Pumpkin Pecan Streusel Torte

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With a cakey pecan crust, pumpkin pie filling, and crunchy streusel, this pumpkin torte is an easy yet elegant alternative to pumpkin pie.

Pumpkin Pecan Streusel Torte

With a cakey pecan crust, pumpkin pie filling, and a crunchy oat streusel topping, this torte is a simple yet elegant alternative to more time-consuming holiday desserts, like pumpkin pie or pumpkin cheesecake. The recipe comes from one of my readers, Linda Grimes, a restaurateur from South Lake Tahoe—thank you, Linda!

Pumpkin Torte Ingredients

pumpkin torte ingredients

Step-by-Step Instructions

Begin by combining the pecans, flour, brown sugar, butter, and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade.

crust ingredients in food processor

Process until the nuts are finely ground.

Ground crust in a food processor.

Transfer the crust mixture to a greased springform pan.

crust crumbs in pan

Pat the crumbs into an even layer (I usually use the bottom of a glass or measuring cup to flatten it evenly), then set aside.

crust pressed in pan

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs.

Glass bowl of whisked eggs.

Add the remaining filling ingredients.

remaining filling ingredients

Whisk until evenly combined.

whisked pumpkin filling

Pour the filling over the crust in the pan.

filling poured into pan

Bake for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, make the streusel topping: Combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, and spices in a medium bowl.

streusel topping ingredients in bowl

Mix well, then add the butter pieces.

adding butter to streusel

Using your fingers, rub the butter into the other ingredients until the mixture is clumpy.

Bowl of clumpy topping.

Stir in the pecans, and then refrigerate until ready to use.

streusel topping with pecans

Once the torte has baked for 30 minutes, remove it from the oven.

partially baked pumpkin torte

Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over top.

streusel sprinkled on top

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes more, or until the filling is set and the streusel is golden.

baked pumpkin torte

Let the torte cool on a rack until completely cool, about 4 hours. To serve, remove the outer ring from the springform pan and transfer the torte to a platter.

pumpkin torte on rack

Serve with sweetened whipped cream, if desired. Enjoy!

Slice of pumpkin pecan streusel torte on a plate.

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Pumpkin Pecan Streusel Torte

With a cakey pecan crust, pumpkin pie filling, and crunchy streusel, this pumpkin torte is an easy yet elegant alternative to pumpkin pie.

Servings: 8 to 10
Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Cook Time: 55 Minutes
Total Time: 1 Hour 25 Minutes

Ingredients

For the Crust

  • 1 cup pecans
  • ¾ cup all purpose flour
  • 6 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt

For the Filling

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 (15-oz) can pure pumpkin, such as Libby's
  • 1 (12 fl-oz) can evaporated milk
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1¾ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

For the Streusel

  • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup rolled oats
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • ¾ cup chopped pecans

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Spray a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Make the Crust: Combine the pecans, flour, brown sugar, butter, and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Process until the nuts are finely ground. Transfer the crust mixture to the prepared pan. Using your hands or the bottom of a dry measuring cup, pat into an even layer. Place the pan on a baking sheet for easy handling and set aside.
  3. Make the Filling: In a large bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the remaining filling ingredients and whisk until smooth. Pour the filling over the crust in the pan. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the filling is set around the edges but still wobbly in the center.
  4. Make the Streusel Topping: Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mix until well combined. Add the butter pieces and, using your fingers, rub the butter into the other ingredients until the mixture is evenly moistened and clumpy. Stir in the pecans and refrigerate until ready to use.
  5. Once the torte has baked for 30 minutes, remove it from the oven. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the partially baked filling (don't worry that the filling is still a bit liquid; the topping will not sink). Bake for 25 to 30 minutes more, until the filling is set and the topping is golden brown. Let the torte cool completely on a rack, about 4 hours. To serve, run a thin-bladed knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the torte from the sides, then remove the outer ring from the springform pan and transfer the torte to a platter. Slice into wedges and serve with sweetened whipped cream, if desired.
  6. This torte is best made on the day of serving. Store leftovers, loosely covered with foil, in the refrigerator. Allow to come to room temperature before serving.

Nutrition Information

Powered by Edamam

  • Per serving (10 servings)
  • Calories: 432
  • Fat: 24 g
  • Saturated fat: 9 g
  • Carbohydrates: 50 g
  • Sugar: 35 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 7 g
  • Sodium: 151 mg
  • Cholesterol: 73 mg

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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Comments

  • Epic! Served at a family event. “Better than pie”.

    • — Cheryl on November 14, 2024
    • Reply
  • Hi Jenn, if I make this with a ginger crust as some others are doing, is there something I can substitute in the topping for the nuts? Have family with nut allergies. Maybe this would destroy the recipe and I should make something else but this sounds so delicious. Thanks.

    • — Dede on November 11, 2024
    • Reply
    • Hi Dede, If you’re dealing with a nut allergy, I honestly don’t think this is the best option for you. I’m sorry! If you want to do something else with pumpkin, here’s a collection that you can take a look at. Hope you find something that works!

  • This is a fabulous recipe! It is so tasty and also so quick and easy. I wanted to make a pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, but I didn’t want the work of pastry. The pecan crust is easy and quick and delicious. I didn’t make the streusel topping because I wanted it to be more traditional like a pie. I will make this again, thank you!

    • — Sarah Mann on October 15, 2024
    • Reply
  • This question may have already been asked but can sweet potatoes be substituted for pumpkin? We don’t care for pumpkin.

    • — Donna on December 12, 2023
    • Reply
    • Sure – enjoy!

      • — Jenn on December 13, 2023
      • Reply
  • It’s amazing! I actually prefer this to traditional pumpkin pie, cos’ I don’t need to make the pie crust!

    Changes made:
    – steamed some fresh pumpkin and removed the skin after steaming.
    – used 30% less sugar for the filling and it was still really sweet. I think I will reduce sugar for the topping next time too.
    – we don’t have pecans here so we used walnuts instead. Worked well.

    Definitely party-worthy!

    • — Wendy on November 27, 2023
    • Reply
  • Delicious! I made it this year for Thanksgiving. Prepped ingredients as much as I could the day before and put it together Thanksgiving morning. It was great. The mixture of spices was right on!

    • — Cathy on November 24, 2023
    • Reply
  • Hello, Happy Thanksgiving.
    Big Fan – love all the recipes.
    I made this torte last year and everyone loved it so I made it again and something went wrong, as topping did not incorporate with a filling. My only explanation is that waited too long after putting it and instead of taking the torte out after 30 minutes, I waited 40. Do you think it might be a reason or something else.
    I am keeping the recipe like many others from your website.

    • — Halina Staniszewska on November 24, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Halina, So glad you like the recipes and hope you had a great Thanksgiving! Yes, I think that having the torte in the oven for 40 minutes would have made the filling more firm so the streusel didn’t stick to it quite as well. Hope you have better luck with it next time!

      • — Jenn on November 29, 2023
      • Reply
  • Delicious!
    I used 1 1/2 cups 10% cream and just 1/2 cup of brown sugar in the filling. Looked beautiful and tasted great. A perfect combo of pumpkin pie and apple crisp!

    • — Karen on November 18, 2023
    • Reply

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