![a plate of food with strawberries , raspberries and whipped cream on a wooden table .](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/yg2dvvx6/production/4043741d491c753d657f7db929326e3e65c1ef70-8149x5435.jpg?fm=jpg&fit=min&h=960&w=960&dpr=1&q=80)
![Honeyed Halloween pumpkin pies](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/yg2dvvx6/production/e4d6e98c2e988b3fee8f5720e823bc72350f4439-1600x1000.jpg?fm=jpg&fit=min&h=960&w=960&dpr=1&q=80)
Honeyed Halloween pumpkin pies
![a bottle of Rowse Acacia honey](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/yg2dvvx6/production/412413ff1defde57ed82823a9bf080a437d69e74-2500x2500.png?fm=png&fit=min&h=960&w=960&dpr=1&q=80)
Method
- 1
Add the flour and sugar to a bowl, add the butter and rub in with fingertips or an electric mixer until it resembles fine crumbs. Mix in the egg yolks and enough water to mix to a smooth, soft dough. Chill for 15 minutes.
- 2
Steam the pumpkin for 10-15 minutes over a saucepan of simmering water until tender. Drain and leave to cool then mash or puree in a liquidiser or food processor until smooth. Add the remaining filling ingredients and mix again until smooth.
- 3
Roll the pastry out thinly on a lightly floured surface, stamp out 12×10 cm (4 inch) circles with a plain biscuit cutter, re-rolling the pastry trimmings as needed. Press the pastry circles into the buttered sections of a 12 hole muffin tin. Reserve the trimmings.
- 4
Pour the pumpkin filling into the pastry cases. Roll the reserved pastry trimmings out thinly, cut into narrow strips with a pastry wheel or knife, brush lightly with milk and arrange as a lattice over the top of the tarts, sticking on to the top edge of the pastry cases with a little milk, and leaving the ends of the lattice a little long. Or cut leaves and arrange on the filling or omit the decoration if preferred.
- 5
Sprinkle with a little caster sugar and bake in a preheated oven 180°C (350°F), Gas Mark 4 for 20-25 minutes. Leave to cool for 20 minutes in the tin. Trim off the excess pastry from the lattice, then loosen the edges of the pies with a round bladed knife, lift out of the tin and carefully transfer to a wire rack.
- 6
Serve warm or cold topped with spoonfuls of whipped cream and a drizzle of Acacia honey.
- 7
Top tips: Flavour whipped cream with a little clear honey and a dash of whisky. Short on time? Use a chilled 500 g (1lb 2 oz) pack of readymade sweet shortcrust pastry. Steamed and pureed pumpkin – or use butternut squash when out of season – subtly flavoured with honey and ground spices then topped with a spoonful of whipped cream and an extra drizzle of honey, a delicious pudding for Thanksgiving or bonfire night.