I Tried 7 Brands of Canned Pumpkin and This Is the Only One I’ll Buy From Now On

When shopping for baking ingredients, it’s easy to grab your go-to brand without much thought. Sometimes, however, all it takes is one taste of another to realize what you’ve been missing. For example, you may find yourself always reaching for Nestlé Toll House chocolate chips, but haven’t given Ghirardelli chocolate chips a fair chance to work their magic in your signature dessert. 

Or you might stock up on Land O’ Lakes unsalted butter for pie crusts and pastry dough, without considering that Organic Valley’s unsalted butter might have a superior flavor that can take baked goods over the top. 

In any case, that’s why taste tests are so important. They allow you to compare options while learning about flavor elements your tried-and-true brand could be missing. And while you’re probably not going to leave behind your favorites, it’s helpful to be aware of how another product may better suit a particular recipe. 

For this taste test, I tried seven brands of canned pumpkin. The contenders were all found at major retailers and contained only a single ingredient–pumpkin–on the label. Read on to see how each stacked up and learn which brand is the best choice for all of your fall and holiday baking needs.

How I Tested the Canned Pumpkin

For this comparison, I observed the color, texture, and taste of each canned pumpkin brand. I tried the samples uncooked, then narrowed it down to the top three. From there, I warmed those with no added ingredients on the stovetop to get an idea of how the texture and taste change when heated. 

I felt it was important to try each brand straight out of the can. Although we think of pumpkin in cooked recipes such as quick bread, pie, and cookies, it’s included in many no-bake recipes as well, such as pumpkin cheesecake and pumpkin fluff dip.

To avoid any bias based on brand or appearance, I was provided the samples on unlabeled spoons. The brands corresponding to each sample were not revealed to me until the end of the taste test. When determining the winner, I looked for brands with a fresh, sweet taste, moderately thick texture, and a deep orange color.

The Best Canned Pumpkin, Ranked

7th Place: Full Circle Market Organic 100 Percent Pure Pumpkin

Full Circle Market was one of the more textured samples I tried. When mixed, you can see stringy pumpkin pieces and small chunks, as you might expect in a homemade batch. The texture was not off-putting, just noticeably different from the rest of the lineup. What ultimately knocked this one to the bottom of the list was its metallic taste and lack of natural sweetness.

6th Place: Walmart’s Great Value 100 Percent Pure Pumpkin 

The first thing I noticed about Walmart’s canned pumpkin is that, compared to other brands, it lacks color. It was the palest of all the samples in the test, and unsurprisingly had the least amount of pumpkin flavor. In addition, this was the only sample that was gritty. If you’re looking for a bold pumpkin flavor in cupcakes or cinnamon rolls, I’d skip this one.

5th Place: Hy-Vee Pumpkin

This store’s canned pumpkin earned a low spot due to its neutral flavor. Although it was one of the thickest purees of the bunch and had a rich color, the taste fell flat. It lacked a distinctive fresh or sweet taste and felt one-note compared to the other brands. Overall, it is a good option, but it didn’t stand out from the rest enough to land one of the top spots.

4th Place: Target’s Good & Gather 100 Percent Pure Pumpkin 

I found Target’s Good & Gather canned pumpkin to be less sweet than those in the top half of this list. What made it unique was its texture. Good & Gather 100 Percent Pure Pumpkin was one of the chunkiest brands tested, which is important to keep in mind if you’re making a recipe that relies on a smooth texture, such as pumpkin mousse. I can see this being an ideal addition to savory dishes, like pumpkin-stuffed ravioli or pumpkin chili, rather than desserts.

3rd Place: Aldi’s Baker’s Corner 100 Percent Pure Pumpkin

Aldi’s canned pumpkin surprised me as a standout. Where others fell short in natural sweetness or overly acidic taste, I found the Baker’s Corner canned pumpkin to be well-balanced. It was not overly thick or watery. Since this was in the top three, I warmed it on the stove to see how its flavor developed after cooking. It maintained a scoopable texture when warmed and became noticeably sweeter, making it ideal for all types of pumpkin recipes. I wouldn’t hesitate to stock up on a few cans of this to use all season long.

2nd Place: Libby’s 100 Percent Pure Pumpkin

Libby’s was by far the freshest-tasting canned pumpkin sample. The texture was looser compared to the others, but it thickened up quickly when heated. I was concerned that it would produce pale baked goods, but the color developed while cooking. Even better: Its sweet taste became more pronounced. I wouldn’t choose this for no-bake treats due to its runny texture, but when making pumpkin dump cake, bars, or pie bites, I’d happily utilize this beloved brand.

1st Place: Kroger 100 Percent Pure Pumpkin

The best all-around canned pumpkin in the taste test was from Kroger. The puree had a dark, appetizing color and smelled fresh upon opening. Kroger’s canned pumpkin had the most dimensional flavor, perfectly balancing sweet and savory with a bright, fresh taste. In addition, Kroger’s canned pumpkin was the smoothest puree out of all the brands tested. So, whether you’re whipping up a batch of savory pumpkin pasta, soft pumpkin fudge, or impressing a crowd with a slice of mom’s pumpkin pie, Kroger’s canned pumpkin is a top-tier choice.