Mini Pumpkin Pie Brulees Recipes

MINI PUMPKIN PIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Roll each pie crust out onto a floured surface to a rough rectangle about 11 inches square. Cut each pie crust into 12 3-inch rounds. Fit the little pie crust circles into 24 mini pie dishes.
• Separate one egg, and place the egg white into a small bowl. Beat the egg white until slightly frothy, and brush the edges of each mini pie crust with egg white. Place the remaining yolk into a bowl, and beat with remaining 2 eggs. Mix the softened cream cheese, sugar, pumpkin, vanilla extract, and pumpkin pie spice into the eggs to make a smooth filling. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the filling into each crust.
• Bake the pies in the preheated oven until the crust edges are golden brown and the filling is set, about 15 minutes. Allow to cool before eating.

MINI PUMPKIN PIE BRûLéES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400°F. Spray 36 (1 1/2-inch) mini muffin-pan cups with vegetable cooking spray. Beat the egg yolks, pumpkin, heavy cream, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice and salt in a medium bowl with a fork or whisk.
• Sprinkle the flour on the work surface. Unfold the pastry sheet on the work surface. Roll the pastry sheet into a 12-inch square. Cut the pastry into 36 (2-inch) squares. Press the pastry squares into 36 (1 1/2-inch) mini muffin-pan cups. Spoon about 1 tablespoon pumpkin mixture into each pastry cup.
• Bake for 15 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown and the filling is set. Let the pastries cool in the pans on wire racks for 5 minutes. Remove the pastries and let cool completely on the wire racks.
• Place the oven rack in the upper third of the oven. Heat the oven to 450°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Create 18 (2-inch) circles of sugar on each baking sheet, using about 1/4 teaspoon sugar for each circle.
• Bake one baking sheet for 5 minutes or until the sugar circles are bubbly and a deep caramel color. Let the sugar circles cool completely on the baking sheet on a wire rack. Repeat with the remaining baking sheet. Using a small metal spatula, remove the sugar circles from the baking sheets. Press 1 sugar circle at an angle into the top of each pastry.

CRèME BRULéE PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• First make the pie crust.* Note: this pie crust recipe makes 2 crusts and you only need one, so you can freeze one for later. Or use it to make this Cheesecake Pecan Pie. Do it do it!
• Measure out 1/4 cup water into a glass measuring cup and stick it in the freezer.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt.
• Use a pastry cutter. Cut until it looks like coarse crumbs. Don't overdo it!
• In a small bowl beat one egg. Pour out half (into the sink or into another container, or heck, into a frying pan). You can just eyeball it. I know this is annoying, but it makes for SUCH a tender crust!
• Add the half beaten egg to the cold water that you put in the freezer. Beat it together, then add it to the butter mixture. Stir until it is just coming together, then use your hands to knead it once or twice (only to make it come together). Divide the dough in half. Shape one half into a disk and put it in a ziplock bag in your freezer for the next time you make this pie.
• Roll out the remaining dough on a well-floured surface. I love to use my pastry cloth.
• Roll the dough loosely on the rolling pin to transfer to a 9-inch pie pan. Fold the edges under and crimp/shape the crust however you want. Place the formed crust in the fridge while you make the filling.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Make the filling: In a large bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 and 1/2 tablespoons flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, and black pepper.
• Add the pumpkin puree, 2 eggs, 2 egg yolks, and cream. Whisk until there are no lumps.
• Pour the filling into the prepared crust.
• Bake at 425 for 12 minutes.
• Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Cover the pie crust with aluminum foil so that it doesn't get too brown. The center of the pie should be uncovered. (see photos)
• Bake at 350 for about 35-40 minutes. The pie will NOT be set in the middle. When it is done, the outer 2 inches of the pie (closest to the crust) should not move when you shake the pan. Over baking is what makes for a boring pumpkin pie texture, so don't over bake!
• Don't take the pie out! Turn off the oven and open the oven door all the way for at least 5 minutes to let it cool down. If it's annoying to have the oven door open, after 5 minutes shut the oven door but leave it open a crack if possible. Pumpkin pie is a custard, and custard puffs as it cooks. When it cools, it shrinks and pulls to the edges, causing cracks in your pie. We want it to shrink slowly, so no dramatic temperature changes.
• Once the pie has cooled to room temperature, transfer to the refrigerator. Chill for at least 2-3 hours, until completely cold.
• When you are ready to serve the pie, evenly sprinkle some of the fine sugar over the top. A thin layer is best. Use a kitchen torch to brulee the top. Make sure you keep the flame moving, don't stay in one spot. The sugar will start to bubble and brown. Do NOT let the flame touch the crust. It will burn instantly.
• If you like, you can sprinkle with more sugar and repeat the torching process. Just like when you're painting a wall, multiple thin layers are better than 1 thick layer. The sugar will become crackly within 1-2 minutes after torching.
• Since you can't get near the crust, you will probably have a ring of sugar around the perimeter of your pie. I used a pastry brush to sweep it toward the center and torch it. Then I wet the brush just a tiny bit and brushed the very edge of the crust so that it wasn't white anymore. You only need to do this if presentation is really important to you.
• You have about 15-20 minutes before the crackles on top of the pie start to go soft. The torching really does have to happen last minute. The good news is that you can always just add more sugar and torch again, as many times as you like. I've been torching each individual leftover slice all week.
• Serve with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon!

PUMPKIN PIE CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Place the pumpkins in a large roasting pan, with water coming up 1/2 inch up the sides.
• Bring the cream to a simmer in a medium saucepot. Add the pumpkin puree, brown and granulated sugars, orange liquor, pumpkin spice and salt. Bring the mixture back to a simmer, whisking often. Turn off the heat.
• Place the egg yolks in a medium bowl. Slowly whisk in 1 cup of the hot pumpkin mixture, then slowly whisk the warmed egg mixture back into the pot to fully temper. Strain the mixture, then divide it among the pumpkins, filling about three-quarters of the way to the top. Place the roasting pan in the oven and bake until the centers are set, 40 to 45 minutes.
• Carefully remove from the oven. Using a spatula, carefully remove the pumpkins from the pan and place on a sheet tray. Let cool completely at room temperature. Place in the refrigerator until completely chilled, about 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, sprinkle the tops with enough turbinado sugar to cover in a thin, even layer. Torch the sugar with a kitchen torch until melted and caramelized. Place on plates and serve.

MINI PUMPKIN PIE BRULEES

Steps:

• 1.Heat the oven to 400°F. Spray 36 (1 1/2-inch) mini muffin-pan cups with vegetable cooking spray. Beat the egg yolks, pumpkin, heavy cream, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice and salt in a medium bowl with a fork or whisk. 2.Sprinkle the flour on the work surface. Unfold the pastry sheet on the work surface. Roll the pastry sheet into a 12-inch square. Cut the pastry into 36 (2-inch) squares. Press the pastry squares into 36 (1 1/2-inch) mini muffin-pan cups. Spoon about 1 tablespoon pumpkin mixture into each pastry cup. 3.Bake for 15 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown and the filling is set. Let the pastries cool in the pans on wire racks for 5 minutes. Remove the pastries and let cool completely on the wire racks. 4.Place the oven rack in the upper third of the oven. Heat the oven to 450°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Create 18 (2-inch) circles of sugar on each baking sheet, using about 1/4 teaspoon sugar for each circle. 5.Bake one baking sheet for 5 minutes or until the sugar circles are bubbly and a deep caramel color. Let the sugar circles cool completely on the baking sheet on a wire rack. Repeat with the remaining baking sheet. Using a small metal spatula, remove the sugar circles from the baking sheets. Press 1 sugar circle at an angle into the top of each pastry.