Served on

Throughout the Halloween season

Country of Origin 

United States - Precolonial times to the Present

Recipe

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Key Points / Halloween Connection

- Food source since precolonial times for indigenous peoples and early European settlers

- Pumpkin flavoring can now be found in hundreds (thousands?) of products during the Halloween season

Brief Bio

Pumpkin treats have a deep history tied to Halloween, beginning with Indigenous peoples and early settlers using pumpkins for food. The tradition of carving pumpkins for Halloween, or "Jack-o'-lanterns," evolved from a turnip-carving practice in Celtic festivals and became a popular Halloween treat in the 19th and 20th centuries, culminating in modern candy pumpkins made from corn syrup and sugar in the mid-20th century.  

Early Pumpkin Pie: The first pumpkin pies, with sweet custard and spices, appeared in American cookbooks in the late 18th century. 

Modern Candy Pumpkins: Candy pumpkins, similar to candy corn, became popular in the mid-20th century, made from a combination of corn syrup, sugar, honey, and food coloring.

 

Modern Halloween: Today, pumpkin treats include everything from candy pumpkins and pumpkin-flavored lattes to pumpkin pie and pumpkin-shaped cookies.