It’s pumpkin season, and black garlic is its perfect partner. Here are six pumpkin recipes for Halloween and beyond, from a pumpkin-shaped showstopper loaf to a stuffed pumpkin centrepiece, pumpkin spice cookies, cheesy brioche buns and bite-sized pumpkin buns with a molten black garlic centre.
Aged slowly until the cloves turn soft and black, The Original Black Garlic has a mellow, caramelised flavour with notes of balsamic and liquorice, and none of the harsh bite of raw garlic. That makes it a natural match for pumpkin, squash and the warming spices of autumn, and its dramatic colour does the rest.
1. The showstopper: Black Garlic Pumpkin Bread
If you bake one thing this Halloween, make it this. A simple white dough is tied with kitchen string into pumpkin segments, dusted with The Original Black Garlic Powder and scored with a leaf pattern, so it bakes into a striking black-and-gold pumpkin. A cinnamon stick makes the perfect stalk.
It looks like it took all day, but the hands-on time is about 30 minutes, plus two rises and 35 minutes in the oven. Serve it warm in the middle of the table and let everyone tear and share.
Serves: 4 · Prep: 30 mins, plus rising · Cook: 35 mins
2. The vegetarian centrepiece: Black Garlic Pilaf Stuffed Pumpkin
Hosting a Halloween supper? Bring a whole roasted pumpkin to the table. It's filled with fragrant spiced rice, whole cloves of The Original Black Garlic, pistachios and dried apricots, then baked until the flesh is meltingly soft. Lift the lid at the table for maximum drama, and serve with rustic bread and a spoonful of The Original Black Garlic Pickle.
Serves: 4 · Prep: 20 mins · Cook: 1 hr 30 mins
3. For the sweet tooth: Chocolate Pumpkin Loaf with Black Garlic
Black garlic in cake? Trust us. Its natural sweetness and gentle balsamic notes pair beautifully with dark chocolate. This moist, lightly spiced pumpkin loaf has chopped black garlic and chocolate chips folded through, then a crunchy cocoa crumble on top, dusted with black garlic powder. It's perfect with a cup of tea on a dark October afternoon, or as a treat for the Halloween party table.
Makes: 10 slices · Prep: 20 mins · Cook: 1 hr
4. Cookie jar treat: Pumpkin Spice, Chocolate & Black Garlic Cookies
All the cosy flavours of pumpkin spice in a cookie. These soft, chewy cookies are warmed with cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice, studded with dark chocolate chips and chopped black garlic for a rich, caramel-like depth. A cinnamon-sugar crust bakes golden and crackled on top. Bake a batch for Halloween visitors, or keep them all to yourself.
Makes: 14 · Prep: 15 mins, plus 1 hr chilling · Cook: 15 mins
5. Party food: Cheesy Black Garlic Brioche Buns with Pumpkin & Sage
These golden buns are made for a Halloween party spread. Soft brioche dough is enriched with The Original Black Garlic Powder and mashed black garlic cloves, then each bun is filled with melting cheese, roasted pumpkin and crispy fried sage. Add a drizzle of black garlic pickle or ketchup, and watch them disappear.
Makes: 8–10 buns · Prep: 35 mins, plus 2–3 hrs proving · Bake: 15–18 mins
6. Bite-sized pumpkins: Mini Black Garlic Pumpkin Buns
Who doesn’t love a pumpkin-shaped bun that’s covered in black garlic and cheese? Each of these soft little buns is filled with The Original Black Garlic Paste, chopped black garlic cloves, Parmesan and cheddar, then tied with string into a pumpkin shape before baking. A whole black garlic clove makes the stalk. Tear one open to find a melting, sweet and savoury centre. Serve them warm with baked Camembert, charcuterie, or a bowl of autumn soup.
Makes: 8 · Prep: 45 mins, plus 1½–2½ hrs rising · Cook: 25 mins
Get cooking this Halloween
Whether you're planning a party, a cosy family supper or just want something comforting after trick-or-treating, black garlic brings flavour and a little bit of darkness to the table. Stock up on The Original Black Garlic cloves, powder and pickle, and share your Halloween creations with us on Instagram by tagging @originalblackgarlicuk.