Jazzed Up Pumpkin Desserts

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

04 Nov 2008 06:05 AM

Looking for a way to jazz up your Thanksgiving dessert table while still keeping with an autumnal theme? Then, consider the following pumpkin recipes.

Both desserts are simple to prepare and travel well in case you opt to make them as your contribution to Thanksgiving dinner at grandma's house.

CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN CRUNCH DESSERT PIZZA

Ingredients:

1 19-ounce pre-made ball of pizza dough

3 cups pumpkin puree, or canned pumpkin

1 cup brown sugar

1 1/4 cup Nestle Crunch Bar pieces

1 cup half and half

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon black pepper

1 teaspoon cinnamon sugar

1 1/2 cup small marshmallows

1/3 cup Dry Yellow Cake Mix

2 tablespoons brown sugar

Nutmeg

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

In a pizza pan, press a dough ball into a 15-inch circle and poke with holes to relieve air pockets.

Mix pumpkin puree, brown sugar, half and half, salt, black pepper, and 1 cup of Nestle Crunch bar pieces in a mixing bowl. Spread the mix onto the pizza dough leaving an even rim of 1/2-inch for crust. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the crust.

Bake in oven until crust begins to brown lightly.

Remove from oven.

Sprinkle dry yellow cake mix batter and brown sugar evenly over pizza. This will hold the pumpkin puree in place and prevent spillage.

Next, evenly spread marshmallows over the pizza but leave the crust bare. Sprinkle 1/2 cup Nestle Crunch Bar pieces over the marshmallows. Place back in oven until marshmallows begin to brown. Remove and let cool for about 10 minutes.

Take a very small amount of nutmeg and dust over pizza before serving.

PUMPKIN SEED BRITTLE

Ingredients:

1 cup of pumpkin seeds, washed and dried

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup butter (unsalted)

1/4 cup white sugar

Pinch of allspice

Directions:

Put cinnamon, brown sugar, white sugar and allspice in a thick-bottomed 1-quart saucepan. Heat on medium high heat making sure to stir mixture constantly. (The mixture is extremely hot so don't touch it to taste.)

When mixture liquefies, add butter and remove from heat.

Place seeds into pan and mix together. Then pour contents on a greased cookie sheet to cool.

Let cool for at least an hour. Break brittle into pieces and serve.

Related Articles:

Pumpkin Pizza

Perfectly Delicious Pumpkin and Chocolate Treats

Pumpkinpalooza--A Meal Made of Pumpkins

Variations on the Traditional Pumpkin Pie

Bring On the Pumpkins: How to Cook with Fresh Pumpkin

Post Halloween Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

Pumpkin Waffles with Brown Sugar Syrup

Two Thanksgiving Sides: Grandma Delp's Pumpkin Casserole and Sweet Potato Casserole

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger