Name: Pumpkin Pasties: A Harry Potter Inspired Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cup gluten free flour (Cup4Cup is what I use); 2 tablespoons ice water; 8 tablespoons butter (unsalted); 3/4 Pumpkin Puree; 1 Tbsp Ras El Hanout; 1 Tbsp Cinnamon; 1/4 Brown Sugar (Light); 1 Egg (for egg wash); 1/2 Cup Turbinado Sugar (For topping - optional)

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Pumpkin pasties are delicious hand pies inspired by the Harry Potter books and films. Long are the days of only being able to eat Harry Potter food at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! This recipe has a quick cook time, is super simple, and the prep time is deliciously easy!

Pumpkin Pasties: A Harry Potter Inspired Recipe

“What she did have were Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, Drooble’s Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Licorice Wands, and a number of other strange things Harry had never seen in his life.”
– Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Pumpkin Pasties- so ubiquitous in the Harry Potter Universe that in Harry Potter book (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows), it is the food mentioned most frequently. We are initially introduced to pumpkin pasties in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone when the Trolley Witch stops by all of the compartments to offer sweets to the students on the Hogwarts Express. In the films, we see Cho Chang order a pumpkin pasty as well! As pumpkin pasties are part of this offering. Now Harry Potter fans everywhere can enjoy pumpkin pasties from their home without having to venture to Hogwarts.

What are pumpkin pasties?

Harry potter pumpkin pasties are not too different from regular pasties. Pasties are little hand pies (some are larger than others, but for this, they are not too big), that are golden brown. They are said to have originated in Southern Cornwall. They are a baked pastry that traditionally has a meat filling but can also have vegetarian filling ingredients.

If you have ever been to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios, you can buy pumpkin pasties from Honeydukes. However, you can now make pumpkin pasties from the comfort of your own home.

The sweet ones are not a traditional pumpkin pie filling but are still deliciously sweet, and the savory pumpkin pasties are a perfect blending of flavors.

Can I make any substitutions or changes in this pumpkin pasties recipe?

If you cannot find pumpkin puree at the store: you can always buy a whole pumpkin and bake it and make your own puree from scratch. Of course, this is much more work, and it is easier to just buy the can!

Even though these are pumpkin pasties: there is no pumpkin pie spice in this recipe. If you are obsessed with pumpkin pie spice then you can add 1 teaspoon to your recipe.

This recipe of course has dairy in it: and I have not made it without. However for a pie crust, if you find a pie crust that does not contain butter and instead uses crisco or a vegetable base, you may be able to use that.

I only have granulated sugar: Can I use this instead? The brown sugar gives a more caramel flavor with the pumpkin pasties filling. However, if all you have is granulated sugar then you can use it. The sweet filling will be good either way!

Why should you make pumpkin pasties?

It is a simple recipe that is packed full of flavor. The first time you take a bit, you will be hooked.

If you are a fan of the Harry Potter series (or want to throw a themed party) these pumpkin hand pies are the perfect treat. They are delicious little hand pies with a flaky pie crust (I use my gluten free pastry dough to make them but you can use your own pie dough). These sweet pumpkin pasties are a sweet treat compared to the savory Cornish pasty. It will become one of your favorite pumpkin recipes.

Tips and Tricks for this recipe:

Be sure not to overfill the pasties by putting in too much filling. Too much filling will force the pasties open in the oven. It is not a big deal if it is slightly open, but, it is best to try to keep them as closed as possible!
For best results, always follow the recipe card!

What tools do you need for this pumpkin pasties recipe?

What Ingredients will you need?

ingredients for Pumpkin Pasties: A Harry Potter Inspired Recipe

Pie Dough: The casing for these sweet pumpkin pasties is pie dough (as they are a hand pie). I use my gluten free pastry dough recipe to make them (which is incredibly easy) but you can use whatever pie dough you like.
Pumpkin Puree: This is the essence of our pumpkin pasty. I use canned pureed pumpkin.
Brown Sugar: This is the only sweetener in this recipe
Spices: Cinnamon and Ras el-Hanout give such warming spices and make these pasties sing.

How do you make your pumpkin pasties?

Set Oven to 350°F
Make your pie dough: place the gluten free all purpose flour, egg, water, and unsalted butter. Pulse until the butter is the size of peas.. The pie crust will come together when it forms a ball in the food processor.
Take two pieces of parchment paper: and place the pie dough between them. Roll it out using a rolling pin. Another method is using a tortilla press. Set the circular pieces of dough aside on the lined baking sheet while you prep your filling.
Meanwhile make the filling: in a large bowl and mix together the pumpkin puree, ras el hanout, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Mix together.
Putting them together: Place 2 tablespoons of the pumpkin filling onto each of the dough circles. Close the pumpkin pasties and crimp the edges. You can use a fork to crimp the edges or press the edges with your hands.
Brush with egg wash: Using a pastry brush, brush the pasties with an egg wash and then top with sugar. Place into the oven. Baking time is for 30 minutes.
When they are a golden brown color: and finished baking, remove them from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool down. Once they have cooled a bit, dig in.