Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Cream Puffs - cooking recipe

Ingredients

CREAM PUFFS
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2 eggs
FILLING
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
3/4 cup whipped topping
FROSTING
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 -2 teaspoon milk
green food coloring
orange food coloring
1 tablespoon baking cocoa

Preparation

In a small saucepan, bring the water, butter and sugar to a boil.
Combine flour and pie spice; add to water mixture all at once and stir until a smooth ball forms.
Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Continue beating until mixture is smooth and shiny.
Drop 12 rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto a greased baking sheet.
Bake at 400\u00b0 for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove to a wire rack.
Immediately split puffs open; remove tops and set aside.
Discard soft dough from inside; cool puffs.
For filling, in a small mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, pumpkin, sugar and pie spice until smooth.
Pipe into cream puffs.
Top each with 1 tablespoon whipped topping; replace tops.
For frosting, in a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, butter, vanilla and enough milk to achieve desired consistency.
Tint 1 tablespoon frosting green and 2 teaspoons orange; set aside.
Stir cocoa into the remaining frosting.
Pipe jack-o'-lantern faces with orange and chocolate frosting.
Pipe stems with green frosting.