Jack-O-Lantern Cream Puffs

By ackmayhew

Ingredients

• FILLING:
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 2 eggs
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 3/4 cup whipped topping
• FROSTING:
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 teaspoons butter, softened
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 to 2 teaspoons milk
• Green and orange food coloring
• 1 tablespoon baking cocoa

Preparation

Step 1

In a small saucepan, bring the water, butter and sugar to a boil.

In a small bowl, combine flour and pie spice; add to water mixture all at once and stir until a smooth ball forms. Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until mixture is smooth and shiny.

Drop 12 rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto a greased baking sheet. Bake at 400° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to a wire rack. Immediately split puffs open; remove tops and set aside. Discard soft dough from inside. Cool puffs.

For filling, in a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, pumpkin, sugar and pie spice until smooth. Pipe into cream puffs. Top each with 1 tablespoon whipped topping; replace tops.

For frosting, in a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, butter, vanilla and enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Tint 1 tablespoon frosting green and 2 teaspoons orange; set aside. Stir cocoa into the remaining frosting. Pipe jack-o'-lantern faces with orange and chocolate frosting. Pipe stems with green frosting.