Decorate your holiday table this year with a beautifully festive Pumpkin-Shaped Bread centrepiece. Whether it’s buns, rolls, or a full-size loaf, this fun tutorial brings a little extra holiday cheer to your tablescape. Think beyond the dinner table, this belongs at the center of your holiday charcuterie board, brunch bar, and game day spread (filled with skyline dip).

The best bread for making pumpkin-shaped bread

The best breads to use for shaping into pumpkins are breads where the dough is typically shaped into rounds. Breads like buns, rolls, artisan boules, and sourdough should work a treat! I love to use my favourite No-Knead Artisan Bread recipe (pictured here).

How to shape bread to look like a pumpkin

Pumpkin-Shaped Bread is so easy to make, it’s just a few extra steps between shaping and baking. Follow your recipe through to after the first rise. You want to start this process with a shaped ball or round(s) of dough. For pumpkin-shaped rolls or buns, you’ll want to cut 4 strands of twine for each individual bun.

1. Cut 4 strands of butcher’s twine. On a flat surface, arrange the twine in a star pattern. This will create 8 segments. Place the dough over top, centering the dough in the middle of the twine.

2. One-by-one, tie together opposing ends of the twine. Do so loosely as the bread will rise.

3. Once tied, cut the excess twine. Let your bread rise per the recipe instructions.

4. The bread will rise and create the pumpkin segments in the process. If required, score each segment of the bread. Then bake as instructed.

What to serve with pumpkin-shaped bread

In one word, butter. Plain, salted butter. You cannot go wrong with setting out a good quality butter alongside this festive edible centrepiece. But, if you must improve on a classic, how about Honey Butter, Whipped Maple Butter, or Creamy Whipped Pumpkin Butter? Yes!

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How to Make Pumpkin-Shaped Bread

Turn your favourite bread or buns into a festive holiday centrepiece with this easy pumpkin-shaped bread tutorial.

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Instructions

• Cut 4 strands of butcher's twine. On a flat surface, arrange the twine in a star pattern. This will create 8 segments.
• Place the dough over top, centering the dough in the middle of the twine.
• One-by-one, tie together opposing ends of the twine. Do so loosely as the bread will rise. Once tied, cut the excess twine.
• Let your bread rise per the recipe instructions.
• If the recipe calls for the dough to be slashed or scored, score the top side of each segment.
• Bake per the recipe instructions.
• Allow the bread to cool. Once cool enough to handle, cut the twine and gently remove. Take care not to rip the twine out of the bread, as you run the risk of tearing your beautiful bread pumpkin.
• Using a knife, make a slit in the center of the bread. Insert a cinnamon stick or twig to replicate the pumpkin stem.