkin Pie Cannoli

I love to play around with different fillings in homemade cannoli. I've used pumpkin pie pudding (when it's in season at the store) in this recipe, but you can also make it with canned pumpkin and vanilla pudding. —Barbara Carlucci, Orange Park, Florida

Pumpkin Bread Pudding with White Chocolate Sauce

This old-fashioned treat is so warm and comforting on chilly evenings. Pumpkin gives it great seasonal appeal, and the white chocolate sauce makes it even more irresistible. —Shirley Glaab, Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Pumpkin Chip Cream Pie

This creamy pie is perfect for any autumn celebration. A store-bought graham cracker crust makes it such a cinch to whip up. —Maria Regakis, Somerville, Massachusetts

Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

My mom makes this hot chocolate with pumpkin, spices and white chocolate. We usually drink it on Halloween, but it’s delish at Christmas too. —Sasha King, Westlake Village, California

Hot Chocolate Pumpkin Cake

Hot chocolate is my go-to winter indulgence. To go with it, I like this moist pumpkin cake dusted with cocoa for an extra chocolate boost. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia

Pumpkin Cranberry Cheesecake

One Thanksgiving, I was eating pumpkin pie and decided to have some cranberry sauce with it. I loved the combination so much, I experimented and came up with a two-tone cheesecake that has a ruby-red layer at the bottom. —John Abraham, Boca Raton, Florida