Pumpkin fluff. What the heck is it?
I’d say it’s basically whipped cream with pumpkin. Pretty simple, right? For this recipe I take homemade pumpkin fluff, pile it into three little pie crusts and top it with granola for a yummy semi-healthy treat.
Homemade Whipped Cream
Have you ever made your own whipped cream at home? It’s magical.
You take your whipping cream (<-aptly named), add your sugar and spices and start whipping it into shape.
Even though it may seem like nothing is happening at first, be patient. After a couple of minutes, your mixture will start to thicken and eventually form the “peaks” of a lovely whipped cream. Because science. My good friend Alton Brown helped me out with the basic whipped cream recipe. (<-I’ve watched his show for years and follow him on Instagram and Twitter…so…good friend. 
)
I know I might sound simple-minded, but the first day I made whipped cream by hand I bragged to everyone who would listen. It’s just so freaking cool that you can transform a simple ingredient into something totally different by just whipping a bunch of air into it. Food is fascinating. I also felt like a BA professional baker.
[Tweet “Make your own whipped cream at home..super easy and you will feel like a pro. #imasemihealthnut”]
Once I got the basic whipped cream down, I thought I might as well work on a pumpkin fluff recipe for #pumpkinweek2015.
Not sure what Pumpkin Week is all about?
#PumpkinWeek2015 October 18-23
Join 6 awesome bloggers as we share pumpkin recipes on our blogs and social media for one pumpkin-y week ending in a giant pumpkin recipe link-up on Friday!
Lovely co-hosts:
Amanda from Diary of a Semi-Health Nut | Instagram
Suzie from Suzlyfe | Instagram
Erin from Table For Seven | Instagram
Becky from Olives n Wine | Instagram
Katie from Talk Less, Say More | Instagram
Giselle from Diary of an Exsloth | Instagram
Want to join in the fun?
Simply tag your pumpkin recipes on Instagram with #pumpkinweek2015 and/or join in the link-up on Friday! We will each be picking our favorite posts from the hashtag to share on our blogs Friday, so be sure to check each of the co-hosts’ blogs. (Please note that participating means we can share your photos—with credit—on our blogs and social media.)
[Tweet “Join 6 awesome bloggers in #pumpkinweek2015 via social media and a link-up! #pumpkinallthethings”]
Back to the recipe!
Pumpkin Fluff Recipe Creation
Then I saw these cute little pie crusts at the store and knew I’d discovered another puzzle to my recipe. (I also used those little graham cracker crusts in an equally simple recipe here.)
The first time I tried to make the pumpkin fluff (or pumpkin whipped cream), the texture was a little weird. The “mouth feel” (<-a goofy-sounding term I learned in a food science class) wasn’t as smooth as I would have hoped. Then I checked out this recipe and started investigating on Pinterest and found out that a lot of pumpkin fluff recipes are made with pudding mix. Boom. Nice fluffy pumpkin fluff for my mini graham cracker crust pies.
I tried taking it a step further by seeing what they would be like once frozen, but it turns into a solid rock…so, I wouldn’t recommend it. Never hurts to try though, right? It is quite tasty though once it’s been frozen and thawed for half an hour..so, I suppose you could try that if you’d like.
You could also ditch the crust and just eat the pumpkin fluff with some (gluten free) granola on top for a gluten free version.
Okay, I totally just made my first batch of whipped cream at home back in June of this year. And you’re right… MAGICAL! OMG it’s so good and so simple. I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t done it before! Now, back to PUMPKIN WEEKKKKKKK! This recipe looks so good. And I don’t think I’d have to worry about storing 3 servings 😉 Desserts go pretty quickly here in our house, hehe! Looks delish my friend. Can’t wait to see what you have up your sleeve later this week!
haha I’m glad I’m not the only one that thought it was freaking cool!! I made another batch just to put in my coffee instead of cream haha. #magic #pumpkinallthethings
I totally love these Amanda! They look yum. Homemade whipped cram is the best and adding pumpkin is great idea.
Looks delicious 🙂
Thanks so much, Erin! Your pumpkin bread looked uh-mazing!!
What a fun & unique recipe to open up Pumpkin Week!! It has made me super excited to see the rest of the recipes you all have in store. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE whipped cream so this is definitely in my future 🙂
Thanks, Ruth! I’m so glad you liked this recipe and I really hope I didn’t ruin the week by sharing my best recipe first. 😉 😉
YUM! Over the weekend some friends and I made pumpkin dip and dunked graham crackers in and it was SO GOOD! These would be such a cute treat 🙂
Oh yes! Basically the same combo a different way!! 🙂
Mini foods are the best.
Obviously you know that I’m into this. Grahams and pumpkin? Match made in heaven!
Yessss. Obviously. 🙂 <3
I love mini recipes too! pumpkin fluff yummy thanks for linking up!
You can’t go wrong with miniature food! 😉
Mmm I’m loving all the pumpkin week recipes so far!! Whipping cream is the beeeessst.
Happy you’re enjoying the recipes, Jess! Sorry you weren’t able to participate this round..maybe next year! 🙂
i love the idea of flavoring fluff!!! And, I just learned that you can use coconut cream as whipped cream. Isn’t that awesome. Trader Joe’s sells it. I have been using it straight from the can for a big spoonful of cream on my bowl of oats, or i will even just sweeten some pumpkin pie puree with stevia, sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice, add a dollop of coconut cream, and BOOM, instant HEALTHY pumpkin pie. Its’ so good and satisfying, with barely any work. BUT…I hadn’t even thought of flavoring the whip yet. mooohaha. Thanks for sharing and linking #fitfamlove #thefitdish
Sounds yummy, Jessica! I haven’t tried coconut cream, but it’s healthy depending on your opinion on dairy cream vs coconut cream. The fitness community seems to be pro coconut, but there are definitely goods and bads to both! 🙂 I feel like everyone is going coconut crazy (saying coconut sugar is better than regular sugar), but really it’s just a different type of sugar (part fructose). I think more research needs to be done before we decide coconut cream or sugar is “healthy.” //end coconut rant 🙂
Looking yummy …
Thanks for this delicious post..
Thank you and you are so welcome! 🙂