Mini Pumpkin Pies are most certainly my favorite thing to bake. Let me step back a little. It is among only a handful of things I can make. My guy is the chef around these parts, and a darn good one at that. I am proud to call him mine. So pumpkin pies have slowly but surely made their way into my heart over the years. I married a Northerner, so I have to make them. A little known fact is that I had never had one until I met him. I am still trying to get him to warm up to Pecan Pie.
This recipe is very old. I got it from my grandma right before I got married and have cherished it since then. I asked her if I could have some pie recipes and she surprised me when she brought this one out (she never cooked it for me). It is pretty simple but the dough is not homemade. Sorry. I also split this pie into mini pies, because who can't resist something sweet and cute.
Mini Pumpkin Pies, makes 24 mini pies
1 package Pillsbury pie crust (comes with two rolled up)
1 can pumpkin
1 package cream cheese
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup regular sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/4 cup melted butter (1/2 stick)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
For the filling: In a bowl, beat the cream cheese with a hand mixer. Add in your pumpkin and beat until they are both combined. Add all sugar and salt, and beat until combined. Add the salt, eggs and melted butter. Continue to beat until combined. Last add the vanilla and cinnamon. By this time, you should be an expert at beating until combined. You should not see any lumps left. If you do, continue to beat with the hand mixer.
For the crust: Roll out the dough, and decide what you would like to make your circle with. I think our glasses are the perfect size for these mini pies. So I go with that.
Once you have your circles cut out, put them in a lightly oiled muffin pan. Then add your filling. Go ahead and fill almost to the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.
* I cut the little gingerbread men out of the excess dough. Again, just for a extra cute factor.
Let them cool and enjoy. Add some whipped cream if you are feeling festive.
