Classic Pumpkin Pie

This Classic Pumpkin Pie is creamy, sweet and luscious! Completely homemade from the crust to the creamy filling. It’s utterly delicious and begging to be the star of your Thanksgiving menu!

I love pumpkin pie. No I really really love pumpkin pie, like starry eyed hopelessly smitten kind of love. I know some of you must be nodding along as you read this, I mean who doesn’t dream all year of sinking their teeth into a slice of this perfectly crafted and lovingly baked sweet center piece?

Cinnamon-y, pumpkin-y, all served up in a buttery flaky crust. Are these not the things your dreams are made of? Well mine at least are, and believe me with dreams like these I sleep good at night.

Every year I start posting Thanksgiving recipes early, as early as September and some people get confused by this. The reason is we’re in Canada and our Canadian Thanksgiving is always at the beginning of October. So there you go, no more confusion ever!

But don’t worry, I will continue to post Thanksgiving recipes all the way till the end of November for my American readers, this blog is international!

Homemade crust makes the difference

There’s just something about home made pie crust, especially mine, I guess I’m a little biased. It’s buttery, flakey, golden perfection – if I do say so myself. I mean I guess you can go with store bought if you want, but it might lack that razzle dazzle.

Ingredients

Pie crust

• Follow my recipe here for the best pie crust.

Filling

• Sugar – We’re using both granulated white sugar and packed brown sugar today.
• Spices – Cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice.
• Eggs – We’re using entire eggs and egg yolk to act as a rich binder for our filling.
• Seasoning – Salt is a very important flavor enhancer for our filling, be sure to include it! It really does bring out all the flavors together.
• Lemon – Were using a bit of lemon zest to brighten up and balance the flavors in our filling. Just a bit makes all the difference.
• Milk – We want to use an entire can of evaporated milk.
• Pumpkin – Just straight pumpkin from the can – no fancy stuff required!

How to make a Pumpkin Pie

1. Prepare the crust: Make the pie crust according to this pie crust recipe. You can also use store bought pie crust.
2. Preheat your oven: To 425 F degrees.
3. Combine the filling: In a large bowl combine the sugars, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and salt. Add the rest of the filling ingredients and mix well until well incorporated and smooth, using a mixer or whisk. Set aside.
4. Rest the dough: If using your own homemade pie crust, remove the dough from the refrigerator, and let it sit at room temperature for up to 10 minutes. This is required to soften the dough a bit, so that you can roll it out.
5. Prep the pie dough: Roll out the disc using a rolling pin. If your dough is sticking to the surface or to the rolling pin add a bit more flour as necessary. Roll it until it’s about 1/8 of an inch in thickness. Place the pie dough lightly into a pie plate. I usually roll it on the rolling pin and unroll it over the pie plate. (see video) Crimp the edge and cut off excess dough.
6. Blind bake the crust: Place a piece of parchment paper over the pie shell and fill it with pie weights. If you don’t have pie weights, you can use dry beans. Place the pie shell into the oven and blind bake it for 15 minutes. Read more about blind baking here. Once done, remove the pie weights and the parchment paper from the pie shell.
7. Assemble the pie: Pour the pumpkin mixture into the pie shell and bake at 425 for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 F degrees and bake for another 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool before serving. Top with whipped cream if preferred.

How to tell when the pie is done baking

It can be hard to tell with pumpkin pie when it’s been fully cooked, the filling doesn’t quite change color but if you leave it in the oven too long it can develop unsightly cracks along the center. Every oven is different so keep an eye on it once you start to reach that 30 minute mark after reducing your oven temperature. The pie should still have a bit of jiggle to it when removed from the oven!

Blind Baking

Blind baking basically means baking your pie crust before filling it and baking the entire pie. This is necessary when making a pie with a custard filling like ours here as it prevents the crust from becoming soggy. Don’t forget to read the post on making the perfect pie crust and all about blind baking!

Pie weights

These little weights prevent the pie crust from forming air bubbles and from puffing up. The crust will stay nestled nicely right against the pie plate and bake uniformly. You can buy ceramic or metal weights or just use plain old dried beans.

Want to use fresh pumpkin?

Well then you’re ambitious I’ll give you that, but it’s totally possible to use fresh pumpkin and to achieve that 100% homemade flavor.

• First halve the pumpkin and scoop out all the seeds.
• Heat an inch of water in a sauce pan till boiling, in the mean time slice the pumpkin into chunks. Boil these pieces of pumpkin briefly before reducing the heat, covering and allowing to simmer for 30 minutes.
• Drain and cool before removing the pumpkin from the peel. Mash it all up and you’re good to go!

Leftover pie

Pumpkin pies are great because they can easily be made a day or two ahead. You can bake it, cool it, then wrap it in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge until ready to serve.

Can I Freeze Pumpkin Pie?

Absolutely! It’ll last up to a month in the freezer. Just make sure you wrap it tightly with plastic wrap after it comes to room temperature. Wrap it with a few layers of plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil.

To defrost, place the pie in the fridge overnight and let it defrost slowly.

More Must Try Pumpkin Recipes:

• Pumpkin Delight
• Best Ever Pumpkin Roll
• Pumpkin Magic Cake
• Healthy Whole Wheat And Oats Pumpkin Pancakes
• Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies
• Pumpkin Cinnamon Bread
• The Best Pumpkin Pancakes

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Classic Pumpkin Pie

4.9 from 19 votes

Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 1 hr

Total: 1 hr 20 mins

Author: Joanna Cismaru

Serves: 8

Print Pin Rate

This Classic Pumpkin Pie is creamy, sweet and luscious! Completely homemade from the crust to the creamy filling. It's utterly delicious and begging to be the star of your Thanksgiving menu!

Ingredients

Pie Crust

• 1/2 recipe pie crust

Pumpkin Pie Filling

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
• 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 2 eggs
• 1 egg yolk
• 12 oz evaporated milk 1 can
• 2 cups canned pumpkin

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Make the pie crust according to this pie crust recipe. You can also use store bought pie crust.
• Preheat your oven to 425 F degrees.
• In a large bowl combine the sugars, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and salt. Add the rest of the filling ingredients and mix well until well incorporated and smooth, using a mixer or whisk. Set aside.
• If using your own homemade pie crust, remove the dough from the refrigerator, and let it sit at room temperature for up to 10 minutes. This is required to soften the dough a bit, so that you can roll it out.
• Roll out the disc using a rolling pin. If your dough is sticking to the surface or to the rolling pin add a bit more flour as necessary. Roll it until it’s about 1/8 of an inch in thickness. Place the pie dough lightly into a pie plate. I usually roll it on the rolling pin and unroll it over the pie plate. (see video) Crimp the edge and cut off excess dough.
• Place a piece of parchment paper over the pie shell and fill it with pie weights. If you don't have pie weights, you can use dry beans. Place the pie shell into the oven and blind bake it for 15 minutes. Read more about blind baking here. Once done, remove the pie weights and the parchment paper from the pie shell.
• Pour the pumpkin mixture into the pie shell and bake at 425 for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 F degrees and bake for another 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
• Cool before serving. Top with whipped cream if preferred.

Video

Recipe Notes

1. Check out the recipe to make this easy pie crust with video and step by step instructions here.
2. Pumpkin pies are great because they can easily be made a day or two ahead. You can bake it, cool it, then wrap it in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge until ready to serve.
3. Absolutely! It’ll last up to a month in the freezer. Just make sure you wrap it tightly with plastic wrap after it comes to room temperature. Wrap it with a few layers of plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil.
4. To defrost, place the pie in the fridge overnight and let it defrost slowly.
5. Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 294kcal (15%)Carbohydrates: 41g (14%)Protein: 6g (12%)Fat: 11g (17%)Saturated Fat: 4g (25%)Cholesterol: 77mg (26%)Sodium: 316mg (14%)Potassium: 312mg (9%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 25g (28%)Vitamin A: 9725IU (195%)Vitamin C: 3.7mg (4%)Calcium: 158mg (16%)Iron: 2.1mg (12%)

Course:Dessert, Pie

Cuisine:American

Keyword:classic pumpkin pie, pumpkin pie, thanksgiving recipes

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