Recipe: Pumpkin Pie
Cary, NC – Just in time for Halloween, here’s a recipe for fresh, homemade pumpkin pie.
Sugar Pumpkins
You can use canned pumpkin purée for your pie, but it’s really easy to use a fresh pumpkin. The key: use a Sugar Pumpkin.
Your big, hulking Jack-o-Lantern pumpkin? That’s not good for pies. At most emporia of pumpkins, you’ll see smaller, 6-8″ pumpkins for sale. They are usually labeled “Sugar Pumpkins” or “Best for Baking.” That’s what you want.
Pumpkin Pie Ingredients
This recipe makes one pumpkin pie.
- 1 – Sugar Pumpkin
- 1 – Pre-Made Pie Crust*
- 4 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 teaspoon – Ground Ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon – Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon – Lemon Zest
- 1 teaspoon – Salt
Pumpkin Pie Cooking Directions
Pre-heat oven to 350° F.
Prepare the Pumpkin
Cut out the stem and cut the pumpkin in half. Scrape out the seeds (and reserve them for roasted pumpkin seeds, yum). Place the pumpkin halves face-down on a baking sheet. You might want to lightly oil the sheet if it is not a no-stick surface. Bake the pumpkin for about an hour to an hour and a half until tender.
Let the pumpkin cool until just warm. Scrape out the pumpkin flesh and mash or food-process into a smooth purée.
Bake the Pie
Raise oven temperature to 425° F.
Mix the sugars, salt, spices and lemon zest in a large bowl. Beat the eggs and add to the bowl. Stir in the pumpkin purée, milk and cream. Whisk it all together until everything is well-mixed and has a smooth consistency.
Pour the mixture into the pie shell and bake at 425°F for 15 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 350°F. Bake an additional 40-50 minutes – until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
Cool & Serve
Cool the baked pie on a wire rack. Serve with whipped cream.
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Recipe by Lindsey Chester. Photo by Phyllis Sharpley. Recipe first published on 10/9/2012.
