Fresh pumpkin makes this homemade pumpkin pie traditional, rich, creamy, smooth, and velvety with warm spices and a hint of molasses.
Have you ever made homemade pumpkin pie? If not, you need to try this recipe!
It has been two years since I had a pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving. It seemed that every time I went into our local farmers’ market, those little pie pumpkins would taunt me every time. I finally broke down, bought a pumpkin, and took him home to make a pie.
I used a Nancy Fuller recipe. She has a show that I record called “Farmhouse Rules.” It is a relatively new show, so if you haven’t seen it, check it out. She’s a hoot!
It is surprisingly easy to make the pumpkin pie filling from scratch, but this recipe requires some baking time. I have to admit I cheated when making the pie crust. After my latest experience with pastry dough, I am not ready for that again yet.
This traditional pumpkin filling is made from scratch using fresh pumpkins. This homemade pumpkin pie is rich, creamy, smooth & velvety, with fragrant spices and a hint of molasses in a flaky crust.
Let’s make Homemade Pumpkin Pie from scratch!
Ingredients You’ll Need To Make This Pie
This recipe makes one 9-inch pumpkin pie, which you can easily double if you need more than one pie. Refer to the recipe card at the end of this post for full ingredients and measurements.
Pumpkin: you’ll need one medium sugar pumpkin, about 3 pounds. This will give you about 2 ½ cups of pumpkin puree.
Oil: use canola oil or whatever neutral cooking oil you have on hand to oil down the pumpkin.
Pie Crust: You’ll need one deep dish 9-inch pie crust store-bought. You can use homemade if you prefer, but buying a prepared crust will save you time in the kitchen.
For Serving: Eat this pie plain or dolloped with sweetened whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
For The Filling:
Condensed Milk: This pie gets sweetness from sweetened condensed milk, giving it its rich texture. Make sure you use sweetened condensed milk. You CAN NOT substitute with evaporated milk. It’s too thin and will cause the pie to be runny. The two cannot be used interchangeably.
Heavy Cream: gives this pie even more richness. You can substitute with a whole mile if you don’t have heavy cream. Evaporated milk would be a better substitute for heavy cream.
Cornstarch: helps to thicken the pie. You could also use all-purpose flour instead.
Molasses: gives the pie a darker color and flavors it beautifully. Use unsulphured molasses for best results.
Oil: provides moisture. Use canola oil or any neutral cooking oil you prefer.
Spices: ground cinnamon, ginger, and kosher salt ramp up the warmth of this pie.
Eggs: you’ll need three large eggs to turn this pie filling into a custard filling, preferably at room temperature, but if you forget, it won’t be the end of the world.
How To Make Homemade Pumpkin Pie
This recipe uses fresh pumpkin puree. If you don’t want to make the puree yourself, you can substitute it with one 15-ounce can of store-bought pumpkin puree. Grab the full recipe in the recipe card at the end of this post.
Helpful Equipment:
- heavy sharp knife
- baking sheet
- aluminum foil
- pastry brush
- food processor or blender
- Roast the Pumpkin: Cut the pumpkin in half. Spoon out the pulp and discard. Place the pumpkin halves skin side up and rub the skin with oil. Roast them for 1 hour or until fork-tender. Then cool completely. You can learn more about how to make puree from pumpkin or other winter squash HERE.
- Blind Bake the Pie Crust: While the pumpkin is cooling, blind bake the pie crust.
- Puree the Pumpkin: Scoop out the pulp from the roasted pumpkin; dump the pulp into a food processor or blender and puree until smooth.
- Prepare the Pie Filling: Add all the ingredients to the pumpkin puree and blend to combine. Pour the filling into the prepared pie crust; bake for about 1 hour or until the filling is set in the center.
- Cool and Serve: When the pie is done, remove it from the oven and place it on a cooling rack for no less than 30 minutes. Serve at room temperature or chilled with whipped cream.
Tips For Making Pumpkin Pie
- Make the pumpkin purree ahead when you have more time to spare. Store it in the fridge for up to three days.
- Make sure the dough is cold before baking. Prick with a fork and use pie weights or beans to help keep the bottom from puffing up.
- Brush the crust with an egg wash before baking it. The egg wash will turn the crust a beautiful golden brown color. Learn more about egg wash HERE.
- Remove the pumpkin pie when it is just set. It should wiggle but not ripple when tapped on the side.
Recipe FAQs
You can store pumpkin pie sealed in plastic wrap in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Wrap your pie tightly with plastic wrap, then in a layer of aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Freeze the pie for up to a month.
Thaw the pie in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat in a 350°F oven till heated by shielding the crust to prevent it from becoming too brown.
Yes, replace the spices with 1 ½ teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice.
Dumping pumpkin out of the can is easy, but roasting pumpkin to prepare this pie was simple. This recipe was great! The pie came out velvety smooth and cooked to perfection. Of course, my sweet husband doesn’t like it.
It turns out pumpkins are good to eat, not just for rolling down hills.
Do you like pumpkin pie? Have you ever made it from scratch?
Comment below!
Other Pumpkin Recipes:
Homemade Pumpkin Pie
Useful Equipment:
- heavy sharp knife
- heavy-duty aluminum foil
Ingredients
- 1 medium sugar pumpkin (about 3 pounds)
- canola oil or cooking oil of choice, for oiling pumpkin
- 1 9-inch pie crust store-bought or homemade
- homemade whipped cream for serving, (optional)
Filling
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
- 3 large eggs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Cut the stem off the pumpkin, then cut the pumpkin in half. Using a spoon, scrape the insides well; discard seeds and pulp.
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lay the pumpkin halves cut-side down. Rub oil all over the outside skin; bake for 1 hour or until fork-tender. Cool completely.
- While the pumpkin is cooling, pour beans or baking beads inside the pie crust; place inside the oven and blind bake according to your recipe or package directions. When the crust is done, remove it from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
- Using a large spoon, scoop out the pulp from the roasted pumpkin; dump the pulp into a food processor or blender and puree until smooth (you should have about 2-2 ½ cups).
- Add the condensed milk, cream, cornstarch, molasses, canola oil, cinnamon, ginger, salt, and eggs to the pumpkin puree and blend to combine. Pour the filling into the prepared pie crust; bake for about 1 hour or until the filling is set in the center.
- When the pie is done, remove it from the oven and place it on a cooling rack, no less than 30 minutes.
- Serve at room temperature or chilled, with homemade whipped cream.
Notes
- Make the pumpkin purree ahead of time when you have more time to spare. Store it in the fridge for up to three days.
- Make sure the dough is cold before baking. Prick with a fork and use pie weights or beans to help keep the bottom from puffing up.
- Brush the crust with an egg wash before baking it. The egg wash will turn the crust a beautiful golden brown color. Learn more about egg wash HERE.
- Remove the pumpkin pie when it is just set. It should wiggle but not ripple when tapped on the side.
Nutrition
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DesignsbyJeanneR says
Wow, Debbie! Even cooking the pumpkin from scratch for the pumpkin pie? You’re amazing & that pie looks & sounds like it was sooo worth the effort!
Debbie Spivey says
Thanks, Jeanne. It really was not much trouble, especially since I did not make my own pastry (Thank God!!). 😉
Colleen says
Canned pumpkin! I hate cooking pumpkins…hate…and they are always so expensive around here!
Debbie Spivey says
It was not hard and the pumpkins were $1.99 each (I think)… This was my first official pumpkin pie canned or scratch.
Espirational says
Every year I cook pumpkin to put in the freezer for the year. I call it “killing the fatted pumpkin.” Fresh does taste and look different, but I love it. There are lots of other uses for pumpkin besides pie — but pie is good. 🙂
Debbie Spivey says
Love it “killing the fatted pumpkin”. I have a friend that does the same. 🙂
Patrons of the Pit says
I can’t get enough pumpkin pie, so I’m glad to see this effort of yours! Thank you! And I understand from people in the know, that using a real pumpkin versus the canned stuff is to raise your game to the next level in flavor. I’ve long meant to try it, but alas, the crust scares me off too. I feel your pain. Every pie should just have graham cracker crust I think. It would be easier.
Debbie Spivey says
You know what? A graham cracker crust with a pumpkin pie is an amazing idea!! I may have to try that!! I wonder if you could roast them on the grill???
Thanks for commenting. I always enjoy reading them!!
Patrons of the Pit says
Oh heck yes, a weber roasted pumpkin ought to be no problem I would think. I think we have stumbled upon our first intellectual culinary collaboration!
Debbie Spivey says
Do it!! David only does meat…. 😉
strawberrymintsays says
Look divine!!!!!
Debbie Spivey says
Thanks for stopping by to comment! I am going over to check out your blog more closely. Congratulations on your new marriage!
strawberrymintsays says
Oh thank you, Debbie!! You are so kind. I really love your pumpkin pie recipe because I’ve only ever made pumpkin pie with canned pumpkin. I’m intrigued and hope to make this pie with roasted pumpkin over the Christmas holiday. I think my family will love it 🙂
Debbie Spivey says
I highly recommend this one. Even with the frozen crust, it was really good, not overly sweet really creamy! Definitely worth the time, which is mostly inactive baking time. If you try it let me know how it goes.
p.s. My niece’s name is Kelsey, also. 😉
Dana Fashina says
Alright Debbie!!
Way to go girl!!
Just look at you…making Pumpkin Pie and all!
You know I read somewhere that it isn’t so hard to mail pie from Virginia to Boston 😀
Debbie Spivey says
Thanks, girl! Perhaps I could be persuaded… 😉
Dana Fashina says
Yes!!
See guys! Christmas miracles DO exist!!
Debbie Spivey says
You bet your butt, they do! 😀
Chitra Jagadish says
Oh my that pie looks toothsome Debbie. . 🙂
Debbie Spivey says
Thanks, Chitra. It was delicious!
Archita says
Amazing! Can never get tired of a slice of a pumpkin pie.
Andria A says
Looks awesome! You made cooking peeling the pumpkin part look easy…. maybe next time I’ll try it that way!
Debbie Spivey says
It basically dumps out of the skin. No peeling. Nothing difficult at all!! 🙂
Amanda says
I don’t think you can really have too much pumpkin. I love pumpkin pie. This recipe is great. I love that you did the pumpkin yourself instead of getting a can, not that i have anything (much) against that 🙂
Debbie Spivey says
Thanks, Amanda! This recipe is great and if you love pumpkin pie you really should try this.