Baked Miniature Pumpkins Food

MINI PUMPKIN CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line 18 muffin cups with paper liners. Place 1 whole cookie in the bottom of each lined cup.
• 2. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon fine salt on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides, reduce speed to low and beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, until combined. Beat in 1/3 cup sour cream and heavy cream. Stir in the pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice until smooth. Divide evenly among cookie-lined paper cups, filling almost all the way to the top.
• 3. Bake until the filling is just set, 40 to 45 minutes. A sharp knife inserted into the center will come out moist, but clean. Top each cheesecake with some of the remaining 1 1/4 cup sour cream, about 1 heaping tablespoon, using a spoon to gently spread. Cool completely in tins on a wire rack. Refrigerate until cold, 4 hours, or overnight. Top with a dusting of pumpkin pie spice.

BAKED MINIATURE PUMPKINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Cut off the top of the pumpkin and scrape out all the seeds. Place the butter or margarine and brown sugar inside the pumpkin and sprinkle with ground cinnamon. Put the pumpkin lid back on and place pumpkin in a baking pan with a little water in the bottom.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 30 minutes or until tender. These can also be baked in the microwave on high for about 10 to 15 minutes.

BAKED SPICED MINI PUMPKINS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 F.
• Cut the tops off of the pumpkins, cutting about 1/3 of the way down so the whole top will come off. Scoop out seeds and scrape soft fibers out of the mini pumpkins. Scoop out of the top, also.
• Combine the melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon; put a few teaspoons in each pumpkin, brushing or swirling to coat the sides; brush more on the inside of the tops.
• Place the tops on the pumpkins. Arrange the pumpkins in a jelly roll pan or large baking pan with sides.
• Pour 3 to 4 cups of water in the pan, or to a depth of about 1/2 inch. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the pumpkins are tender. Use these pumpkins to serve pumpkin pudding or custard, or fill the warm pumpkins with scoops of vanilla ice cream and serve immediately.

MINI PUMPKIN CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Cut the tops from the pumpkins and set aside. Hollow out the centers of each pumpkin and place the pumpkins onto one of the prepared baking sheets. Prepare the cake mix according to the package instructions, stirring in 1/4 cup of the pumpkin seeds at the end. Pour some cake batter into each pumpkin, filling halfway. Sprinkle the top of each with the remaining 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds.
• Lightly brush the cut side of each pumpkin top with vegetable oil and sprinkle with sugar. Place the pumpkin tops cut-side down on the other baking sheet.
• Put both baking sheets in the oven. Bake the pumpkin tops for about 25 minutes, and then set aside to cool. Bake the batter-filled pumpkins until a wooden toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool completely on a cooling rack.
• Put a pumpkin top on each pumpkin cake and serve with maple syrup.

BAKED MINI PUMPKIN POTS

Steps:

• » Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice the top quarter off each pumpkin and remove the seeds and stringy bits.
• » In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, sauté the sausage for 3 to 4 minutes, until cooked through. Drain off any rendered fat and set aside.
• » Whisk 1 of the eggs, and toss it in a large bowl with the sausage, bread cubes, sage, parsley, salt, and pepper until well combined.
• » Fill each pumpkin with the stuffing mixture to a little less than 1 inch from the top, and place it on the prepared sheet. Bake for 40 minutes, until the pumpkins have soft- ened. Remove the pan from the oven and use a spoon to compress the stuffing a little. Pour 1 of the remaining 4 eggs into each pumpkin. Lightly cover the pumpkins with a sheet of aluminum foil. Increase the heat to 400 degrees F and return the sheet to the oven. Bake for another 10 minutes, until the eggs are just set.
• » Serve hot, topped with about a teaspoon of crème fraîche and more salt and pepper to taste.

STUFFED BABY PUMPKINS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Wash the pumpkins. With a small, sharp knife, remove the tops as if for a jack-o'-lantern. Scoop out the seeds and stringy insides with a spoon, leaving the flesh intact. Rinse, then rub with a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper.
• Melt the butter in a sauté pan over medium heat, then add the scallions and cook for a few minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for another minute or so, until fragrant. Add the kale and cook until it just wilts, about 3 or 4 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in the lemon juice and transfer to a bowl. Add the bread crumbs, cheese, pine nuts, nutmeg, red pepper flakes, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon black peppers. Mix well, then stir in the cream.
• Divide the filling into the pumpkins and replace the tops. Rub a baking dish with olive oil and arrange the filled pumpkins in the dish.
• Bake for 1 hour, watching to make sure the tops don't brown too much. Test the pumpkins by piercing with a fork. If the skin doesn't pierce easily, remove the tops and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes. Replace the tops and serve hot.