Perfect Pumpkin Pie
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Make the perfect pumpkin pie with a buttery, flaky crust and a smooth, crack-free filling. It’s the ultimate holiday dessert!
Pumpkin pie is a holiday classic, and when it’s done right, it’s as comforting as dessert gets—a smooth, warmly-spiced filling in a flaky, buttery crust. But for such a seemingly simple dessert, pumpkin pie can be tricky to get just right. Over the years, I’ve tested at least a dozen recipes, and I’ve run into every pitfall: fillings that won’t set, unsightly cracks, and soggy crusts. Whoever coined the term “easy as pie” had clearly never baked a pumpkin pie!
Part of the challenge lies in the many variables. The type of pan you use—ceramic, glass, or metal—makes a big difference in how the pie bakes. Then there’s the pie crust—no two homemade crusts behave exactly the same. And finally, like cheesecake or flan, pumpkin pie is a custard, which means you need to pull it from the oven while it’s still a little jiggly. Take it out too early and it won’t set; leave it in too long and it’ll crack. Sometimes, even perfect timing can’t prevent that dreaded crack!
But after years of testing, I’ve cracked the code. This pumpkin pie recipe is perfect in all the ways that matter: a buttery, flaky crust, a smooth, rich filling, and no unsightly cracks. It’s everything a pumpkin pie should be—and it’s easier than you’d think.
Table of Contents
“I’ve been baking pumpkin pie for what seems like an eternity. The custard always cracks. Not this time. And, not only does the the pie look great, its absolutely delicious! Thank you.”
What You’ll Need To Make Homemade Pumpkin Pie
- Pie Crust – The flaky, buttery base for the pumpkin filling; use homemade pie crust or store-bought—whichever you prefer. If you’re going with store-bought, opt for the frozen kind in an aluminum pie pan—it’s easier to blind bake and less likely to shrink.
- Pumpkin – The star of the show, adding rich, earthy flavor and a smooth texture. For the best results, go with Libby’s canned pumpkin puree.
- Egg & egg yolks – The whole egg binds the filling, while the yolks bring extra richness and a silky texture.
- Granulated sugar – Adds sweetness and helps balance the warm spices.
- Light brown sugar – Adds a deeper, molasses-like sweetness that complements the pumpkin.
- All-purpose flour – Slightly thickens and stabilizes the filling to prevent unsightly cracks.
- Salt – Enhances all the flavors and keeps the sweetness in check.
- Spices (ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, black pepper) – This classic pumpkin pie spice blend gives the dessert its warm, signature flavor, with just a hint of heat from the black pepper.
- Evaporated milk – Makes the filling creamy and smooth, giving the pie a luscious, velvety texture.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Blind Bake The Pie Crust
If using a store-bought crust, simply follow the blind-baking instructions on the package. If using a homemade pie dough, roll it out with a rolling pin and fit it snugly into a 9-inch deep-dish pie dish, then chill for at least 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375°F. Remove the pie crust from the refrigerator and place it on a baking sheet (this makes it easy to move in and out of the oven).
Cover the crust with a piece of parchment paper and fill it about three-quarters full with dried beans or pie weights.
Bake for 20 minutes. Take the crust out of the oven and remove the parchment paper and beans/pie weights.
Bake for another 15 to 20 minutes, until the dough is dry and golden. Don’t worry if the bottom puffs up; just press it down gently with a flat spatula, taking care not to puncture it. Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F.
Step 3: Make The Filling
While the crust finishes cooking, combine the pumpkin pie filling ingredients in a large bowl.
Whisk until the mixture is smooth.
Step 4: Bake the Pumpkin Pie
Pour the filling into the pre-baked crust.
Bake the pie for 50 to 60 minutes, until the filling is just set. It should look dry around the edges and the center should jiggle just slightly if you nudge the pan. The pie will look a little puffed when it comes out of the oven, but it will settle as it cools.
Cool the pie on a wire rack (leave it on the baking sheet) to room temperature, a few hours. Slice or refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Video Tutorial
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Perfect Pumpkin Pie
Make the perfect pumpkin pie with a buttery, flaky crust and a smooth, crack-free filling. It’s the ultimate holiday dessert!
Ingredients
- 1 homemade pie crust or 9-inch deep-dish frozen pie crust shell (thawed)
- 1 (15-oz) can pure pumpkin (about 1¾ cups)
- 1 large egg
- 3 large eggs yolks
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1¼ cups evaporated milk (you'll need one 12-oz can but you won't use all of it)
Instructions
Blind Bake the Crust
- For homemade crust: Roll out the dough and gently fit it into a (9-inch) deep-dish pie pan, ensuring it's snug against the pan's edges and bottom. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Remove the chilled pie crust from the refrigerator and place it on a baking sheet (this makes it easy to move in and out of the oven). Cover the crust with a piece of parchment paper and fill about three-quarters full with dried beans or pie weights. Bake for 20 minutes. Take the crust out of the oven; remove the parchment paper and beans/pie weights and tent the edges with a few strips of foil folded in half lengthwise (this will protect the edges from getting too dark). Bake for another 15 to 20 minutes, until the dough is dry and lightly golden. Don't worry if the bottom puffs up; just press it down gently with a flat spatula, such as a pancake turner, taking care not to puncture it. Remove the foil but don't throw it away; you may need it again.
- For frozen crust: Follow the instructions for blind-baking on the package.
- After blind-baking the crust, reduce the oven temperature to 325°F.
Make the Filling
- In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin, egg, egg yolks, granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, pepper, and evaporated milk. Whisk until smooth, then pour the filling into the pre-baked crust.
- Bake the pie for 50 to 60 minutes (at 325°F), until the filling is just set. It should look dry around the edges, but the center should jiggle just slightly if you nudge the pan. Keep a close eye on the pie as it bakes; if ever the crust looks like it's browning too quickly, tent the edges with foil strips. Let the pie cool on a rack (leave it on the baking sheet) to room temperature, a few hours. Slice or refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Make Ahead: Pumpkin pie can be made one day ahead of time and refrigerated.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The dough can be made ahead, wrapped in plastic, and refrigerated for up to 2 days, or frozen for up to 1 month. If you freeze it, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator. The pie can be frozen after baking for up to 1 month. After it is completely cooled, double-wrap it securely with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place it in heavy-duty freezer bag. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (10 servings)
- Calories: 335
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Sugar: 27g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Sodium: 287mg
- Cholesterol: 103mg
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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First time making a Pumpkin Pie and I chose your recipe rather than using the one on the can of organic pumpkin puree. Well, I’m sure that would of been ok, but I instead I decided to try Jenn’s and of course, excellent! A most trusted source for fine recipes and foods! Thank you!
This look amazing and with all the great reviews I can’t wait to try it. I have a 10” pie plate, 2.5” deep. Should I adjust the recipe to make sure I have enough filling?
Hi, For that size pie plate, I’d suggest making 1.5 times the recipe. Bake time is likely to be longer so keep a close eye on it. Hope you enjoy!
I made this as one of my Thanksgiving desserts, of course. I had already made a crust from a different recipe, though. My sister-in-law commented that it was the best pumpkin pie she’s ever had. She asked if it was from fresh pumpkin, and when I replied in the negative she gasped, “oh, don’t tell your brother I said that!” My brother also prides himself on his pie-making, and apparently believes that pumpkin pie is best with fresh pumpkin, so I guess saying this from-can pie was the best was akin to sacrilege.
I’ve tested several recipes for pumpkin pie and this is one of our favourites. The filling is delicious, firm but not dry, silky smooth, not too sweet, and the spices are well balanced. The baked pie is picture-perfect with no cracks or shrinking away from the sides of the crust. I used a 9-inch deep dish Pyrex pie plate and the filling came to the brim. I made my own pastry but otherwise followed the recipe without making any changes. One can of evaporated milk is slightly more than 1 1/4 cups, and although I was tempted to use the whole can, I didn’t. The pie baked for 65 minutes. The centre was still a bit jiggly when I took it out of the oven, but firmed up as the pie cooled. The filling prep couldn’t be simpler. Excellent!
Can I bake and freeze? I’d like to make 3-4 but don’t want to eat them all in a couple of days @FamilyofThree
Sure! See the bottom of the recipe for freezer-friendly instructions.
This came out amazing. I cut the white sugar out completely but did the brown sugar. It was perfect. I used a whole pumpkin and doubled the rest of the ingredients. Made 3 pies. Ate 3 pies 😉
Hi Jenn
I picked your recipe because with over 200 reviews and a 5-star rating it had to be good! I made it for Canadian Thanksgiving (today). I followed your directions as close as I could (I don’t have a food processor) but fear not! It was an absolute SUCCESSSSSSS! So much so I had to post a review! It was a little tedious at times but well worth it! I love the crunchy crust rather than soggy! I hate it when I try those triple tested recipes and they don’t turn out!! Yours did feel like you had perfected it! Thank you! It was beautiful! I sent pics to all my friends. I read some of the reviews and most were like mine. It’s a great recipe. I can’t wait to try others!
HAPPY CANADIAN THANKSGIVING!
Hello, I’ll need to bake two pies at a time. Does the oven temperature need to be adjusted? Or baking time? Thank you
Hi Caroline, the oven temperature should remain the same. The baking time should be the same if not just a touch longer. Hope everyone enjoys!
The absolute best thing I’ve ever baked.
Help!
I made your recipe for the pie crust but it turned into a ball in the food processor, I’m talking a smooth easy and soft to work with ball. Not crumbly like yours arghhhh.
Is this going to be a problem? What should I do? Is it salvageable?
I told everyone I’m making the pumpkin pie for tomorrow and I think I’ve officially screwed myself.
It’s resting in the fridge. Was planning on letting it sit there overnight. Please help.
It should be fine, Jenn – in the AM, let it sit out a bit so that it’s malleable enough to roll, then proceed. 😊
Thank you!!
Also just curious is it pumpkin purée can that’s used in the filling?
Yes. 🙂
This pie was complete hit!!! Everyone loved it. The perfect balance of sweetness and spice. I am making again this weekend for Thanksgiving. Thank you!