Mini Pumpkin Pies Recipe | One Little Project (2024)

by Debbie Chapman

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Mini pumpkin pies! You know that feeling you get at the end of a big meal, when everyone has eaten way too much? And then someone suggests dessert, but you don’t even want to get up to make coffee, let alone put together everyone’s dessert plate. (Or is that just me?)

When you finally do get the energy to serve the 3 beautiful desserts that someone went to tons of effort to make, everyone is so full that they don’t eat more than a few bites.

The solution? Mini pumpkin pies! Rather than overwhelming yourself and your guests with too much of a good thing, let them enjoy a bite sized treat. There’s always room for something mini!

Mini Pumpkin Pies Recipe | One Little Project (1)

This is the combination of spices that my family has always used for pumpkin pie, and it has always been delicious!

It’s so simple so make your own pumpkin spice – and you probably already have the spices in your cupboard!

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Tip: Add some pumpkin pie spice to strong coffee with some cream and sugar to make your own pumpkin spice latte. You can add canned pumpkin if you want, but it’s not necessary.

These mini pumpkin pies are unique enough that they don’t have to be limited to Thanksgiving. I love that they could just as well be served at a brunch or dinner party, or even Christmas. I definitely recommend giving them a try!

Check out our video for how to make mini pumpkin pies:

If you’re looking for more delicious pumpkin desserts, here’s a few of our favourites:

No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake

Pumpkin Pie Twists

Mini Pumpkin Pie Pops

How to Make Mini Pumpkin Pies:

Mini Pumpkin Pies Recipe | One Little Project (3)

Print Recipe

Mini Pumpkin Pies

These mini pumpkin pies are way easier than making a pumpkin pie from scratch. Plus you will actually have room to try more than one dessert!

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time45 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Servings: 30

Ingredients

  • 2 small eggs
  • 1-1/3 cups canned pumpkin puree (I accidentally used canned pumpkin pie filling and it still turned out, so I guess either one is fine)
  • 1/2 cup Sugar
  • 1/4 tsp Salt (slightly heaping)
  • 3/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ginger (slightly heaping)
  • 1/4 tsp cloves
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1-1/8 cups evaporated milk
  • 30 mini tart shells defrosted

Instructions

  • Beat the eggs with a whisk.

  • Blend in the remaining ingredients.

  • Spread the tart shells out onto a cookie sheet.

  • Pour 2 Tablespoons of pumpkin filling into each tart shell.

  • Bake at 375F for approximately 30 minutes or until crust is golden.

Notes

I found my mini tart shells at a grocery store in Canada called Loblaws. They are located in the frozen food section right next to the regular pie crusts.

Adapted from the recipe on my mom’s old pie plateMini Pumpkin Pies Recipe | One Little Project (4).

Mini Pumpkin Pies Recipe | One Little Project (5)

I know this is cheating, but using pre-made tart shells is so much easier than rolling out your own dough. And they end up looking so perfect in the end! This momma does not have time to be rolling out 30 tart shells.

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Pour 2 Tablespoons of pumpkin pie mixture into each tart shell:

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Here they are before they went into the oven:

Mini Pumpkin Pies Recipe | One Little Project (8)

I baked them at 375F for 30 minutes. They puffed up a little bit, but they collapsed really quickly after they cooled off.

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Do you remember those pie plates that had the recipe written right on the plate? My mom had one for pumpkin pieMini Pumpkin Pies Recipe | One Little Project (10), and it was truly the most delicious pumpkin pie I’ve ever had. I’ll be honest though – the past few years (…or ten years…) life has been too busy to make a pumpkin pie from scratch, so we have been buying them from Costco. *gasp* I know…

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One of the reasons I stopped making homemade pumpkin pie (besides being lazy busy of course), is that it makes such a huge amount and such a thick pumpkin pie, that it’s hard to get through the whole thing. I love pumpkin pie, but I find it a very strong flavour and enjoy having it in smaller amounts, rather than a giant piece that makes you so full that you swear you won’t eat anything else for days.

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Which is why I love the idea of mini pumpkin pies. These were seriously delicious! Way faster to make than rolling out your own dough, but they still have the homemade taste that you just can’t buy in any store bought pumpkin pie.

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These were way easier than I was expecting. I have convinced myself for years that pumpkin pie from scratch was too time consuming to make but these were done in less than an hour, and most of that was baking time!

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About Debbie Chapman, the Author of this Post

I'm Debbie Chapman, founder of One Little Project and author of the book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids. I love creating fun and easy crafts and cooking up delicious recipes for my husband and 3 kids.

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Filed Under: Desserts and Sweets, Holidays, Recipes, ThanksgivingTagged With: Dessert, Early Post, fall recipes, pie, pumpkins, Thanksgiving, thanksgiving treats

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Reader Interactions

Let us know what you think:

  1. Mini Pumpkin Pies Recipe | One Little Project (16)Bernice says

    I keep using this recipe over and over again, simply delicious !

    Reply

  2. Mini Pumpkin Pies Recipe | One Little Project (17)Marlene says

    Where did you buy the 30 tart shells??

    Reply

    • Mini Pumpkin Pies Recipe | One Little Project (18)Debbie Chapman says

      At a store in Canada called Loblaws. Details are in the tips section of the recipe.

      Reply

  3. Mini Pumpkin Pies Recipe | One Little Project (19)Cashe says

    I make these every Thanksgiving, I love these and so does everyone else. I plan on making them again but had a quick question, can I make them the night before? Will they still taste fresh the next day?

    Reply

    • Mini Pumpkin Pies Recipe | One Little Project (20)Debbie Chapman says

      They taste best made the day of, but they are definitely okay to make the night before. Be sure to store them in the refrigerator if you’re making them ahead of time.

      Reply

      • Mini Pumpkin Pies Recipe | One Little Project (21)Cashe says

        Thank you! ♥️

        Reply

  4. Mini Pumpkin Pies Recipe | One Little Project (22)Alexis says

    Can I use ginger powder instead?

    Reply

    • Mini Pumpkin Pies Recipe | One Little Project (23)Debbie Chapman says

      Hi Alexis – Sorry for the late reply – Yes, you should be using ginger powder in this recipe.

      Reply

  5. Mini Pumpkin Pies Recipe | One Little Project (24)Lorraine says

    Hi if I use tender flake mini tart shells do I have to blindbake for pumpkin filling ? Or just thaw put filling in and bake ? Thanks

    Reply

    • Mini Pumpkin Pies Recipe | One Little Project (25)One Little Project says

      Hi Lorraine – no need to blind bake. Just thaw the shells, add filling, and cook according to the recipe. 🙂

      Reply

  6. Mini Pumpkin Pies Recipe | One Little Project (26)Joan Rehfeldt says

    I live in California and would to order these adorable mini pie shells. Is there a company that can send them to me without a problem of totally thawing out coming from Canada. Thank you

    Reply

    • Mini Pumpkin Pies Recipe | One Little Project (27)One Little Project says

      Hi Joan! I don’t know of a company like that off the top of my head, though it might exist.

      Pillsbury makes mini pie shells, so you might be able to find those where you live? Sometimes you can buy already baked shells as well.

      Otherwise I’d suggest buying some disposable tart shells and cutting a large pie shell down to size. We used cookie cutters to cut up a large pie shell when we made our mini apple pies.

      Let us know if you have any more questions!

      Reply

Older Comments

Mini Pumpkin Pies Recipe | One Little Project (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between canned pumpkin pie filling and pumpkin puree? ›

They are the same product. Both canned pumpkin puree and pie filling are useful, shelf-stable ingredients that can help speed up your kitchen prep time. Just remember that puree is unsweetened, while pie filling contains sugar and spices. This will help you choose the right pumpkin product for your recipes.

Can you use Jack Be Little pumpkins for pie? ›

Wash Jack-Be-Littles well and cut off the tops scooping out the flesh and seeds. Sprinkle the insides of the pumpkins with extra brown sugar. Line them up on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Whisk pumpkin, brown sugar, salt, spices, vanilla, eggs, cream and milk puree in a large bowl.

How to use pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin puree? ›

Pumpkin pie filling shouldn't be used in place of pumpkin puree since the finished dish will be too sweet. You can always set the can aside to make a quick pumpkin pie another day.

Will any pumpkin work for pumpkin pie? ›

Start with the right variety of pumpkins, sugar pumpkins. Large pumpkins that we traditionally think of as jack-o-lanterns aren't ideal for pie as they are very stringy and have a lot of seeds. There really isn't very much “meat” to the larger pumpkins. Sugar pumpkins, also known as pie pumpkins, are sweeter.

What happens if you use pumpkin pie filling instead of puree? ›

Don't use pumpkin pie filling in place of pumpkin purée.

Every can of pumpkin pie filling has a different amount of sugar and spices and if you add it to a bread or muffin recipe you might get a very sweet and not-spiced-enough loaf. Try this instead: Buy pumpkin purée!

Can I use canned pumpkin instead of pumpkin pie filling? ›

It is possible to use regular canned pumpkins to make pies instead of purchasing cans that are specifically labeled as “pumpkin pie mix” or “pumpkin puree”. However, doing so requires additional preparation and may not always yield the desired results.

What can you do with miniature pumpkins? ›

Scrape out seeds and use the minis the same way you would a ramekin. fill with pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin pie or creme brulee batter. Bake at the temperature called for in the recipe; you may have to bake a little longer as the pumpkin's sides and flesh are thicker than most ramekins.

What are mini pumpkins called? ›

Mini pumpkins are not pumpkins but are botanically regarded as a type of gourd, and there are many different varieties of Mini pumpkins including the most well-known variety, the Jack Be Little or abbreviated as JBL.

Which canned pumpkin is best for pie? ›

Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin

This Libby's pumpkin puree is neutral to a tee. It has a deep orange color and a clean, delicious flavor that lands somewhere between savory and sweet.

Is pumpkin puree just canned pumpkin? ›

First and foremost: what is pumpkin puree? Canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree are the same thing. These terms are often used interchangeably in recipes, though you may also see the term solid-pack pumpkin. All these terms mean 100% steamed and pureed pumpkin—no extras, no add-ins—not even in the canned variety.

How do you thicken pumpkin pie filling without cornstarch? ›

When using tapioca as a thickener, allow the pie filling to sit for at least 15 minutes to absorb the juices before spooning it into the crust. Tapioca can be substituted in a one-to-one ratio for cornstarch.

Does homemade pumpkin puree taste better than canned? ›

Based on my taste tests, I think that fresh puree would easily elevate any savory pumpkin dish such as soup or pasta. The fresh, unadulterated flavor and fluffy texture would work wonderfully in savory dishes, especially because even “sugar pumpkins” aren't very sweet on their own.

Can you use Halloween pumpkins for pie? ›

Pumpkin pie

Use the flesh from your carved pumpkin for this dish. Make sure to remove the seeds first and cut the flesh into chunks which you can then boil and season, before adding to a shortcrust pastry tart base.

What are 2 types of pumpkins perfect for pies? ›

Pumpkin Varieties for Cooking

Flesh of carving pumpkins are generally stringy, watery and bland, but can be used for making pies. The best varieties for making pumpkin pies are Baby Bear, Cinderella, Jarrahdale and Fairytale.

What is the difference between Jack O Lantern pumpkins and pie pumpkins? ›

Pie pumpkins, also called sugar pumpkins, usually weigh 1 to 6 pounds. Their flesh is denser and sweeter that the bigger ones, which are called carving or jack-o'-lantern pumpkins. The biggies have a moister, softer interior with a bigger seed cavity, and the flesh tends to be stringier.

Can I use canned pumpkin instead of pumpkin puree? ›

Canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree are the same thing. These terms are often used interchangeably in recipes, though you may also see the term solid-pack pumpkin. All these terms mean 100% steamed and pureed pumpkin—no extras, no add-ins—not even in the canned variety.

Is one pie pumpkin puree or pie filling? ›

And it's not just pumpkin I crave, but One-Pie canned pumpkin puree. It's New England's unofficial brand — the same brand used by my mother before me. The flavor is rich and consistent, the texture perfect.

Can I substitute can pumpkin for pumpkin puree? ›

Most canned pumpkin is pureed pumpkin. It's been cooked and canned, but you'd have to cook it anyways to make it soft enough to puree. As long as you get plain canned pumpkin without added seasonings, it's the same as what you would make at home.

What is a substitute for canned pumpkin puree? ›

You can substitute almost any roasted and puréed squash for canned pumpkin. Frozen butternut cubes are a shortcut we think you should always have on hand.

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