Description
Creamy salted caramel pumpkin parfaits blend seasonal autumn flavors in elegant layered desserts. Warm spices and rich textures invite sweet indulgence for guests craving classic fall comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed and at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- 1 (15 oz / 425 g) can pumpkin puree
- 1 (5.1 oz / 145 g) package vanilla instant pudding mix
- 2 (10 oz / 280 g) containers Cool Whip Cream Cheese Frosting, thawed
- 40 gingersnaps, chopped
- 2 cups cold milk
- 1 cup heavy cream, at room temperature
- 1 ½ tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
Instructions
- Caramel Creation: In a medium saucepan, spread sugar evenly and heat at medium-high temperature until it liquefies into a golden amber color, whisking continuously to prevent burning.
- Butter Fusion: Add butter cubes to the caramelized sugar, whisking vigorously to create a smooth, glossy mixture that may bubble intensely.
- Cream Integration: Remove from heat and gently stream heavy cream while stirring consistently, then incorporate sea salt and allow the mixture to cool for 10-15 minutes to develop complex flavors.
- Pumpkin Pudding Preparation: Whisk pudding mix, pumpkin pie spice, and milk until thick and creamy, then fold in pumpkin puree to create a rich, aromatic filling.
- Layering Foundation: Crush gingersnap cookies and sprinkle evenly in serving vessels, then generously layer pumpkin pudding to completely cover the base.
- Frosting and Caramel Drizzle: Add a cream cheese frosting layer, then drizzle warm salted caramel across the surface, allowing it to cascade and enhance visual appeal.
- Parfait Assembly: Repeat layering process, alternating between pudding, frosting, and caramel until ingredients are exhausted, then crown with an additional caramel drizzle and gingersnap crumble.
- Chilling and Storage: Refrigerate parfaits for a minimum of two hours to meld flavors, and store any remaining caramel in a sealed container within the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Notes
- Caramel Crafting Technique: Watch sugar carefully during caramelization to prevent burning, as color changes rapidly from golden to burnt.
- Temperature Control: Maintain medium-high heat and whisk continuously to ensure smooth, even caramel without sugar crystallization.
- Cream Integration Tip: Add heavy cream slowly and steadily to prevent dangerous splattering when liquid hits hot caramel.
- Chilling Importance: Allow minimum two-hour refrigeration to develop rich flavor profiles and allow layers to set properly.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 389
- Sugar: 34 g
- Sodium: 423 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg