Imagine the filling of pumpkin pie stuffed into a corn husk and that’s a pumpkin pie tamale! Served with chocolate caramel sauce.
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I used to be so intimidated by the process of making tamales. That was until I finally learned how to do it.
A couple years ago, Bob and I attended a tamale cooking class where we not only learned how to assemble and cook tamales, but also traditional sauces such as mole to add to the meat/filling. Turns out the meat and sauces are the hard part, but assembly and cooking are actually quite easy as long as you have a tamale steamer!
As a result, tamales have become one of my favorite ways to use leftover meat, especially shredded.
Recently Bob smoked a pork butt, which means with only two of us living in this house we either had to freeze some or figure out a new purpose for it. And thus BBQ tamales we born. I even threw some macaroni and cheese into some of them. Totally not traditional but still quite delicious!
Another tamale we learned to make was a sweet cinnamon brown sugar cane tamale. Who knew tamales could be sweet? It was just processed corn, brown cane sugar, milk, and spices. Since that moment I knew I had to try making a pumpkin version.
What better time than #PumpkinWeek to unveil them!
The filling is a blend of corn flour and the usual pumpkin pie filling suspects: pumpkin puree, spices, brown sugar, and milk. And of course butter and lard. Weirded out by lard? Use more butter. Or would rather a vegan alternative? Use shortening or a butter substitute (and non-dairy milk).
The result is a tamale filling that taste like slightly less sweet pumpkin pie! All it needs is a dollop of fresh whipped cream on top.
But instead I decided to change things up a bit and top it with a Mexican chocolate caramel sauce and toasted walnuts. I considered still adding the whipped cream but it was delicious just as it was.
Pumpkin season is here, and we are celebrating our love of pumpkin with #PumpkinWeek hosted by Terri from Love and Confections and Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures. All week-long 26 bloggers will be sharing over 80 pumpkin-filled recipes for all your Autumn celebrations, including breakfasts, baked goods, savory pumpkin recipes, desserts, and drinks.
Savory Recipes
- Instant Pot Pork and Pumpkin Chili by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Pumpkin Gnocchi by The Redhead Baker
- Pumpkin Mac and Cheese by Making Miracles
- Savory White Bean and Pumpkin Dip by A Little Fish in the Kitchen
Dessert Recipes
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Tamale by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Pumpkin Pie Tamales by The Spiffy Cookie
One year ago: Pumpkin Herb Cheese Ball
Three years ago: Buckeye Stuffed Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Five years ago: Apple Pecan Praline Bread
Six years ago: White Chocolate Apple Blondies
Seven years ago: White Chocolate-Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Sandwiches
Nine years ago: Healthier Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Source: Adapted from IMUSA and a class I took with Pibil. Sauce adapted from my Baked Peanut Butter Churros with Chocolate Caramel Sauce.
Did you make this recipe? I want to see!
Tag @THESPIFFYCOOKIE on Instagram and hashtag it #THESPIFFYCOOKIE
8 comments
I’m a sucker for a tamale. These look perfectly delicious. Especially with that sauce! YUM!
This is such a fun recipe! Tamales are a huge part of the holidays where I live (South Texas), and I’m gonna have to give your pumpkin pie tamales a try! They look delicious!!
Hooray! It will be a tasty holiday
Ohhh that sounds divine!! Love this recipe!
A friend of mine makes tamales every Christmas, along with her sisters. It is more fun and you have an assembly line production. This works well when you are making LOTS of tamales. They make the traditional, but sometimes they do some sweet ones, too. One of our favorites had raisins.
That does sound like fun!
Of course you know I would leave out the cayenne powder!
Yup, totally optional!