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Pumpkin Pie with Maple Whipped Cream

by Dawn T in Rouxbe Recipes

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Step 1: Making the Dough

Making the Dough

To start the dough, cut the butter and shortening into small cubes. Transfer to the freezer for about 20 minutes to harden.

Place the flours, sugar, salt and baking powder into the bowl of a food processor and pulse to combine. Then whisk the egg yolk, vinegar, and water together in a separate bowl. Add the ice cubes, just before you’re ready to make the dough, and let it sit for a few minutes to get really cold.

Once the butter and shortening are firm, add half to the flour mixture and pulse on and off for about 45 seconds. Add the rest of the butter/shortening and pulse only 6 or 7 times. Don’t over mix at this stage. The bigger pieces of fat is what gives the crust its flaky texture.

Place the mixture into a bowl and add about 3 tablespoons of the egg mixture. Stir gently with a fork. Add just enough liquid until the dough just holds together. You will likely have liquid leftover.

Gather and press the dough together and place onto the countertop. Shape into a round, wrap with plastic, and chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.

To roll out the dough, flour the counter and dough. Gently roll and turn the dough. Roll the dough out until it’s about an inch or so larger than the pie plate.

Transfer the dough to the pie plate and trim the edges, if needed, leaving about an inch overhang. Fold the dough underneath itself along the edges and then crimp the sides. Once done, poke holes in the bottom and sides with a fork. Chill in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.

  • 5 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 4 tbsp shortening
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup cake flour
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp table salt
  • 1/8 tsp baking powder
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 2 tsp distilled white vinegar
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • 3 ice cubes

Step 2: Baking the Crust

Baking the Crust

To bake the crust, preheat your oven to 325° degrees Fahrenheit.

Cut out a large round of parchment and place over the dough. Fill with beans or pie weights. Bake for about 35 minutes, or until the crust starts to set around the edges. Remove the beans and return the crust to the oven for about 20 to 25 minutes.

Once the crust is cooked through and slightly golden, remove it from the oven and set aside, while you make the filling.

Step 3: Making the Filling and Baking

Making the Filling and Baking

To make the filling, place the pumpkin puree, condensed milk, cream, ground spices, salt, and fresh nutmeg in a medium pot. Whisk and bring to a gentle simmer over low heat.

In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs. Secure the bowl on the counter top with a wet cloth. Temper the eggs by slowly pouring in the pumpkin mixture. Once everything is combined, pour the filing into the crust. Bake for about 40 to 45 minutes, checking the pie after about 35 minutes. If the center jiggles, return the pie to the oven. When done, the edge of the pie should look set, but the center should still have a bit of move to it. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.

  • 1 can solid pumpkin purée (15 ounces)
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk (300 ml)
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/8 tsp ground allspice
  • 1/2 tsp table salt
  • 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
  • 2 whole, large eggs
  • 1 large egg yolk

Step 4: Making the Whip Cream and Serving

Making the Whip Cream and Serving

To make the whip cream, it is best if the cream and the tools are cold. Place the cream in to a stainless-steel bowl and transfer to the refrigerator, along with your whisk.

Whip the chilled cream just a bit before adding the maple syrup. Continue to whisk until you reach soft peaks.

Slice the pie, serve with a dollop of maple-whipped cream and enjoy.

  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup

Notes

Break the tradition of having raw dough in your pumpkin pie, by fully blind-baking the crust.

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Wheat & Gluten

Alex L

Pumpkin pie

Hi! May I know ro be precise your 1/4 cup if I were to convert to gram/kg or ml
how much will yhat be? Thank cos I want to be precise. Alex

Steve E
Rouxbe Staff

1/4 cup = ?ml

If you were to use ml instead of 1/4 cup you'd be looking for 60ml. I hope you get this info in time to bake your pie. Good luck it's absolutely fantastic, you'll love it.

Alex L

Pumpkin Pie

Thanks Steve. Wishing you a blessed 2008

Alex L

type of dough

Is the dough shortcrust pastry? Thank

Kimberley S
Rouxbe Staff

Shortcrust

This dough is a type of shortcrust. Shortcrusts are known for their medium to high proportion of fat to flour, and also have low moisture content. It is important to work quickly and not over-work the dough, or you may wind up with a greasy crust.

Charlotte S

Cold Pie Dish

THe video shows what appears to be a Pyrex pie plate being used and the instructions state to place in the freezer for 30 minutes. Preheat the over to 325 degrees. One assumes here that you will take the pie crust from the freezer and place directly into the oven. It has always been my understanding that only Corningware can go directly from refrig/freezer to a hot oven. Pyrex should always go into a cold oven or it it will crack. Please comment.
Thanks.
Charlotte S

Kimberley S
Rouxbe Staff

Pyrex Glassware

It's actually ok to transfer Pyrex from the freezer to the oven. According to the Pyrex website, "PYREX® glassware products can go directly from refrigerator or freezer to a microwave, convection, or preheated conventional oven."

C. L

Blind baking 1st versus filling a fresh pie crust

When do you blind bake a pie crust, versus filling it just after it is made then baking it once with the filling in it.

My family makes a double crust (top and bottom crust) blueberry pie (the only filling is wild blueberries, and a couple tablespoons of sugar and a dash of flour mixed with the berries (berries can be fresh or frozen).

I've just begun making the pie crust (after my grandmother passed away we had been using frozen crust - but found that making crust isn't so hard, and is much better in both taste and texture. But we follow my Grandmother's way of making the pie, we don't pre-bake it.

we make curst according to one of several cookbook recipes (depending on my mood). Then put it in pie pan, let sit in fridge for a bit, then fill it. We do not prick the bottom, but do put slits in the top to let out steam (and to see the bubbling blue berry juice as a test of doneness.).

Jackie C

Pumpkin Pie

Where do you get those round silver trays you set the pie plate on, I see you use them a lot in your cooking videos. Also what Grade of Maple Syrup did you use in the whipped cream recipe, Grade A, Grade B, Light, Medium or Dark.

Dawn T
Rouxbe Staff

Pie Plate and Maple Syrup

Jackie, I purchased the cooling rack that I use quite often, at a local restaurant supply store...at least I think I did, either that or at one of the local kitchen stores.

Little tip, anyone can shop at local restaurant supply stores, you don't have to be a member or have a business. We have many items that came from stores like this.

As for the Maple Syrup, I believe it was Grade B (which are usually darker) because it has a stronger more robust flavor than grade A, but either would be fine as long as you use the real thing.

Jackie C

Pie Plate

Thanks Dawn.

Lila A

Delicious Dish

I used to make pumpkin pays as my school´s work in Newark DE, years ago. I have to make many of then in order to achieve the recipe. From this dish I became to know american food since then I´ve enjoyed it as well as people. For me though is a confort food! About the ingredients and the methods are almost the same.

Didi M

Evaporated milk

What can I use instead of evaporated milk? Here in Croatia, they do have it.What is the best way to make the pumpkin puree, istead of buying it in a can? Thanks everybody.

Jack C

Could you use all butter instead of shortening mix?

Would all butter work, like in other crusts like Pate Brisee? Is this a Pate Brisee dough method or something else?

Dawn T
Rouxbe Staff

Substitues for Evaporated Milk

You could use cream instead of evaporated milk.

I have also heard that you can reduce regular milk down (for every 1 cup needed, reduce about 2 1/4 cups of milk). I personally have not tried this, but logically it makes sense to me.

As for the pumpkin puree, the best way to do this is to roast it in the oven. To do this place, peeled, seeded, diced chunks into a casserole dish and add some water. Then cover and roast at about 400°F, until cooked (this should take about 20 to 30 minutes). When done the pumpkin should be soft but not too mushy. Drain the water and then puree it using a food processor.

Alternatively you could cut the pumpkin in half, remove the seeds and cover with foil and bake (foil side up) in a 325°F oven for about an hour. Then puree using a food processor. Hope this helps, good luck!

Kimberley S
Rouxbe Staff

Using All Butter

Hi Jack, This is essentially a pate brisee recipe. You can substitute unsalted butter for the shortening. Shortening provides flakiness, but butter tastes better :) This is why there is a combination of the two in this recipe. Just make sure the butter is very cold and you should have great results.

Lauren K

Help!

Made a rookie mistake,
just put 1/2 TBSP of BK pwdr in my flower mixture vs the 1/8 required. What do I do? How will it affect it? Too puffy?

Joe G
Rouxbe Staff

What happens when you add too much baking powder

Hi Lauren. Short of starting over again with the dry ingredients, there is no way to correct this mistake. It might rise a bit more and wind up having a bitter flavor. If it is just the dry ingredients you have measured, you might want to consider starting over again. If you've already filled the pie and it's ready for baking, keep going. It might not be too bad. :-). Let us know how it goes.

Sarah K

Condensed v. Evaporated Milk

Which one is supposed to be used in this recipe? The ingredient list says condensed but in the comments there is a suggestion for what to use in place of evaporated milk. It says that sweetened condensed milk can be used instead, but to leave out the sugar, but there is no sugar in the recipe. Can you specify whether to use evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, or unsweetened condensed milk (which I don't think you can get in the US)?

I ended up going with evaporated milk and adding 3/4 cup sugar. The pie is cooling now--it looks great and smells delicious!

Dawn T
Rouxbe Staff

Re: Condensed vs. Evaporated Milk

The recipe calls for condensed milk, it could be more clear to say "sweetened condensed milk" (but like you said, I am not sure if you can buy "unsweetened condensed milk" these days. Nowadays "condensed milk" and "sweetened condensed milk" are most often used synonymously.

The comment above has been corrected, to be more clear. I should not have said "omit the sugar" as there was no added sugar in this recipe (I was referring to any recipe where there may have been sugar...but I can see how this may have been confusing).

I am sure your pie will work out just fine. Please let us know how it turned out. Hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Jane M

Try Yogurt

Hi - living in Vzla I'm not making my Thanksgiving dinner until Sunday so I have the whole day off to cook, and my guests have the day off to enjoy - sorry to be late with these comments - I've been making pumpkin pie for years from scratch. Roasted pumpkin or butternut squash works great. I also have substituted mild yogurt for the evaporated milk when I can't find it - sometimes a local "crema de leche", but this has a saltier taste so you have to adjust. I'm sure every country has some sort of dairy cream or thickened milk product that could be used.

Sarah K

Re: Condensed vs. Evaporated Milk

Thanks Dawn! The pie was excellent--it even got raves from people who "don't usually like pumpkin." I'm not surprised...I have yet to find a bad recipe on Rouxbe. Thanks everyone for putting so much time and effort into this site :)

Travis D

Pumkin puree

Hi,
If you can`t buy the pumkin puree could you please tell me how to make it.
Thanks.

Dawn T
Rouxbe Staff

Re: Homemade Pumpkin Puree

We currently do not have a recipe for this; however I did a quick google search and found several recipes. Hopefully one of these will work for you. Cheers!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pumpkin-Puree/Detail.aspx

http://jeenaskitchen.blogspot.com/2009/10/pumpkin-puree-recipe-how-to-make.html

http://www.sophistimom.com/how-to-make-pumpkin-puree/

http://www.chewonthatblog.com/2008/11/04/step-by-step-how-to-make-pumpkin-puree/

http://www.ehow.com/how_8304_make-quick-pumpkin.html

http://southerncuisine.suite101.com/article.cfm/fresh_pumpkin_puree_for_recipes

Travis D

Pumkin puree

Thank you so much

Andy W

parchment vs. wax

What's the difference between parchment paper and wax paper and are either okay in this recipe?

Kimberley S
Rouxbe Staff

RE: Parchment vs. Wax Paper

Here are some links that identify the difference between parchment paper and wax paper. I would use parchment paper in this recipe. Wax paper could burn or smoke along the edges.

Parchment paper can be more expensive, but you can re-use the parchment paper rounds when blind baking tart shells. Keep the rounds in a bag with your dried beans or pie weights. Cheers!

Joan P

crust

I haven't tried this recipe yet, so I'm only speaking from my own experience. I've been baking pies for 30 years, and I would think that baking the pie for another 40 minutes after blind baking the crust to a golden color would result in a very burnt crust. Am I missing something?

Andy W

Re: crust

I've done this recipe a couple of times now (still working on my crust skills), but the crust comes out a very nice golden brown, not burnt at all. The crust ends up only slightly darker at the end then it was after the blind baking.

Andy W

RE: Parchment vs. Wax Paper

FYI: I had to do this crust without parchment paper and the wax paper worked just fine. I did trim the paper so it didn't stick up very far, but there wasn't any smoking or anything. I did it with parchment paper today and noticed very little difference with the wax.

Andy W

Why should pie crusts be made cold?

Everything in this (and every other good pie crust recipe) emphasises cold ingredents, cooling the crust, etc. I don't understand why cold is so important to the creation of the crust.

Dawn T
Rouxbe Staff

Re: Why Should Pie Crusts be Made Cold?

Cold ingredients equals a more tender and flaky crust. For a more scientific answer you may want to check out page 562 of Harold McGees book called "On Food and Cooking - the Science and Lore of the Kitchen". Cheers!

Allan P

Heavy cream

I try this recipe and it was delicious, I actually tried it with homemade pumpkin puree :). The only thing that did not came out so good was the whip cream. I am located in Mexico and I try searching a translation for heavy cream but did not have success, I though it might be what we call here media crema but I wanted to see if you know what is the exact translation or what can I use?

Dawn T
Rouxbe Staff

RE: Heavy Cream

Look for the fat content on the package or carton. The difference is in the fat content and may vary depending on where you live. Make sure to choose something that has a minimum of 33% milk fat. In some countries, the fat content can be as high as 48%. If you try and use a light cream or even half and half to make whipping cream it will not work. Hope this helps. Cheers!

p.s. As an alternative you could use a dollop of Crema or Creme fraiche instead of whipping cream. It won't be the same but it would be good as an alternative.

Debra L

help!

I am just about to bake the pumpkin pie... The directions say to bake crust at 325, but what should the temperature of the oven be when you put the filling in?

Carol K

how long can crust stay in fridge?

I'm in the throws of baking Thanksgiving pies, and I'm wondering how long I can keep these crust doughs stay in the fridge. Should they be left out on the counter to warm a little before rolling out and baking? Thanks!

Joe G
Rouxbe Staff

Storing the pie crust in the fridge

Hi. The crusts will be fine for a few days.

And yes, it would be good to take the pie dough out of the fridge, wrapped on the counter for about 20 minutes or so. It will be much easier to roll out. Don't let it get too warm though as cold dough will produce a flakier crust. It needs to be just warm enough to be somewhat pliable (so it doesn't crack when you roll it) but not warm so that the fat starts to soften.

Have a great T-day.
Joe

Heidi P

My pie is beautiful... but it tastes terrible. not sweet. Very bad.

I am not sure what went wrong. The crust is perfect. The pie set up wonderful. If it was for a photo contest I would get first place... but the taste is awful, like a bad squash pie, bad is being kind. Should I have added sugar? I used carnation condensed milk, and canned pumpkin. I am so confused. I'll try it again. I had to have missed something.

On another note I am new to your site and I am LOVING IT!!! Thank you so much for creating this training series. I always wanted to go to school to learn to be a better cook, but college is expensive and includes training I don't want.. like kitchen management and business. This is perfect for the home cook and foodies that really take cooking seriously and want to gain the skills needed to go to the next level.

I am telling everyone about Rouxbe.com! Thank you!

Kimberley S
Rouxbe Staff

RE: My pie is beautiful...but it tastes terrible...

We glad you are enjoying the site and spreading some Rouxbe love :)

In regards to the pumpkin pie, it could be the brand of puree you are using. Are you using solid pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)? Smell it and taste it to make sure you like it before using. Here is a drill-down on Pumpkin Puree.

You shouldn't need to add more sugar to this mix. The sweetened condensed milk gives the filling a nice balanced flavor. If you have time, try it again and perhaps buy a different puree to compare. It really is a nice pie. Pumpkin pie isn't one of my favorites but I don't pass up a slice on this one.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Heidi P

Thank you Kimberley. Wow what a fast reply!

I will try again. I think I used both a bad puree and the wrong milk. I am sure my next attempt will be a success.
Enjoy the Holiday!

Kathie B

Tech Question

One of the many reasons why I love your lessons is that you explain, not only the whats, but the whys as well. I have a question: What is the advantage of using the egg yolk and vinegar with the ice water, rather than just ice water?

Thank you always for your excellent school!

Dawn T
Rouxbe Staff

RE: Tech Question About Vinegar in Pie Crust

Good question Kathie, in fact, someone else just asked the same question yesterday :-) Here is the link to the other thread. The egg yolk is used to enrich the dough. Happy Thanksgiving. Cheers!

Rylla R

melting pie crust

Maybe my pie dishes are too steep on the sides, but when I pre-baked the crust it sunk down on the sides. Then when I took the pie weights out after the sides were set (I had pushed them back into place as much as possible, the middle rose up during the final baking. Should I have poked holes again? It seemed the first ones had sealed up. Thoughts?

Kimberley S
Rouxbe Staff

RE: Melting Pie Crust

I believe what you are experiencing is called shrinkage. This can happen for a couple of reasons: 1) the dough was overworked during forming; and 2) the dough was not very cold when it went into the oven. Working with pastry takes lots of practice. Just make sure for next time you work the dough just enough so that it comes together and always keep it as cold as possible when shaping. Formed pie crusts also benefit from being chilled before being baked. With regards to the pie weights, next time leave them in a bit longer until the bottom sets. I have removed them too soon in the past and the bottom bubbles. It's all about practicing :)
Hope this helps!

Terry F

TO DIE FOR!! So good!

First pumpkin pie I've ever made and it was - for sure - the best pumpkin pie I have ever eaten! The pie crust - well - it looked like what you would see out of a magazine - was light and flaky - and I have never been able to make pie crust so always bought the shells. This alone is a huge improvement. But make it all up into this pumpkin pie and holy moly it was good. The texture was velvety smooth unlike any other pumpkin pie I've ever eaten before. I can't believe I really made this pie - wow! Thanks for turning me into the much better cook you promised I would be with my Rouxbe membership.

Marlene S

can I substitute the egg?and more questions

If I wanted to try a pie without eggs what would I substitute? could I make a whipped cream with coconut milk?
I have never used shortening what is it?
I want to make a vegan version if possible. and lastly can I use maple syrup instead of regular sugar?
Thank you.

i love the techniques and how easy it is to view these recipes

Dawn T
Rouxbe Staff

RE: Can I Substitute the Eggs in the Pie?

We have not tried this pie without eggs: therefore, you would have to experiment to see how it works for you.

As for making a whipped cream with coconut milk, unfortunately, you cannot just whip coconut milk and get the same results as you when you whip heavy cream.

Here is a more information on "What is Shortening?"

As for making a vegan pie, again, this is a different recipe and you cannot just simply leave out the dairy. You may want to search online for a vegan pumpkin pie recipe.

As for using maple syrup instead of sugar, sometimes it can be substituted but it does depend on the recipe and or how you are substituting it.

Cheers!

Kathleen F

what exactly is 'shortening'?

I've always used Crisco as shortening but am having difficulty getting it into cubes. Are you using sticks of margarine? Haven't bought that in years but might consider...I'm known as the pie queen around here but want to try another crust for fun. All your other recipes are more than good so I'm venturing into an area that has already been successful. We had our Thanksgiving a couple of weeks ago so this is an experiment and know that none of you should be answering any questions today!! Happy Thanksgiving to each of you!

Dawn T
Rouxbe Staff

RE: Shortening

We used Crisco shortening in this recipe because it adds great flakiness to the crust (part butter is used for flavor). Both are placed in the freezer prior to using to firm them up. Happy Thanksgiving! Cheers!

Bill P

Great pie! Just some comments

I made this pie for Thanksgiving. It came out great.

Here are some general comments if you're interested:

1. I used evaporated milk and added my own sugar (3/4 cup), as another person commented earlier. The sweetened condensed milk at my grocery store was sourced from another country not known for its rigorous food inspections. It made me a little nervous.

2. I doubled the recipe to make two pies. I knew it would take me at least two attempts to get the crust rolled out properly :) I had to patch my crusts in a few places after I had rolled it out -- it felt like an art project. Also, after I blind baked the crusts, one developed a few small holes. It didn't make much difference once everything was baked.

3. I made the dough the night before and stored overnight in the fridge in plastic wrap. It was too much to try to make everything on turkey day.

4. I used organic non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening from the local health food store. Not sure if it's any healthier than regular shortening, but it worked well.

5. The pie filling was a bit looser than what was shown in the video. It was much more like a liquid than a paste. It cooked well, although the top wasn't as perfectly smooth as shown here. It had a few small cracks. I'm not sure if doubling the recipe or using the different milk could account for that. I also wonder if I didn't let it simmer long enough. Thoughts?

6. I had some leftover pie filling and baked it in a ramekin in the toaster oven. It wasn't bad and let me "taste the pie" without making a dent in the real pies. For those that want to stay away from gluten/flour, that might be the way to go. The pie tastes much better cold than it does hot. My family sampled the ramekin "pie" almost out of the oven, and it was not great.

I thought pie crusts would be very hard, but your technique (and the right tools) made it simple. I just wish there was a way to speed up the whole crust process -- making dough, chilling, blind baking, etc. It's best to spread it out over a couple of days if you don't have lots of time.

Thanks for listening!

Andrew L

Great Pie!

What a great pie! I used sweet potatos instead of pumpkin and everyone loved it. Thank you.

I do have one question. After you use the beans to bake the crust can they be used as normal or should they be discarded? Just being thrifty I guess...

Kathleen F

This "Pie Queen" has a new recipe! Thank you!!

My son said that this crust was my best yet! So I will be using this for all my pies from now on-as Bill wrote, just wish it didn't take so long to make but it IS worth it. My son suggested getting the Crisco in the sticks and freezing it partially even before cutting it into little pieced so that part will go more quickly. I was trying to measure the messy stuff out of the can and then get it into little pieces to freeze :) The only problem was that I used the crust for an apple pie and it got a little brown before it was done because of the pre-baking. Could I have baked the apple pie without that step? Or pre-bake and just cover the edges with foil?

Christophe K
Rouxbe Staff

Pie Queen.

Par baking is something that can be done to many different degrees, like par cooking, it really depends how wet the filling that will go in is. It takes some experimentation, a lot of people do not par bake their shell and have good results, and yes you can also cover the edges with foil if they get too much colour.

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