German Pumpkin Spaetzle with Gruyere Cheese

These soft and pillowy German Pumpkin Spaetzle with Gruyere Cheese dumplings may not be all that traditional, but they sure are tasty.

When the cooler months arrive, I tend to gravitate to German cuisine as my comfort food of choice. It just speaks to me, and I hope it speaks to you too.

Now that October is now only a memory (how did that happen so fast?), I’m still in an Oktoberfest mood, and I may well stay here until the end of winter. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. LOL

Pumpkin Spaetzle with Gruyere Cheese may look intimidating to make, but trust me when I tell you that it’s as easy to make as mixing the simple batter ingredients in a bowl with a wooden spoon, and boiling pasta. After all, that’s what spaetzle is, German pasta.

Since I tend to make spaetzle often, I purchased a handy dandy spaetzle maker that you’ll see in the photos. However, if you don’t have one (and honestly they’re almost more pain and mess than they’re worth), you can use a standard kitchen colander with basically the same results. By making sure your batter is relatively loose, so it will easily funnel through the colander holes with a little help from a spatula, you’re all set.

If you’re wondering how a spaetzle maker works, you fill the hopper with the batter when the spaetzle maker is over the pot of boiling water. Then you slide the hopper back and forth as the dough funnels through the holes and drop into the boiling water. It’s easy, but I always end up sliding the hopper too far off the side of the pot and then I have spaetzle batter all down the outside side of my pot. You’d think I’d learn, but I haven’t.

These little golden nuggets of pure deliciousness make a wonderful side dish for just about any meal, but they go especially well with German fare such as:

GERMAN BEEF ROULADEN:

PORK SCHNITZEL;

SLOW-COOKER RIBS AND SAUERKRAUT:

RIESLING BRAISED CHICKEN:

SLOW-COOKER BAVARIAN POT ROAST:

I don’t know about you, but now I’m seriously hungry and ready to start cooking!

If there is ever anything I can paint for you, from fabrics to glassware items, please don’t hesitate to contact me or visit my shop on Etsy. Custom orders are always welcome and I will happily work from any photo or description you send my way.

Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!