Make the Perfect Homemade Pumpkin Pie Filling from Scratch

If you’re a pumpkin pie enthusiast or simply looking to impress your family and friends with a delightful homemade dessert, I have the perfect recipe for you! Making your own pumpkin pie filling from scratch is a rewarding endeavour that results in a pie that’s bursting with flavour.

In this blog post, I will show you how to transform ordinary pie pumpkins into a smooth, rich pumpkin purée and use it to create a mouthwatering pumpkin pie. Sound good?

How To Make Pumpkin Puree

Pumpkin puree is a smooth, thick, and creamy mixture made from cooked and mashed pumpkin flesh (the inside of the pumpkin). It’s important to note that pumpkin puree is different from pumpkin pie filling, which includes additional ingredients like sweeteners and spices. Pure pumpkin puree is just pumpkin that has been cooked and mashed without added ingredients.

Ingredients For Pumpkin Puree

• 2 pie pumpkins
• Water

Instructions For Preparing Pumpkin Puree

1. Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Take 2 pie pumpkins and place them in a glass dish with sides. I use a 9×13 dish. Add a bit of water to the bottom of the dish to create steam during baking.
3. Remove the tops (stems) from the pumpkins and place a few slits in the top of each pumpkin. I use a sharp pairing knife to do this.
4. Bake the pumpkins at 350°F for approximately 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the size of the pumpkins. The pumpkins should be tender and easily pierced with a fork once they are cooked. In general, it takes about 1 hour for medium-sized pumpkins to cook.
5. Once cooked, carefully remove the pumpkins from the oven, and let them cool slightly.
6. After cooling, cut the pumpkins open, remove the seeds and skin, and place the pumpkin flesh (the inside of the pumpkin) in a blender.
7. Blend until the texture is smooth.
8. You can freeze pumpkin purée if you don’t plan to use it all. This recipe typically yields about 2 cups of pumpkin purée.

So you can see exactly what pie pumpkins look like and pumpkin puree, check out my YouTube short. I think it will be helpful!

How To Make Homemade Pumpkin Pie

Now that your pumpkin puree is ready, how do you turn puree into pumpkin pie filling? You just need a few simple ingredients. The recipe I use is from E.D. Smith. I altered the recipe a bit so I could use fresh pumpkin and spices I always have on hand instead of buying pumpkin pie spice specifically.

Ingredients For the Pie Filling:

• 2 eggs (slightly beaten)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
• 2 cups pumpkin purée
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup evaporated milk

Instructions For Making The Pie Filling

1. In a medium-sized bowl, slightly beat 2 eggs.
2. To the bowl, add brown sugar, pumpkin purée, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, and salt.
3. Gently stir until all the ingredients are well combined.
4. Gradually add the evaporated milk while continuing to mix until the filling is thoroughly combined.
5. Pour the prepared filling into your chosen pie shell.

Pie Crust Tips

You can use your favourite homemade pie crust recipe or purchase a pre-made crust. No one will ever know if you don’t tell them! The sky is the limit for pie crusts. You can use a lard based crust or a butter based crust. Either works just fine, it’s really a personal preference. Remember, you only need one pie crust for this recipe. Pumpkin pie doesn’t require a crust on the top. Just whipped cream!

Baking the Pie

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Place the pie in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes.
3. After 15 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C).
4. Continue baking for an additional 35-45 minutes.
5. To check if your pie is ready, insert a knife about 1 inch from the edge of the crust. When you remove the knife, it should come out clean when the pie is done. The middle of the pie may appear slightly soft, but don’t worry; it will continue to set as it cools.
6. Allow the pie to cool for at least one hour before serving.

Enjoy your homemade pumpkin pie, made with love and fresh pumpkin purée! This delightful dessert is perfect for fall gatherings, Thanksgiving, or any occasion where you want to savour the flavours of the season.

Comment Below

What do you love to cook the most?  I have a HUGE sweet tooth so baking is definitely my favourite.  Have you tried my “BEST EVER Apple Crisp” recipe? Apple crisp is an old fashioned comfort dessert that is a perfect to make when apples are at their peek in the fall. Do you have a favourite recipe you could share? I would love to hear what you enjoy cooking or baking.   

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