Description

These delightful Pumpkin Shaped Pizza Bites are perfect for festive occasions or a fun appetizer. Made with pre-made pizza dough stuffed with a flavorful mixture of vegan cream cheese, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and herbs, these bites are shaped and wrapped with twine to resemble little pumpkins. Baked to a golden perfection and brushed with a spiced vegan butter glaze, they are as visually charming as they are tasty.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Dough and Assembly

16 ounces pre-made pizza dough
1 teaspoon olive oil plus more for the twine
6 pieces cooking twine, each 24 inches long

For the Filling

2 cloves garlic, minced
1 shallot, sliced
Salt and pepper to taste
4 ounces vegan cream cheese (Kite Hill recommended)
2 heaping tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
4 basil leaves, roughly torn, plus more for serving

For the Butter Glaze

2 tablespoons vegan butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

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Instructions

Preheat and Prep Dough: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the pizza dough on a lightly oiled surface and allow it to come to room temperature for 30 minutes to make it easier to work with.
Prepare the Twine: Cut 6 pieces of cooking twine, each about 24 inches long, and place them in a bowl. Drizzle them with olive oil to prevent sticking and help with easy removal after baking.
Sauté Aromatics: Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic, sliced shallot, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook until the edges start to brown, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
Make the Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the sautéed garlic and shallot, vegan cream cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and torn basil leaves. Mix well until all ingredients are evenly incorporated. Adjust salt to taste.
Shape the Pizza Bites: Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces. Gently stretch each piece into a circle. Place about 1/6 of the filling in the center, then pinch the dough edges together to enclose the filling and form a ball.
Wrap with Twine: Take an oiled piece of twine and loosely wrap it around the dough ball like a present, creating 8 quadrants to mimic pumpkin ribs. Do not tie the twine too tightly as the dough will expand. Tie off the ends and trim any excess string. Place each wrapped dough ball on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
Prepare Butter Glaze and Bake: In a small bowl, mix melted vegan butter with smoked paprika, turmeric, and garlic powder. Brush this mixture over the top of each dough ball, avoiding the bottoms. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until the dough is golden brown and cooked through.
Cool and Garnish: Remove from the oven and let the pizza bites cool for 5 minutes. Carefully snip and remove the twine from each ‘pumpkin.’ Garnish each with small basil leaves to resemble pumpkin stems before serving.

Notes

Ensure the twine is food-safe and untreated since it will be baked inside the oven.
Do not tie the twine tightly to allow the dough to expand during baking and form the pumpkin shape properly.
These pizza bites can be served warm or at room temperature and make great appetizers for parties or holidays.
Use vegan cream cheese for a dairy-free version; regular cream cheese can be substituted if not strictly vegan.
You can add finely chopped olives or roasted peppers to the filling for extra flavor variations.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 pumpkin-shaped pizza bite
Calories: 220 kcal
Sugar: 3 g
Sodium: 250 mg
Fat: 10 g
Saturated Fat: 2 g
Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 27 g
Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 6 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg