Harry Potter Pumpkin Pasties

You don’t have to have a ticket for the Hogwarts Express to enjoy these Harry Potter Pumpkin Pasties. These delicious little hand pies are perfect for your next Harry Potter party or movie night!

Originally published October 2021

Easy Pumpkin Pasties

My family are huge Harry Potter fans! My girls have read all the books, we’ve watched the entire series multiple times, and we visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios every chance we get.

Now that love for all things Harry Potter has turned into a whole lineup of Harry Potter recipes, from this easy butterbeer recipe to these magical exploding bon bons. Now it’s time to add some pumpkin pasties to the list!

If you’re as big a fan as we are, you’ll remember these treats from the movies. They were sold by the trolley witch and her “Honeydukes Express Trolley Cart,” on the train to Hogwarts.

These magical little confections were the first treat Harry tried on the trolley. So, needless to say, when I was gifted a copy of The Unofficial Hogwart’s Cookbook, I was so excited to see the famous Pumpkin Pasties recipe included. These pasties are based on this recipe, but with a few short cuts.

What is a Pasty?

The original recipe was for Cornish Pasties, which are little hand pies filled with beef and potatoes. Using the same method, these tasty little beauties are a sweet pumpkin version. Think of pumpkin pie spice in a cute little pastry filled bundle!

Ingredients in Pumpkin Pasties

• Refrigerated pie crust
• Pumpkin puree
• Granulated sugar
• Cinnamon
• Kosher salt
• Egg

How To Make Pumpkin Pasties

While you can certainly make your own pastry dough, we are using a refrigerated, store-bought dough for this recipe. It makes deliciously flaky pie crust and is a big time saver. Plus, that leaves only a few simple steps to prepare it for filling.

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2: Unroll pie crust onto a cutting board or other flat surface. Take a biscuit cutter or pastry cutter and cut 4 inch circles in the dough.

Step 3: Take the dough circles and place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Be sure to gather the scraps and roll them out to get more pasty circles out of the dough.

Step 4: In a small bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Mix well.

Step 5: In a small bowl, beat the egg and set it aside. You will use it as an egg wash once the pasties are assembled.

Step 6: Place about two tablespoons of pumpkin filling into the center of each dough circle. Be careful not to add to much or the edges will be difficult to seal. Fold the dough in half, making a half circle.

Step 7: Crimp the edges of the dough by pressing all around the edges of each circle with a fork. Repeat until the remaining dough circles are filled.

Step 8: Use a pastry brush to brush the tops of each pasty with the egg wash. Sprinkle each with sugar (optional).

Step 9: Using a small sharp knife, cut two slits in the top of each pie to vent. Place in the preheated oven.

Step 10: Bake for 15 minutes. Rotate the pan and bake for another 10 or until golden brown all over.

Step 11: Allow to cool for at least 20 minutes and enjoy!

Tips and Variations for Perfect Pumpkin Hand Pies

• Don’t over stuff: You may have to adjust the amount of filling based on the size. Too much filling will cause it to ooze out the side of the hand pies where you’ve sealed them
• Start with room temperature dough: Cold dough is less pliable so by allow the dough to come to room temp, it will be easier to gently stretch around the filling.
• Make them into savory pumpkin pasties: While these are a sweet version, you can make a savory version by omitting the sugar and substituting it with savory herbs like sage, rosemary and thyme.
• Make them in advance: If you know you’re going to need these pumpkin pasties in advance, you can bake up a batch and freeze them for later.  Cover your pastries individually in plastic wrap, being sure the surface of the dough is well covered. Place the wrapped pies in an air tight container in the freezer for up to a couple of months. For best serving results, allow the pies to thaw, then reheat them in the oven on a cookie sheet, just until heated through. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Want More Harry Potter Recipes?

If you liked these delicious pumpkin pasties, you may want to try some of these other Harry Potter inspired recipe ideas!

• Butterbeer Pancakes
• Hedwig Owl Cupcakes
• Hagrid’s Birthday Cake
• Butterbeer Ice Cream
• Butterbeer Cookies
• Harry Potter Charcuterie Board