Halloween Jack-o-lantern Cream Puffs

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 2 eggs
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 3/4 cup whipped topping
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 teaspoons butter, softened
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 -2 teaspoon milk
• green food coloring
• orange food coloring
• 1 tablespoon baking cocoa

Recipe

• 1 in a small saucepan, bring the water, butter and sugar to a boil.
• 2 combine flour and pie spice; add to water mixture all at once and stir until a smooth ball forms.
• 3 remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes.
• 4 add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• 5 continue beating until mixture is smooth and shiny.
• 6 drop 12 rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto a greased baking sheet.
• 7 bake at 400° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
• 8 remove to a wire rack.
• 9 immediately split puffs open; remove tops and set aside.
• 10 discard soft dough from inside; cool puffs.
• 11 for filling, in a small mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, pumpkin, sugar and pie spice until smooth.
• 12 pipe into cream puffs.
• 13 top each with 1 tablespoon whipped topping; replace tops.
• 14 for frosting, in a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, butter, vanilla and enough milk to achieve desired consistency.
• 15 tint 1 tablespoon frosting green and 2 teaspoons orange; set aside.
• 16 stir cocoa into the remaining frosting.
• 17 pipe jack-o'-lantern faces with orange and chocolate frosting.
• 18 pipe stems with green frosting.