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Easiest Ever Pumpkin Pie

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Updated Jul 25, 2024
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This creamy homemade pumpkin pie is every bit as delicious as you’d expect—plus it takes just 7 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep to pull it together! Thanks to store-bought pie crusts and a simple, low-effort filling, this really is the easiest pumpkin pie recipe. Whether you whip it up for a hearty Thanksgiving dinner spread or a weeknight family dessert, it’s our best pumpkin pie recipe for an impressive result without any of the usual fuss. Don’t forget the whipped cream!

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Ingredients

Before diving into the delightful process of crafting this seasonal favorite, let's ensure you have all the ingredients on hand or know what to pick up at the store. Each component plays an important role in creating the perfect pumpkin pie so, let's take stock of what you'll need before making your very own pumpkin pie.

Pie Crust: For this recipe we recommend utilizing a baking shortcut: pre-made frozen pie crust. Thanks to Pillsbury™ Deep Dish frozen pie crust, you can save time vs. having to bake one from scratch!

Spices and Sugar: Bring out classic pumpkin pie flavors with a combination of ground spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. For convenience and ease, we recommend using a pre-made pumpkin pie spice blend. You'll add sugar and salt along with this blend to round out the flavor profile for a filling that’s neither too sweet nor overly savory.

Canned Pumpkin: Canned pumpkin is the key to a perfectly smooth pumpkin pie filling without any fuss. Make sure you grab plain canned pumpkin instead of pumpkin pie mix at the grocery store. Be aware that the packaging is usually similar, so read the label carefully.

Evaporated Milk (Or Half and Half): Evaporated milk is a pantry staple we always like to have on hand. In this recipe, it helps thicken up the filling for a homemade pumpkin pie that boasts a rich, creamy texture. However, half and half will work similarly if you have it on hand or simply prefer it.

Eggs: The 2 beaten eggs add much-needed moisture while acting as a binding agent to hold your pumpkin pie filling together.

What Are the Best Spices for Pumpkin Pie?

There’s nothing like pumpkin pie spice to give your homemade pie that classic, cozy and subtly spicy flavor profile you know and love. Pumpkin pie spice is a balanced blend of warm-tasting spices sourced from dried bark, roots, seeds or even chiles. These spice blends use cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg as important players, although every commercial blend may vary in the ratio of each. This easy pumpkin pie recipe uses a pre-made pumpkin pie spice blend to make things easier, but you can always substitute your own mixture of these spices if you’d like.

How to Make Pumpkin Pie

Now that you know or have all the needed ingredients, let's cover how to make your own pumpkin pie in 3 simple steps.

Prep

While your oven heats, grab all the ingredients and tools you’ll need to make this easy pumpkin pie. If you don’t have the pre-made spice blend on hand, you can make your own using a combination of ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Customize the ratio of spices to your liking, and feel free to experiment with other ground spices like cardamom.

Fill Crust

The tasty pumpkin pie filling comes together in a snap so you’ll just need to beat the sugar, salt, canned pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, evaporated milk and eggs together until everything’s well blended. Place the frozen pie crust into your pie tin. No need to flute the edges—this handy crust is ready to go! Pour in the filling and place the cookie sheet in your preheated oven.

Bake

Finally, bake your homemade pumpkin pie to perfection, reducing the oven temperature partway through as directed. Let your pie cool before serving, and you’re all set!

Delicious Pumpkin Pie Toppings

Pumpkin pie tastes yummy on its own—but adding special toppings never hurts! Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy a finished pumpkin pie.

With Ice Cream: One of our favorite ways to eat pumpkin pie is à la mode, or “served with a scoop of ice cream.” Top your slice of pie with a hefty scoop of refreshing vanilla ice cream to complement the pumpkin spice flavors.

With Whipped Cream: Fans of sweetened whipped cream, unite! This pairing is always a major hit at potlucks and family gatherings. Want to make your own? Try beating whipping cream and sugar with a mixer until soft peaks form. Add a ring of whipped cream swirls around your homemade pumpkin pie, and finish it off with a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice for a presentation that rivals your favorite bakery-made pie.

With a Crunch: If you’d prefer something crunchy, a generous sprinkling of homemade streusel topping might be just your style. Or, try adding some crushed pecans to complement the creaminess of the pumpkin filling.

Toasted Marshmallows: For something classic yet decadent, we love adding lightly toasted marshmallows to our homemade pumpkin pie. You’re sure to impress with this tasty pairing! You can toast marshmallows by broiling them on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Keep an eye on them, as they can burn very quickly.

Whether you add toppings or enjoy it on its own, this easy pumpkin pie recipe will make your taste buds sing. Serving up a full spread of Thanksgiving desserts? Our Perfect Apple Pie is another crowd favorite you won’t want to skip. Try out a topping bar for friends and family to customize their slices of each!

Festive Pumpkin Pie Decorations

Want your pumpkin pie to look extra special? This easy pumpkin pie recipe uses a frozen pie crust for a quick, convenient and homemade-quality result—but there are plenty of ways to decorate a pumpkin pie for some extra flair. Here’s how to make a big impression using simple pie crust decorating methods.

Pie Crust Cutouts: This easy pumpkin pie recipe features a one-crust pie, which means there’s plenty of room for fun pie crust cutouts! We love using a cookie cutter on scraps of leftover homemade pie crust to create fun cut-out shapes, like fall leaves, pumpkins and other seasonal designs. If you’re following this recipe exactly, we’d recommend baking the cutouts separately and placing them on top of your fully baked pie before serving.

Decorated Edges: Decorating a refrigerated or homemade crust instead of the frozen one used in this easy pumpkin pie recipe? Finishing off a pie crust with decorative edges is a super quick and easy way to switch up the presentation. Common methods include scalloped, pinched and forked edges. Learn more about these techniques with our handy pie crust decorating how-to guide, and your professional-looking pumpkin pie is bound to get some compliments! (Bake times and temperatures vary for different crust methods, so make sure to adjust accordingly.)

More About This Recipe

  • The name of this recipe says it all: this really is an easy pumpkin pie recipe. Frozen Pillsbury™ Deep Dish Pie Crust eliminates the need to fuss with a crust, and the super-easy pumpkin filling can be prepped all in one bowl and poured into the crust in just a few minutes. Love pumpkin? We have plenty more pumpkin pie recipes to tempt your taste buds—from those with streusel toppings to slab pie versions that are great for crowds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Some Variations to This Easy Pumpkin Pie Recipe?

Here are some of our favorite pumpkin recipes that always hit the mark.

Pumpkin Pie Bars: Our Pumpkin Pie Bars are a major hit with kids and adults alike—and these deep dish-style squares are perfect for serving your favorite fall flavors to a crowd.

Pecan-Pumpkin Pie: This recipe for Pecan-Pumpkin Pie is anything but ordinary! Bring together two classic fall staples with a combo of layered pecan and pumpkin pie fillings. This one’s a must-try.

How Should I Store My Pumpkin Pie?

Leftovers may be rare with this tasty pumpkin pie recipe, but you’ll definitely want to hold onto any extra servings!

In the Refrigerator (Recommended): Pumpkin pie has an egg-based custard filling, so don’t leave it out on the counter for more than two hours after serving . Cover your pumpkin pie and store it in the fridge—it’ll keep well for up to 4 days.

In the Freezer: Have a ton of leftover pie that you won’t eat in the next few days? We wouldn’t recommend freezing a baked pumpkin pie—the texture of the crust and filling may not hold up. If freezing your homemade pumpkin pie is absolutely necessary, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or foil and freeze it for 1 or 2 months max. To thaw, move the pie to the fridge, let it thaw overnight and serve it the next day.

How Can I Achieve the Best Pumpkin Pie Crust?

The best pumpkin pies have a flaky, buttery crust—and a little shortcut never hurts! Our frozen pre-made pie crust is quick and easy to bake with, and always comes out tasting like a made-from-scratch crust. Want to ensure a perfectly crispy crust? We’ve got some helpful tips to steer clear of soggy, doughy bottoms or overbaked crusts.

To Avoid Overbaking the Edges: Try adding some aluminum foil over the pie crust edges about halfway through the bake time. Here’s an easy way to do it. Cut a square piece of foil that’s large enough to cover the entire pie, then cut out a large hole in the center that’s the same width as the pie. Place it directly on top of your pie so just the edges are covered by the foil, leaving the center open. Over-browned crust, begone!

To Ensure a Crispy Crust: Make sure your oven rack is placed in the center of your oven. It’s also important to check that your oven temperature is accurate. We’d recommend calibrating the oven or adding an internal thermometer to be safe.

Should I Use Fresh or Canned Pumpkin in Pumpkin Pie?

This easy pumpkin pie recipe uses canned pumpkin. Of course, canned ingredients are major time savers—but that’s not the only reason canned pumpkin is preferred! Fresh pumpkin yields much less consistent results, often causing watery, bland-tasting or gritty-feeling pies. The canned version’s perfectly silky-smooth texture, vibrant color and just-right sweet taste make this shortcut ingredient the number one choice for baking with pumpkin. Make sure you’re not using canned pumpkin pie mix, which already contains sugar and seasonings.

How Long Should I Bake My Pumpkin Pie For?

To ensure the best bake on your homemade pumpkin pie, make sure to follow the baking instructions as directed. After 15 minutes at 425°F, you’ll need to reduce your oven temperature to 350°F and let the pie bake for another 40 to 50 minutes. Not sure exactly when to take it out of the oven? Insert a knife near the center of your pumpkin pie—it should come out clean. Let the pie cool for at least two hours, and you’re all set to chow down!

Easiest Ever Pumpkin Pie

  • Prep Time 5 min
  • Total 3 hr 10 min
  • Ingredients 7
  • Servings 8
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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Step 
    1
    Heat oven to 425°F.
  • Step 
    2
    In large bowl, beat sugar, pumpkin pie spice, salt, pumpkin, evaporated milk and eggs with wire whisk until well blended. Place frozen pie crust onto cookie sheet. Pour filling into pie crust. Place filled pie crust on cookie sheet into preheated oven.
  • Step 
    3
    Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F; bake 40 to 50 minutes longer or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on cooling rack at least 2 hours. Serve or refrigerate until serving time. Store in refrigerator.

Nutrition

250 Calories
8g Total Fat
6g Protein
39g Total Carbohydrate
26g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving
Calories
250
Calories from Fat
70
Total Fat
8g
12%
Saturated Fat
3 1/2g
17%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
60mg
20%
Sodium
290mg
12%
Potassium
250mg
7%
Total Carbohydrate
39g
13%
Dietary Fiber
1g
7%
Sugars
26g
Protein
6g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
170%
170%
Vitamin C
2%
2%
Calcium
15%
15%
Iron
10%
10%
Exchanges:
1 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 1 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
2 1/2
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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