Pumpkin Pasties from Harry Potter
Sweet little pies filled with spiced pumpkin in flaky pastry — the very treat from the Hogwarts Express trolley.
When the sweets trolley rolls down the Hogwarts Express, Harry buys one of everything for the first time — and pumpkin pasties are among the coziest items on board. In canon they are small pies with a pumpkin filling, a favourite travel snack among wizards. Here is a faithful homemade version: a crumbly, flaky pastry wrapped around soft pumpkin spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.
🧺 Ingredients
🍽 6 servings👩🍳 Method
- 1
Dough
In a bowl combine the flour, a pinch of salt and 1 tbsp of sugar. Add the cold cubed butter and rub it in with your fingers until crumbly.
- 2
Knead
Beat in the egg and add cold water a spoon at a time until the dough gathers into a ball. Wrap it and chill for 30 minutes.
- 3
Filling
Mix the pumpkin puree with the remaining sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. If the puree is watery, cook it in a pan for a couple of minutes to thicken, then cool.
- 4
Roll out
Roll the dough out on a floured surface to 3-4 mm thick. Cut out circles 10-12 cm wide with a glass or cutter.
- 5
Assemble
Place 1 tbsp of filling on half of each circle, leaving a border. Brush the edge with water, fold over and crimp shut with a fork.
- 6
Glaze
Transfer the pasties to a parchment-lined tray. Cut 2-3 small slits in the top to vent steam and brush with the egg yolk.
- 7
Bake
Bake in an oven preheated to 190 °C for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
- 8
Serve
Let the pasties cool for 10 minutes so the filling sets. Serve them warm, just like on the Hogwarts Express trolley.
💡 Tips
- 💡
Brush the dough edges with egg and seal well, or the filling leaks while baking.
- 💡
Cut a couple of vents on top so steam escapes and the pasty doesn't burst.
🔄 Swaps & variations
- 🔄
Savory version: pumpkin with onion and cheese — closer to a Cornish pasty.
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❓ Frequently asked questions
Where do pumpkin pasties appear in Harry Potter?
Pumpkin pasties are sold from the sweets trolley on the Hogwarts Express. Harry buys them on his first ride to school in the very first book — part of the series' edible canon.
Are they sweet or savory?
Our recipe is the sweet version with spiced pumpkin filling (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger), like pumpkin pie in a hand-pie form.
What pumpkin for the filling?
Sweet, dense varieties like butternut or Hokkaido. Roast and puree it so the filling isn't watery.
