Pumpkin Spice Fudge Food

NO-BAKE PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For the crust: In a medium bowl, combine the gingersnap cookies, butter and salt. Use a measuring cup to gently press the cookie crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Freeze for 30 minutes.
• For the filling: Using an electric mixer, whip the cream cheese, pumpkin, powdered sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, salt and cloves in a large bowl until creamy and smooth, about 5 minutes. Carefully fold in the coconut whipped topping with a rubber spatula. Pour into the crust and refrigerate at least 6 hours and up to overnight.
• In a small skillet over medium-high heat, quickly toast the coconut flakes, stirring constantly so they don't burn. Allow to cool completely and then scatter over the cheesecake.

BAKED PUMPKIN DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• For the doughnuts: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Whisk the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder and salt together in a medium bowl.
• Beat the pumpkin puree, sugar, vegetable oil, butter, vanilla and eggs and together in another large bowl until smooth.
• Add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture and beat until just combined.
• Fill three 6-cup nonstick doughnut pans with the batter so that each mold is almost full. Smooth the tops with a moistened finger.
• Bake the doughnuts until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Invert the doughnuts onto a cooling rack.
• For the topping: Stir the sugar and cinnamon together in a shallow bowl. Working one at a time, brush the doughnuts all over with butter, then dip them in the cinnamon sugar to coat. Serve warm or at room temperature.

PERFECT PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• HEAT oven to 425 degrees F. Whisk pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, spices and salt in medium bowl until smooth. Pour into crust.
• BAKE 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F; bake an additional 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted 1-inch from crust comes out clean. Cool. Garnish as desired.
• FAVORITE TOPPINGS:
• SOUR CREAM TOPPING: COMBINE 1 1/2 cups sour cream, 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in medium bowl. After pie has baked 30 minutes at 350 degrees F, spread evenly over top. Bake 10 minutes.
• STREUSEL TOPPING: COMBINE 1/2 cup packed brown sugar and 1/2 cup flour in medium bowl. Cut in 1/4 cup cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped nuts. After pie has baked 30 minutes at 350F, sprinkle evenly over top. Bake an additional 10 minutes.
• CHOCOLATE GLAZE: MELT 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon shortening in small saucepan over low heat. Drizzle or spread over top of baked pie.

THE BEST PUMPKIN BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans.
• Whisk together the sugar and oil in a large bowl until well combined. Whisk in the eggs and pumpkin until combined.
• Combine the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon and cloves in a medium bowl and whisk until well combined. Add half the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and stir to combine. Add half the water and stir to combine. Repeat with the remaining flour and water.
• Divide the batter between the prepared loaf pans. Bake until cake tester comes out clean and the loaves are golden brown, about 1 hour. Let the loaves cool in the pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from the pans and let cool completely, about 1 hour.

PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• Make the dough by hand. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. Using your fingers, work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles yellow corn meal mixed with bean-sized bits of butter. (If the flour/butter mixture gets warm, refrigerate it for 10 minutes before proceeding.) Add the egg and stir the dough together with a fork or by hand in the bowl. If the dough is dry, sprinkle up to a tablespoon more of cold water over the mixture.
• Alternatively, make the dough in a food processor. With the machine fitted with the metal blade, pulse the flour, sugar, and salt until combined. Add the butter and pulse until it resembles yellow corn meal mixed with bean-sized bits of butter, about 10 times. Add the egg and pulse 1 to 2 times; don't let the dough form into a ball in the machine. (If the dough is very dry add up to a tablespoon more of cold water.) Remove the bowl from the machine, remove the blade, and bring the dough together by hand.
• Form the dough into a disk, wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 1 hour.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough with a rolling pin into a 12-inch circle about 1/8-inch thick. Transfer the dough to a 9-inch pie pan and trim the edges, leaving about an extra inch hanging over the edge. Tuck the overhanging dough underneath itself to form a thick edge that is even with the rim. Flute the edge as desired. Freeze the pie shell for 30 minutes.
• Set separate racks in the center and lower third of oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Put a piece of parchment paper or foil over the pie shell and fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake on a baking sheet on the center rack until the dough is set, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and lift sides of the parchment paper to remove the beans. Continue baking until the pie shell is lightly golden brown, about 10 more minutes. Cool on a rack.
• Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
• While the pie shell is cooling make the filling. In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, brown sugar, eggs, half-and-half, spices, and salt until smooth. Return the pie shell to the baking sheet and pour in the filling.
• Bake on the lower oven rack until the edges of the filling are set but the center is still slightly loose, about 50 to 60 minutes. (If the edges get very dark, cover them with aluminum foil.) Cool on a rack. Serve room temperature or slightly warm.

PUMPKIN MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with muffin liners.
• Whisk to combine the pumpkin puree and eggs in a large bowl. Whisk in the granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil and milk. Sift in the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Fold until just combined.
• Scoop 1/4 cup of the batter into each muffin cup. Add a scant 1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin spice into each cup and use a toothpick to swirl. Top with a rounded 1 tablespoon of batter and smooth over the top.
• Bake for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees F. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan, about 1 hour, before serving.