Curious about what pumpkin pasties from the "Harry Potter" series taste like? This is my take on the treat enjoyed by the characters in the books!
Harry Potter Pumpkin Pasties
If you've read the Harry Potter series, you already know about this delight. If you haven't read the books and have never heard of a pumpkin pasty, then you're in for a treat with this simple pasty recipe!
Before I go any further, though, I do need to tell you that this is my take on what I imagine pumpkin pasties being like.
There are many Hogwarts recipes and treats mentioned in the Harry Potter books, and we just have our imaginations to rely on when it comes to the taste of things (mmm...butterbeer).
We don't even know for sure if the pumpkin pasties Harry Potter enjoys with his friends are sweet or savoury. I personally think they're sweet because they're sold on the Honeydukes Express which is the Harry Potter sweet trolley the kids buy sweets from on their trips to and from Hogwarts.
This easy to make pasty recipe is how I imagine the pumpkin pasties from the books, tasting like. My version also happen to be vegan. Vegan pumpkin pasties!
A Treat Inspired By the Book Series
We were lucky to visit Universal Studios Orlando this past summer, and Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade are...magical...for lack of a better word.
If you're a Harry Potter fan, as mentioned above, you know that the first time we hear about pumpkin pasties is while he's on his first journey to Hogwarts, on the Hogwarts Express (which we took a ride on at Universal!).
The Honeydukes Express is the food trolley on the Hogwarts Express. The Trolley Witch makes her way through the train, selling an assortment of treats to the kids on their way to wizarding school.
“What she did have were Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Licorice Wands, and a number of other strange things Harry had never seen in his life.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Vegan Pumpkin Pasties
My kids just made their way through the books and movies and were as fascinated with the treats mentioned in the books, just as I was when I first read the series, years ago.
When we visited Universal Studios Orlando, they did actually have pumpkin pasties at Honeydukes for purchase (and a whole lot of other Harry Potter treats recipes!), but we couldn't have them because of cross contamination risk (food allergies), so we made some ourselves when we returned home.
How to Make Pumpkin Pasties
We all agreed that we imagine them tasting like pumpkin pie, so that's the direction I went in with this Harry Potter pasties recipe.
The filling is pretty much pumpkin pie filling and the outside is flaky, crispy, puff pastry brushed with a vegan egg wash to make it golden brown and pretty. It's a simple recipe for pasties that anyone can make, even kids (with some assistance when it comes to using the oven!).
The pumpkin pasties we saw at Universal Orlando had the scars cut into them as well, so we did the same to give them that extra Harry Potter touch.
But...What Exactly Are Pasties?
Pasties are not a new thing, I did a little reading and they're a UK food, and are very much like what we would call hand pies on this side of the world.
They're not usually made with puff pastry, like I have done, but rather a thicker pastry/dough.
They can also be made sweet or savoury and filled with a variety of fillings. These pumpkin pasties also happen to be vegan, something I don't think is usual with traditional pasties.
My version is probably breaking every pasty rule out there, but that's OK, because they're delicious.
And in case you're wondering, they're pronounced past-ee not paste-ee (like I used to say!).
I hope you love my take on this delicious treat from the Harry Potter books, we make them often and they're a fun snack to serve at Harry Potter or Halloween themed parties, while making your way through the books (either by yourself or with your kids!), or...just because!
For more vegan Harry Potter recipes, including more Harry Potter sweets recipes, check out this post and check out Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood!) sharing some of her own favourite vegan Harry Potter recipes.
If you like this Harry Potter inspired recipe, you may also like these:
- How to Make Homemade Pumpkin Puree
- Vegan Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Muffins
- Vegan Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancakes
- Quick and Easy Vegan Pumpkin Pie
- Vegan Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Waffles
- Vegan Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
If you make these, share a pic with me on Instagram by tagging me!
How to Make Vegan Harry Potter Pumpkin Pasties
Pumpkin Pasties (a Harry Potter Recipe!)
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened dairy-free milk
- ½ tablespoon pure maple syrup
- ½ cup unsweetened pumpkin puree
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar or brown sugar, see note below
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 sheet puff pastry (vegan)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375° F (190° C).
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside.
Make vegan egg wash:
- Add the unsweetened non-dairy milk and the maple syrup to a small bowl and mix to combine. Set aside.
Make the Filling:
- Add pumpkin puree, coconut sugar, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and ground nutmeg to a bowl and mix until combined. Set aside.
- Roll out sheet puff pastry sheet.
- Using a round cutter, cut out 4 circles. (You may also cut the dough into 4 even squares, if you prefer rectangle pasties)
- Place even amounts of the pumpkin mix on one side of each circle and fold the other side over to cover.
- Crimp the edges of each pasty with a fork to seal.
- Place each pumpkin pasty on the parchment lined baking sheet.
- Using a sharp knife, cut the Harry Potter scar shape into the middle of each pasty.
- Brush the tops of each pasty with the vegan egg wash.
- Bake for 20 minutes, until golden.
- Remove from the oven and place on a cooling rack.
Recipe Notes:
- 2 tablespoons of sugar is perfect for me, but if you prefer for this treat to be a little sweeter, after mixing the sugar and spices into the pumpkin puree, taste to see if it's sweet enough for you. Add a little more sugar for more sweetness, if needed.
- These pumpkin pasties are best when served the same day while they still have some crispness to them.
- Nutrition info listed below is for 1 of 4 pumpkin pasties, and is only to be used as a rough guide. Click here for more info on how nutrition info on this website is determined.
francesca says
Thank you so much for being part of my "Vegan New Year’s Eve at Hogwarts" ♥ happy holidays
Gwen @ Delightful Adventures says
Thank you so much for including me in your roundup, Francesca 🙂 Happy Holidays to you too!