If you’ve recently moved to France or if it’s your first fall season here, you might be surprised to learn that canned pumpkin isn’t something you can grab off the shelf of every supermarket. In the U.S., especially in the fall, aisles seem to be overflowing with canned pumpkin purée, pumpkin pie mix, and pumpkin-spiced everything. In France? Not so much.
So what do you do if you’re craving a Thanksgiving pumpkin pie (or one now like me) or want to whip up a batch of pumpkin bread? Let’s talk about where to buy canned pumpkin in France. It’s easy!
This time of year, I do a ton of baking and of course all things pumpkin are at the top of my list. It’s barely October and I’m two cans down with no signs of stopping.
I’ve gotten asked, “Where do you buy canned pumpkin in France” a whole bunch over the years, so it’s about time I wrote a post about it. It’s not as expensive as you might think!
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Why canned pumpkin isn’t common in France
First, some context. In French cuisine, pumpkin (or un potiron/une citrouille, which is more like the jack-o-lantern type) is thought of strictly as a savory ingredient. French families are far more likely to cube up fresh pumpkin to make a cozy soup or dinner side dish than to bake it into a delicious pumpkin pie.
Pumpkin desserts just aren’t part of the culinary tradition here, which explains why supermarkets don’t bother stocking canned pumpkin the way U.S. stores do. All kinds of root vegetables and squash are popular in the fall but pumpkin as a dessert is not.
And if you’re wondering about pumpkin spice lattes or the general pumpkin spice craze that explodes every fall in the States — that’s simply NOT a thing in France.
No pumpkin spice candles, no pumpkin spice Oreos, and definitely no pumpkin spice Cheerios or coffee creamer or anything really. To most French people, the idea of sweet pumpkin anything is… well, a little odd. But don’t worry, you can still find pumpkin in France.
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Back in the day when I first moved to France, though, you either had to go without or bring it back in your suitcase. For those in Paris, there was an in-person store that has since closed. Your only other option a decade ago was to find a hole in the wall shop online that was selling it for 40 euros/can. And I won’t confirm or deny if I succumbed to those prices.
While you won’t see Libby’s or other canned pumpkin brands at your corner supermarché it doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. These days, there are a few places where canned pumpkin does pop up and all it takes is a couple clicks of a mouse.
KoRo
KoRo is a Germany-based high-quality healthy food retailer that has a ton of delicious vegan and organic products including nuts, dried fruits, snacks, baking ingredients and more.
Voilà, they even have canned pumpkin puree FOR THE WIN. Aaaaand it’s under 3 euros per can. STOCK UP, PEOPLE. This is the way. Plus, they ship all over Europe. CLICK HERE to shop.
While you’re there, have a browse around. Let me reiterate that KoRo is fantastic. Their chocolate-covered dates are top notch, as are all the snacks, and if you want to stick with pumpkin for a sec, get the almond pumpkin butter. You will not regret it. This cereal is also 10/10 for me. Dang, I think I need to do an entire KoRo post of my faves because they’re THAT good.
Amazon France
Amazon has its haters but no one can deny that it’s convenient. There are a bunch of vendors that seem to pop up selling canned pumpkin. But once their stock is gone, the listing disappears so stock up when you can.
As of writing this in 2025, you can a 2-pack of Libby’s here, some giant cans of Libby’s here if you’re going to be baking up a storm like me, and a 6-can pack of another brand here and another pack of 2. While they’re all more expensive than US prices, the price won’t make your eyes pop out of your head. (KoRo above is still cheaper, but Amazon wins for the convenience factor).
La Belle Vie
This high-end online grocery store has the goods. Get your canned pumpkin here. While there, the shop has a bunch of amazing fresh products worth a look.
Be sure to use my link for 10€ off your first order (if it asks for my email to verify the referral, it’s ouiinfrance at gmail dot com).
Tip: You may also find canned pumpkin in international food stores. Stock up when you see it, especially around fall holidays, because supplies can be unpredictable.
Alternatives to canned pumpkin
If you can’t track down canned pumpkin, you can always make your own purée. It’s not as quick as opening a can, but it’s very doable:
1. Buy fresh pumpkin (look for potiron or even potimarrons if you want to switch it up at farmers’ markets this time of year).
2. Cut it in halves or quarters depending on the size. Scoop out the seeds and stringy parts.
3. Roast in the oven at 200C in the until tender. My medium-size potimarron the other day that I halved took about 50 minutes.
4. Scoop out the flesh and blend until smooth in a blender, food processor, or with a stick blender.
Voilà — homemade pumpkin purée! But honestly, I like simplicity so I go the canned pumpkin route via Koro above. Why complicate things when we have options?
That said, the flavor is often richer and fresher than canned versions, though it does add an extra step to pie making if you’re in a hurry or lazy in the kitchen like me. You can find frozen squash to roast at Picard as well. The worst part is trying not to cut your finger off with a giant knife when slicing your pumpkin squash. Yes, I’m a grown adult and I make myself nervous when handling large knives and large pumpkins. Some things should be left to the pros (meaning: NOT me).
Also, depending on the exact squash/pumpkin variety, the consistency and taste of your homemade pumpkin puree might not be identical to what you’re used to, so again, two thumbs up for buying canned pumpkin online in France instead of making it.
Bottom line
The place to find canned pumpkin in France is buy the KoRo canned pumpkin puree, hands down that’s my go-to place.
Living in France as an American often means adjusting to the fact that certain familiar foods aren’t as accessible here — and canned pumpkin is one of them. But part of the fun of living abroad is learning to adapt, whether that means hunting down specialty stores, ordering online, or embracing a homemade version of your beloved pumpkin pie.
So the next time you’re in the mood for pumpkin pie or want to introduce French friends to the magic of pumpkin bread, don’t give up. With a few clicks, you’ll be whipping up pumpkin everything like me in no time. So go get after it and bring a taste of the American season to your French kitchen.
Happy baking!!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
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Also, note that you can substitute just about any squash in place of pumpkin and most varieties are indistinguishable from pumpkin once they’re baked in a pie. The USDA considers them interchangeable as well, so many brands of canned “pumpkin” in the US are not actually the big orange squashes we carve up as jack-o-lanterns. Libby’s uses Dickinson pumpkin, which is actually a variety of Cucurbita moschata, the same species as butternut squash. (Whereas most of the big round orange squashes that we think of as pumpkins are the species Cucurbita pepo.) Cucurbita maxima can also be sold as pumpkin in the US.