Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray.

Using a small knife, remove the stem at the top of the pumpkin. Cut pumpkin in half. Place face-side down onto baking sheet and cook in preheated 375-degree oven for 45 minutes. Test for doneness by piercing with a fork. Let cool.

Turn over the pumpkin halves and gently scoop out seeds and strings and discard (leave the pumpkin pulp intact while scooping). Now scoop the pumpkin pulp into a separate bowl or measuring cup. Scrape skin of pumpkin clean.

Mash and stir the pumpkin pulp. For best results, use an immersion blender or a food processor to blend pumpkin pulp and make puree.