Perfect Pumpkin Pie


This perfect pumpkin pie recipe is made with quality ingredients. The result is a pie that's smooth, rich, and perfectly sweet.
Pumpkin Pie - Buttered Side Up
Pumpkin Pie - Buttered Side Up
Pumpkin Pie - Buttered Side Up
Pumpkin Pie - Buttered Side UpPumpkin Pie - Buttered Side UpPumpkin Pie - Buttered Side Up

Call me massively boring, but pumpkin is my favorite of the Thanksgiving pies. Of course I love my share of blueberry, apple, banana, and coconut (I could go on. I adore pie.), but I always reserve a spot on my plate for a slice of perfect pumpkin pie.

Maybe I love it so much for the simple reason that it is so iconic. Or perhaps because it isn't overly sweet like some pies (I'm thinking of YOU, pecan pie). Or its smooth texture and spicy flavors. It's just so satisfying.

If you've never made a pumpkin pie from fresh pumpkin (as opposed to canned), I urge you to give it a try. Here's my tutorial for How to Make Oven Roasted Pumpkin Puree.  I really think it makes a huge difference in the flavor of your pie.

This recipe (from Ree's new cookbook) took me by surprise. I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was. But the flavors and texture were spot on.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: PIE CRUST HATES ME. Yes, this one happened to turn out quite well in the end. but not before leaving some of its butter on the bottom of my oven to smoke up the house. Ah well, I'll perfect my crust making skills someday. But the filling makes for one perfect pumpkin pie.

What's your favorite Thanksgiving pie?


Perfect Pumpkin Pie

This pumpkin pie is perfectly smooth, rich, and sweet.

Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword holiday, Pie, pumpkin, Thanksgiving
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Cooling time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 8 people
Author Erica Kastner

Ingredients

  • 1 unbaked pie crust
  • 2 cups pumpkin puree fresh or canned
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk homemade or canned
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • pinch of ground nutmeg
  • pinch of salt
  • ½ cup evaporated cane juice or sweetener of choice

Instructions

  1. 1) Roll out your pie crust and place it in a 9-inch pie pan. Crimp the edges or decorate as desired. Place in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F (220 C).
  2. 2) Place all of the filling ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until nice and smooth. Pour into the prepared pie crust and slip into your preheated oven.
  3. 3) Bake for 15 minutes at 425, then lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 C). Bake for an additional 40-50 minutes, or until the filling isn't wet, but still moves a bit in the middle when jiggled. If the crust is getting too brown for your liking you can always cover it with tin foil or a pie crust shield.
  4. 4) Cool the pie and serve cold or at room temperature, whichever you prefer. Whipped cream is a MUST.

Recipe Notes

adapted from The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays

My current favorite pie crust recipe is my Sourdough Pie Crust

To really up the flavor of your pie, make homemade roasted pumpkin puree.

Pumpkin Pie - Buttered Side Up

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35 Comments

  1. I'm with you - pumpkin is the best and I love ALL pie. I do struggle with pie crust, but I adore pie, so I figure I'll have to get better because I'm not going to stop making pies.

  2. I'm sure that would work, though it won't have the same depth of flavor. The original recipe called for brown sugar.

  3. Actually, I made the crust from scratch! I didn't have great results from the recipe I used (the crust melted in the oven), so I didn't include the recipe. You can do a quick Google search and find a highly rated recipe, I'm sure, or just use your favorite crust recipe! Have a lovely day!

  4. Looks great. Can't wait! I'm gonna try brown sugar. "Homemade" is a relative word. To me, it can mean you assemble the ingredients ( which can include store bought crusts, biscuits,etc.) and bake it yourself. Anonymous may be a purists but homemade isn't the same as "from scratch". And you only called it "perfect" and it certainly looks that! I love the little finger dent and all your photos. This is a keeper.

  5. Ca me semble excellent, il faut absolument que je tente cette recette !!

    Sinon mon dessert préféré pour les fêtes de fin d'année : la brioche des rois

    Et la tarte au citron meringuée

  6. Looks yummy! I love all pies but pumpkin is a favorite followed by cherry. As my Mom and I would say you're pie crust is fine - it's rustic 🙂

  7. Oh, my goodness, this is a "secret" too good to keep for a simple pie crust. Really it is! Got this as a newlywed 40 years ago (I'd been in tears over pie crust before this recipe) and you must have it, too! It only works for a single-crust pie, the bottom crust. You'll see why:
    1 1/2 c flour
    1/2 c vegetable oil (NOT olive oil)
    2T Milk or water
    dash salt

    Measure all ingredients into 9" pie pan. Mix with fork. When blended, press into shape with fingers, going up the sides of pan.
    It's really that easy! This crust is actually flaky (not like the cardboard ones you get with frozen pies). It works for single-crust pies, like lemon meringue, pumpkin, Dutch apple (crumb topping).

  8. I used this recipe and combined the baking and decorating technique from "i am baker" and baked it in a springform pan. Then I covered the entire pie (top and sides) with Cool Whip rosettes. It was the best pie ever!...and I usually prefer cake over pie. But this recipe with sweetened condensed milk instead of the usual evaporated milk used in pumpkin pie recipes made for the creamiest pie. It even impressed my picky chef family members...and we have quite a few professional chefs in the family!

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