If you’re looking to bring a festive, comforting treat to your next gathering or simply want to indulge in a slice of cozy autumn flavors, this Easy Pumpkin Hand Pies Recipe is your new go-to. These adorable, flaky pumpkin-shaped pastries burst with a luscious pumpkin-spice filling that captures the warmth and sweetness of fall in every bite. Perfectly portable and irresistibly cute, these hand pies turn pumpkin season into a delightful, shareable experience that’s as fun to make as it is to eat.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Simple, straightforward ingredients make these hand pies special, each playing a crucial role in creating the perfect balance of flaky crust and rich filling. With pantry staples and a few seasonal touches, you’ll have everything you need to bring this recipe to life.
- Frozen puff pastry (2 packages, 4 sheets total): Provides the buttery, crispy exterior that’s light and flaky, the perfect canvas for the pumpkin filling.
- Canned pumpkin puree (1 cup): Use pure pumpkin for that authentic texture and earthy flavor essential for the filling.
- Brown sugar (1/2 cup, packed): Adds deep caramel sweetness that complements the pumpkin perfectly.
- Eggs (2, divided): One egg enriches the filling, and the other helps seal and glaze the hand pies to a beautiful golden finish.
- Heavy whipping cream (2 tablespoons): Adds richness and smoothness to the pumpkin filling.
- Pumpkin pie spice (2 teaspoons, divided): This blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves brings that signature cozy warmth.
- Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon): Enhances the sweetness and rounds out the flavors.
- Salt (1/4 teaspoon): Balances the sweetness and intensifies the pumpkin’s natural flavor.
- Water (1 tablespoon): Helps seal the edges for perfect hand pies that won’t leak.
- Granulated sugar (2 tablespoons): Mixed with pumpkin pie spice for a sparkling, spiced topping that adds just the right crunch.
How to Make Easy Pumpkin Hand Pies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace and Oven
Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line your cookie sheets with parchment paper. This prep step ensures a hot oven for perfect puff pastry rise and easy cleanup, making your baking experience smooth and fun.
Step 2: Roll Out the Puff Pastry
Unroll the thawed puff pastry sheets and gently roll each out to about 8 by 14 inches. This gives you a larger surface to cut perfectly shaped pumpkin pieces, making each pie just the right size for a handheld treat.
Step 3: Cut Out Pumpkin Shapes
Grab a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter to create festive shapes from the puff pastry. This playful step not only looks great but also sets the stage for the charming jack-o-lantern hand pies that everyone will love.
Step 4: Arrange Half of the Pumpkin Pieces on Baking Sheets
Place half of your puff pastry pumpkins on the prepared cookie sheets. These will serve as the crisp base to hold your luscious pumpkin filling. Keep the other half aside for the tops.
Step 5: Mix and Spoon the Pumpkin Filling
Whisk together pumpkin puree, brown sugar, one egg, heavy cream, one teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, salt, and vanilla extract. Use this rich and creamy mixture to spoon onto each pastry base, giving you a perfectly spiced pumpkin center ready to be enveloped.
Step 6: Moisten Edges for Sealing
Lightly brush water around the edges of the pastry bases. This crucial step acts like edible glue, helping the top layer adhere and seal in all that delightful filling during baking.
Step 7: Create Jack-o-Lantern Faces and Seal Pies
Use a small knife to carve fun jack-o-lantern faces onto the remaining puff pastry pumpkins. Gently place these tops over the filled bases, pressing edges carefully to seal. The Halloween vibe adds an extra layer of fun to your Easy Pumpkin Hand Pies Recipe.
Step 8: Brush with Egg Wash
Whisk the remaining egg with water to create an egg wash, then brush it all over the tops of your pies. This step gives them a shiny, beautiful golden finish once baked.
Step 9: Sprinkle Spiced Sugar Topping
Mix granulated sugar with the remaining pumpkin pie spice and sprinkle generously on top. It adds sparkle, flavor, and a lovely crunch to each hand pie.
Step 10: Bake and Cool
Bake your hand pies for 13 to 15 minutes until they’re puffed up and perfectly golden. Remove from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool so the filling sets and you can enjoy every bite without a mess.
How to Serve Easy Pumpkin Hand Pies Recipe
Garnishes
For an extra touch of autumn charm, dust your pumpkin hand pies with a light sprinkle of powdered sugar or a drizzle of warm maple glaze. A dollop of whipped cream on the side or a sprinkle of cinnamon can elevate these pies into a truly festive treat.
Side Dishes
These hand pies pair beautifully with a hot cup of spiced chai tea or a creamy latte for a cozy snack. For a dessert after dinner, serve alongside vanilla ice cream or caramel sauce for a decadent finishing touch.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange your hand pies on a rustic wooden board with seasonal decorations like mini pumpkins and autumn leaves. You can also serve them in cute paper bags or boxes at gatherings, making them easy to grab and portable for fall festivities.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover hand pies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. This keeps the crust crisp and the filling soft, so you can enjoy them fresh without fuss.
Freezing
These hand pies freeze beautifully before baking. Arrange them on a parchment-lined tray and freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. When ready, bake straight from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time for a convenient, delicious treat anytime.
Reheating
Reheat leftovers in a 350-degree oven for about 5 to 7 minutes to revive the pastry’s crispness and warm the filling through. Avoid microwaving if you want to keep that delightful flakiness intact.
FAQs
Can I use fresh pumpkin instead of canned puree?
Absolutely! If you choose fresh pumpkin, cook and puree it until smooth first, ensuring it’s thick and free from excess water to maintain the perfect filling consistency.
What if I don’t have a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter?
No worries at all! You can use any fall-themed cookie cutter or simply cut the pastry into squares or rectangles for easy hand pies that taste just as wonderful.
Can I prepare the filling ahead of time?
Yes! The pumpkin filling can be mixed a day ahead and refrigerated. Give it a good stir before spooning it onto the pastry to ensure it’s well combined.
What makes these hand pies “easy”?
This recipe uses store-bought puff pastry and simple pantry ingredients, cutting down on prep time and complexity while still delivering stunning flavor and festive appeal.
Are these pies suitable for a crowd?
Definitely! The recipe yields 12 hand pies, perfect for parties or to share with family. They’re portable, mess-free, and ideal for fall celebrations.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly magical about the combination of flaky puff pastry and spiced pumpkin filling, especially when shaped into charming little hand pies. This Easy Pumpkin Hand Pies Recipe is not only a fantastic way to celebrate the flavors of the season but also a joy to make and share. I hope you’ll dive in, get creative, and savor every warm, delicious bite with your favorite people.
Print
Easy Pumpkin Hand Pies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 hand pies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Easy Pumpkin Hand Pies are a festive and delicious autumn treat featuring flaky puff pastry filled with a spiced pumpkin puree. Perfectly shaped like pumpkins with jack-o-lantern faces, they are ideal for Halloween parties or cozy fall gatherings. Made with simple ingredients and baked to golden perfection, these hand pies are both charming and satisfying.
Ingredients
Puff Pastry
- 2 packages frozen puff pastry, thawed (4 sheets total)
Filling
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree (100% pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 egg (divided)
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (divided)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Additional
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper and set them aside for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Puff Pastry Sheets: Unroll the thawed puff pastry sheets and use a rolling pin to gently roll each sheet to about 8 inches by 14 inches to create an even surface for cutting.
- Cut Pumpkin Shapes: Use a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter to cut out pumpkin shapes from the rolled puff pastry sheets, creating twice as many as needed for tops and bottoms.
- Arrange Bottom Pieces: Place half of the pumpkin-shaped puff pastry pieces on the lined cookie sheets. These will serve as the base of each hand pie.
- Make Filling: In a small bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, brown sugar, 1 egg, heavy whipping cream, 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, salt, and vanilla extract until combined. Spoon a generous amount of filling into the center of each pumpkin-shaped puff pastry base on the cookie sheets.
- Brush Edges with Water: Dip a finger or pastry brush in water and lightly brush the edges of the puff pastry bases. This will help seal the pies together.
- Create Jack-O-Lantern Tops: Using a small, sharp knife, cut jack-o-lantern faces into the remaining pumpkin-shaped puff pastry pieces to create the tops. Carefully place these tops over the filled bases and gently press around the edges to seal, using the water as an adhesive.
- Apply Egg Wash: In a small bowl, whisk 1 egg with 1 tablespoon water to make an egg wash. Use a pastry brush to gently coat the tops of each pumpkin hand pie to give them a shiny, golden finish when baked.
- Add Sugar-Spice Topping: Combine granulated sugar with the remaining 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice in a small bowl. Sprinkle this fragrant mixture evenly over the egg-washed tops of the hand pies.
- Bake: Place the cookie sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 13-15 minutes, or until the puff pastry is puffed up and golden brown. Remove from the oven and transfer the hand pies to a wire cooling rack. Allow to cool before serving.
Notes
- Make sure to use 100% pure pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling for the best flavor and consistency.
- Thaw the puff pastry completely before rolling and cutting to prevent tearing.
- Use a sharp knife for cutting the jack-o-lantern faces to ensure clean cuts and better presentation.
- These hand pies can be made ahead and refrigerated before baking. Just add a few extra minutes to baking time if baking straight from the fridge.
- For an extra festive touch, try brushing the finished hand pies with a little additional heavy cream instead of egg wash for a dairy-rich gloss.
