Description
These Jack O’ Lantern Pumpkin Hand Pies are charming, flaky treats perfect for Halloween. Made with puff pastry and a spiced pumpkin filling, they are easy to assemble and bake to a golden finish with adorable Jack O’ Lantern faces that add festive fun. Ideal for a kid-friendly dessert that’s both delicious and visually appealing.
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry
- 4 sheets puff pastry
Filling
- 1 cup pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (divided)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon half and half
Egg Wash and Topping
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon water (divided)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Instructions
- Thaw Puff Pastry: If the puff pastry is frozen, set it out to slightly thaw for up to 40 minutes. Keep it cold yet pliable enough for rolling out.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) to prepare for baking the hand pies.
- Prepare Spice Sugar Mix: Combine 2 tablespoons granulated sugar with 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice in a small bowl and set aside for topping.
- Make Pumpkin Filling: In a medium bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, 1 whole egg, brown sugar, 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract, salt, and half and half until well combined. Set aside.
- Roll and Cut Pastry: Roll out each puff pastry sheet to about 13 inches long, enough to cut three rows of pumpkins. Using a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter, cut out 24 pumpkin shapes total.
- Prepare Bottom and Top Layers: Place 12 pumpkin shapes on parchment-lined baking sheets as the bottoms. In the remaining 12 pumpkins, carefully cut out Jack O’ Lantern faces using a sharp knife, then gently roll them once or twice with a rolling pin to slightly enlarge these top layers.
- Fill and Assemble: Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the pumpkin filling into the center of each bottom pumpkin. Brush the edges lightly with water, then carefully place a Jack O’ Lantern top on each, aligning edges and gently pressing to seal.
- Apply Egg Wash: Whisk egg yolk with 1 tablespoon water and brush the mixture over the tops of the assembled pies for a golden finish.
- Add Topping: Sprinkle the sugar and pumpkin pie spice mixture evenly over the tops of the pies.
- Bake: Bake the pies in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.
Notes
- These hand pies are perfect for a kid-friendly, festive Halloween dessert that is both cute and easy to make.
- Be sure to use pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, for the best texture and flavor.
- Keep the puff pastry cold but workable to achieve the flakiest crust.
- Use a sharp knife to cut out Jack O’ Lantern faces carefully to avoid tearing the pastry.
- Serve warm or at room temperature for best taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Pie
- Calories: 501 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 261 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 47 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
