Description
These Cream Cheese Pumpkin Puffs are delightful bite-sized treats perfect for fall gatherings or holiday parties. Crisp puff pastry cups are filled with a creamy, spiced pumpkin and cream cheese mixture, then topped with a pecan half for a crunchy finish. The combination of warm spices and smooth pumpkin filling makes these puffs irresistibly delicious and easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry Cups
- 1 package puff pastry cups (not shells, not sheets)
Filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- Pecan halves (to garnish, toasted if desired)
- Cinnamon sugar (optional, for sprinkling on top)
Instructions
- Bake Pastry Cups: Preheat your oven and bake the puff pastry cups according to the package directions. While some recipes suggest applying an egg wash, this step is optional and can be skipped if desired.
- Poke and Cool Pastry: After baking, use the end of a wooden spoon to gently poke a hole in the center of each puff to create space for the filling. Allow the pastry cups to cool completely to prevent melting the filling.
- Prepare Filling: In a large bowl or using a stand mixer, beat together the softened cream cheese, canned pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, salt, and 1/2 cup powdered sugar until smooth and well combined.
- Fill Pastry Cups: Spoon or pipe the pumpkin cream cheese mixture into the cooled puff pastry cups. For easier piping, place the filling in a ziplock bag, snip a corner, and squeeze the filling neatly into each cup.
- Garnish: Top each filled puff with a pecan half. Toast the pecans beforehand for an extra layer of flavor if you have time.
- Optional Toppings: For added sweetness and spice, sprinkle cinnamon sugar and the remaining 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar over the filled puffs before serving.
Notes
- Ensure the puff pastry cups are completely cooled before filling to keep the filling from melting.
- Toasted pecans add a deeper flavor and crunch, but raw pecans work well too.
- You can make these ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator; bring to room temperature before serving.
- Adjust the spices to taste if you prefer a stronger or milder pumpkin spice flavor.
- If piping, chill the filling slightly for easier handling.
