Pumpkin Empanaditas Recipes

MEXICAN PUMPKIN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, whisk the flour, 1/3 cup of sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, and baking powder together. Cut the shortening into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs; stir the water in, about 2 tablespoons at a time, just until you can gather the dough together. Knead the dough a few times in the bowl, then scrape it out onto a floured surface. Cut the dough in quarters, and cut each quarter into thirds to make 12 equal portions. Roll the portions into balls. Cover the dough balls with a cloth, and allow to rest while you make the filling.
• Mix the pumpkin, 2 eggs, 1 cup of sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves together until smooth. On a floured surface, roll each dough ball out into a thin circle about 6 inches across; spoon about 1/3 cup of filling into the center of the dough circle. Fold the dough over the filling to make a half-moon shaped pie, and crimp the edges of the crust together with a fork, leaving little fork lines in the dough. Gently lay the empanadas onto the prepared baking sheets. Brush the top of each pie with beaten egg.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the filling is hot and the crusts are shiny and browned, about 20 minutes.

PUMPKIN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Cut the pumpkin into 1 inch slices.
• Place the chunks of panela or piloncillo, the water and the spices in large pot. Cook until the panela chunks have dissolved.
• Bring the panela or piloncillo syrup to a boil over medium heat, add the pumpkin slices and boil for about 30 minutes. Try to avoid stirring while the pumpkin is cooking.
• Reduce the heat and simmer for about 1 hour or until the syrup thickens.
• Let the candied pumpkin slices cool down until safe to handle.
• Remove the skins from the pumpkins and reserve the candied pumpkin pulp for the empanadas.
• Place a spoonful of the candied pumpkin mix on the center of each empanada disc.
• Fold the empanada discs and press the edges together using your fingers. You can either use a fork to press down on the edges and seal the empanadas; or you can use your finger to twist the edges and form a curl like seal.
• Refrigerate the empanadas until ready to bake.
• Pre-heat the oven to 375F.
• Lightly brush the top of the empanadas with the egg wash.
• Sprinkle the sugar on the top of the empanadas.
• Bake the empanadas in a pre-heated oven at 375 F for approximately 20 minutes or until golden on top.
• Serve either warm or cold with ice cream or honey crème fraiche. You can also use any of the leftover panela syrup to drizzle on top.

PUMPKIN EMPANADITAS

Steps:

• Combine pumpkin, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon butter, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice in 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 8-12 minutes or until mixture is thickened. Cool completely. Stir in pecans.
• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Combine flour, sugar and salt in medium bowl; cut in 1 cup butter with pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in enough water until flour is just moistened.
• Divide dough in half. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface, one-half at a time (keeping remaining dough refrigerated), to about 1/8-inch thickness. Cut with 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter. Place rounded 1/2 teaspoon filling in center of each circle. Fold one side of circle over other to form crescent-shaped empanaditas. Pinch together lightly to seal. Place onto ungreased cookie sheet; press edges together with tines of fork to seal.
• Whisk together egg and 1 teaspoon water in small bowl. Brush egg mixture lightly over tops of empanaditas; repeat. Sprinkle with decorator sugar. Bake 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned.

JOSEFINA'S PUMPKIN EMPANADITAS

Steps:

• Pastry: Measure flour, baking powder, salt, spices, and sugar into medium mixing bowl. Stir. Cut lard into 12 pieces and drop into flour mixture. Cut lard in with a pastry blender until crumbly. Pour in water and mix with a fork until dough begins to form a ball. Mold dough into a smooth ball with hands, adding a sprinkle of water if needed. Wrap in waxed paper and chill 1 hour.
• Filling: Melt butter in saucepan over low heat. Add sugar, spices, and pumpkin and stir until smooth. Stir over low heat 10 to 15 minutes, until mixture thickens. Pour into a bowl and let cool to room temperature. Then chill, uncovered, in refrigerator until completely cold.
• Egg Wash: Crack egg into a small bowl. Beat with whisk and stir in water. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 375°F Divide dough in half and pat into 2 balls. Rewrap and refrigerate 1 ball. Flatten other ball with hand, then roll disk to 1/4 inch thick on lightly floured surface. Cut 4 inch circles with cookie cutter; reroll and cut scraps.
• Use pastry brush to paint egg wash around the edge of each circle. Put about 1 tablespoon filling in center of each circle, and fold in half over filling. Press edges with fingers, then crimp with floured tines of a fork. Place empanaditas 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Repeat with other half of dough and filling.
• Brush tops of empanaditas with egg wash and prick center of each with fork to form steam vents. Bake 15 to 20 mintues, or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and sprinkle with a bit of sugar while still hot. Allow to cool for several minutes before serving; filling will remain very hot.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a small bowl, whisk egg white and vanilla; set aside. In another small bowl combine brown sugar, aniseed, cinnamon and nutmeg; set aside. , In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and pie mix until smooth. Add egg yolk; beat on low speed just until blended. Stir in pecans., On a lightly floured surface, roll each crust to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 3-in. round biscuit cutter. Place circles 2 in. apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Place 1 teaspoon filling on 1 side of each circle. Brush edges of crust with egg white mixture; fold circles in half. With a fork, press edges to seal. Brush with egg white mixture and sprinkle with spice mixture. Bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes. , Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked empanadas on parchment-lined baking sheets until firm. Transfer to a freezer container; return to freezer. To use, bake empanadas as directed.

PUMPKIN PECAN EMPANADITAS (MINI EMPANADAS)

Steps:

• Combine pumpkin, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon butter, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice in 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thickened (8 to 12 minutes). Cool completely (45 to 60 minutes). Stir in pecans.
• Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
• Combine flour, sugar and salt in medium bowl; cut in 1 cup butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in enough water until flour is just moistened.
• Divide dough in half. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface, one-half at a time (keeping remaining dough refrigerated), to about 1/8-inch thickness. Cut with 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter. Place rounded 1/2 teaspoon filling in center of each circle. Fold one side of circle over other to form crescent-shaped empanaditas. Pinch together lightly to seal. Place onto ungreased cookie sheet; press edges together with tines of fork to seal.
• Whisk together egg and 1 teaspoon water in small bowl. Brush egg mixture lightly over tops of empanaditas; repeat. Sprinkle with sanding sugar, if using. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

PUMPKIN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• PASTRY: Mix together flour and salt. Cut in shortening until particles are the size of small peas.
• Sprinkle water, 1 tbsp at a time, tossing with fork to moistened. (pastry should clean the side of bowl).
• Gather into a ball, divide into halves. Divide each half into 16 equal pieces. Roll each piece between plastic wrap into 3 1/2" circle. (keep pastry covered).
• FILLING: Combine pumpkin, brown sugar, cinnamon and ground ginger in a saucepan. Heat to boiling, stitring constantly. Reduce heat, simmer until brown sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes.
• Heat oven to 400°.
• Spoon 2 tsp pumpkin mix onto center of circle. Brush edges with water.
• Fold over and press edges with fork to seal.
• Place on ungreased cookie sheet or stone.
• Sprinkle with sugar and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.