Halloween stopped being just a kids-with-jack-o’-lanterns holiday a long time ago — it’s also a good excuse to gather around the table and cook something seasonal. Pumpkin is the perfect ingredient for the occasion: it’s already visually tied to the holiday, and it works just as well in savory snacks as it does in sweet treats.

Don’t toss what you scoop out

If you’re carving a jack-o’-lantern, rescue the insides first. Seeds, rinsed clean of pulp and dried, turn into a great snack — just toss them with vegetable oil, salt, and spices (paprika, garlic, a pinch of cayenne), then roast at moderate heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring once or twice, until lightly browned. The flesh, which usually gets thrown out along with the seeds, is worth saving too — it can go into a pureed soup or baked goods, as long as it’s firm enough and not too watery (this mostly applies to decorative pumpkin varieties, which tend to have stringier flesh).

Simple sweet treats

Pumpkin puree is a quick base for desserts that don’t require much baking skill. Mix it with oats, honey, and cinnamon for dense pumpkin bars or muffins that are easy to portion into little pumpkin- or ghost-shaped molds. Pumpkin puree also pairs nicely with chocolate — dark chocolate chips folded into muffin or cookie batter give a pleasant contrast to the pumpkin’s sweetness.

For anyone who’d rather skip the oven, there’s an easier option: a pumpkin smoothie or drink. Pumpkin puree, banana, milk (or a plant-based alternative), cinnamon, and a pinch of nutmeg give a flavor reminiscent of the popular “pumpkin spice latte” without needing a special syrup.

Snacks and savory dishes

Not everything on a Halloween table needs to be sweet. Pureed pumpkin soup, served in small cups or even in tiny hollowed-out pumpkins, looks striking and is a great way to warm up on a chilly evening. Pumpkin can also be roasted in wedges with spices as a side dish or snack — it turns out soft on the inside with a slightly caramelized exterior.

Table styling

Since pumpkin is already the theme of the evening, it makes sense to use it in the decor too. Small decorative pumpkins (not necessarily edible varieties) look great scattered among the plates as part of the table setting. For something more practical, use one medium pumpkin as a soup tureen: carefully cut off the top, scoop out the flesh and seeds, and serve warm soup inside it — afterward, the “tureen” can simply be discarded or composted.

Things to keep in mind

If you’re preparing treats for a kids’ party, it’s worth checking in advance whether any guests have nut or honey allergies, since both show up often in pumpkin baking. For an adult crowd, a pumpkin smoothie or soup can easily be dressed up with a bit of mulled wine spice or a spoonful of cream on top when serving.