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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Pumpkin Manju Sweets

    September 24, 2024 · Published: October 12, 2020 By: Asian Inspired Eats 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    It's pumpkin time peeps! 🎃 Who doesn't love pumpkin everything? These Pumpkin Manju Sweets are an awesome Asian treat using pumpkin puree as the sweet filling. You won't believe how good these are!

    Japanese pumpkin manju cookies on a white plate with a checkered napkin unerneath

    These popular Japanese treats, filled with sweet red bean paste, are sold at most Asian bakeries. This seasonal version is just as delish but filled with the goodness of sweet pumpkin purée and sweet potatoes! They taste like mini pumpkin pies! Oh, my!

    A stainless KitchenAid mixing bowl fill with sugar cookie batter

    The pastry itself is super easy to make (like sugar cookie dough), and forming these beauties is simple. Don't forget to brush with the egg wash when you bake these so they shine, shine, shine!

    How to make these sweet manju cookies:

    This made-from-scratch sugar cookie dough is so simple to make. But feel free to "cheat" and pick up some prepared sugar cookie dough at your grocery store!

    1. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper on top. In a mixer, beat sugar and butter together until creamy and smooth. Beat in eggs, one at a time until smooth. Add vanilla extract and beat well.
    2. Sift together flour and baking powder in a large bowl. Gradually add flour mixture into butter mixture, mixing well after each addition, until dough is smooth.
    3. In a mixing bowl, mash the sweet potato, pumpkin purée, pumpkin pie spice, and powdered sugar together until well combined and smooth. Set aside.

    To assemble the cookies:

    1. Generously flour your hands and working surface. Make walnut-size balls from the dough and press into 4-inch circles, making circles thicker in the center and thinner on the edges. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the filling into the center of each dough circle. Gather the edges together and pinch dough around the filling until sealed.
    2. Place dough ball, pinched-side down, on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Using your thumb make an imprint into the center of each dough ball. Place 4-5 pine nuts into each imprint. Use a knife to create thin slits around the tops of the ball to create a pumpkin look.
    3. Brush the dough balls with egg wash.
    4. Bake in preheated oven until tops are lightly golden brown, about 15-17 minutes.
    raw pumpkin cookies on a baking tray on top of parchment paper ready to be baked

    These sweets are so easy to assemble. Flatten out the dough on a floured surface. Place about a teaspoon of the red bean paste filling in the middle and wrap the dough around it. Flip it over and press your thumb into the middle adding a few pine nuts. Make small slits around the dough and brush with the egg wash for a golden finish!

    close up of raw pumpkin cookies on parchment ready to be baked

    Gorgeous pumpkin filled dough makes these manju cookies taste like mini pumpkin pies!

    a can of Trader Joe's pumpkin purée on top of a checkered napkin with baby pumpkins behind

    Pick up a few cans of Trader Joe's organic pumpkin purée for the manju filling. Or anywhere else you can find puréed pumpkin these days! Here's another great recipe using pumpkin purée --> my Five Spice Pumpkin Bread!

    close up of pumpkin manju cookies on a white plate

    Gorgeous, golden-brown Pumpkin Manju Sweets are the perfect bite for a light after-dinner treat. Just one bite will make you dive right in! Go for it! These are worth the extra calories!

    TIPS & TRICKS

    • This made-from-scratch sugar cookie dough is so simple to make. But feel free to "cheat" and pick up some sugar cookie dough at your grocery store!
    • Using your thumb will help to shape these cookies. And a small knife will make the small slits that look a pumpkin.
    • Egg wash is necessary for that golden brown finish. Don't leave out this step!
    • Make a double batch while you're at it! These will be gone fast!

    WANT MORE?

    If you liked this Pumpkin Manju Sweets recipe, you’re going to want these recipes:

    • Five Spice Pumpkin Bread
    • Classic Pumpkin Spice Cookies
    • Pumpkin Five Spice Pancakes with Chocolate Chips
    • Pumpkin Monster Cookies
    • Savory Pumpkin Hummus

    SUGGESTED WINE PAIRING 

    2017 Gallivant Chardonnay from the Central Coast, CA. Opulent and plush with aromas of yellow apple, vanilla and baking spices and flavors of baked pear and brioche on a medium-bodied frame with a bright finish. BUY THIS WINE

    bottle of Scout & Cellar Gallivant Chardonnay

    SCOUT & CELLAR WINES ARE GROWN NATURALLY & BOTTLED CONSCIOUSLY

    Scout & Cellar is more than just a wine; it’s an invitation to experience wine as nature intended: Our wines are Clean-Crafted, grown naturally and bottled consciously. ♻️ Pure, honest and downright delicious! Scout & Cellar is here to offer a cleaner, healthier, altogether better wine experience to everyone! Clean-Crafted Means…. Wines that are grown without synthetic pesticides vinified with NO modification, no added chemicals preservatives or pesticides, and no added sugar, ever! No added anything. Just pure, clean wine! AND delivered to your door by Scout & Cellar!

    SEE MORE WINES

    Update Notes: This post was originally published on October 9, 2017, but was republished with slight text changes and additions, like step-by-step instructions and tips in October 2020.
    Print
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    pumpkin sweets

    Pumpkin Manju Sweets

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 1 review

    Print Recipe
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    Who doesn't love pumpkin everything? These Pumpkin Manju Sweets are an awesome Asian treat using pumpkin puree as the sweet filling. You won't believe how good these are!

    • Total Time: 1 hour
    • Yield: 24-26 1x

    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 1 cups white sugar
    • ½ cup butter, softened (1 stick)
    • 2 eggs, room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 tablespoons baking powder
    • 1 large cooked sweet potato, flesh only (about 1 cup)
    • 1 cup pumpkin purée
    • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
    • ¼ cup powdered sugar
    • 2 tablespoons pine nuts
    • 1 beaten egg for egg wash

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper on top. In a mixer, beat sugar and butter together until creamy and smooth. Beat in eggs, one at a time until smooth. Add vanilla extract and beat well.
    2. Sift together flour and baking powder in a large bowl. Gradually add flour mixture into butter mixture, mixing well after each addition, until dough is smooth.
    3. In a mixing bowl, mash the sweet potato, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and powdered sugar together until well combined and smooth. Set aside.
    4. To assemble the cookies: Generously flour your hands and working surface. Make walnut-size balls from the dough and press into 4-inch circles, making circles thicker in the center and thinner on the edges. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the filling into the center of each dough circle. Gather the edges together and pinch dough around the filling until sealed. Place dough ball, pinched-side down, on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Using your thumb make an imprint into the center of each dough ball. Place 4-5 pine nuts into each imprint. Use a knife to create thin slits around the tops of the ball to create a pumpkin look. Brush dough balls with egg wash.
    5. Bake in preheated oven until tops are lightly golden brown, about 15-17 minutes.

    Notes

    • This made-from-scratch sugar cookie dough is so simple to make. But feel free to "cheat" and pick up some sugar cookie dough at your grocery store!
    • Using your thumb will help to shape these cookies. And a small knife will make the small slits that look a pumpkin.
    • Egg wash is necessary for that golden brown finish. Don't leave out this step!
    • Make a double batch while you're at it! These will be gone fast!
    • Author: Asian Caucasian
    • Prep Time: 45 mins
    • Cook Time: 15 mins
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: Asian Fusion

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size:
    • Calories: 167
    • Sugar: 10 g
    • Sodium: 18.4 mg
    • Fat: 7.5 g
    • Carbohydrates: 23.1 g
    • Protein: 2.9 g
    • Cholesterol: 33.4 mg

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @AsianCaucasianBlog on Instagram and hashtag #AsianCaucasianEats

    Pumpkin Manju Sweets this recipe

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Gayle Canton says

      October 12, 2020 at 9:38 am

      Wow, these look adorable! Like mini pumpkins! I’m excited to try this recipe.

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian says

        October 12, 2020 at 9:39 am

        This recipe is fun! I had a good time creating these "mini" pumpkins. And they taste so delicious! Hope you enjoy, Gayle!

        Reply

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    pumpkin manju cookies on a white plate with a checkered napkin underneath and baby pumpkins along side
    pumpkin manju cookies on a white plate with a checkered napkin underneath and baby pumpkins along side