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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I have looked at a few different recipes and noticed that some use sweetened condensed milk and some use heavy cream. What is the difference? Why do you choose evaporated milk over heavy cream?
Hi Chrissy, I’ve always used evaporated milk in pumpkin pie, but heavy cream works too. Sorry I don’t have a more scientific explanation!
No worries at all! Your explanation works for me! Thank you for responding! I’m so excited to try it. All of your recipes, that I have tried, have been amazing.
Hi! Can you kindly confirm the temperature for baking the pie? I saw a comment that someone baked @ 325 for 60 mins and it was underdone, then she said another set of directions said to bake it at 375. I’m going to bake 2 of these tomorrow!
Hi Pam, the empty crust gets blind baked at 375°F. Once you remove the crust from the oven, reduce the temp to 325°F as that’s the temp that the crust with the filling should be baked. Hope that clarifies!
Hello, would making this pie with a graham cracker crust work? Would directions to pre-bake the crust be the same? Thank you!
Hi Lena, A graham cracker crust would work here. You’ll still need to blind bake it but that initial bake time will definitely be a lot quicker than that of the pastry crust. Please LMK how it turns out!
I’m wondering, can I leave the flour out of this recipe to make it gluten free?
Hi Connie, I wouldn’t just omit it; I’d replace it with gluten-free flour or cornstarch. Hope that helps!
Jenn, please don’t freak out but I want to make your filling recipe and not pre bake my crust (50 years of horror pre bake incidents). I would like to use unbaked shell and the age old time and temp 425 reduced to 350. The usual pumpkin pie filling has 2 eggs. Does the extra egg you use require more or less bake time or does it matter?
Also, you really have more sugar and have flour in your filling, do any of these items effect baking time and temp I want to use as mentioned above in unbaked shell?
No, they wouldn’t affect the baking time.
Hi Marilyn, I really prefer baking custard pies at a lower temp. That said, the extra egg does not impact the baking time.
I have always doubled my eggs in my pumpkin pie and used the age old time and temp that you spoke of, and it’s always turned out perfect. In my experience, the extra eggs do not require more time, they only make the pie a bit more custard-y. Hope this helps. =)
I baked sugar pumpkins and made a purée out of them. Can I use this in the recipe?
Sure – enjoy!
Perfect is an accurate name for this recipe!
Hi Jenn,
I noticed that you used a ceramic pie dish. Normally I use a glass pie dish for my pumpkin pie but for this recipe do you prefer the ceramic? I made your pumpkin filling two years ago and it is now my go to recipe.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family
Hi Debbie, Both work well, so whatever you prefer. 🙂
Hi jen!
Thoughts on a store bought graham cracker crust? Would i need to move from aluminum pie pan to glass dish before baking? My son is the only one who likes pumpkin pie and i already have one in the pantry!
*im making your french apple cake for the rest of us 🙂
Hi, A graham cracker crust would work here. Yes, you’ll still need to blind bake it but that initial bake time will definitely be a lot quicker than that of the pastry crust. I’d love to hear how it turns out!
I just tried this recipe for the first time and it was a hit with the fam!
I ended up making 2 of these… One exactly to the recipe and another that was adapted to be wheat-free and lactose-free using gluten-free flour, vegan butter, coconut oil and macadamia milk. Both worked out perfectly! I’m in Australia and canned pumpkin isn’t as readily available so I made my own puree with half a Jap pumpkin which worked a treat. This is definitely a recipe I’ll save! Thank you! 😀
Hi Jenn, I plan to make this pumpkin pie. If I want to add Bourbon would it work & how much do you think? Thanks so much!
Hi Mary Ellen, I wouldn’t change anything here because pumpkin pie can be pretty finicky, but this would be delicious with bourbon-infused whipped cream on top. The one that tops this pie looks delicious (Please keep in mind that I haven’t tried the recipe myself). Hope you enjoy if you try it!