After All Hallow’s Eve, what is to become of the many pumpkins that were carved with care to greet trick-or-treaters at your door?

Pumpkin pie is the go-to answer to that question… so let’s just skip it.

Pumpkin spice latte… it can be done, but come on. Let’s think past the literal “flavor of the month.”

Here are some ideas for what to do with your pumpkin innards that go beyond the dessert table.

Roasted pumpkin seeds

Whether you douse those fellows with a little salt or maybe even flavored popcorn seasoning, roasted seeds are a tasty and mineral-packed snack to get you through the mid-afternoon lull. All it takes is about 30 minutes in a 350-degree oven (or until they turn golden brown).

Pumpkin chips

The skin of the gourd is just as nutritious as the rest – consider baking or dehydrating a batch of the skin into seasoned chips.

Soup stock

Once you’ve removed all the seeds for roasting, you can use the remainder of the pumpkin “guts” and place them in a pot of water, along with carrot tips, celery stocks, onions, etc., and simmer for about 30-40 minutes until you notice a color change. Strain the liquid, and you have a vitamin-rich soup stock.

If you’d like an “all-natural” dish for your soup, you could scoop out and wash the innards of smaller pumpkins for use as bowls.

So you want to go even further? Beyond the kitchen perhaps?

Source: JB Kilpatrick/flickr (CC BY 4.0)

Pumpkin planter

Your pumpkin’s shell will remain intact for a few days after you’ve made your cuts, scoops and removals, so you could use its remaining time by filling it with soil and the plant or flower of your choosing. Once the display has lost its luster, you can bury the gourd, leaving the plant above-ground. The pumpkin’s decomposition will serve as fertilizer.

Face mask

If you like to puree your pumpkin for baking, consider reserving a small amount- about five teaspoons – and concoct a facial mask by combining the puree with a small amount of milk and brown sugar. The sugar acts as an exfoliant when you rub the mixture in a circular motion on your skin.

There are many other things you can do with the insides and outsides of your Halloween pumpkin that aren't destined for an aluminum pie pan at Grandmother's house. Let your imagination - and your taste buds and sense of adventure - be your guide.