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Keeping the kids out of the kitchen during the holidays may be a challenge. Rather than start a battle, enjoy a cooking project together that the whole family will enjoy!

Pumpkin Pie Bites:

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 1 (8oz) packaged cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 2 eggs + 1 egg for egg wash
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 frozen pie crust sheet (thawed to room temperature)
• Whipped cream (optional)

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease and flour (or use nonstick cooking spray) a mini-muffin pan. Set aside.
3. Roll the dough or pie crust out on a floured surface with a floured rolling pin.
4. Using a round cookie or biscuit cutter (approximately 3 inches diameter) cut at least 24 rounds out ( or 12 rounds of each pie crust, if using store bought)
5. Carefully press each round into the mini-muffin pan. Use your fingers to round the ends into a pie crust.
6. Brush egg wash from one egg to the top edges of each pie.
7. Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, beating each until combined.
8. Add pumpkin puree and beat to combine. Stir in vanilla and pumpkin pie spice.
9. Spoon mixture into each mini pie crust almost up to the top.
10. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden around the edges.
11. Remove from oven and let cool on a cooling rack, or chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
12. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with more pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon on top and before serving. Keep refrigerated.

* Pies will be puffy when they come out of the oven, but will sink back down when cooled.