Mini Pumpkin Pies are the perfect individual dessert for the holidays! And these aren't just any mini pumpkin pies, they're baked in mini pumpkins with a tender flaky crust on top!
One thing led to another.
The idea to make these mini pumpkin pies started with a friend's birthday party, Barb and her once-a-year soup where the pumpkin is the tureen.
Amazing, yes?
You may remember my riff on the recipe as individual Savory Bread Pudding Pumpkin tureens.
The inspiration kept coming: Molly made a pumpkin into a terrarium and Victoria turned one pumpkin into a lantern and baked a cake inside another and of course you can't go wrong with Pumpkin Chiffon Pie, particularly when there's a Gingersnap Crust involved using homemade Gingersnap Cookies.
Then I realized that I'd never seen a mini pumpkin pie - in a pumpkin, that is. And why not?
Why not, indeed. I made them and you know what? They are amazing.
How to Make Mini Pumpkin Pies:
Step 1: You start with mini-pumpkins.
Step 2: You cut off the tops, scoop out the seeds, and fill them just as you would a crust if you were making a pumpkin pie.
Step 3: When you've baked them until the filling is beginning to set and the squash is nearly tender, you top them with crust and bake them some more.
Then, if you're me, it dawns on you that you have 6 mini pies and just 2 people who live in the house - a dangerous combination. But then you realize that you have friends who live across the street who might like pie.
Jeff wasn't home, so he may or may not have tried these. But Lucy, Parker and Matthew approved.
Mini Pumpkin Pies
Ingredients
- 6 small pumpkins 3 to 4-inches in diameter
- 2 cups pumpkin puree (or 1 15-ounce can puree not pie filling)
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- ¾ cup heavy cream
For Crust
- 1 ¼ cups white whole wheat flour 142g, or all-purpose if you prefer
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup non-hydrogenated shortening such as Spectrum
- 4 tablespoons ice water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Line a large baking dish with parchment paper.
- Carefully cut the tops off the pumpkins, leaving a level top and access to cavity inside. Scoop out seeds and membrane. Arrange pumpkins in a single layer in prepared baking dish.
- In a glass measuring pitcher (4-cup or larger), combine pumpkin puree and next 7 ingredients (brown sugar through allspice); stir to combine. Add eggs and heavy cream; stir until smooth.
- Pour filling into pumpkins until nearly full, but not spilling out.
- Bake 35 minutes.
- While the pumpkins are baking, make the crust.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour and salt together. Add shortening; cut in with a pastry blender or two knives until shortening pieces are the size of large peas. Sprinkle ice water over mixture, one tablespoon at a time, gently tossing with a fork, until moistened. Press dough into a ball and transfer to lightly floured work surface.
- Press dough ball into a disk and cut into 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a round, large enough to cover each pumpkin top. Flute edges of round and pierce center several times with a fork. With a thin spatula, transfer round to parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough pieces, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
- Once pumpkins have baked for 35 minutes, remove from oven and increase oven temperature to 400 °F.
- Carefully top each pumpkin with a dough round. Once the oven has reached temperature, return pumpkins to oven and bake 30 minutes more.
- Allow to cool slightly, then serve.
I came across your recipe while looking for ways to use my Mini Pumpkin crop. Can't wait to try it!
Fun! I hope you'll love these.
I've never thought about using actual pumpkins as the way to serve pumpkin pie! How creative! Also, I love the other ideas for pumpkins...including that terrarium. I'm so excited for Thanksgiving this year, and I might just have to serve up our pie in pumpkins this year. Thanks for the idea, Marissa! 🙂
Thanks, David! I bet Robbie would get a kick out of that! 🙂
This. Is. Just. BRILLIANT!! The results are adorable, too!
aww, thanks Jessie! 🙂
Love this idea and they look so fun! It's been forever since I had some time to look at my friend's blogs and I've missed you. So happy my afternoon turned out that I had spare time.
You are one busy fella, Kevin! 🙂 Thank you so much!!
This is beyond cute (and brilliant)!! Such a fun way to serve a delicious dessert 🙂
So sweet, Dawn. Thank you!
These are the cutest!! Who knew that using a pumpkin as a vessel could be so versatile?! So creative!!
Thank you, Annie!
What a cute and creative idea! Now I have a recipe I can use for those mini pumpkins I always see at the store - awesome! Thanks for the great idea 🙂
Thanks so much, Shannon!
These are SO cute!! What a great idea!! Love, love those little pumpkins.
Thank you, Katherine! I do too...perfect for individual treats!
Hi Marissa! Martha Stewart would be jealous!! I love using things like a pineapple to serve salsa in or peppers to fill with dips. I assume these are sugar pumpkins? You get ten stars for presentation!
You are too kind, my friend! Yes, sugar pumpkins. 🙂
This is pretty much the most clever idea ever!! It's such a unique, fun presentation, I know my family would love it on Thanksgiving!
aww, thank you, Faith! xo
Fabulous idea, Marissa, just fabulous!
I've never eaten anything inside a pumpkin before but now you've given me so many ideas!
Thank you, Helen. I love that they work for sweet and savory fillings!
Pumpkin pies in a...pumpkin?! What a cute and smart idea, Marissa! I've seen many ideas where a dish is served in pumpkin cups, from soup and stew to porridge and, but I've never seen an actual pie. It looks great too!
Thank you so much, Ben! 🙂
This is so creative and it looks delicious. I can't wait to tell my mom about this. She loves loves making pumpkin pie and I know she's going to go crazy over this!
Thank you, Christina!
Oh my goodness! Yes! I love this concept and I LOVE how gorgeous the presentation is!
Thank you, Carla!
Oh my goodness...this is genius! Really, I wish I thought of this! Love your images of you all enjoying the pies! I wish I had one right now! Pinning to make soon!
Thank you, Caroline!! xx
Okay, this is GENIUS. Seriously, so adorable. And delicious.
Thank you so much, Joanne!!xx
Aww this is SO clever! I love the whole pumpkin tureen idea too-I'd love to be in America during Halloween one year 🙂
Lorraine, you are ALWAYS welcome at our house! I wish I'd known you when we lived in the historical district in Olympia, WA - we used to get 300+ trick-or-treaters, loved all of the costumes!
What a great, creative and unique idea Marissa! I am so very impressed!!! I would've never thought of this! It looks delicious!
That's so sweet of you, Kristi! Thank you.
Marissa - this is such a brilliantly phenomenal idea! Love the little crust caps on these pumpkin pies within pumpkins!
Thanks so much, Shashi!! xx