Pumpkin Pie

241 Reviews 4.7 out of 5 stars

This is a rich, spicy pie that slices well and has a bright pumpkin flavor. Two hints for a better result: mix the filling together a day in advance to give the spices a chance to blend, and be sure to remove the pie from the oven while the center is still wobbly; overcooking it will cause the filling to crack. Light Spice Cookie cutouts are an easy way to dress up the top of the pie for company.

Prep
30 mins
Bake
45 to 50 mins
Total
1 hr 15 mins
Yield
one 9" pie
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Pumpkin Pie

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugars, flour, salt, and spices.

  2. In a large measuring cup, beat together the eggs, pumpkin, and cream or evaporated milk. Whisk into the dry ingredients. For best flavor, cover and refrigerate the filling overnight before baking.

  3. Lightly grease a 9" pie pan that's at least 1 1/2" deep. Roll the pie dough out to a 13" circle, and transfer to the pan. Crimp the edges above the rim; this will give you a little extra headroom to hold the filling when it expands in the oven. Refrigerate the crust while the oven preheats to 400°F.

  4. When the oven is hot, place the pie pan on a baking sheet to catch any drips. Pour the filling into the unbaked pie shell.

  5. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until the filling is set 2" in from the edge. The center should still be wobbly. Remove the pie from the oven and cool on a rack; the center will finish cooking through as the pie sits.

Tips from our Bakers

  • Pumpkin pie filling is basically a custard; the eggs in the filling will continue cooking as the heat from the edge of the pie moves toward the center, which is why it's important to remove the pie from the oven before the center is completely set. Leaving it in the oven too long will cause the eggs to overcook, tightening the proteins and causing the pie to crack in the center.
  • Mixing the filling a day in advance (refrigerate until using) will improve the flavor of this pie by giving the spices' flavors a chance to blend.
  • For a Masala Pumpkin Pie, make these changes to the spice mixture for the filling: decrease cinnamon to 1/2 teaspoon, increase ground cloves to 1/4 teaspoon and black pepper to 1/2 teaspoon. Add 1/2 teaspoon each ground coriander and turmeric, and 1/4 teaspoon each ground cardamom and cumin.
  • Try replacing 1/4 cup of the all-purpose flour in your pie crust recipe with 1/4-cup cornmeal. The texture of the cornmeal is a nice counterpoint to the smooth pumpkin filling.
  • Substitute a generous 2 1/2 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice for the spices listed, if desired.
  • This recipe makes enough filling to generously fill a 9" pan that's at least 1 1/2" deep. If your pan isn't quite that big, you can bake any leftover filling in custard cups; it will take 25 to 30 minutes to cook.
  • To dress up this pie with our Light Spice Holiday Cookies, cut out and bake the cookies according to the recipe instructions. Cool the baked cookies and place them around the perimeter of the cooled pie.

  • Want to temper the sweetness of this pie by reducing its sugar? See how in our blog article, How to reduce sugar in pie.

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