Best Pumpkin Pie

A smooth, spiced pumpkin filling and sweet, nutty pecan crust make this pumpkin pie recipe the absolute best -  two slices for me, please!

Pumpkin pie recipe

Growing up, my favorite part of Thanksgiving was the pumpkin pie. All year, I’d look forward to that creamy, cinnamon-y, custardy filling. I loved pumpkin pie filling so much that I’d scoop it right out of its pie crust, leaving a triangle-shaped shell of pastry on my plate. I’d then pass it to my Dad (who ate everything my sister and I left behind), and ask for another slice.

As an adult, I often opt for apple crisp because I don’t think Jack will eat all of my empty crusts (ok, actually, he might), but either way, that’s not an issue anymore! Today, I’m here to tell you about the BEST pumpkin pie recipe, which uses a delectable brown sugar pecan crust in place of traditional crust. Toasty, nutty, and crisp, this crust contrasts perfectly with the creamy filling… and, of course, the flavors of pumpkin pie spice and pecans just belong together. This is pumpkin pie perfection and you won’t want to leave a crumb behind!

The recipe comes from Jillian Harris and Tori Wesszer’s gorgeous new book Fraiche Food, Full Hearts, which came out at the perfect time. Not only is it filled with delicious looking (mostly plant-based) recipes, but it’s organized around celebrations. Right now I have my eye on their vegetarian Thanksgiving menu, which has a Mushroom Wellington recipe as the main course, and their Christmas menu, which includes Potato Garlic Cauliflower Mash, Sticky Apple Date Toffee Pudding, and Vegan Eggnog. Tori’s recipes have a healthful slant (she’s a registered dietician), and she also has a a beautiful blog, Fraiche Nutrition, that I recommend you check out!

Now let’s make pie!

Pumpkin pie recipe ingredients

Best Pumpkin Pie Recipe Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make this homemade pumpkin pie recipe:

  • Pumpkin puree – Use canned, or make your own.
  • Cashew cream – This homemade cream takes the place of evaporated milk, and it makes the pumpkin pie filling wonderfully rich.
  • Eggs – They give the filling richness and structure.
  • Spices – Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and cloves combine to create an amazing homemade pumpkin pie spice for this recipe. They give the filling a warm, full, and well-balanced flavor.
  • Brown sugar – I’ll never make pumpkin pie with granulated sugar again! Brown sugar adds a deeper, caramelized sweetness to both the crust and the filling.
  • Pecans – Toasty pecans + pumpkin are a match made in heaven. This gluten free pie crust is so delicious, you won’t miss a traditional pie shell at all.
  • Oat flour – You can use store bought oat flour, or make your own by blending whole rolled oats in a food processor until they form a fine powder.
  • Butter or vegan butter – It acts as the binder for the nutty crust. Use whichever you keep on hand!

Pie dough in a pie pan

How to Make Pumpkin Pie

Ready to bake? Here’s what you need to do:

First, make the crust. In a food processor, pulse the crust ingredients until they are finely ground and stick together when pressed between your fingers. Transfer the mixture to a 10-inch pie pan and press it evenly and firmly over the bottom and sides of the pan to form the crust.

Homemade pumpkin pie recipe

Next, bake the crust in a 350-degree oven for 12 minutes, until it looks slightly cooked, but not brown. The crust may puff up a bit as it bakes, but don’t worry! There’s no need for pie weights here – it will deflate as it cools.

Pie crust

While the crust cools, whisk together the filling. Combine the pumpkin puree, spices, cashew cream, brown sugar, and eggs in a large bowl, and whisk until smooth.

Whisking wet ingredients in a bowl Pumpkin pie filling

Then, assemble and bake the pie! Pour the filling into the crust and bake until the center is set, 30 to 40 minutes. Allow it to cool completely before slicing. I recommend serving it with whipped cream or coconut cream. I also like to sprinkle mine with extra toasted pecans for crunch. 🙂

Enjoy!

How to make pumpkin pie

Pumpkin Pie Recipe Tips

  • Let the crust cool before adding the filling. After the crust pre-bakes, allow it to cool slightly before pouring in the filling. It doesn’t need to be completely cool, but a piping hot crust will start cooking the filling before it goes in the oven. Giving the crust a few minutes to cool will help the pie bake evenly.
  • Use a glass to make an even crust. To ensure that your crust has an even thickness, Jillian and Tori recommend smoothing it with the flat bottom of a glass. If the crust mixture sticks to your glass, cover it with a piece of parchment paper.
  • Make it ahead! Like all the best Thanksgiving recipes, you can make this pumpkin pie ahead of time. Just make the recipe from start to finish, allow the pie to cool, and store it in the fridge, covered, for up to 3 days. I made a double recipe when we took these photographs, and I can attest that it still tastes great on days 2 and 3 (and even on days 4 and 5).

Pumpkin pie

Without question, I’ll be making this pumpkin pie recipe for my family’s Thanksgiving dinner, and I hope you do too! If you want more ideas for putting together a beautiful, plant-forward holiday meal, I heartily recommend you check out Fraiche Food, Full Hearts!

Fraiche Food, Full Hearts Cookbook

More Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes

If you’re looking for more ideas for your Thanksgiving feast, try any of these favorite recipes:

Best pumpkin pie recipe

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Best Pumpkin Pie

rate this recipe:
4.97 from 27 votes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Serves 8
The BEST pumpkin pie recipe! You'll love the smooth, spiced filling inside the homemade pecan crust. From Fraiche Food, Full Hearts. Reprinted with permission.

Ingredients

Cashew Cream (makes extra, you will use 1 1/2 cups below)

  • 1 1/2 cups raw cashews, soaked 4 hours or overnight*
  • 1 1/2 cups water

Pecan Crust

  • 1 cup pecan halves, toasted
  • 1 cup oat flour
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup butter or vegan butter, melted
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • pinch of sea salt

Filling

  • 1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin puree
  • 1 1/2 cups Cashew Cream, recipe above
  • 2 eggs, well beaten
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Toppings (optional)

Instructions

  • Make the cashew cream. Drain and rinse the soaked cashews. In a high-speed blender, blend the drained cashews and the water on high speed until very smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Make the crust. In a food processor, combine the pecans, oat flour, brown sugar, melted butter, cinnamon, and salt. Pulse until the mixture is finely ground and sticks together well when pressed between your fingers.
  • Tip the pecan mixture into a 10-inch pie pan and, using the flat bottom of a glass, press it evenly and firmly onto the bottom and up the sides to form the crust.
  • Bake for 12 minutes, or until the crust looks slightly cooked but not brown. Set aside.
  • Make the filing. In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, Cashew Cream, eggs, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and salt. Whisk until smooth.
  • Pour the filling into the crust and bake until the center of the pie is set (a butter knife should come out clean), 30 to 40 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely. Store, covered, in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Notes

*You can skip soaking the cashews if using a Vitamix Blender.

 

54 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Leslie
    11.26.2022

    My pie is in the oven and is smelling SO good. I’m baking in higher altitudes in Colorado and so far it is taking a little closer to 55 mins to set. Looks delicious – can’t wait to have a slice. Thank you for the awesome recipe!!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      11.27.2022

      I hope you enjoyed it!

  2. Kayla
    11.26.2022

    5 stars
    Made this for thanksgiving and this literally the BEST pumpkin pie I’ve ever tasted. I substituted the brown sugar in the filling with maple syrup and WOW! It tasted so real and fresh. The crust was really good and different- you can always do a traditional crust too. Saving this recipe!!!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      11.27.2022

      Hi Kayla, I’m so glad you loved it!

  3. Alene Rose
    11.22.2022

    4 stars
    I also had a hard time getting the pie to set. The first time, I dumped in all of the cashew cream! I didn’t realize it until I noticed it wouldn’t set. I tried again, meticulously measuring everything. I had the same problem. At this point, I don’t know if I’ll serve it or not. After reading your comment concerning a proper egg-liquid ratio, I’m thinking that maybe 1 cup of cashew cream might be better than 1.5 cups.

  4. Andrea
    11.21.2022

    5 stars
    Waiting for it to come out of the oven now…usually pumpkin pies bake 45 minutes. Is 30-40 minutes enough time?I am watching it, but as I am new to pie-baking, I don’t trust myself to know when it is done… my rating is based on ease and how it smells and how the crust tastes…yum! Also: What to do with the leftover cashew cream?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      11.22.2022

      Hi Andrea, yes, it should be done right at the time that’s listed. Other recipes may be using a flour-based crust that takes longer to bake through.

  5. Carolyn
    11.19.2022

    Jeanine, is there a substitute for the pecans in the crust? My nephew is allergic to all nuts.

    ???Maybe I can’t make this pumpkin pie for our Thanksgiving?

    Fingers crossed I can substitute something for the pecans.

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.