10 Tips For Making The Perfect Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie and Thanksgiving go hand-in-hand. Without this classic pie, it just wouldn’t feel like Thanksgiving dinner. A slice of this delicious pie topped with a dollop of whipped cream is the perfect way to end your meal.

The ten tips below will help you make a pumpkin pie that everyone loves – afterall you can’t go wrong with a classic pumpkin pie

1. Grate Your Own Nutmeg

Although store-bought spices offer a lot in terms of convenience, they are somewhat lacking in taste. This is particularly true when it comes to nutmeg. Try grating your own nutmeg to add a delicious burst of flavor. Make sure the other spices that you use are fresh, as well. This includes ginger, allspice, and cinnamon.

2. Make A Homemade Pie Crust

Even though it is a little more work, it is worth making your own pie crust rather than buying one at the store. Use a proven recipe and a high-quality pastry cutter. Smitten Kitchen has a great recipe if you are stuck.

3. Add An Egg Wash

Brushing the crust with an egg wash will help it turn a beautiful golden-brown color after it bakes. To make the egg wash, simply crack an egg in a bowl, add a tiny bit of salt, and whisk it together. Finish by using a brush to lightly coat the crust with the egg wash.

4. Bake The Crust Before The Filling

To keep the crust from getting soggy, try baking it on its own for several minutes before adding the filling.

5. Substitute Brown Sugar For Some Of The White Sugar

Compared to white sugar, brown sugar has a much richer flavor. Swapping out half of the white sugar for brown sugar can result in a more flavorful pie.

6. Purée The Pumpkin Yourself

Although it takes quite a bit of extra effort, puréeing your own pumpkin can make a huge difference in the finished pie. While some people recommend baking or steaming the pumpkin, our preference is to roast it. This reduces the amount of water in the pumpkin while at the same time enhancing its sweet flavor.

7. Use A Strainer For The Filling

To ensure the texture of the pie is right, strain the pumpkin purée through a strainer with a fine mesh.

8. Use Other Vegetables Besides Pumpkin

Pumpkin is rather bland. If you want a more flavorful pie, try replacing part of the pumpkin in the recipe with something like sweet potatoes, butternut squash, or candied yams. This will add extra sweetness and flavor to the pie.

9. Bake The Pie In A Preheated Oven

Preheating the oven is essential if you want your crust to turn out well and to have the right texture.

10. Skip The Non-Dairy Whipped Cream In Favor Of The Real Thing

Non-dairy whipped cream has a lot of undesirable ingredients including high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated vegetable oil, sodium caseinate, sorbitan monostearate, and polysorbate 60. Half of these ingredients are probably things that you have never heard of. A much better option is to make your own whipped cream using nothing more than sugar and cream.