The mix of fudgy chocolate brownie and pumpkin swirl is a match made in heaven in these pumpkin brownies. These pumpkin pie brownies are a perfect autumn bake and great for a Halloween party. This recipe is a great way to use up leftover pumpkin from pumpkin carving or use tinned pumpkin puree.
This is a UK pumpkin brownie recipe but has the conversion for US measurements on the recipe card too. You can use homemade pumpkin puree or shop-bought pumpkin puree.
FAQs
What can I serve with pumpkin brownies uk?
What makes brownies more fudgy?
Do brownies harden as they cool?
What does pumpkin puree do in baking?
What can I do with half a can of pumpkin?
Can I use homemade pumpkin puree for the chocolate brownies UK?
Why you’ll love this recipe for pumpkin puree brownies
The best of chocolate and pumpkin: These brownies combine rich, chocolatey brownie batter with a sweet, spiced pumpkin swirl for a delicious autumn twist.
Easy to make: You don’t need complicated techniques to create these beautiful brownies. Simply layer the chocolate and pumpkin mixtures and swirl them together.
Perfect for autumn: With their pumpkin flavour and beautiful swirled centre, these brownies are ideal for cosy autumn afternoons, Halloween parties and seasonal baking.
Lovely and fudgy: The chocolate brownie pairs beautifully with the softer pumpkin mixture, creating a delicious bake but also one that stays moist.
Easy to customise: Add chocolate chips, chopped nuts or a little extra cinnamon to make the recipe your own.
A great way to use pumpkin purée: If you have leftover pumpkin purée from another recipe or pumpkin carving, these brownies are a delicious way to use it up. Using homemade pumpkin puree is a great way to save on food waste from your pumpkin carving.
Edible Gifts: This recipe is perfect for Halloween party food or given as a Halloween edible gift.
Pumpkin Spices: I am very generous with the pumpkin spices when I make this recipe, and it really does take the flavour to the next level for the spooky season.
Plus I’m convinced that the pumpkin in some way makes it a tiny bit healthier than normal. It does contain some tasty vegetable puree, so that has to count if only a little bit.
How to make pumpkin puree brownies
Melt the chocolate and butter together in short bursts in the microwave or gently over hot water.
Using homemade pumpkin puree is a great way to save on food waste from your pumpkin carving.
Add the slightly cooled melted chocolate and mix together.
Sieve in the flour, a pinch of salt, baking powder and the cocoa powder and mix until combined.
Add the brownie mixture to the prepared cake tin.
Dollop spoonfuls of the spiced pumpkin puree on top.
Gently swirl the pumpkin into the brownies.
After baking, the brownies have gorgeous orange pumpkin swirls throughout them. I love the mix of colour and shiny brownies this recipe creates.
Top Tips for Pumpkin Brownies
Use thick pumpkin purée: If you’re using homemade pumpkin purée, make sure it isn’t too watery. Extra liquid can affect the texture of your brownies, so drain or reduce watery purée before using it.
Don’t overmix the brownie batter: Mix the ingredients until just combined to help keep the chocolate brownies tender and fudgy once cooked.
Create a beautiful pumpkin swirl: Spoon the pumpkin mixture over the chocolate brownie batter and gently swirl it through with a skewer or back of a spoon. Don’t over mix the two mixtures together, so you keep that lovely marbled effect.
Keep an eye on the baking time: Start checking the brownies towards the end of the recommended baking time. A skewer inserted into the chocolate brownie part should come out with a few moist crumbs rather than completely wet batter. The pumpkin swirl will remain softer when freshly cooked, so avoid relying on that part alone to judge whether the brownies are ready.
Let the brownies cool before slicing: Allow the brownies to cool in the tin before cutting them into squares.
Use a sharp knife for neat squares: Once cooled, use a sharp knife to cut the brownies, wiping the blade between cuts if needed. This helps keep the chocolate and pumpkin layers looking tidy.
Measure your ingredients accurately: Baking is all about balance, especially when working with pumpkin purée. Follow the recipe quantities carefully for the best texture and flavour. I would always recommend using the kitchen scales over cups for even more accuracy.
Serving Suggestions
Equipment
Substitutions and Variations
These pumpkin brownies are easy to customise depending on what you enjoy. Here are a few ideas to try!
Homemade or tinned pumpkin purée brownies: You can use either homemade or tinned pumpkin purée. Make sure homemade purée is thick rather than watery, as excess moisture can affect the brownie texture. Use plain pumpkin purée rather than pumpkin pie filling, which may already contain sugar and spices.
Add chocolate chips: For an extra chocolatey brownie, stir chocolate chips into the brownie batter before adding it to the tin. Dark, milk or white chocolate all work well with pumpkin. It’s definitely worth trying a mix of all three.
Add warming spices: Cinnamon, ginger or mixed spice can complement the pumpkin beautifully. Add a little to the pumpkin mixture for a lovely autumn flavour. If you don’t like pumpkin pie spices then leave them out. Adjust to your taste.
Try a nutty crunch: Chopped pecans or walnuts add a wonderful texture and work very well with chocolate and pumpkin. Stir them into the brownie batter before adding the batter to the tin.
Add a little orange flavour: Finely grated orange zest can bring a fresh, fragrant note that pairs nicely with chocolate and pumpkin. A great smell and taste that connects Halloween to the countdown to Christmas.
For the best results, keep the main brownie ingredients and quantities the same when experimenting with flavours and toppings. Changes to the quantity of flour, butter, eggs or pumpkin can affect how fudgy the brownies turn out. Test any major substitutions before changing the recipe.
How to Store Pumpkin Brownies / Making ahead
FAQs
What can I serve with pumpkin brownies uk?
The best thing you can serve with warm fudgy pumpkin brownies is a dollop of whipped double/heavy cream. However, I do love having a scoop of vanilla ice cream with mine, especially when they are freshly baked and still warm. I can’t help but dive right in and enjoy when the brownies are still warm, squidgy and fudgy.
You can also decorate your pumpkin pie brownies with gorgeous dried orange slices. Usually reserved for Christmas recipes, these dried orange slices fill your house with that warm orangey smell and look great scattered across your brownies.
What makes brownies more fudgy?
The greatest way to make brownies more fudgy is to add pumpkin. It keeps them moist and the natural sugars help the chocolate brownie mix stay more fudgy when cooking.
Another way to make brownie more fudgy is to reduce the baking them. Over cooking them is the easiest way to remove any hope of them being fudgy when they’ve cooled.
Do brownies harden as they cool?
Yes brownies do harden as they cool. They might be molten and squidgy when you take them out of the oven but as they cool they will dry out slightly. The pumpkin will help keep them soft and making sure you remove them when they are still squidgy will help them softer for longer.
What does pumpkin puree do in baking?
Pumpkin puree in baking adds flavour but can also add moisture to your baking. The soft vegetable when cooked goes soft and squishy. When added to cake or pumpkin brownies like this recipe it gives a softer baker and keeps the finished bake moister.
It is also a brilliant way to add vegetables to your bake and make your bakes more healthy. Adding pumpkin puree to your bakes also gives you an autumn / winter feeling as it brings in the love of pumpkin pie to what you make.
Pumpkin doesn’t have a strong flavour but is very versatile in how it can have flavours added to it. It works well being mixed into chocolate recipes like this one. However, it can be used with a range of spices and herbs. For example, a pumpkin and other squashes are a brilliant addition to curries. The curry powder and heat from the spices works incredibly well.
What can I do with half a can of pumpkin?
These brownies are a great way to use up leftover pumpkin puree or half a can of pumpkin. You don’t need much but you could easily do a batch of brownies, half with pumpkin and a half without. Making brownies definitely gets my vote for what to do with half a can of pumpkin.
Can I use homemade pumpkin puree for the chocolate brownies UK?
Yes I think pumpkin brownies are a brilliant and easy Halloween dessert to make with home-roasted pumpkin. If you use homemade puree you also have the option of having it more shredded or make the puree smooth with a blender.
Pumpkin puree brownies
Adding pumpkin puree into brownies is a really easy way to add pumpkin to your bake. If you have leftover pumpkin puree or you fancy adding it couldn’t be easier. For this pumpkin puree brownies recipe, I create a normal tray of brownies and before baking, I swirl the puree through the chocolate.
This way I give each slice of the finished fudgy pumpkin brownies a mix of dense chocolate and then a bit of pumpkin with chocolate. You can mix it in completely but I prefer this way. I like the squidgy areas of the brownie where there is dense pieces of spiced pumpkin puree.
You can keep the pumpkin as it is when you puree it for the brownies or you can add some delicious spices. I would recommend cinnamon! The cinnamon, or other spices, work so well with the pumpkin and chocolate and take it to the next level.
Check out my how to cook pumpkin guide to see how to take your pumpkin and transform it into a gorgeous baked vegetable. Once cooked the pumpkin is perfect for use in savoury dishes. Or you can pop it into the blender to make puree which can be used in this pumpkin brownie recipe. It is a great way to make your own pumpkin filling and is very easy too. If I can do it, you can too!
Other recipes you might like
Looking for other recipes that use pumpkin? Or need some Halloween ideas…Check these out
Recipe
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Pumpkin Brownies (UK recipe)
Ingredients
- 200 g (1.14 cups) dark chocolate
- 250 g (2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
- 200 g (1 cups) soft brown sugar
- 100 g (0.5 cups) caster sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 medium eggs
- 1 egg yolk
- 120 g (1 cups) plain flour / all-purpose flour
- 0.5 tsp baking powder
- 80 g (0.75 cups) cocoa powder
- pinch of salt
- 200 g (7.05 oz) pumpkin puree
- 2 teaspoons mixed spice pumpkin pie spice
Instructions
- Line and lightly grease a 9-inch x 9-inch cake tin with greaseproof paper.
- Preheat the oven to 180ºC / 160ºC fan / 350ºF.
- Melt the chocolate and butter in a microwave in short bursts or over hot water. Once melted, set aside to cool.250 g (2 sticks) unsalted butter, 200 g (1.14 cups) dark chocolate
- Whisk the sugars, vanilla and eggs with extra egg yolk until light and fluffy. (the extra yolk really helps get a crisp top to the brownie).200 g (1 cups) soft brown sugar, 100 g (0.5 cups) caster sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 3 medium eggs, 1 egg yolk
- Add the slightly cooled melted chocolate and mix together.
- Sieve in the flour, a pinch of salt, baking powder and the cocoa powder and mix until combined.120 g (1 cups) plain flour / all-purpose flour, 0.5 tsp baking powder, pinch of salt, 80 g (0.75 cups) cocoa powder
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking tin.
- In a bowl mix the pumpkin puree with your choice of spices. I go for cinnamon for these but all those iconic winter spices and pumpkin pie spices work.200 g (7.05 oz) pumpkin puree, 2 teaspoons mixed spice
- Add dollops of the pumpkin to the brownie mix.
- Using the back of a spoon pull the pumpkin in to the chocolate. This way you get lovely brownies with strong areas of pumpkin. You can mix them in more if you would like.
- Bake for 40-50 minutes in the middle of the oven. Add an extra 10 if you want it to have a firm set.
- Remove from the tin and allow to cool on a wire wrack for at least a few seconds before cutting in and enjoying. The cooler they are the easier they will be to slice cleanly.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Please note that the nutrition information provided above is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
Originally posted in July 2021. Updated October 15th 2026.
Is there anything better than chocolate and pumpkin!? Absolutely not…these are the best!
Thank you so much Jess. I agree they are rather a delicious pairing. I could easily eat this all year.
Those look so good. I would never have thought of the flavour combo but it sounds tasty.
It really is worth trying. Once you’ve had a sip you’ll love it.
I love the combination of chocolate and pumpkin. So good!
I couldn’t agree more. It is wonderful!
WOW!!! These look and sound amazing!! I can not wait to give these a try pumpkin desserts are my favorite!
For Fall/Autumn they are my favourite too!
These brownies look so decadent and delicious — love the addition of pumpkin! I always have cans of it, so I now now what to make with it!
I hope you enjoy it Michelle. Having a tin of Pumpkin in the cupboard is a joy!