Mexican Recipes for Pumpkin Empanadas

Just like croissants, empanadas are a very versatile dish that can be filled with practically anything! If you want to change up your traditional dishes during the holiday season, or celebrate a multicultural holiday, this pumpkin pastry recipe will definitely put you in the winter spirit. This authentic Mexican recipe from CookPad serves 24 pumpkin empanadas.

Ingredients

 

Pumpkin Filling

4 tbsp	butter
1 1/2 cup	brown sugar
15 oz	canned pumpkin (not pie filling, I use one Libby’s brand 15oz can)
2 tsp	ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp	pumpkin pie spice

 

Empanada Dough

3 cup	all purpose flour
2 tsp	baking powder
1/2 tsp	salt
1/2 cup	vegetable shortening
2 large	eggs
1/2 cup	whole milk
2 tbsp	white sugar

 

Sugar/Cinnamon Topping

1/4 cup	white sugar
1/2 tsp	ground cinnamon

 

Directions

1. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Don’t let it burn.
2. Stir in brown sugar until it dissolves with the butter.
3. Stir in the pumpkin and the spices. Continue to stir over medium heat for 10min.
4. Remove the filling from heat and let cool down. After it has cooled for 15 min, put the filling in the refrigerator for 30 min before use.
5. Mix the flour, baking powder and salt
6. Cut in the shortening with the dry ingredients, I use my hands to work the shortening into the flour mixture.
7. Add the eggs, milk and sugar, use a spoon at first then continue to work the dough with your hands until all ingredients all fully incorporated and you have a nice ball of dough.
8. Split the dough in half, wrap the dough in plastic wrap and put into the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
9. Preheat the oven to 350° f
10. Take out half of the dough and split into 12-16 balls of dough (depending on how big you want the empanadas)
11. Using a floured rolling pin, roll each of the dough balls into small round circles about 4-6 inches in diameter.
12. Add a small dollop of pumpkin filling to center of dough.
13. Wet the edge of the dough circle with water and fold the dough over to seal the empanada in half. Seal the edges by using a fork to press into the edge.
14. Brush the top of each empanada with egg whites, then sprinkle the tops with the sugar/cinnamon topping.
15. Place the empanadas on a greased cookie sheet and pierce each empanada with a fork to allow steam to escape during cooking.
16. Cook empanadas for 18 minutes on middle rack in oven. If the tops aren’t golden brown, you can switch the oven to broil and cook for a few more minutes until the tops are golden (make sure you don’t burn em!)

Modifications

• If you don’t want to make your own dough, Latin grocery stores often sell ready-to-use empanada dough already formed in the right shape.
• For the experienced cooks who are looking for a more interesting dough, think about incorporating cinnamon, sweetened cocoa powder, or ginger to make gingerbread dough!
• If you’re still stocked up from apple picking season you can also substitute an apple filling to make apple empanadas.
• Toppings could be sliced almonds or powdered sugar

Check out the Acapulcos Mexican Family Restaurant & Cantina blog for plenty of easy and delicious Mexican food recipes. Our Mexican restaurants in the Greater Boston Area, Cape Cod, Enfield, and Stratford, CT are constantly working at creating fresh, authentic, and flavorful Mexican food from our kitchen to your table. Look at one of our menus to find out what we’re making in your area!