Pumpkin Pie Recipe

There’s no question that pumpkin pie is an American classic that finds a home on Thanksgiving dinner tables across the country. Year after year, families recreate a classic pumpkin pie recipe as one of their Thanksgiving desserts to bring warm, comforting flavor with minimal effort. That’s why we love Food Network Kitchen’s pumpkin pie recipe; it’s a classic crowd pleaser that’s easy to master for both professional chefs and home cooks alike. Whether it’s your first time hosting or you’ve been your Thanksgiving party planner for years, our pumpkin pie recipe delivers bold flavor with only a few simple ingredients. Better yet, it can be served with a range of inventive toppings to add variety year after year.

How to Make Pumpkin Pie Like a Pro

Mix the wet and dry separately: As is the case with most baked goods, it’s important to mix the wet and the dry ingredients together separately. Mixing the wet ingredients in one bowl and the dry ingredients in another bowl is a step you’ll see in some of the best pumpkin pie recipes: it helps ensure that each ingredient is incorporated thoroughly and consistently, and helps guarantee there aren’t any clumps or big bits of unmixed ingredients.

Jiggle to test doneness: The easiest way to tell if a homemade pumpkin pie is ready is to jiggle it. Wearing oven mitts, shake the pie gently to see if anything in the center moves, shakes or jiggles. A perfectly-cooked pumpkin pie will be completely set in the center, meaning that you won’t see any movement from the edges to the center.

Add flavorful toppings: While homemade pumpkin pie is delicious on its own, one of the best parts of this dessert (and most desserts!) is the wide range of fun and flavorful toppings you can add. Our sour cream topping helps offset the sweetness of the pie with a bit of tangy flavor, making for a balanced dessert that hits all of your taste buds at once. If you’re looking for something sweeter, our homemade streusel topping adds a crunchy texture that nicely balances out the creamy texture underneath.

Pumpkin Pie Ingredients

Canned pumpkin: Canned pumpkin is a versatile ingredient that can be used in both savory and sweet recipes from breakfast to dinner to dessert. It’s a fantastic pantry staple to keep on hand, too. It’s key to any basic pumpkin pie recipe — the canned product provides consistent flavor and texture every time, yielding perfect pies that you can rely on for years to come.

Sweetened condensed milk: This simple addition provides sweet, milky flavor to whatever it’s added in. The thick, sticky ingredient is a great way to punch up any homemade pumpkin pie recipe; it adds creamy texture and pleasant sweetness without being too cloying or sugary.

Dry spices: The best pumpkin pie recipes are loaded with warm, comforting seasonings, and this one is no different. We use a combination of ground ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg to achieve a fully-flavored pie that makes us feel totally cozy inside.

Can I Use Fresh Pumpkin Instead?

While you can absolutely use fresh homemade pumpkin puree instead of canned pumpkin for this homemade pumpkin pie, we’ve found that the canned version is a more reliable, stable option. Fresh pumpkin can vary in its moisture content, producing flavor and texture that isn’t necessarily consistent every time. Alternatively, our pumpkin pie recipe with canned pumpkin yields the same results every time you make it. There’s no need to worry about extra moisture or depth of flavor; the canned ingredient is an easy way to ensure consistency when making pumpkin pie from scratch.

What’s the Best Way to Avoid Cracks In Pumpkin Pie?

The most common reason that your homemade pumpkin pie has cracks across the top is typically from over-baking. Cracks are a result of the pumpkin pie ingredients drying out, and the lack of moisture causes the pie filling to split and crack. To make the best pumpkin pie from scratch and avoid cracking, be sure to follow the time outlined in the recipe above. If you’re not sure whether or not it’s done, try jiggling the pie throughout the cooking process. Once it’s set in the center, your pie is ready to go.

Can I Make This Pumpkin Pie in Advance?

As long as it’s stored correctly, you can absolutely make homemade pumpkin pie in advance. To do so, bake the pie fully, then let it cool completely on the counter. Once the pie has reached room temperature, cover it loosely with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator for up to two days before serving.