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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Can I use pumpkin spice instead of buying all the spices?
Hi Carol, Yes, you can get away with it. I would still add the black pepper in addition to the pumpkin pie spice. Enjoy!
I just wanted to say thank you for this amazing recipe!!!! I have both eaten and made many a pumpkin pie in my day, it is my favorite. I decided to try this recipe today- both the crust and pie, and I dare say it is the best by far and truly perfect. It raises the bar so much that it’s almost another level of sophistication or different dessert. Happy holidays and many blessings to you and your family!
Jenn, Can I substitute heavy cream for your condensed milk in your pumpkin pie recipe?
Hi Lisa, I’m assuming you mean the evaporated milk — yes — heavy cream will work here. Hope you enjoy!
Hi! I’d like to make this into individual pies using a muffin tin. Any idea how long I should bake it?
Hi Julie, unfortunately I don’t know how long they’ll take in that form so you’ll just need to keep a close eye on them. Please report back if you try it!
Hi Jenn! I love your recipes and both cookbooks, and my Thanksgiving table will be mostly made up of your recipes!
Question for you. To save time (and my sanity, since I have a toddler underfoot), I am thinking of making and freezing all of my desserts this weekend. I am making your pumpkin pie (x2), apple pie, pumpkin cheesecake, and possibly the pumpkin poundcake. I’ve never frozen baked pies before. This is kind of a finicky question, but can you tell me if freezing the pumpkin and apple pies will change their texture in any way? Can you tell they have been frozen, or do they basically taste the same after being thawed? Thanks so much!
So glad you like the recipes. 🙂
It sounds like you are going to have a very busy baking weekend! I think all of the recipes freeze nicely and will taste great when they’re thawed. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!
The story styled portion of the recipe says 375 and does not mention reducing to 325 whereas the recipe style further down does. Unfortunately, I discovered this after cooking at 325 for 60 minutes, so my pie was completely undercooked in the center without adding a bunch to my time.
At the 375, it’s a good recipe and a good pie, but at 325 it is not, so I do have to give 3 stars due to the conflicting and problematic information.
This is a direct quote from the text under the picture with the hand removing the parchment & beans from the crust in the “story styled portion” – it doesn’t conflict with the recipe at all…you just missed it.
“Bake for another 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, such as a pancake turner, taking care not to puncture it. Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F.”
Hello Jenn, I have been searching for the “Perfect Pumpkin Pie” for a VERY long tine. I would lie to try your recipe but wondered if I could use fresh pumpkin …. from my Halloween pumpkin? I have always had trouble with the spices because of the lack of flavor that the larger pumpkins have. What do you think?
Thank you!
Cindy
Hi Cindy, A few readers have commented that they’ve used fresh pumpkin successfully, but I’ve never prepared it that way. I don’t think canned pumpkin has a ton of flavor on its own — it’s really the added spices that give it flavor, so I think you can feel confident using the fresh pumpkin from a flavor standpoint. Please LMK how it turns out if you try it!
I’m going to try it with fresh roasted sugar pumpkin, I will come back and let you know how it is!
can you substitute half and half for the evaporated milk?
Hi Kit, I wouldn’t suggest 1/2 & 1/2 but heavy cream would work. Please LMK how it turns out if you try it with cream!
Hi Jenn!
I’m going to try it with whipping cream and will report back tomorrow 🙂
Hi Jenn: I am not at all comfortable baking, was not taught when I was growing up and today I’m basically afraid of trying for fearing of a massive failure. Is there a basic baking book that could help me? I don’t know the first thing about making a pie crust, for example, and Thanksgiving is almost here.
Thanks.
Pamela
Hi Pamela, Offhand, I can’t think of a book that would be appropriate for you, but these baking tips are a really good place to start. Just keep in mind that you can start off with some simple recipes to build your confidence and work your way up from there. A great one to start with is this apple cake recipe. Hope that helps!
Jenn: I so appreciate your response.
Pamela
Hi, Pamela,
I highly recommend “The Book on Pie,” by Erin Jeanne McDowell. I’ve found it super helpful. I hope this helps!
I’m not great with dough so I buy the Pillsbury pie dough (2 per box) in the refrigerated section near the biscuits. You can just roll it out over the pie plate and follow rest of recipe.
This is the best pumpkin pie I’ve ever made, it’s so creamy and so well spiced. I didn’t have ginger so I left that out, and I accidentally added a little too much evaporated milk, but it still turned out great. My boyfriend said it’s the best pumpkin pie he’s ever had and he does NOT say stuff like that lightly. I roasted some pumpkins I got at the farmers market for the pumpkin and have way more left over than I thought I would, and I will definitely be making this again soon 🙂
Can I use half and half instead of evaporated milk?
Hi Amy, I wouldn’t use 1/2 and 1/2 but heavy cream would work. Please LMK how it turns out if you try it with heavy cream!