Mini Pumpkin Pies w/ Press-In Crust

This recipe is super easy and, best of all, super fun for kids. My grandmother taught me how to make press-in pie crust when I was a child, and I have been using this recipe ever since. It saves time and it tastes wonderful, too. It's a fun, sensory activity for kids--sort of like playing with play dough, only you can actually eat it!
How we did it:
Materials List
- flour (1.5 cups)
- milk (3 tablespoons)
- oil (1/2 cup)
- sugar (2 tablespoons)
- salt (a pinch)
- pumpkin pie filling - or apple pie filling
- small foil pie tin (1 per child)
-
Make the pie filling, then mix together the dough ingredients. (We used a crumb topping for the apple pie version.) Form a ball of dough. (Younger children may need some help.) The dough should easily form a ball. If the dough is too dry, add a little more milk. If it's too wet, add a little more flour to get the right consistency.
-
Show your kids how to press the dough into the pan to make a thin crust and crimp the edges at the top. Pull off any extra dough. Then give them their dough and let them go for it!
-
Have kids scoop the filling from a bowl and put it into their crust. If you've made any crumb topping, have them sprinkle that on top of the filling.
-
Bake your pies according to the filling recipe, minus a few minutes. (The smaller pies don't take as long to bake.) Once the crust is golden brown and your filling is bubbling, your pies are ready to go. Bon appetit!