The Best Pumpkin Empanada Recipe 50 Years in the Making (2024)

Please support this site by sharing!


Jump to Recipe

This pumpkin empanada recipe mixes authentic Mexican flavors of piloncillo (brown sugar), cinnamon and pumpkin to create a rich pocket full of flavor. This is the best tasting, most authentic baked empanada recipe in town!

The Best Pumpkin Empanada Recipe 50 Years in the Making (1)

This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. For more information,pleasesee mydisclosures.

What is an empanada?

The empanada is Latin America’s version of a pastry turnover. It’s an individually portioned party in a pocket!

You can head over to my YouTube video to see the whole process for making these delicious treats.

An empanada can have either a sweet or savory filling. I always opt for the sweet empanada…unless you’re offering me a savory one.

The Best Pumpkin Empanada Recipe 50 Years in the Making (2)

You can find empanadas filled with a variety of meats, cheeses or fruit inside. Each region of Latin America also has its own spin on empanadas, with some baked and others fried.

When I lived in Argentina for a summer, I fell in love with the savory empanadas they served. I had never experienced eating those before, and I was in HEAV-EN! My mom had only made dessert empanadas for us, so my mind was blown.

Common empanada fillings include:

  • Ground beef with onions and peppers
  • Chicken (pollo)
  • Cheese (queso)
  • Pumpkin (calabaza)
  • Pineapple (piña)

My Empanada Story

I grew up with a fabulous chef for a mother. No, she has not (yet) achieved recognition from the James Beard committee or any other food critics.

Does she deserve recognition, though? Yes.

This pumpkin empanada originated with an old family friend who ran a Mexican bakery. Over the years, my mother modified the dough recipe to add brown sugar cane (piloncillo) and other ingredients to her liking.

The Best Pumpkin Empanada Recipe 50 Years in the Making (3)

It took some effort to document this baked empanada recipe, since my mom usually adds more or less of certain ingredients based on texture and taste. It’s the old fashioned way of cooking: feeling + intuition!

We documented the steps in painstaking detail, but we reserve the right to make tweaks and adjustments as we experiment with future batches. After all, isn’t that what all good chefs do?

Hopefully, you’ll share your ideas and suggestions with us, too!

Related articles:

You might also like my Baked Apple Empanadas or this traditional Mexican Oatmeal (Avena) Recipe.

Why pumpkin empanadas?

Pumpkin empanadas have deep roots here in Texas. Many local grocery chains and Mexican bakeries (panaderías) MUST carry pumpkin empanadas if they are going to offer a Mexican pastry assortment.

Not having pumpkin flavor in the mix would be like having a mariachi band without sombreros. Just no.

The Best Pumpkin Empanada Recipe 50 Years in the Making (4)

There’s nothing like the smell of this Mexican empanada recipe. The flaky dough and smooth pumpkin and cinnamon filling make this my favorite type of sweet bread (pan dulce).

While most people think pumpkin is for fall, I’m bringing this family recipe to the world just in time for Cinco de Mayo because it’s always a good time for dessert empanadas.

These Empanadas are Gourmet

Let’s be clear. There’s no Keto here. There’s not an Instant Pot version. These are serious, “for real” empanadas for Mexican foodies.

Perhaps in the future, I’ll bring out the Instant Pot alternative recipe. But probably not.

The Best Pumpkin Empanada Recipe 50 Years in the Making (5)

If you came here for mouth-watering, pumpkin-oozing pastries that will make your whole house smell like a pumpkin spice latte exploded…this is it.

Tips for Following This Baked Empanada Recipe

There are a few tips you’ll want to follow when you make this recipe.

The Best Pumpkin Empanada Recipe 50 Years in the Making (6)
  1. The most important tip is to add only enough flour to make the empanada dough not sticky. Adding too much flour may result in a thicker, flakier crust but also risks the shell cracking.
  2. Don’t overfill the empanada with pumpkin filling. You’ll want to make sure you can completely seal the edges to prevent leaking.
  3. As with any recipe, you can experiment with adding more or less sugar or different amounts of piloncillo (dark brown sugar) to arrive at the perfect level of sweetness.

From my family to yours, enjoy baking your empanadas, and buen provecho!

Be sure to check out my summer fig preserves recipe, and other dessert recipes!

The Best Pumpkin Empanada Recipe 50 Years in the Making (7)

Pin it for later!

The Best Pumpkin Empanada Recipe 50 Years in the Making (8)

The Best Pumpkin Empanada Recipe 50 Years in the Making (9)

Authentic Baked Pumpkin Empanada Recipe

Author: firstdayofhome.com

This authentic baked empanada recipe comes from a traditional Mexican-American chef who has perfected her technique over the course of 50+ years.

Try these dessert empanadas with pumpkin filling as shown, or substitute your favorite fruit for any occasion.

The empanada dough recipe is extremely versatile if you'd like to experiment with other fillings.

4.7 from 81 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time 45 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 15 empanadas

Calories 232 kcal

Ingredients

Empanada Spice Tea Ingredients

  • ¼ cup piloncillo brown sugar cane (or 1/4 cup dark brown sugar)
  • 2 tbsp anise seeds
  • 3 cloves
  • 3 cinnamon sticks

Empanada Dough Ingredients

  • ¾ cup shortening
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 0.6 ounce cake yeast (see recipe notes)
  • 2 ¾ cup bread flour (may substitute all-purpose flour)
  • tsp baking powder
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 4 ounces spice tea (see recipe above)

Empanada Pumpkin Filling Ingredients

  • 1 can pumpkin (15-ounce can)
  • ½ cup sugar (or to taste)
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon (or to taste)

Instructions

Make Empanada Spice Tea

  • If using traditional brown sugar cane (piloncillo), you’ll need to break it into smaller chunks with a mallet.

  • Pour 1 cup of water into saucepan and add 3 cloves, 3 cinnamon sticks, 2 tablespoons of anise seeds and piloncillo (or dark brown sugar). Bring to a slow boil.

  • Let boil for about 5 minutes and turn off heat. Let steep until lukewarm. Then, strain the mixture and preserve the liquid.

Empanada Dough Recipe

  • In a medium bowl, combine dry ingredients except for yeast (flour, salt, and baking powder).

  • Create yeast paste: Separately, crumble 1 cube of cake yeast (0.6 ounces) with a small amount of flour and blend together with fingers until it creates a thick paste.

  • In a separate bowl, mix sugar and shortening with hand mixer until well blended.

  • Add yeast paste to the sugar and shortening mixture. Then, add 4 ounces of the spice tea. Continue to mix.

  • Gradually add in the flour mixture, and continue mixing to make a soft dough until it is not too sticky to the touch.

    The Best Pumpkin Empanada Recipe 50 Years in the Making (10)

  • Cover dough with a soft tea towel until ready to use.

Pumpkin Empanada Filling Recipe

  • Add sugar and cinnamon to pumpkin pie filling and blend with a spoon.

Make the empanada turnovers

  • Divide dough into small balls, then roll out the dough into 5-inch circles.

  • Place about 1-2 tablespoons of pumpkin filling into bottom-middle half of empanada leaving enough room to crimp edges and seal pocket.

    The Best Pumpkin Empanada Recipe 50 Years in the Making (11)

  • Fold over top half and press the edges together well.

    The Best Pumpkin Empanada Recipe 50 Years in the Making (12)

  • Transfer to a greased baking sheet and pierce tops of empanadas 2-3 times with a fork to create vent holes.

    The Best Pumpkin Empanada Recipe 50 Years in the Making (13)

  • Cover with a tea towel and let rise 1 hour before baking. Preheat oven to 350ºF.

  • 7.Bake at 350ºF for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. (You may also choose to bake the empanadas at 375ºF for 15-20 minutes if pressed for time.)

Notes

Cake yeast is not as widely available as dry yeast and must remain refrigerated until ready to use. For this reason, you may choose to use dry yeast instead. To create your yeast paste, moisten 1 packet (1/4 ounce) of dry yeast with 1 tablespoon or less of warm water, and let it sit for 5 minutes. Then, mix it with the sugar and shortening mixture and continue the recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 1empanadaCalories: 232kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 3gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 8mgPotassium: 46mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 16IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @firstdayofhome or tag #firstdayofhome!

You Might Also Like…

Old-Fashioned Mexican Oatmeal Recipe [Avena]

The Best Authentic Chicken Mole Recipe

How to Cook Authentic Red Enchiladas Like the Pros


Please support this site by sharing!

The Best Pumpkin Empanada Recipe 50 Years in the Making (2024)

FAQs

Are empanadas best fried or baked? ›

Both cooking methods produce delicious empanadas. If you want a healthier merienda, bake them in the oven. If you're working with less time, frying them is the way to go.

How far in advance can you make empanadas? ›

The dough can be wrapped in plastic and stored in the fridge for two days before using. The filling can also be cooked and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for a day. The assembled unbaked empanadas can also be covered in plastic and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days, no need to change the baking time.

How do you keep empanadas from drying out? ›

Making Empanada pastry from scratch

It should keep for 3 days tightly wrapped in cling film, so it doesn't dry out.

What makes empanada unique? ›

Similar to an American turnover but far more versatile, an empanada is a fried or baked pastry shaped like a crescent moon. Once the bread has been made with flour dough or corn flour dough, it's then stuffed with myriad fillings depending on the occasion and your taste.

How do you keep empanadas crispy after frying? ›

The best way to keep fried foods crispy? Just place them on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet. If you're frying multiple batches, throw the whole setup into a low oven to keep everything warm as you keep frying and adding to the rack.

What is the best oil for frying empanadas? ›

Oil that is too cool will make your fried empanadas greasy and sad. I normally use canola oil for fried empanadas because it's flavorless and has a high smoke point. Lard tastes better, but you end up frying very close to lard's smoke point, which is tricky; when oil gets too hot it will taste acrid.

What is the shelf life of baked empanadas? ›

If empanadas have been baked, shelf-life up to 7 days refrigerated (we don't recommend freezing them after baking.) Cooking Instructions: Cook frozen empanadas at 450 F for 12 – 15 minutes, time. All cheese empanadas require less time.

Can I eat an empanada that was left out overnight? ›

If you reheat food that was forgotten on the counter overnight or was left out all day, will it be safe to eat? TWO HOURS is the MAXIMUM time perishable foods should be at room temperature (ONE HOUR at temperatures 90 degrees F and higher). This INCLUDES the time they're on the table during your meal.

Can I leave empanada dough overnight? ›

Shape dough into a smooth ball; wrap in foil or cling wrap, and refrigerate overnight or up to a week.

Why put vinegar in empanada dough? ›

Adding a little vinegar to your dough will result in a tender, pliable, and flaky crust because it slightly inhibits gluten development, leading to a crust that is flakier and easier to work with. The great thing about vinegar is that you really only need a little bit of it to help your pie/empanada dough.

Why are my empanadas falling apart? ›

Always cool your filling before assembling your empanada. The steam from a hot or warm filling may cause your pastry to become soggy and it may cause this to fall apart.

What nationality makes the best empanadas? ›

Argentina has become world-famous for their empanadas which are widely available in Buenos Aires and across the country as fast-food options and restaurant staples. As with many recipes, that of empanadas was shared through generations and carried to many other nations.

What are 3 types of empanadas? ›

Argentine empanadas with beef, cheese, or chicken. Chilean empanadas with beef, cheese, or seafood. Mexican empanadas with spicy beef, potato, or pumpkin. Colombian empanadas with beef, chicken, cheese or corn.

What is the most common empanada? ›

The most iconic variety being the oven-baked empanada de pino, which is filled with ground beef, minced onion, half or a quarter of a hard-boiled egg, and a single unpitted black olive. Empanadas in Chile are eaten year-round and are either oven-baked or deep-fried; the latter is a popular street food.

What is the difference between baking and frying empanada dough? ›

Baked empanadas are easier because you can bake a whole ton at once and certainly lighter without all that deep fried goodness but they don't have quite the same flavor as the fried version. So I leave it up to you! Don't skip the egg wash if baking because it is what helps give the empanadas their color!

Can I bake goya empanadas instead of frying? ›

Empanadas Argentinas are always baked instead of fried, so your family can enjoy them regularly, too. Make them in no time with authentic, pre-prepared GOYA® Empanada Dough-Puff Pastry for Baking.

Are baked empanadas healthy? ›

While I love a classic fried empanada, baked empanada has its advantages. If you're looking for a healthy empanada dough with no butter, this vegan-friendly, easier, quicker, lighter alternative calls for oil instead, and it can be combined with any sweet or savory fillings. No butter, baked, healthy dough empanadas.

Are fried empanadas healthy? ›

Traditional empanada recipes typically are made from dough that is filled with beef and cheese, which is then fried. While it's quite tasty, it isn't the healthiest meal you can consume.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rubie Ullrich

Last Updated:

Views: 5604

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (52 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rubie Ullrich

Birthday: 1998-02-02

Address: 743 Stoltenberg Center, Genovevaville, NJ 59925-3119

Phone: +2202978377583

Job: Administration Engineer

Hobby: Surfing, Sailing, Listening to music, Web surfing, Kitesurfing, Geocaching, Backpacking

Introduction: My name is Rubie Ullrich, I am a enthusiastic, perfect, tender, vivacious, talented, famous, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.