Who is ready for another great recipe for fall? I know I am! These pumpkin kisses are so easy (only 5 ingredients!) that even the kids can help! At least I know they will help you to eat them. 😄 So, grab your mixing bowl and children and let’s get cooking! *This post contains affiliate links*
Pumpkin Pie Filling VS Puree
I recently found myself in possession of a can of pumpkin pie filling due to a store substitution. If you have ever shopped for pumpkin, you know that it comes in two forms: 100% pure pumpkin and pumpkin pie filling. If you have never bought pumpkin (seriously??) then it is important to note that they are two very different products.
Pumpkin puree is just that. It is 100% pure pumpkin that is great for making from scratch recipes like pies and cheesecakes. I also love to use it in oatmeal and smoothies. Other than the flavor of pumpkin, it is pretty much a blank canvas to become savory or sweet.
Its counterpart, pumpkin pie filling on the other hand, is a pre-made pie filling for those who want to make a pumpkin pie without actually making a pie. The filling comes already sweetened and spiced. There is not necessarily anything wrong with the stuff, but it is what it is. You can’t really alter the flavor so it has to work in your dish just the way it is. Not very versatile.
When Life Gives You Pie Filling
So here I was with this can of pumpkin pie filling, with no plans to make a pumpkin pie. What’s a girl to do? I couldn’t stand the thought of wasting it so I got to work figuring out a way to make it useful. Thus, the peanut butter pumpkin truffles were born! They were so easy to make that I ended up making two batches to share. Just how easy are they? Let’s dive in!
For one batch of these truffles, which makes anywhere from twelve to fourteen truffles (depending on size), you will need: creamy peanut butter, pumpkin pie filling, graham cracker crumbs, white chocolate chips and shortening. Optionally, you can use some pumpkin pie spice to garnish. I think they look pretty with a little sprinkle on top.
Making The Kisses
Before we get into the truffle making steps, let me note that it is of utmost importance that you use creamy peanut butter here. The natural kind will not work as it is too soft and runny. You need the creamy stuff to hold the round shape. Ok, now that we have gotten that straight, grab your creamy peanut butter (1/4 cup), ½ cup of graham cracker crumbs, and ½ cup of the pumpkin pie filling. Give it a good mix with a spatula or spoon until it comes together in a very soft dough.
You can add a pinch or two more of crumbs if the dough is too soft. It will be on the softer side regardless, but you need it to be workable as you will be rolling it into balls at this point. I used my smaller cookie scoop to help make sure they were all the same size. Once they have been rolled into balls, simply place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and pop them into the freezer for an hour.
Once they have frozen, it is time to make the chocolate coating. Now, you could technically use candy coating, but I personally prefer the white chocolate over the vanilla flavor. But whichever you choose I am sure it will still be delicious. If you are using the chocolate, then I would recommend that you go with a good brand such as Ghirardelli. Place the white chocolate chips and the shortening in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for one minute. Remove it and stir. At this point, you will want to continue to microwave in smaller increments (15 seconds) to ensure that it doesn’t burn. If you prefer the double boiler method you could do that instead.
Now it is time to roll those truffles in white chocolate goodness! It might be tempting to drop them all in at once, but don’t! Because they are frozen, it would cause a drastic drop in the chocolate temperature causing it to seize up. So, one at a time, drop the ball into the chocolate and roll it until covered in chocolate. I like to use two forks to do this and to help me remove it without making a huge mess. Return the chocolate covered balls to the same pan and sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice if desired. They will harden pretty quickly and disappear even faster! Happy eating!
Want more great fall recipes? Check out:
Pumpkin Kisses
Ingredients
- ½ c pumpkin pie filling
- ½ c graham cracker crumbs
- ¼ c peanut butter
- 2 c white chocolate chips
- 2 tbsp vegetable shortening
- pumpkin pie spice optional
Instructions
Truffle Balls
- Combine peanut butter, pie filling and graham crumbs until a soft dough forms.
- Using a cookie scoop, form into about 12-14 balls and place on parchment lined baking sheet.
- Freeze for 1 hour.
Chocolate Coating
- Combine chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for about 60 seconds.
- Remove and stir. Return to microwave for 10-15 second intervals, being sure to check and stir after each being careful not to burn.
- Chocolate is done when it is smooth and creamy.
Making The Kisses
- Roll one frozen ball at a time in the chocolate coating using two forks. Allow some of the excess to drip off.
- Place back on the parchment lined pan, sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice and allow to harden.
- Store in airtight container in refrigerator.
