Pumpkin Rolls

This is Halloween, everybody scream Won't' ya please make way for a very special guy

Our man jack is King of the Pumpkin patch Everyone hail to the Pumpkin King now

Halloween is one of my favourite times of year (and a lot of that comes down to to the costumes!) But my absolute favourite thing about Halloween is all of the spooky themed goodies which suddenly appear everywhere!

So, of course, I had to make some of my own pumpkin themed goodies - starting with these adorable Pumpkin bread rolls!!!

Pumpkin Rolls

makes: 9 or 10 buns

Ingredients:

• 250g Kent Pumpkin (diced)

• 450g Self raising Flour

• 100mL warm water

• 2 eggs

• 25g sugar

• 25g melted butter

• 2 tsp dry active yeast

• 1 tsp salt

• Glazing butter

• Handful of pecans (cut into thin slices)

Method:

1. Place pumpkin pieces in a large soup pot. Cover with water and simmer for 15-20 minutes (until tender).

2. Drain off the water, mash well and then set aside to cool completely.

3. Add yeast and sugar to the warm water. Mix well and rest for 10 minutes to allow yeast to bubble and activate.

4. Put 1 egg and 1 egg yolk in a small bowl.

5. Add 4 tablespoons of water to the leftover egg white to make the egg wash.

6. Add the egg yolk mix, butter, yeast mix and mashed pumpkin into a large bowl and mix until a tacky dough is formed.

7. Knead for 10 minutes. Leave in a well-oiled bowl covered with a tea towel until it has risen and doubled in size.

8. Knock the dough back and split into 9 or 10 even-sized balls. Flatten slightly and (using kitchen scissors) make 8 or so cuts around the edge of the ball, pointing inwards (these will give it the pumpkin shape). Make sure they go about two-thirds of the way into the middle of the dough ball.

9. Leave (covered with a tea towel) on a lined baking tray to rise for 30 minutes.

10. Brush with the egg wash and bake for 12-15 minutes.

11. Allow to cool completely and brush with the glazing butter. Place pecan slices in the center to act as a stalk.

And there you have it! Your very own miniature pumpkins fulls of bready goodness! I particularly love this recipe because it isn't too sweet or savoury - it works well with any toppings! I a bit partial to smothering mine with strawberry jam but my mother loves hers with a chickpea hummus - so go wild!!!

If you do try this recipe - please leave some feedback or share a picture of your finished result - and definitely let me know how you love to eat your own pumpkin rolls! (I recommend trying it with cheese and bacon too!)

Please feel free to contact me with any comments, questions or requests - I'd love to hear your ideas!

And, as always, I hope you have a happy day!

Until next time!