Pumpkin Cheesecake Pillow Popovers
Before now, the only time I’ve lived away from my hometown was during my sophomore year in college when I moved to Beaufort, a small town on the coast of North Carolina. I lived there for a few months before traveling for a month down the Eastern seaboard to study marine zoogeography. That semester changed my life, and I’ve continued to process the memories over the years. Periodically I’ll share stories here on Willow Bird Baking from that time.
David Fountain was an engineer, a farmer, a father, a husband, a comedian. I met him at Duke Energy, our local electric company where I worked during my high school summers. It didn’t take long for me to notice and appreciate how he brightened the office, which was otherwise filled with the daily drudgery of dry-but-crucial electrical calculations. He had an “Aw, shucks” Barney Fife sort of vibe to his personality and was a master of cheesy “dad jokes.” He was also a wise and reflective person.
During the summer of 2003, I found out I was moving to the coast for the next semester of school. Some of you are travelers and won’t see the significance of this for me, so let me provide some context. I’d never been away from home for long. When I moved into college in 2002, in fact, I was sick with anxiety despite the fact that my parents were literally only 30 minutes away. I went to visit them every weekend without fail.
When I told the folks at Duke Energy that I’d be going away once school started again, I couldn’t hide how terrified I was. Thankfully, working there was like having dozens of extra moms and dads. David, in particular, was helpful to me, though I bet he doesn’t realize how important his words were.
First, he told me about the time the company sent him to Indonesia. He knew when he took the assignment that it would be miserable and lonely (he would have to leave his family for around a year), but the money was sorely needed and he couldn’t pass it up. He said it was, indeed, a tedious and trying year. Because of the language barrier, there wasn’t much to do other than sit in his room. However, because he was working hard and spending almost nothing, he ended up saving enough money to make a huge difference to his family. Ultimately, while he hadn’t been sure what the time in Indonesia would bring, he was glad he had taken that leap.
The story meant a lot to me, but the image of spending each night alone and miserable hit a little too close to home. I wondered if that really was what Beaufort held for me: a sad, lonely few months without family or friends. Sensing my continued fear, he added a few words that turned out to be exactly what I needed to hear. I’ve remembered them often over the past decade. He said, “Julie, God’s already there.”
He didn’t just mean God was already in Beaufort — although that was true, too. He meant that God was already in Beaufort and already in the future, already there with me. He holds not only all places in His hands, but all times. He knows all that I’ll do to disappoint Him and all the dangers I’ll face. I won’t find any place or any situation that He hasn’t already dealt with.
I’m remembering David’s words here in Raleigh, too. It’s hard for me, a homebody who clings to routines, to go through so many changes at once. I’m in a new city, in a new apartment, working at a new place, going to a new church, living with someone instead of alone. Things are wonderful, but they’re also very different. And different means scary. Sometimes I just hug my dog, one of the only “constants” in my life lately, and ask her, “What the heck just happened?” (I’d hug my turtle, too, but he frowns on that sort of thing.)
But God’s already been here. He was in Raleigh and in this moment before I got here. I know He’s prepared this for me — and me for this.
Another “constant” that’s kept me sane throughout the transition is baking. It’s true that baking in your new kitchen makes it feel like home. Recently, I saw that Pillsbury had new crescent roll baking sheets in the refrigerator aisle and had to try them out. They’re just like the regular tubes of crescent rolls except without perforations, so you can use them for all sorts of baking projects. Too cool.
This time around, I used them to make Pumpkin Cheesecake Pillow Popovers: pillows stuffed with pumpkin cheesecake and baked in a mini muffin tin. They come out with the cutest little popover shape and are amazing when served warm in a bowl of vanilla bean ice cream with a caramel drizzle. Toasted pecans would be great on top, too!
How do you handle change? What major changes have you gone through?
One year ago: Vanilla Custard Soaked Pumpkin Poke Cake
Two years ago: Pumpkin Spice Pull-Apart Bread with Butter Rum Glaze
Three years ago: Assorted Donut Muffins
Four years ago: Mini-Pies: Pumpkin, Peach Crisp, and Sour Cream Apple
Pumpkin Cheesecake Pillow Popovers
Recipe by: Willow Bird Baking
Yield: 39 pillows
These little pumpkin cheesecake pillows are amazing served warm with vanilla bean ice cream and a drizzle of caramel. Add some toasted pecans for more delicious fall flavor. This recipe makes 39 pillows, but if you don’t need that many, just half it. To half 1 egg, lightly beat it in a small bowl and discard about 1.5 tablespoons of it before adding it to the recipe.
Ingredients:
4 cans crescent rolls
2 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
5/8 cup sugar (1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons)
1 egg
2 cup canned pumpkin
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon*, plus more for sprinkling
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice*
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg*
1/2 teaspoon ginger*
powdered sugar for sprinkling
caramel sauce and ice cream for serving
*or substitute 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice for these spices.
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray two mini muffin tins with cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg, pumpkin, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice, and beat to combine. Cover this and chill it while you prepare your dough.
Unroll one can of crescent baking sheet dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll it out to around 9 x 12 inches. Cut it using a pizza cutter into 9 squares, roughly 3 x 4 inches each. Place the squares into wells of the mini muffin tins, skipping a well between each. Gently push the squares down into the well. Spoon a heaping spoonful of the pumpkin mixture into each well and pinch the corners of the dough together around it, twisting at the top to close.
Bake for 10-14 minutes or until browned (let them get good and golden or they’ll still be doughy in the middle.) Remove from the oven and top with powdered sugar and cinnamon. Let them cool in the pan for around 5 minutes before serving them in a bowl with heaping scoops of vanilla bean ice cream and caramel drizzle.
34 Comments on Pumpkin Cheesecake Pillow Popovers
6Pingbacks & Trackbacks on Pumpkin Cheesecake Pillow Popovers
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Belinda @themoonblushbaker
September 22, 2013 at 8:38 pm (11 years ago)While can dough is foreign food stuff for me, your story does evoke a lot of memories for me. I was forced to do a big life change few years back in relation to my health. However as anxiety stricken as I was, I always felt comforted by knowing any change can bring new possibilities for a better life.
Really stunning photos and yummy dessert, I am pumpkin lover and think i might have to give this a go!
Jennifer @becomingbrown
September 22, 2013 at 9:31 pm (11 years ago)This actually sounds a lot like the exact same set of circumstances I went through when I got married as well (our two year anniversary is the 25th).
I had never lived with a man, had never lived more than 15 minutes from my family, and had never left my hometown, much less my home state. In a few weeks, I got married, moved across the country from Colorado to Georgia, and had my first set of pets since the husband had a cat and a dog.
It took a lot of time, but it is a good thing now. And I recognized the same thing you do, that God went before us and knew what our future held.
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes)
September 23, 2013 at 12:59 am (11 years ago)These pillows are so genius! Cheesecake pillow popovers? Just saying that makes me happy.
Tieghan
September 23, 2013 at 2:06 am (11 years ago)Oh come on! These are too awesome! Cheesecake stuffed into bite size crescent rolls! YUM!
Sarah @ Miss Candiquik
September 23, 2013 at 2:04 pm (11 years ago)These look and sound amazing! Gorgeous photos. Best of luck to you in your new surroundings.
Linda
September 23, 2013 at 3:33 pm (11 years ago)Oh thank you Dear Willowbird! These are on my Thanksgiving Weekend menu now!! <3
Rachel
September 23, 2013 at 3:51 pm (11 years ago)Thank you for this! I’m coming upon a big change in January (quitting my job and moving to Ireland for 5 months), and while I’m so So SO excited, I’m also terrified. I’ve never traveled alone before, and while I’ve loved Ireland since high school and have visited and wanted to move there since then, I cannot even begin to fathom the change that is barrel rolling towards me. So, thanks for the reminder that God is already there. While I can still be scared, I have the understanding that I won’t be alone. If anything, those months will be an opportunity to cling all the more dearly to him!
Pam
September 23, 2013 at 3:58 pm (11 years ago)Amen for David! Wise words from a trusted friend are always a comfort to the soul… Great recipe — I’m anxious to try it out!!
Meghan
September 23, 2013 at 4:52 pm (11 years ago)Oh you KNOW this is so relevant to me right now. Did you know that I ALSO spent a summer in Beaufort? We have so much to talk about!
Angela Henry
September 23, 2013 at 5:19 pm (11 years ago)What a beautiful story!
Dina
September 23, 2013 at 7:49 pm (11 years ago)they look yummy!
Andrea
September 23, 2013 at 10:05 pm (11 years ago)These look so good. Are they as good not served warm?
Julie Ruble
September 23, 2013 at 11:28 pm (11 years ago)They’re really best served warm. We stored them in an airtight container in the fridge and reheated them to get them all eaten, but they’re best straight outta the oven!
Laurie
September 25, 2013 at 2:02 am (11 years ago)This post really hits home for me. I’m going thru major changes lately and I’m terrified of the thought that things won’t work out. But I have read through all your posts and one in particular brought me some peace a while ago. I can’t remember the actual post or recipe but what you said about prayer. You said to pray not for what we need or what we want but to thank God for what we have and all the blessings in our lives now. I’ve been trying to pray this way since I read that post. There are alot of things I need, but I know God already knows. So I’m trying to be patient. Thanks for teaching me a new way to pray Julie. Your words touched this 50 yr old woman’s heart. 🙂
Julie Ruble
September 25, 2013 at 2:07 am (11 years ago)That makes me so happy and thankful to hear, Laurie. I’ll be praying for you. I’ve been in such a similar space in terms of being terrified of changes and the future. Thinking of you! Thank you for brightening my day!
Amy | Club Narwhal
September 25, 2013 at 7:17 pm (11 years ago)Julie, can I just say how much I love this story? I feel like, while my life isn’t going through many outward upheavals, I am going through major mental transitions–moving from what life means for me now that I no longer teach professionally and what that means for everything else that I was working towards in my life. But feeling the assurance that my life has moved me on this path for a reason (though it might not be evident to me now) is definitely something that makes me feel better about things. Thank you so much for sharing! Also, Pillsbury sheets–my mind is blown! These gorgeous popovers are on my Sunday menu!
Tracy | Peanut Butter and Onion
September 26, 2013 at 5:24 pm (11 years ago)These are the cutest things I have ever seen.
Sally
September 26, 2013 at 11:11 pm (11 years ago)You have a gorgeous blog. Your photography is stunning and your recipes sound amazing! I really want to try the pumpkin cheesecake popovers. I have a recipe blog about cooking on a boat circumnavigating the world. I would love to get your feedback and input when you have time. Thanks! http://www.sallyinthegalley.net
Tiffany
September 30, 2013 at 4:19 pm (11 years ago)5/8 sugar?
Julie Ruble
September 30, 2013 at 4:20 pm (11 years ago)Yep. It’s just 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons.
Martha
October 9, 2013 at 6:09 pm (11 years ago)What a lovely story, Julie. When I was 26, I met my husband. I was from PA and he was from NY. I too had never been away from my family other than a year in college and had lived alone for 7 years. When we were married, I moved to NY, gave up my job and was not close to any of my family. Besides that, a few months before we were married, we found out we would have his four children living with us. Talk about God being there!
Sadly, my husband passed away 5 years ago; we had been married nearly 31 years. As I look back, I know I would never have made it without God being there.
Julie Ruble
October 10, 2013 at 11:38 pm (11 years ago)I love that story, Martha!! Thank you for sharing. It sounds like your time with your husband was very special.
Jennie @themessybakerblog
October 9, 2013 at 6:54 pm (11 years ago)David sounds like a great friend. These pumpkin pillows look scrumptious. Pinned.
Kelly
October 11, 2014 at 2:24 pm (10 years ago)Hello princess Julie….I just found your site thru pinterest. I read your story about your friend telling you “God is already there”….that is such a precious and simple message. It just brought me to tears. God is there for everything I do and face…He is so patient and kind, even when I am so inconsistent. Thank you for sharing this sweet story. I love how you share your recipes…but the heart in your stories are just as important as the recipes. I am keeping you on my radar! 🙂
Keri
October 26, 2014 at 5:36 pm (10 years ago)Hi! My friend and I were making these the other night…unfortunately we only had a muffin tin that had 6 spaces so it took forever and we never finished the filling!! Do you have any tips for using up the rest of the filling? Thanks!
Julie Ruble
October 26, 2014 at 6:06 pm (10 years ago)Hi Keri! I’d roll it up in more crescent dough (just in normal crescent shapes this time) and create little pumpkin croissants 🙂
Rebecca
October 31, 2014 at 7:35 pm (10 years ago)Hey there 😀 I just made these and they are wonderful! One question: is the inside of the popover supposed to be like a filling still after it is cooked? or should it be more solid like cheesecake? Thank you!!
Julie Ruble
October 31, 2014 at 10:03 pm (10 years ago)Rebecca,
It’s a custardy filling after baking, not solid. So glad you enjoyed them!