Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

October 17, 2011 by
 
What is it about homemade whoopie pies?   I love all the variations and flavors they can take on, and these were a perfect pumpkin fix.  They have a great spicy flavor, balanced with the milk cream cheese filling.  In Martha’s original recipe it states it makes a dozen whoopie pies (or 2 dozen cakes before assembling), I thought little miniature ones would be fun, and it turned out to make quite a bit!
But they whip up so easy, I think I’ll be making these for potlucks and parties, so the larger amount will come in handy.  Stay tuned for lots more pumpkin recipes every day this week!
 
PUMPKIN WHOOPIE PIES
Makes 4 1/2 dozen miniature whoopie pies (about 9 dozen cakes)
 
Whoopie cakes:
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 T ground cinnamon
1 T ground ginger
1 T ground cloves
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 cups pumpkin puree
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
 
Cream Cheese Filling:
4 T unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 oz cream cheese
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1-2 T milk
 
Whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and spices in a large bowl.
In another large bowl, whisk together brown sugar and oil until well combined.
Whisk in pumpkin until combined.
Add eggs and vanilla, mixing well.
Add flour mixture and stir in well.
Drop by heaping tablespoonfulls onto baking sheets lined with parchment or silicone mats.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 8 minutes.  Let cool before removing from pan.
(OR make large whoopies using a large scoop or ice cream scoop to measure them. Bake for about 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in their centers comes out clean.)
 
Make filling:
Cream butter and sugar together until smooth.  Add in powdered sugar until combined.
Add vanilla and start with 1 T milk.  Mix for about 3-5 minutes until creamy.  Add more milk if needed to make spreadable.
 
Assembling:
Spread half the whoopie cakes with filling, top with other halves.
 
Recipe slightly adapted from Martha Stewart
 
 
 
Filed Under: Cookies, Pumpkin

Homemade Pumpkin Puree

October 14, 2011 by
I’ve been going a little nuts experimenting with pumpkin recipes around here lately.
It started innocently enough, with our all time favorite pumpkin bars, and then it got a little crazy from there. : )  So I hereby declare next week….
PUMPKIN PALOOZA!
I know, i know, you can’t stand the excitement can you? : )  I thought so.
I’ll be sharing all sorts of pumpkin recipes with you all week long next week, so make sure to check back!  But for today, I wanted to share the base with you.  Now, you could just go out and buy cans of pumpkin puree, but I much prefer homemade if I have the option.  I stocked up my freezer with it and I know it will save me quite a bit of money going that route.  I bought my pumpkins for 19 cents a pound, and about 2 lbs. will make one container.  I don’t recall the last time I saw a can of pumpkin for 38 cents, do you?
 
My mom canned a lot when I was a kid, pumpkin included.  I’ll never forget one year the pumpkins from our garden covered our entire porch.  I was about 10 and my mom announced in a cheery voice after breakfast “It’s time to can the pumpkin today!”  “Who’s going to help?”
It was like someone had just announced there was a gas leak.  All of a sudden my 4 older siblings were flying out the door, citing something or other they HAD to go do.
I was left staring at my mom.  (Okay, I may have been too busy reading my book at the breakfast table to respond quickly). 
 
And so it was me. And my mom.  And the pumpkins.  Soooo many pumpkins.
Do you know how sticky pumpkin is?   It wasn’t pretty people, trust me.
But I survived, and here I am making pumpkin puree myself. Voluntarily even. : )
More recent canning guidelines have shown that pumpkin puree cannot be safely canned at home, so I suggest freezing it in 15 oz. amounts (about 1 3/4 cups) so you can easily swap them out for the canned option without having to measure out.
Make sure you start with sugar pumpkins, not carving pumpkins.  They are less stringy and sweeter.
 
PUMPKIN PUREE
Sugar pumpkins
1 T vegetable oil per pumpkin
 
Quarter pumpkins and scoop out the seeds and pulp. (See below how to treat the seeds).
Rub the insides with a little oil.  Place on baking sheets and bake at 350 degrees until soft, about 1 hour. (This will depend on your size, but you want them thoroughly cooked to get a nice smooth puree.  Let cool slightly. 
 Remove outer peel and puree in a food processor or blender, working in batches. (You could also use a food mill, but I don’t have one of those so I don’t).
You can add water if it’s too dry, but I have never needed to do that.  I would suggest you might need to work in smaller batches if you aren’t getting a smooth puree.
I package mine in 1 3/4 cup amounts in pint freezer containers.  These are equal to a 15 ounce can.
About 2 lbs. of pumpkin raw will make one of these finished containers.
 PUMPKIN SEEDS
Remove the majority of pulp (If you have kids, put them to work)  : )
Throw seeds in a large bowl with water.  Swish gently then let sit for 15 minutes.
The remaining pulp should sink and the seeds float.
Gently scoop the seeds off the top without disturbing the pulp and give a final rinse in a colander.
Lay out on tea towels and pat dry before using.
I roast mine: Toss with a drizzle of olive oil, spread in a single layer on a large baking sheet and sprinkle with kosher or sea salt. Bake at 375 degrees for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden and crispy.
Filed Under: Freezer, Pumpkin

Pumpkin Bars

October 5, 2011 by
 
This is my favorite recipe to welcome in Fall.
If nothing else, just so I can bribe my hubby to do odd jobs for them. : )
But they are my favorite as well, so everyone wins.  A friend brought them to a potluck at our house once, years ago, and we loved them.  I’ve been making them ever since and we still love them!
 
PUMPKIN BARS
 
4 eggs
1 2/3 cups sugar
1 cup oil
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree (just plain pumpkin, not pie filling)
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt
1 cup mini chocolate chips, optional
 
Frosting:
3 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups confectioners sugar
1 T milk
 
Mix the eggs, sugar, oil, and pumpkin together in a large bowl until light and fluffy. (I use a whisk or hand mixer).
Mix together in another bowl the flour, baking powder and soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
Stir in with the pumpkin mixture with a spatula, mixing until well combined.
Add chocolate chips if using.
Spread into a 10 x 15 inch jelly roll pan or a 9 x 13 pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes for a 10 x 15 pan, or 35-40 minutes for a 9 x 13 pan, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Cool before frosting.
 
Make frosting:
Mix together the cream cheese and butter, add vanilla.
Add the sugar 1/2 cup at a time, mixing until smooth.
Add milk if needed to reach desired consistency.
Frost bars, cut in bars or squares.
 
Recipe adapted slightly from All Recipes
 
 
 
Filed Under: Brownies / Bars, Pumpkin

Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins

November 22, 2010 by
 
This is why I LOVE when friends share recipes. You get recipes you know will turn out well, no tweaking required.  I’ve had this one for years, a friend shared it with me and it didn’t take long for me to try it out.  And it’s made appearances fairly often in our house since, especially in the fall.  These muffins are super moist and I love anything with dried cranberries.  I store dried cranberries in the freezer all our dried fruit, actually.  Along with all nuts and seeds.  They keep much longer.  One of my favorite snacks is dried cranberries straight from the freezer. (Try it, you’ll see what I mean!)  And make these muffins soon, it’s the perfect season to enjoy them!
 
PUMPKIN CRANBERRY MUFFINS
1 cup flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, optional
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
4 eggs
15 oz can pure pumpkin
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup milk
1 cup dried cranberries
 
Whisk together flours, sugar, nuts, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
In another bowl, mix together the eggs, pumpkin, canola oil, and milk.
Add to the dry mixture along with the cranberries and stir together just till combined.
Spray 18 standard or 12 large muffin cups with cooking spray and spoon in the batter.
Bake for about 20 minutes (25 for large muffins) at 350 degrees.
 
Filed Under: Bread, Quick & Muffins, Pumpkin Tagged With: , , ,

Gingersnap Pumpkin Cream Pie

November 19, 2010 by
I’ve had a pumpkin cream pie recipe in my pile of recipes to try for a couple of years now.  I finally decided to try it, but I decided to do my own twist on it.  I love gingersnaps.  I don’t make them very often, I always seem to make them spicier than most people like. (Ironically, I think green bell peppers are hot!)
So I buy a huge tin of Pepparkakor, Swedish gingersnaps, every Christmas season. Yum!
And my little Lucy goose loves them too : ) I think this is a great use of them.  I actually prefer 2 cups of cookie crumbs instead of the 1 1/2 cups, since I really want to taste the gingersnaps more, but I assumed most of you would like it this way.  If you prefer, you could also just use a pre-made graham cracker crust.

GINGERSNAP PUMPKIN CREAM PIE
CRUST:
1 1/2 cups crushed gingersnaps (you could also use graham crackers instead)
1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted

FILLING:
1 lg box vanilla pudding
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
15 oz can pure pumpkin puree*

FOR SERVING:
whipped cream
pumpkin seed brittle, optional

Combine the gingersnap crumbs with the melted butter and press lightly into a 9 inch pie pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes. Let cool.
To make the filling: Mix the pudding mix, milk, and cream until thick, about 5 minutes.
Add the vanilla, spices, and pumpkin. Mix until well combined.
Pour into the prepared crust and smooth out. Store in the refrigerator.
When ready to serve top with whipped cream and pumpkin seed brittle, if using.

*The large cans of pumpkin (about 30 oz) are a lot of the time either the same price or even cheaper than the smaller 15 oz cans.  Save some money and buy the big ones.  Schedule something on the menu to use the other half, or freeze for later use. 

Filed Under: Holiday Recipes, Pie, Pumpkin

Pumpkin Seed Brittle

November 17, 2010 by
 
I love candy-making.  What I don’t love is modern recipes obviously written by someone who doesn’t understand what they’re doing.  I’ve seen some recipes for pepita brittle around, but they all say to cook until “amber in color”.  What does that mean? If you’re making candy, you need to have an accurate thermometer or understand how to test the stage your candy is in. And none of the recipes I’ve seen call for more than 10 minutes cooking time.   Brittle takes a lot longer than that to cook.  Otherwise you’ll have a flabby slab of chewy not-so-goodness.  So don’t be intimidated by the process, it really is very simple. Just use a thermometer and take your time.  (I love my frying/candy thermometer- it’s always accurate and easy to read, unlike the old glass style that fog up).  Oh, and this would be a wonderful substitute for those who can’t have nuts!
 
PUMPKIN SEED BRITTLE
2 cups sugar 
1 stick unsalted butter
1/3 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup plus 2 T water
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp kosher salt, divided
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cups pepitas (These are the little green raw pumpkin seeds that have the outer white hull removed, You can find them locally in the bulk section at Winco, otherwise look for stores that carry Mexican ingredients)
 
Toast the pepitas over medium to medium high heat in a large dry skillet. Cook until they crackle and snap, turn golden brown, and become fragrant. It should take 5-10 minutes.
While hot, toss the seeds with 1 tsp of the salt and the cinnamon.
Line a large cookie sheet (about 12″ by 16″) with greased parchment paper or a silicone mat. Set aside.
Combine the sugar, butter, corn syrup, and the water in a large pot. Cook on medium to medium high heat, stirring often. When it starts to get amber in color check with your thermometer, you want it to reach 300 degrees, the hard crack stage.  It should take about 20 to 25 minutes to reach that temperature.
Working quickly, remove from heat and add in baking soda and remaining tsp salt, then the toasted pepitas. Stir together with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula and spread out on prepared cookie sheet.
Let cool completely.
To break into pieces, either lift up a corner and it should snap off (continue to use hands to break pieces up)
Or hit with a small hammer, the handle end of a knife, whatever.  It should crack into pieces pretty easily.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 weeks or so. (If it isn’t going to be eaten quickly I separate layers with wax paper so it won’t stick together.
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Filed Under: Candy / Confections, Pumpkin