20 Best Pumpkin Pie Recipes from Scratch

Pumpkin pie recipes from scratch are one of the most delicious parts of the holiday season. Whether you use fresh pumpkin puree or canned, you can make a pie that will dazzle guests.

Fresh vs. Canned Pumpkin in Pumpkin Pie Recipes from Scratch

While you can use either fresh or canned pumpkin in a pumpkin pie recipe from scratch, home chefs generally agree that canned pumpkin is the better of the two options for the following reasons:

• Silkier texture

• Stronger pumpkin flavor

• Less work involved than preparing fresh pumpkin puree

• Raw pumpkin needs to be sweetened

Fresh pumpkins can be used in pumpkin pie recipes if you have a large harvest of pumpkins that need to be processed.Otherwise, since it doesn’t taste better than canned pumpkin in pumpkin pie, the effort to cook, carve, and mash fresh pumpkin for puree is hardly worth the trouble.

Tips for Making Pumpkin Pie Recipes from Scratch

Pumpkin pie recipes from scratch are some of the less complicated pies you can make at home. Luckily, you can follow these tricks to make the process even easier:

• Chill the pie dough before baking. Chilled pie dough leads to a flakier crust.
• Use an egg wash on the crust before baking. Make an egg wash out of a beaten egg white diluted with water and brush it on the crust to get a nice golden color on it.
• Take the pie out of the oven just before it sets. The pie will continue to cook after it’s removed from the oven. If you wait until the pumpkin pie is completely set in the oven, the additional heat can cause it to crack.
• Cover any cracks with whipped cream. If you do end up with an unsightly crack in the surface of your pumpkin pie, you can hide the crack with a whipped cream topping.

20 Best Pumpkin Pie Recipes from Scratch

1. Amish Pumpkin Pie

Amish Pumpkin Pie from Little Home in the Making is a silky custard-style pie made with pumpkin pie puree, heavy cream, spices, and eggs.An advantage of Amish recipes is that they utilize simple, everyday ingredients. Substituting heavy cream for whole milk gives this pie a decadent texture and flavor.

2. The Best Pumpkin Pie

If you’re looking for a convenient pumpkin pie that can be made days in advance, look no further than this pumpkin pie from Hostess at Heart.The texture of this pumpkin pie is perfect without adding any cornstarch or other thickeners.

3. Homemade Pumpkin Pie from Scratch

The homemade pumpkin pie from scratch at Sweetly Cakes uses fresh pumpkin puree instead of canned pumpkin puree if you’re looking for a pie recipe that focuses on whole foods.

Be sure to add a mixture of white sugar and brown sugar or cane sugar to help sweeten the fresh pumpkin puree. Note that the fresh puree in this pie will give it a darker finished color.

4. Old Fashioned Pumpkin Pie from Scratch

This old-fashioned pumpkin pie from Saporito Kitchen can be made with either canned pureed pumpkin or fresh pureed pumpkin. Canned pumpkin pie filling should not be used.Make sure to chill the finished dough in the fridge for thirty minutes before rolling it out to ensure a buttery, flaky crust.

5. Gingerbread Pumpkin Pie

If you’re looking for something a little different than the traditional butter crust used with most pumpkin pies, check out the gingerbread crust on this spicy pumpkin pie at Live to Sweet.Top things off with a spiced whipped cream flavored with vanilla paste, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg.

6. The Best Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie

Just because you’re following a gluten-free diet doesn’t mean you can’t have pumpkin pie. Try a gluten-free pumpkin pie recipe here from Strength and Sunshine that is also dairy-free.The gluten-free crust on this pie is simple to make with 1-to-1 substitute flour, dairy-free butter, and a granulated sweetener.

7. Pumpkin Coconut Pie

Tired of the same old-fashioned pumpkin pie recipe? Try this pumpkin-flavored coconut pie at Live to Sweet for something a little different.Top the sweet and spicy filling in this pie with toasted coconut flakes, cinnamon-flavored whipped cream, and candied pumpkin seeds.

8. Homemade Pumpkin Pie from Scratch

The silky texture of this homemade pumpkin pie from Two Cups Flour is due to a mixture of sour cream, mascarpone, and heavy cream.A secret ingredient in this pie is the addition of bourbon. The bourbon gives the pie a rich, sweet flavor that compliments the vanilla and pumpkin pie spice mix well.

9. Pumpkin Pie Recipe

The pumpkin pie recipe at Baked by an Introvert features molasses as a secret ingredient to help pull everything together.This recipe also uses pie crust cutouts as a way to add extra decoration to the pie filling for special occasions.

10. Pumpkin Pie from Scratch

Want a pumpkin pie with a little more complex taste? Try this homemade pumpkin pie filling from Super Golden Bakes that includes aromatic and orange bitters to deepen its flavor profile.Using a store-bought pie crust in this recipe helps cut preparation time in half without sacrificing flavor and texture.

11. Pumpkin Pie Tart

If you aren’t into a custard-based pumpkin pie, try out this pumpkin pie tart from Sally’s Baking Addiction for a little firmer texture.The crust for this pumpkin pie includes crushed pecans for a nutty background and the filling includes black pepper for some extra spice. Garnish the pie with whipped cream or caramel.

12. Pumpkin Pie with Caramel Whipped Cream

The filling of this pumpkin pie at Little Sweet Baker couldn’t be easier to mix up – just throw together condensed milk, pumpkin pie spice, canned pumpkin puree, salt, and eggs for a pie that comes together in less than an hour.

The star of this traditional pumpkin pie is a caramel-flavored whipped cream that is used as a topping. Use prepared whipping cream and caramel sauce or get fancy and make your own.

13. Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie

To keep this pumpkin pie from Joy Food Sunshine dairy-free, coconut milk is used as a substitute for whole milk and heavy cream. A good tip for a crispy crust on this pie is to take your dairy-free butter or shorting and chill it in the freezer before use.

Using super cold fats in your crust will lead to pockets of air in the crust that will make it flaky and delicious.

14. Pecan Pumpkin Pie

Pecans are a delicious complementary ingredient to the sweet pumpkin filling and cozy spices in the pumpkin pie recipe at Mix and Stir.Instead of mixing the pecans into the crust or filling of this pie, whole pecan halves are used to decorate the surface of the pie with any design you choose.

15. Ginger Pumpkin Tart

Ginger is one of the most common spices used in autumn desserts, but it usually takes a backseat to cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in pumpkin pie recipes.The ginger pumpkin tart at Alaska from Scratch puts the ginger flavor front and center. Serve this tart garnished with fresh whipped cream and candied ginger pieces.

16. Pumpkin Cheesecake Crunch Bars

If you’re not a fan of traditional pumpkin pies, the layer of creamy cheesecake in these pumpkin pie crunch bars from Yammy’s Noshery may convince you otherwise.

These bars include all of the ingredients in an old-fashioned pumpkin pie like a spicy crust and creamy pumpkin filling. Instead of using whipped cream, top these pie bars off with a crunchy streusel instead.

17. Pumpkin Pie Energy Balls

Need a portable version of pumpkin pie for your next holiday get-together? Look no further than these pumpkin pie energy balls at Nutrition in the Kitchen.

These pumpkin pie-flavored balls are vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free, making them a healthy snacking choice for people who want all of the flavors of pumpkin pie without the fat, calories, and sugar that go with it.

18. Salted Caramel Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Just because a pumpkin pie is vegan and gluten-free doesn’t mean it can’t be indulgent too. The salted caramel pumpkin pie recipe features a decadent sauce that takes this dessert to the next level.

The pumpkin pie filling in this homemade pie is made from freshly boiled pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spices, soy milk, brown sugar, salt, and cornstarch.

19. Easy Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie recipes from scratch don’t have to be complicated. The foolproof version from Cake Whiz only has five ingredients, making it a snap to whip up in a hurry for your next gathering.

The key to an ideal texture in this pumpkin pie recipe is to start baking the pie at 425 degrees, then lower the temperature to 350 degrees after the first fifteen minutes.

20. Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie filling is delicious all on its own, but chocolate chips take the pie filling in this pie at Pizzazzerie to the next level. Studded with semisweet chocolate chips, this recipe will convert even the most stubborn pumpkin pie hater at your holiday table.

How to Tell When Pumpkin Pie is Done

To see if the pumpkin pie is done, stick a toothpick or knife into the surface of the pie. If the instrument comes out clean, then the pie is set and done.

It’s a good idea to take a pumpkin pie out of the oven slightly before it is set. The pie will continue to cook on the counter as it cools, and this prevents it from becoming overdone.

Ways to Prevent Soggy Pie Crust

Preventing soggy pie crust is one of the biggest challenges when making a pumpkin pie recipe from scratch. There are a few ways you can prevent this while assembling your pumpkin pie:

• Blind bake the crust. Before adding pie filling, bake the crust in the oven for fifteen minutes after placing pie weights or marbles in the bottom of the pie pan to keep the bottom flat.
• Seal the pie crust. Pie crust can be sealed with egg white diluted by water or with a layer of chocolate painted across the crust’s interior.
• Preheat the baking sheet. The key to keeping pie crust from getting soggy is cooking it quickly at high heat. Preheating the baking sheet keeps the cold metal from slowing the baking process.
• Thicken the filling. Thickening the pumpkin pie filling with cornstarch and straining it in a cheesecloth or sieve before adding it to the pie crust can prevent sogginess.
• Use less water in the dough. If you find that your pie crust is turning out soggy, try using a little less water when you assemble the dough. Decrease the amount by two teaspoons until you get a crust that is dry enough to bake without getting soggy.

FAQ

Why Is My Pumpkin Pie Watery?

• The pie wasn’t cooked at a high enough temperature. Increase the temperature of the oven to thicken the pie filling as it cooks.
• The pie wasn’t cooked long enough. If you take pumpkin pie out of the oven before it’s finished setting, the center of the pie will still be watery and runny.
• The pie is still too hot to serve. Rest the finished pumpkin pie on the counter for thirty minutes or place it in the fridge to help thicken up the filling as it cools.

How Do You Thicken Pumpkin Pie Filling?

To thicken pumpkin pie filling, add a teaspoon or two of thickening agent and stir it into the filling until it is thoroughly combined. These thickening agents can be used:

• Cornstarch

• Arrowroot powder

• Potato starch

• Tapioca powder

• Flour

Can You Overmix Pumpkin Pie?

Pumpkin pie can be overmixed, but it’s an easy enough mistake to fix. If left uncorrected, pumpkin pie that is overmixed can cause air bubbles and cracks to form in the filling as the pie bakes.

To fix overmixed pumpkin pie filling, allow the filling to stand for fifteen minutes after mixing to allow any air to escape the mixture before baking.

Can Pumpkin Pie Be Frozen?

Pumpkin pie freezes well due to its high-fat content. To freeze the pumpkin pie, wrap the pie in aluminum foil and put it in the freezer.

To serve frozen pumpkin pie, take it out of the freezer and thaw it in the fridge overnight or for several hours before serving.If you plan on freezing pumpkin pies, be sure not to add a whipped cream topping until after the pie is thawed.

How Long Can You Keep Pumpkin Pie?

You can keep pumpkin pie covered and stored in the fridge for three to four days.

Pumpkin Pie Is a Delicious Autumn Treat

Pumpkin pie recipes from scratch are a fun way to get into the spirit of the holiday season. Whether you like a straightforward old-fashioned pumpkin pie or a flavored variation, you’re sure to find a homemade recipe you love on our all-star list.