5 Healthy Pumpkin Recipes to Get You Totally Ready for Fall

It's officially pumpkin season!

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As a self-proclaimed pumpkin-lover, I'll be the first person to admit that once pumpkins and pumpkin puree hit the grocery store shelves, I go a little...overboard. I currently have six cans of puree sitting in my cupboard, and though I can happily make (and eat) pumpkin pie after pumpkin pie, my family doesn't always share my excitement for overly sweet treats. Thankfully, Food Network has dozens of healthy ways I can get my pumpkin fix and have my family enjoy it, too! With fall just a few short days away, now is the perfect time to test them out for yourself. Here are some of our favorites.

Pumpkin Spice Waffles (pictured above)

If you love pumpkin as much as we do, you'll want to make a few stacks of these super-easy waffles. Canned pumpkin puree keeps your batter adequately moist while whole-wheat flour gives it a hearty lift. Serve your pancakes with glistening maple syrup and some chopped pecans to give your family a picture-perfect fall morning. (Just remember to don some flannel shirts!)

Valerie Bertinelli can't get enough of these baked doughnuts, and something tells us you won't be able to either, once you make them! Valerie uses a whole can of pumpkin puree and 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice to infuse her treats with the signature flavors of fall. Coat yours in a yummy mixture of sugar and cinnamon to make them nice and pretty.

Give your favorite cereal a few mornings off this fall by baking a batch of these good-for-you scones. Add pumpkin puree, rolled oats and whole-wheat pastry flour together to make the fiber-rich dough and a handful of cranberries for a refreshing burst of sweetness.

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Photo by: Ryan Dausch

Ryan Dausch

This filling dish is everything you need after a long day spent apple picking or racking leaves with the entire family. To make your polenta ultra-velvety combine it with a can of pumpkin puree. Top with oven-roasted Brussels sprouts, butternut squash and shaved Parmesan for added richness.

Food Stylist: Anne Disrude
Prop Stylist: Marina Malchin

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Food Stylist: Anne Disrude Prop Stylist: Marina Malchin,Food Stylist: Anne DisrudeProp Stylist: Marina Malchin

Part table decoration, part dinner, this toasty squash soup is perfect for getting the most out of all your favorite fall produce. You'll roast whole pumpkins to create the ultra-chic (and fully edible) bowls and combine golden butternut squash with heavy cream, onions and thyme to create your dreamy soup. Make it on a crisp fall night for some instant warmth.

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