Pumpkin Pie Bites

I stole this picture from my sister, who has actually tried this recipe. I have been wanting to and was planning on doing it for Christmas, but plans got changed and so I swiped her picture in order to share! Her husband gave these a thumbs up and I just have really like doing things mini these days! Maybe because it feels less guilty when they are little, or the fact you can try a little bit of everything when things come in small sizes! (side note--my little 3 year old nephew helped with the creations on the side!)

The pies on the left are from the pumpkin cutter, the right the circle!

Pumpkin Pie Bites

(found on Bakerella)

• 2 refrigerated ready to roll pie crusts (or brave your own!!)
• 8 oz cream cheese, room temp.
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• Pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter (my sister used a round one, she thought they looke better)

• Optional, 1/2 cup chocolate morsels, vegetable oil and re-sealable plasic bags

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Use cookie cutter to cut 12 pumpkins (or circles) from each pie crust. You will need to roll the dough thinner than it comes out of the box.

Press dough shapes into a 24 mini muffin tray. (Make 12 at a time, alternating cups to make sure pie crusts don't overlap each other.)

Apply egg whites from one egg to the top edges of each pie.

Mix cream cheese, sugar, canned pumpkin, remaining 2 eggs, vanilla and pumpkin pie spice together until thoroughly combined.

Spoon mixture into each pumpkin (or round) shaped pie crust.

Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Remove pies to cool and repeat with second pie crust. Place the muffin tray in the freezer to cool it quickly for re-use.

Makes 24 pies, keep refrigerated!

To decorate:

Melt chocolate in a heat-proof bowl in the microwave on medium. Heat in 30 second intervals, stirring in between until melted. Add a little vegetable oil to make the chocolate more fluid. Transfer to a re-sealable plastic bag and cut the corner off. Drizzle or draw faces on pies.

(You can view a great step by step on http://www.bakerella.com/)