Easy Pumpkin Pudding: Quick 5 Minute Dessert

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Need a quick and easy fall dessert? Look no further than this light and fluffy pumpkin pudding that can be made in just 5 minutes! Garnished with whipped cream and your favorite cookies or nuts, this creamy pudding is loaded with taste! With canned pumpkin and cinnamon, you can transform instant pudding into something special. Add this simple no-bake treat to your Halloween, Christmas or Thanksgiving dessert table for a pie alternative.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It’s that time of year. Pumpkin season is here! This pumpkin pudding recipe is your answer to a busy holiday season and makes a delicious Thanksgiving dessert or Halloween treat! You could even serve it at Christmas with some gingerbread cookies.  This features two classic holiday flavors with pumpkin and cinnamon. If you are on the hunt for easy pumpkin desserts with few ingredients, this recipe is for you!

And while I love other holiday desserts like pumpkin bread pudding and cranberry upside down cake, I’ve come to appreciate no-bake desserts like this peanut butter pie recipe. While this is not a homemade recipe from scratch, this simple recipe still offers a creamy pudding and a perfect way to enjoy the fall season. Who doesn’t love easy Thanksgiving desserts?

Pumpkin Pudding Ingredients

Very few ingredients are needed to make this simple fall dessert. You’ll need the following:

• box of instant vanilla pudding (or french vanilla or cheesecake)
• milk (2% preferred)
• whipped topping (COOL WHIP)
• canned pumpkin puree (pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling or you can use homemade pumpkin puree)
• cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice)
• gingerbread cookies, vanilla wafers, ginger snaps, biscoff cookies, chopped pecans, mini chocolate chips, etc.

That is it to making creamy pumpkin pudding! If you need to feed a crowd for a holiday gathering, just double or triple the recipe. I have not tested this recipe with non-dairy milk. If you decide to use a dairy-free option like soy milk, almond milk or rice milk, let me know how it goes in a comment at the end of this post!

Need more recipes with canned pumpkin? Try this pumpkin cider recipe or pumpkin cream cheese coffee cake.

How to Make Pumpkin Pudding

This Christmas or Thanksgiving pudding is so easy to whip together and would be a great option for kids to help in the kitchen. To start you’ll need to whisk the milk and the instant pudding mix in a medium sized mixing bowl. If you don’t have vanilla you can substitute other flavor like french vanilla.

Next you’ll need to add the canned pumpkin (real pumpkin puree) and ground cinnamon. You could also add a dash of nutmeg if you like or substitute pumpkin pie spice for the cinnamon.

Fold in some whipped topping until fully combined into your pudding mixture.

Divide pudding evenly into four small dessert dishes or parfait glasses. I used four 6 oz dessert cups and it fit perfectly.  You could also transfer to an airtight container if you don’t want to portion out individual servings or to transport.

While this pumpkin pudding can be served immediately, it tastes even better chilled. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

What to Put on Top of the Pudding

Top your pumpkin pudding with whipped cream and your crumbled cookies, chopped nuts or other garnish. Consider offering guests several options! Here is a list of some of my favorites:

• vanilla wafers
• biscoff cookies
• chocolate chip cookies
• soft molasses cookies
• ginger snaps
• crumbled spice cake
• pretzels
• gingerbread men (homemade or store bought)
• chopped pecans or walnuts
• candied pecans or walnuts
• cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice (lightly sprinkled)

Pumpkin Pudding Dessert Dip

I’ve featured a pumpkin fluff recipe as my very favorite pumpkin dip but you can turn this recipe into a dip as well because of the creamy texture. Consider serving with cookies, pretzels, vanilla wafers or apple slices on the side for dipping! Any pumpkin lover will rejoice over this delicious dessert.

5 from 8 votes

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Pumpkin Pudding

Pumpkin pudding is a fabulous pie alternative for Thanksgiving dessert. Who says you have to slave in the kitchen for a delicious fall treat? Canned pumpkin and cinnamon transform a box pudding into something truly special. Serve this 5-minute dessert with gingerbread cookies for a great flavor combination.   

Course Snack/Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword canned pumpkin, easy dessert, fall dessert, few ingredients, ginger snaps, Halloween dessert, instant pudding, no bake dessert, pumpkin, pumpkin pudding, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving dessert, Thanksgiving dessert table, vanilla pudding, vanilla wafers

Prep Time 5 minutes

Chill 30 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 168 kcal

Ingredients

• 1-3/4 cups cold milk
• 1 box (3.4 oz) vanilla instant pudding
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup whipped topping
• gingerbread cookies, vanilla wafers, biscoff cookies, ginger snaps, chopped nuts, etc can be used to garnish, both crumbled and whole, if desired
• additional whipped topping or whipped cream optional

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, pour in milk and pudding mix. Whisk 2 minutes.
2. Whisk in pudding and cinnamon. Let stand until soft set, about two minutes.
3. Fold in whipped topping until combined. Divide evenly between four small dessert bowls or parfait dishes. 

4. Chill until ready to serve, at least 30 minutes for best taste.

5. Before serving, garnish with whipped cream and chopped nuts or a single cookie and cookie crumbs if desired.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Can substitute french vanilla or cheesecake pudding and pumpkin pie spice instead of cinnamon, if preferred.
This pudding also makes a great dessert dip instead. Serve with gingersnaps, graham crackers or vanilla wafers.

 

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more. Nutrition facts for this recipe were calculated with no garnish.

 

Nutrition Facts

Pumpkin Pudding

Amount per Serving

Calories

168

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

5

g

8

%

Saturated Fat

 

4

g

25

%

Trans Fat

 

0.01

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

0.1

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

0.4

g

Cholesterol

 

1

mg

0

%

Sodium

 

363

mg

16

%

Potassium

 

88

mg

3

%

Carbohydrates

 

31

g

10

%

Fiber

 

1

g

4

%

Sugar

 

24

g

27

%

Protein

 

1

g

2

%

Vitamin A

 

4783

IU

96

%

Vitamin C

 

1

mg

1

%

Calcium

 

29

mg

3

%

Iron

 

0.5

mg

3

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

I hope you love this quick holiday dessert idea that you can whip up in only 5 minutes. Easy instant pudding desserts are a family favorite like these chocolate pudding cups and even pudding cookies.   Any time is a good time to enjoy a pumpkin spice pudding!

Want more no-bake holiday desserts? Check out these recipes:

• Panna Cotta with Cranberry Sauce
• Chocolate Peanut Clusters
• Rice Krispies Ugly Christmas Sweater
• Pistachio Cherry Cheesecake
• Coconut Love Pumpkin Pie Bars (gluten and dairy free)
• Healthy Peanut Butter Balls