Easy Pumpkin Empanadas (Date Sweetened)

Name: Easy Pumpkin Empanadas
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 28 min
Ingredients: 14 oz pie crust dough; 1/3 cup flour (all purpose to keep dough from sticking); 15 oz pumpkin puree (plain ); 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (recipe below); 1/4 tsp salt; 1/2 cup date paste; 3 tbsp honey ( (or other sugar substitute of choice)); 2 tbsp almond milk or dairy free creamer (or dairy or non-dairy of choice); 1 egg (beaten); 2 tbsp date sugar (optional - for sugar cinnamon topping); 1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional - for sugar cinnamon topping); 1 tbsp cinnamon (dried ground); 2 tsp ginger (dried ground); 1/2 tsp cloves (dried ground); 1/2 tsp allspice (dried ground); 1/2 tsp mace (dried ground); 1/2 tsp nutmeg (dried ground)

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Easy Pumpkin Empanadas with pie crust are sweetened with date paste, dairy free and can be on your dessert table in under 30 minutes. Perfect hand pies for autumn. Learn our hacks for sealing empanadas and recipe shortcuts. (Video and step by step included).

Spiced Pumpkin and Date Empanadas (hand pies) are like taking a bite of autumn without all the guilt. Delicately sweetened with date paste and baked instead of fried. Delicate flaky pie dough followed by a creamy spiced pumpkin bite that is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

It’s Officially Pumpkin Everything Now!

We have been busy baking our Healthy Pumpkin Muffins and Easy Pumpkin Empanadas. It’s this special time of the year that is cool enough to actually turn on the oven. We crave nourishing and warming spices and enjoy all that the fall harvest has to offer. A delicious bowl of comforting Roasted Chestnut Pumpkin Risotto is like getting a warm hug from your mom.

If you are getting ready to carve your pumpkin, do not throw out your seeds. The boys love Roasted Cajun Pumpkin Seeds even more than candy on Halloween. If you want a grab and go snack for work or school lunches be sure to try our Easy Roasted Pepitas.

3 pumpkin empanadas on a green plate with little pumpkins in the background.

Why You Are Going to Love Easy Pumpkin Empanadas

The first bite is like taking a bite into autumn as it has a of the flavors that remind you of the change of seasons. First the buttery, flaky and delicate crust is the first to hit your palate followed by the cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice, mace and nutmeg which is a perfect complement to the slightly sweet and spiced pumpkin.

The dates add another dimension of flavor and give this dessert a delicate natural sweetness. Delicious either hot out of the oven or at room temperature. You can pick up a spiced pumpkin and date empanadas with one hand and have a Instant Pot Apple Cider (or something a little stronger for the adults) in the other. If you want to try a Spanish savory version of an empanada be sure to try our Beef Empanadas with our Spicy 5 Minute Chimichurri Sauce.

Pumpkin hand pie in a hand cut in half showing the delicious pumpkin filling and flaky crust.

Portable Convenient Thanksgiving Hand Pies

These delicious mini pumpkin pies are not just for Thanksgiving but for any autumn or winter delicious treat. After all, you can be serving these little date sweetened desserts hot out of the oven in under 30 minutes flat. You got to love that!

The best part about these delicious dessert empanadas is their portability. All you need is one empty hand and you are good to go. If your family gatherings are anything like ours, there is not even a table large enough to sit everyone down for a proper pumpkin pie with messy whipped topping. Whether you are sitting, standing or walking, everyone can enjoy a delicious bite of a portable pumpkin spice hand pie. They are also fantastic as a dessert to pass.

Difference between Traditional Pumpkin Pie and a Pumpkin Empanada?

Unlike baking a whole pumpkin pie that can take up to an hour to bake, our Easy Pumpkin Empanadas only take about 18 minutes to bake. Traditional whole pumpkin pies are made with a ton of sugar and lots of dairy.

Little hand pies can help with portion control. In addition, no plates to wash. We used NO REFINED sugar in our little mini pumpkin pies, but instead replaced it with natural date paste and a little honey. Dairy is not our friend. Instead, we used just a little non-dairy almond milk in the pumpkin mix.

So, there you have it! The main difference between a traditional pumpkin pie and a pumpkin empanada is that the hand pies are a heck of lot easier to make and a little healthier too.

Time Saving Empanada Hacks

Use refrigerator pie dough in a box. They have 2 pie crusts and are usually around 14 oz (396 grams) for a box. If you need a gluten free pie crust, be sure to try Fearless Dining’s Gluten Free Pie Crust Recipe. Please note that a gluten-free crust is more finicky than a regular crust to work with so be patients and roll between 2 sheets of waxed paper.
Assemble your pumpkin hand pies in advance and freeze them before baking. Then, on the day that your guests arrive, you can bake them for about 25- 28 minutes straight from the freezer to the oven. They need a little extra time in the oven, if frozen.
Buy and use pre-made pumpkin pie spice blend at the grocery store. (We have included a recipe if you choose to make your own below).
Purchase date paste or make in advance at home and store in the refrigerator for all of your baking needs.

How to Make Homemade Date Paste

Boil water enough to cover the dates
Let dates set in hot water for about 15 minutes or just until softened.
Drain water from dates but reserve the water to help thin out the paste. (
Place dates in food processor or blender and blend until smooth.
Date paste can be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container for about 1 month. Date paste can last up to 6 months in the freezer in a freezer safe container or baggies.
Consider making 2 cups worth so you can have extra on hand to add to your oatmeal and other baked treats.

How to Make Pumpkin Empanadas

Mix plain pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice mix, salt, almond milk, honey and date paste until well incorporated.
Roll out your pre-made refrigerator pie crusts a little thinner.
Find a round bowl or large cup as your stencil and cut into circles. The size bowl we used was 5.5 inches (14 cm). You want your round stencil it to be big enough for your pie to fit in one hand but not so small that it is difficult to stuff and seal.
Use your bowl or cup as a stencil and cut with a butter knife around.
Egg wash the ends of the round circles to help seal the Easy Pumpkin Empanadas with Pie Crusts.
Place about 1-2 tablespoons of date sweetened pumpkin pie filling over ½ of the pie crust. Keep at least 1 inch away from the sides. Do not overfill as it will be VERY difficult to close and seal the hand pie. The amount of pie filling needed for each depends on how big of a bowl stencil you used.
Fold the empanada in half and press down with your fingers to seal around the edges.
Next, either use your fork to crimp the edges and seal or use a fold over technique as shown in the video below.
Use a fork to place a couple of holes in the top of the crust so the steam has some place to escape during the baking process.
Brush the tops with a little egg wash and bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.
If you like you can eat plain on the go or with a little Homemade Coconut Whipped Cream on top.

Healthish Empanadas

Traditionally, empanadas are fried. Do you like fried foods or dealing with the aftermath in the kitchen? We thought not. Instead, we opted to bake to save on fat and calories and clean up was a snap.

Our Spiced Pumpkin filling is made without any refined sugar. Instead, we used natural date paste and a little raw honey to delicately sweeten the pumpkin. Refined sugars, like granulated sugars and brown sugars, can cause your glucose levels to spike and then crash. Dates are less likely to cause a spike in your blood glucose levels according to NIH.

In addition, dates are high in fiber, iron and most importantly are delicious. Did you know there are over 200 different types of dates? Wow! You can use whatever is convenient for you just make sure they are pitted so that it is less work for you. If you live near a Middle Eastern Market, they usually have date paste already made in packages. This is super convenient.

If you have Chinese Red dates, be sure to try our Goji Berry and Red Dates Herbal Tea or you can make jujube paste. The perfect tea to nourish your body and revitalize your blood during the change of seasons.

Fall scene with pumpkins, leaves and hand pies on a plate.

Frequent Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Can you freeze pumpkin hand pies?

Assemble your pumpkin hand pies in advance and freeze them BEFORE baking. Then, on the day that your guests arrive, you can bake them for about 25- 28 minutes straight from the freezer to the oven. They need a little extra time in the oven, if frozen.

How long are pumpkin empanadas good for ?

Easy Pumpkin Empanadas can be enjoyed straight out of the oven or at room temperature. They can be kept at room temperature for 2 hours. Then, they can be stored in the refrigerator up to 3 days. We do not recommend freezing them after they are baked as they can get soggy.

How to reheat pumpkin empanadas?

Rewarm/bake in the oven at 350 F. degrees (176 degrees C) for about 7-10 minutes. You might want to put a little piece of aluminum foil over the top to prevent over browning.