When it comes to Thanksgiving, pumpkin pie might be the most essential element there is. Sure, turkey is central to the feast, but vegetarian Thanksgiving is a thing. Pumpkin-free Thanksgiving? If that’s a thing, it’s a sad one about which we will speak no more.
Fun fact: Pumpkins grow on the ground and are easy to think of as vegetables, but they’ve got their seeds on the inside, which makes them fruit. (Even more fun fact: I learned this from the TV show Waffles + Mochi, which is ostensibly made for children but if you haven’t checked it out, just please do.)
This dual nature means that pumpkin plays well with a wide range of flavors both sweet and savory. The dense flesh is versatile and blends well with fruit, spices, nuts, and chocolate to make a wide range of desserts. You can spice it, bake it, or even freeze it into an ice cream pie that will convert anyone who thinks they don’t care for pumpkin. Put it in a crust, leave it open like a tart, drizzle it with caramel, stud it with streusel…there’s almost no limit to what you can do with this fall gourd.
You may think all pumpkin pies are the same, and if you’ve been relying on supermarket pastry (or the recipe on the back of a can of purée), that may be true. So break out of the average pie rut this year with one of the recipes below and fall in love with this Thanksgiving standby all over again.
Best Pumpkin Pie Recipes
Apple Pumpkin Galette
Basically an open-face pie, this is a great dessert for pie-phobes to make because the crust is so easy to handle.
Recipe: Apple Pumpkin Galette
Kabocha Squash Crème Fraîche Pie
Feel free to swap in other squash in pastry chef Michelle McKenzie’s recipe: Sugar Pie comes out sweeter, and canned pumpkin is mellow-tasting, if less distinctive. Shauna Sever, an 18 Reasons instructor, suggested the spicy gingersnap layer. You’ll need a 9-in. deep-dish pie pan.
Recipe: Kabocha Squash Crème Fraîche Pie
Pumpkin Brûlee Tart
This incredible fall pumpkin recipe is pumpkin pie meets crème brûlee, and worthy of your next dinner party.
Recipe: Pumpkin Brûlee Tart
Pumpkin Streusel Pie
Embellish a classic pumpkin pie with a streusel topping, then overlap pastry leaves around the edge and set a few on top for a festive presentation.
Recipe: Pumpkin Streusel Pie
Pumpkin Caramel Ice Cream Pie
This irresistible pumpkin recipe features layers of pumpkin and vanilla ice cream topped with gooey caramel on a graham cracker crust.
Recipe: Pumpkin Caramel Ice Cream Pie
Pumpkin-Orange Mascarpone Pie
Jazz up the traditional Thanksgiving dessert with mascarpone, a hint of orange flavor, and a gingersnap crust.
Recipe: Pumpkin-Orange Mascarpone Pie
Pumpkin-Orange Cheesecake with Chocolate Crust and Salted Caramel
For a fissure-free cheesecake, beat your filling just until it’s blended–no more. (Too much air in the mixture will make it deflate and then crack in the oven.)
Recipe: Pumpkin-Orange Cheesecake with Chocolate Crust and Salted Caramel
