If desserts were people, these mini piecakens would be the biggest divas you ever met. Inspired by pastry chef Zac Young’s viral three-layer piecaken, these fun-sized versions feature a tiny cranberry pie baked inside a spiced pumpkin cupcake, crowned with a generous dollop of whipped cream, more cranberry pie filling, and a tiny round of sugary pie crust. A little extra, you say? Maybe. But soooo worth it.
If you’re planning to make these beauties, take a hint from us (now) piecaken experts, and split up the work. The cranberry filling can be cooked on the stove up to three days before cooking the mini pies. The mini pies can be baked the day before they’re baked into the pumpkin cupcakes. And if you really want to, you can even bake off the piecakens and store them in the refrigerator overnight. Then on the day of the party, you can just whip the cream, top the piecakens, and serve.
Read on for more tips on these diva-licious treats. Looking for more Thanksgiving desserts? Check out this no-bake pumpkin cheesecake.
How is this different from the original piecaken?
Zac Young’s original piecaken was three layers—a whole pecan pie topped with a whole pumpkin pie topped with a spice cake—all bound together with cinnamon buttercream and apple pie filling. This mini version, on the other hand, is a single layer of cake with the pie actually baked inside, giving the effect of the piecaken without the hassle of stacking all those layers.
Do I have to make my own pie dough?
Absolutely not. Of course, a homemade pie crust will always taste much better than what you’ll likely get in the store, but in a world where you’re making mini pies that will then be baked inside of cupcakes, we’re in favor of whatever shortcuts you need to take to get the job done.
Why aren’t we frosting these cupcakes with buttercream?
While buttercream is traditional for a cupcake, this simple whipped cream topping gives a nod to the pie portion of the piecaken (after all, what else are you dolloping on top of your Thanksgiving pumpkin pie?). It also gives you the perfect opportunity to showcase more of that delicious cranberry pie filling and those sugared pie crust rounds!
Made these? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
