No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecakes in a Cup with Dulce de Leche Drizzle {Recipe}

Ericka — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 21:40:20 +0000

With the stress of Thanksgiving occurring this week, let me take the worry away from cooking a dessert that everyone on your guest list will love. In just a few minutes, you can present a fun and easy dessert that explodes in autumn cheer. Still keeping the tradition of fall flavors, this no-bake pumpkin cheesecake dessert will capture the seasonal mood in a non-traditional presentation.

This year, we are skipping the pie and making individual dessert treats. I’m serving my favorite childhood cookies (and my son’s favorites too!), galletas Maria with a pumpkin mixture of cream cheese, topped creamy whipped topping, dulce de leche and pepitas. Don’t be surprised when your Thanksgiving guests of all ages, devour this special treat and beg to be served seconds… and thirds!

Pumpkin Cheesecakes in a Cup with Dulce de Leche Drizzle

Makes 4 -6

Ingredients:

20 Maria cookies, crushed
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup heavy cream
8 ounces cream cheese
2 tablespoons dulce de leche plus more for topping
4 tablespoons dark brown sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
4 teaspoon cinnamon powder
whipped topping
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
pepita seeds

Instructions
In a food processor, combine cookies and butter. Pulse until cookies are crushed and moistened and butter is evenly distributed. Divide mixture among 4 cups.

In a medium bowl, using a hand mixer, mix heavy cream until stiff peaks form. In a separate mixing bowl, mix cream cheese, dulce de leche, sugar, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon until mixture is smooth. Fold in pumpkin puree and heavy cream.

Place pumpkin mixture on cookie crumb layer, distributing evenly. Top with whipped topping, dulce de leche and a sprinkle of pepita seeds.

3 Easy Pumpkin Crafts

Mari — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:01:04 +0000

Tis the season for all things pumpkin!

Are you looking for a simple but fun class treat or party craft for kids? Here are three easy pumpkin (calabaza) crafts to get you into the Harvest or Halloween mood!

Is it a calabaza or a zapallo? In Mexico, we say calabaza but when I first arrived to Ecuador and visited the mercado the lady looked at me like I was crazy when I asked for a calabaza. So like a little toddler I described to her in the best way that I could what a calabaza was. She said “ahhh, zapallo.” By the time I left the market I was thoroughly confused on what to call my favorite Fall food. Some claimed it was zapallo, others said it was calabaza.

So on to the calabaza crafts!

Recycled Lid Pumpkins

You will need:

Lid from a canned good (be careful handling edges) or for a safer alternative a bottle cap
magnets
paint
googly eyes
green pipe cleaner

Paint your lid orange and glue on the magnet on the back. If you are concerned about using a lid from a canned good go with a metal bottle cap. Our can opener is fabulous and it leaves the edges almost bent so I don’t have to worry about cutting myself. Add googly eyes and draw a nose and mouth with a marker. Top it with a green pipe cleaner. This is a fun party craft or teacher gift.

Aren’t these pumpkin drinks great! This is a great alternative to Halloween candy for your trick or treaters or for a class Halloween treat. So simple.

Pumpkin Drinks

Orange drink
Permanent markers
green tissue paper

These mandarinas are so fun! This is a healthy alternative to Halloween candy! We always put out a container full of them at our annual Halloween party.

Mandarin Pumpkins

mandarin or orange
permanent marker

Get crazy creative and draw or stencil your favorite, spooky calabaza faces!