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Pancake Mix Pumpkin Tart
I Want My Pumpkin Tart Now!
At the end of each summer, I start to look forward to the next season in terms of food...you know yummy things such as mushrooms, succulent grapes and pumpkin pies! I put an exclamation point there to emphasize the fact that I love pumpkins especially when they're made into sweet little things.
I also love cakes, tarts and pies and I spend a huge amount of my salary buying them at stores and bakeries. We have so much to choose and being here in Tokyo, a lot of it is very good but tend to be fancy and high-end no to mention quite expensive. So it's not a daily thing that I do.
Of course I can make them at home but one thing that prevents me from doing that is how time-consuming it can be. I also don't have a lot of ingredients on hand as our kitchens in Tokyo tend to be on the smaller side so every space counts.
I Found Pancake Mix in the Cabinet
One day I was rummaging through my kitchen cabinets and found a box of pancake mix and a bag of frozen pumpkins. I thought to myself how cool it would be to make a pumpkin tart with these ingredients in hand.
Maybe it wouldn't take as much time as I thought. I tinkered with my pancake mix for a couple of weeks and I came up with this incredibly easy way to make a pumpkin tart with pancake mix. The great thing about this pie is frozen pumpkin (or fresh) is used and is lower in fat than your traditional tart!
*All photos taken by myself
My Aunt Jemima
I've always loved pancakes and my go-to pancakes were made by very own Aunt Jemima. Well, that's the name I bestowed on my very own mother when she was kind enough to make me some flapjacks.
This is the original version, which means that it requires additional ingredients such as milk and eggs. I have found that using the original version results in better results.
This satisfying pancake mix is perfect for making a variety of things like waffles, pancakes and even a delectable pumpkin tart.
Is it a pie or a tart?
That's a good question because I still don't know what to call it. I started out with making a tart as the goal but the finished product resulted in something that was between a pie and a tart. I wanted to use only ingredients I had in my apartment and it had to be really simple to make.
Tart Crust Made From Pancake Mix?
First, making the tart crust is gone. In fact it's made with pancake mix and there is no pre-baking the crust before the tart which saves time. Although the crust doesn't come out crispy and flaky, it does add a crust flavor to the end product.
The filling is so easy to make and doesn't involve canned pumpkins. You can use frozen pumpkins or even a fresh one if desired. The pie is much less sweet than your typical pumpkin tart and it tastes light and fresh.
I think this version of a pumpkin tart would suit those that don't like spending much time in the kitchen and want to use minimal ingredients. I hope you enjoy the recipe as much as I've enjoyed making it.
Let's Get Started!
This is a light and super-easy version of a pumpkin tart using pancake mix. Make sure you are using the version of pancake mix without the eggs and milk already added in.
It might work with the "just add water" versions but I haven't tried it yet so I cannot guarantee good results. Let me know down below if you tried it and it worked. Thanks!
Ingredients
- 1 cup pancake mix
- 1/3 cup butter softened to room temperature
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 250 grams or 1 cup frozen pumpkin
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice (optional)
Instructions
- To make the filling, microwave the frozen pumpkins for 4 minutes or until soft. Mash the pumpkins in a bowl with a fork or a whisk. Add sugar, egg and milk and mix well until the batter is smooth. Small chunks of pumpkin skin in the batter is ok and adds a nice color to the tart. If you like, you may add the cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice.
- To make the crust, put the softened butter into a bowl and mix with a spatula until smooth. Add pancake mix and cut the butter into it with your spatula until it becomes flaky. Add 1 tablespoon of milk and keep mixing/cutting with the spatula until a nice dough forms. If the dough is too soft, add a little more pancake mix.
- Spread the dough and make it flat with a rolling pin. I like to put a piece of plastic wrap on top to prevent sticking. Place the dough inside the bottom of a shallow tart pan and cut off the excess from the sides. If you don't want to do this and don't mind less crust, you may want to just lay the dough on the inside of the tart pan and spread with your fingers making sure to press down to make it thin. In my recipe I actually ran out of dough and my tart pan was too big so I only had enough to cover the bottom of the pan. It still turned out good though so don't sweat the small stuff.
- Fill the dough with the pumpkin filling.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 170 degrees celcius or about 325 degrees fahrenheit for 30 minutes. I would check the tart at around 25 minutes to make sure it doesn't burn. Insert a toothpick in the center. If it comes out clean it is done.
- Cool the pie before cutting and serving. Eat as is or serve with a dollop of whipped cream for a light and delectable treat.
The Essential Non-Stick Pan
I used a tart pan very similar to this one. I like the fact that the surface is non-stick, which makes it easy to use. The removable base makes it really easy to wash and clean.
Photos Make It Easier
Are You Ready To Try This Tart?
How do you take your pumpkin?
What's your favorite way to eat pumpkin?
I hope you enjoyed this recipe. If you have any questions or would like to leave a comment, please do so below. Thanks!
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Jerzimom, thanks. i hope you try it out.
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Brite-Ideas. thanks so much! Let me know if you try it out.
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CherylsArt, thanks so much!
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Dressage Husband, glad it did! It means I'm doing my job right. hehe
Love pumpkin flavor! I'd have never thought of this. Great job!
looks and sounds wonderful! pinning to my food board - now all I have to do is get off the computer and cook something!
It looks good. I pinned it to my recipe board so that I can find it later. Thanks for the idea. : )
That looks so good it has made me hungry!
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ChristyZ, thank you so much. I hope you get to try it.
I love pumpkin pie and muffins, you're easy recipe looks great!
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@tonyleather: Oh well more for me! hehe
Pumpkin any which way is marvelous, and your idea just may make it into my kitchen.
Never felt inclined to eat the stuff!
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@LynetteBell: Thanks again SoundFinance. Let me know how it turns out.
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@LynetteBell: Wow, the steaming and mashing with salt sounds simple yet delicious! I'm going to try that.
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@The_Storyteller: Thanks so much. I hope you try this recipe. It really is a nice change from the typical pumpkin pie.
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@flinnie lm: You might like this one flinnie. My friend who doesn't like pumpkin pie actually enjoyed this.
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@LornsA178: Thanks for visiting! I hope you like it.
PS...would love to give your recipe a go!
In New Zealand we tend to roast pumpkin. It has a much harder skin than the ones that are available in the US so the skin is often left on...that's how my husband likes it! When I was in Africa I used to steam it and mash with a small sprinkle of sugar. My favorite recipe is Pumpkin Soup.
I just developed a love for pumpkin pie last year, and I try to eat it any opportunity I get! Very interesting idea with the pancake mix; this is a great lens! Thanks for sharing. =)
Hi I only like pumpkin ice cream. I am not into pumpkin pie. Love how you used pancake mix to make this pie.
This looks so good! Thanks for sharing. I would like to try this sometime.
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@Phoebs78: It's was my pleasure making this. Thanks for visiting.
This is GENIUS!!! Thank you so much for sharing! I'm definitely going to be trying this recipe soon with some gluten free pancake mix that I have.
I love pumpkin pie! Thanks for the recipe!
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@Kaylab123 LM: Thank you. I hope it turns out ok.
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@kepezzo: Thank you kepezzo
Nice recipe....very nice....great lens !
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@MirandaGrimm: Haha. Nothing can be so wrong with pumpkin!
Pumpkin Pie is the reason I love Thanksgiving!! Im curious about this. It seems wrong but so worth trying!!! Thanks for sharing.
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@Johanna Eisler: Oh yes, pumpkin pie for breakfast sounds like heaven. Please do let me know how it turns out!
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@tbonestakes: Yes pumpkins are at their peak. Love them!
I absolutely LOVE pumpkin pie! (Have you tried it for breakfast?) This looks like it would make a great breakfast, or snack with coffee, or dessert anytime. I simply have to give it a try. I'll let you know how it turns out, okay? :)
Pumpkins are red hot this time of year!
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@DrMAnderson: Roast pumpkin rocks!
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@writerkath: Thanks so much Kathy. I really appreciate it.
My favourite is roast pumpkin :)
You did a nice job on this recipe! Congratulations on your Purple Star! :)
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@anonymous: Thanks for reading!
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@HappyTom LM: Pumpkins are definitely versatile. I like to steam mine and just eat them with salt.
Good lens, very pleased to see it. :)
Yes definitely! Pumpkins are great for pies, tarts or also for meat dishes and so on :)
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@TreasuresBrenda: Yay! I'm craving for some right now!
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@DebMartin: Thanks so much Deb. It's quite delicious.
Interesting take on pumpkin pie. I LOVE pumpkin pie!
I love pumpkin any way I can get it. What a crazy good idea this is!
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@LiteraryMind: Yay! Try this recipe and let me know how it goes.
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@Belva Boggs: I'm sure honey will work just fine. I hope you like it!
Great idea. I always have pancake mix in the house.
I have never heard of this before. How wonderful! I would have to substitute the sugar with honey as my son can not have sugar, but it still sounds delicious!
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@afairlyme: Oops sorry about that. It's 1/3 cup of butter.
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@KathyZ1: Aww thanks so much Kathy. Really appreciate you reading it.
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@lynnegirl1: I truly miss Thanksgiving in the US. It's hard to find turkey here in Japan.
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@WriteMe3: I love pumpkins period! :) Thanks for reading.
Is that a 1/3 of a stick or a 1/3 of a cup of butter?
Great lens. Really enjoyed it. Thanks for your sharing!
Love it! I can't wait for Thanksgiving each year.
I love pumpkin pie especially on Thanksgiving.
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@WriterJanis2: Aww thanks WriterJanis. I like to tweak recipes especially if it makes it easier.
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@VspaBotanicals: yay! glad you liked it.
I'm not a pumpkin pie person, but for those who are, they will love this lens. You have some cool products as well.
Absolutely. This is a yummy lens!
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@Mary Stephenson: Haha. That actually sounds pretty good too!
Yes, but I do prefer so many other pies instead. Although, I do like the pumpkin mixture before it goes into the pie. I could eat the whole mixture up and would if it wasn't that others actually want the pie!
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@TheCozyDinosaur: Let me know how it turns out!
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@acreativethinker: Pumpkin fritters sound amazing. I wonder how you make those.
I can't wait to try this. I love pumpkin everything... tis the season, right? Thanks for this recipe. I have a huge stock of pancake mix... now I just need some pumpkin ;)
Pumpkin soup and pumpkin fritters are some of my favorites. Thanks for sharing.
Take care :)
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@DLeighAlexander: The mug is cute right? Pumpkin soup is probably my favorite way to eat pumpkin. I crave it throughout the entire autumn season.
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@Diaper Bag Blog: Well in that case, have a slice on me. :) Thanks for reading stajo82.
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@esmonaco: It was fun making it! Same to you my friend.
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@RoadMonkey: Haha yes. This was really an experiement that went well. It's exactly like something between a pie and tart. Still delicious though.
Love the coffee mug, very cute idea! I really like pumpkin pie but I also like pumpkin soup with toasted pumpkin seeds just as well. Pumpkin is really tasty in almost any form.
Well...pumplins are not my favorite, but of course if somebody offers me a pumpkin pie, I don't refuse :)
Thanks for this great recipe, Have a great day......
I have never tried pumpkin pie but I really like your recipe, it's very innovative and I think you have a totally new idea here, not a pie, nor a tart, something totally different! Maybe a finger pudding?
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@LluviaDeArte: Thank you for reading. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you so much for writing this! The smell of pumpkin pie is enough to make me happy, this lens rocks. thx
@smine27: I'm game, so we'll see. I'd like to make this when I begin my baking for fall. It's too hot right now ... almost 100 degrees, so I'll just have to be patient.
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@Susan300: It is my pleasure susan
Thanks for being part of the 2013 Squidoo County Fair! :)
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@favored: I'm sure you could do that. It probably will have a different texture but it's worth a try. I would love to know how it turns out!
Can you use pumpkin from a can? I have some and have been wondering what to do with it. I'd like to try it in this recipe if it works.
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@Rhonda Lytle: Thanks so much for visiting and commenting poetvix.
Totally cool way to use what's on hand and it looks really good too!
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@socialcx1: Thanks. It is good! :)
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@steadytracker lm: Thanks so much for your nice comment!
Thank you for entering this lens in the 2013 Squidoo County Fair.
Mouth watering.
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@Minoru10: Thanks MInoru. Please try it. It's easy to make.
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@Judith Nazarewicz: Thank you for visiting my lens. Can you tell I love it too? hehe
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@SusanDeppner: Thanks so much Susan.
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@TipsForMoms: Interesting. You might actually like this as it's very "kabocha" in taste and texture.
Interesting. I never thought of this. Who would ??? I love it !!!
This recipe sounds really good! I love pumpkin pie!
I love pumpkin pie! Your recipe looks and sounds really good.
Pumpkin pie is not my favorite and I think it's because of the texture since I love kabocha. Your lens made me want to try this.
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@merfzel: Oh, yours is probably the best! ;) This version is really light and it's more like a tart than a pie. It's not as sweet and can even be eaten for breakfast although I would eat a normal pie for breakfast anyway. Thanks for your comments. I do appreciate it merfzel.
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