Jack O Lantern Cream Puffs Recipes

PUMPKIN HAND PIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
• Unroll the thawed puff pastry and use a rolling pin to roll out each sheet to about 8-inches by 14-inches.
• Use a pumpkin shaped cookie cutter to cut out pumpkin shapes from the puff pastry.
• . Lay half of the pumpkin shaped pieces of puff pastry on the prepared cookie sheets. Reserve the second half of the puff pastry pumpkins for later in the recipe.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree (be sure you're using 100% pure pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling), brown sugar, 1 egg, heavy whipping cream, 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, and the vanilla extract. Spoon the filling into the center of each of the pumpkin-shaped puff pastries on the cookie sheets.
• Dip your finger or a pastry brush in water and lightly brush water around the edges of the puff pastry.
• Use a small sharp knife to cut out jack-o-lantern faces on the second half of the pumpkin puff pastries, then top each pumpkin on the cookie sheets with a jack-o-lantern puff pastry top. Gently press around the edges to seal closed (the water will help the two pieces stick together).
• In a small bowl, whisk together 1 egg with 1 tablespoon water. Use a pastry brush to gently brush this egg wash over the top of the puff pastry pumpkins.
• In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar with the remaining 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice. Sprinkle the mixture over the pumpkins.
• Bake at 400F for 13-15 minutes, until the jack-o-lanterns are puffed up and golden brown. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool before serving.

JACK-O'-LANTERN CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring the water, butter and sugar to a boil. , In a small bowl, combine flour and pie spice; add to water mixture all at once and stir until a smooth ball forms. Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until mixture is smooth and shiny. , Preheat oven to 400°. Drop 12 rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto a greased baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, 30-35 minutes. Remove to a wire rack. Immediately split puffs open; remove tops and set aside. Discard soft dough from inside. Allow puffs to cool completely. , For filling, in a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, pumpkin, sugar and pie spice until smooth; fold in whipped topping. Pipe into cream puffs; replace tops., For frosting, in a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, butter, vanilla and enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Divide frosting into thirds; tint one portion green, and one portion orange; set aside. Stir cocoa into the remaining frosting. Pipe jack-o'-lantern faces with orange and chocolate frosting. Pipe stems with green frosting.

JACK-O-LANTERN CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Side Bar: Before you start, set your cream cheese and butter out for several hours, so it can warm up to room temperature. Set rack in middle of oven and preheat to 300 degrees. Cut the tops off the pumpkins and set aside, With a teaspoon or grapefruit knife, scrape the fibrous pulp and seeds out of the pumpkins. Scrape some of the meat off the inner walls so they are no more than 3/8-inch thick. Put the cream cheese, butter, sugars, cornstarch, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in a large mixing bowl and beat at medium speed until blended. Take care not to mix too much air into the batter. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, until each is incorporated. Reduce the speed and beat in the sour cream, vanilla and pumpkin puree. Fill the pumpkin shells with the batter and bake, on a cookie sheet for 15 minutes. Turn the pan and place the tops next to the pumpkins. Bake for 10 more minutes, until barely set and firm. If, at any time, the cakes start to puff up, turn the oven down or remove them. Let cool, in the pan, then refrigerate.;
• Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan and simmer for 10 minutes until the berries have popped and form a thick sauce. Let cool. To serve, spoon cranberry sauce on top of filling. Place the pumpkin lid on a jaunty angle. Stick the birthday candle and mint sprig into the top.