Easy Halloween Baking: Puff Pastry Pumpkins

This week, we’ve got a Halloween treat for you! We understand things are likely to be spookily quiet for Halloween this year, but you can still make it special with a Halloween feast at home. Little monsters will jump at the chance to help in the kitchen with some easy Halloween baking.

Preena, who shares family friendly vegetarian food, ideas for cooking with kids, and preschool activities on her Instagram, @myhungrylittlehelpers, has kindly prepared us a delicious Halloween recipe for kids that’s super simple to try with your own hungry little helpers.

Firstly, here’s a little bit about Preena and why she loves cooking with her children…

“Hi, I’m Preena, mummy to 3 little ones and wife to 1 big one! My 5 year old girls are non-identical twins and my youngest is 2 and half years old. I’m currently a stay at home mum but am also a primary school teacher. We love cooking, baking, playing, arts and crafts, and going for walks together.

I love the idea of getting kids involved in the kitchen from helping to unpack the shopping, to baking together and letting them chop some ingredients. I’ve always been passionate about cooking and when I had a family of my own this became even more important to me as I wanted my children to develop and grow up with a healthy and happy relationship with food.”

Now for the recipe! Don’t forget, you can keep your little helper's clothes protected with our adorable Fox Aprons.

AN EASY HALLOWEEN RECIPE FOR KIDS

Apple Pie Puff Pastry Pumpkins

Prep time: 25 minutes

Cook time: 20 - 25 minutes

Makes: 8 pumpkins

Ingredients:

2 large apples, peeled and chopped into cubes

1/4 cup maple syrup 

1 tsp cinnamon powder

1/2 tsp ginger powder

1/2 tsp nutmeg 

1 ready rolled puff pastry 

1 egg (can use milk for egg free or vegan options)

*Optional: Green apple - for decoration at the top of pumpkin 

What you’ll need:

Chopping board

Knife

Peeler

Baking tray

Parchment paper or silicone baking mat

Saucepan

Wooden spoon

String

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 170°C and line a baking tray with parchment paper or a silicon mat.
• Peel and chop the apples adding them to the saucepan.

• Stir in the maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
• Pop the pan on the stove and cook on a medium heat for 5 minutes.
• While the apple filling is cooling, rollout and cut the pastry into 8 equal rectangles.
• Fill each rectangle of pastry with roughly a tablespoon of the apple filling but make sure not to over fill as you need to close them.

• Make each one into a small ball by bringing in all the sides of the pastry to meet at the top, joining them and sealing together.
• Take a piece of string and wrap around each ball several times to create a pumpkin effect. There should be 8 sections.

• Whisk the egg and egg wash each pumpkin ball.
• Put the baking tray in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes and until golden.
• Remove and allow to cool before removing the string with scissors.
• Cut small slices of green apple and poke these into the top of each pumpkin to add to the look.
• These can be served warm or cold, on their own or with some custard or ice cream for an extra delicious treat! We hope you enjoy them.

MORE HALLOWEEN RECIPE IDEAS

Head to Preena’s Instagram for lots more family-friendly recipes, plus here are a few more of her tasty treats you can whip for Halloween:

Puff Pastry Mummy Pizzas

Pumpkin, Banana & Dark Chocolate Loaf

Pumpkin, Almond & Cranberry Oat Cookies

GREAT LITTLE EXTRAS FOR HALLOWEEN AT HOME

1. Spoilt for choice in the costume department? Our Dressing Up Rails keep fancy dress outfits neat & tidy and give children easy access to all their weird and wonderful getups. Be warned: may ignite multiple costume changes in a day!

2. Dig out the Halloween books and cosy up in a teepee or make-shift den to read by torchlight! We love:

How to Make Friends with a Ghost by Rebecca Green

The Roll-Away Pumpkin by Junia Wonders & Daniela Volpari

Gustavo the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago

That’s Not My Bat by Fiona Watt & Rachel Wells

You’re My Little Pumpkin Pie by Natalie Marshall

3. Download our free Halloween printables – Our spook-tacular activity pack features DIY costume ideas, a colouring in sheet, decorations for a spooky play shop or cafe, and even another baking recipe, our Star Screams Cupcakes & Toppers!

We hope our Halloween recipes for kids and great little extras help you have a happy Halloween. If you make any puff pastry pumpkins or try out our Halloween printables, do tag us in a photo on Instagram or Facebook. We’d love to see what you get up to this Halloween!