Search Results for: blog variations on the traditional pumpkin pie

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

No trip to the farmer’s market would be complete for my family without being able to grab an assortment of whoopie pies for snacking on the way home. Whoopie pies are a staple of a treat out here in Pennsylvania. Rumor has it that they were named by Amish youngsters who when finding the treats in their lunch pails would shout “Whoopie!” While the traditional whoppie pie consists of a chocolate cake with a white creamy filling, there are many variations of whoopie pies to be tried, including ones made with oatmeal cookies or a red velvet cake. Once you … Continue reading →

Cool Thanksgiving Pies

Growing up in a small town on the Big Island of Hawaii, Thanksgiving dessert consisted of traditional fruit pies and little more. Which is not to say that I don’t love fresh fruit pies, but when I moved to the “mainland” in the late 1980s to attend college I was introduced to a whole new Thanksgiving dessert option: Ice cream pie. To this day I make sure that at least one frozen (or refrigerated) pie is featured on our Thanksgiving buffet. Decadent chilled pies are much cheaper to make than to buy. What’s more, they offer guests a chocolaty option … Continue reading →

Passing On the Pie: Other Pumpkin Desserts

For some, Thanksgiving is just not Thanksgiving without a traditional pumpkin pie. For others, the holiday is a great excuse to experiment with new pumpkin recipes. My family falls into an in-between category. We love pumpkin pie, but there are several of us who also enjoy sampling new pumpkin desserts. Over the years, the following pumpkin recipes have become welcome members at our Thanksgiving buffet: PUMPKIN SPICE CAKE 1 (18.25-ounce) package spice cake mix 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin 3 eggs 1 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease a 9-inch by 13-inch baking … Continue reading →

Simple Thanksgiving Pies

Thanksgiving is just two weeks away, and while this year might not be your turn to cook the bird, there’s a good chance that you will be responsible for contributing at least one dish to the Turkey Day feast. If that’s the case, consider one (or all) of the following dessert recipes. They are easy as pie to make, but so incredibly delicious that your family and friends will never know that you didn’t slave away in the kitchen preparing them. PUMPKIN SUPREME PIE Ingredients for the Crust: 1/2 cup butter, melted 2 cups graham crackers (crushed) 1/4 cup sugar … Continue reading →

The Health Benefits of Pumpkin

Full disclosure time: I love pumpkin. Pumpkin pie is my favorite holiday season dessert. My mom makes awesome pumpkin chocolate chip cookie bars. But I don’t only love it for dessert! Pumpkin soup, pumpkin curry… I love it all. Lucky for me, pumpkin is good for you. A gal can’t live on pumpkin pie alone (or pumpkin cheesecake, or pumpkin rolls, or pumpkin bread, or…) but it’s got some real health benefits. Pumpkin is full of fiber. Yay fiber! Fiber helps you feel full, fiber helps keep the digestive system working and happy. Pumpkin is an amazing source of vitamin … Continue reading →

Beyond the Pumpkin Pie: Other Sweet Treats for Your Thanksgiving Feast

If you aren’t hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, but you don’t want to show up to your loved one’s home empty handed, consider bringing along one of these fabulous fruit pies. They are the perfect addition to a Thanksgiving dessert table and will be warmly embraced by other guests who don’t particularly care for traditional pumpkin pie. EASY CARAMEL APPLE PIE Ingredients: 6 to 8 medium Granny Smith apples 1 cup sugar 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1/2 tablespoon nutmeg 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 pre-made pie crust Pie crust scraps 1 jar caramel topping 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon Directions: … Continue reading →

Beyond the Pumpkin Pie: Sweet Treats for Your Thanksgiving Dessert Table

Anyone who has hosted a few dozen guests on Thanksgiving knows that three or four traditional pumpkin pies is not going to cut it when it comes time for dessert. People have different tastes and not everyone enjoys pumpkin pie, regardless of its history with the holiday. If you are hosting a large group for Thanksgiving dinner it’s appropriate to offer a variety of different dessert options. This is especially critical if you are hosting a number of children. Most kids (my daughter not included) would much rather dine on a decadent chocolate treat than dig into a slice of … Continue reading →

Kicked Up Thanksgiving Pies

Kick up your Thanksgiving dessert table this year with these jazzed up pie recipes. It’s not hard to go beyond traditional pumpkin and apple pies by experimenting with additional ingredients. If you’re a bit apprehensive about breaking with tradition then consider the first recipe for Pumpkin Praline Pie. Your family members will still get their pumpkin fix, but the sweet and crunchy praline topping will provide added texture and flavor that ordinary pumpkin pie lacks. The second dessert option is for the chocoholics in your family. The recipe for Easy Chocolate Pudding Pie is so simple your kids could make … Continue reading →

The Perfect Pumpkin Cookies

It’s a virtual pumpkinpalooza in our home. Last week it was all about pumpkin seeds. Then, we made pumpkin pizza, pumpkin waffles, and pumpkin muffins to take to various Halloween parties. Now, we’re moving on to pumpkin cookies. If you are looking for an easy dish to pass at a Thanksgiving-related party, or if you need to bring a seasonal dessert to a November playgroup (like me), I highly recommend the following delicious recipes. Both are for Pumpkin Cookies, though they have decidedly different flavors and textures. The first recipe calls for pumpkin, plus the added bonus of chocolate chips … Continue reading →

Jazzed Up Pumpkin Desserts

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 … Continue reading →