Pumpkin schmumpkin. It’s easy to fall into a rut with the Thanksgiving tradition. This version lends a slightly different lilt to creamy, velvety pumpkin custard by sweetening it with maple syrup instead of sugar. And the oh-so-flaky crust is gonna make you wanna put down your fork and sigh. Trust us. Everyone who tried this was begging for the recipe.–Angie Zoobkoff
PUMPKIN PURÉE VS. PIE FILLING
When you’re shopping for ingredients for this scrumptious pie, take note that you’re looking for pumpkin purée vs. pumpkin pie filling. Pie filling is already flavored and spiced, which sort of means that you’re just plopping premade filling into a crust. Pumpkin purée, on the other hand, is just the pumpkin. You’re in charge of everything else that goes into it to make it taste like the creamy, gently spiced, maple-tinged dreamboat that it is. You can also make your own purée, as long as you’re using pumpkins grown for pies–a typical jack o’lantern pumpkin won’t do.
Maple Pumpkin Pie
Ingredients
For the pâte brisée
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 9 tablespoons (4 1/2 oz) cold unsalted butter, cut into 9 pieces
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 tablespoons cold whole milk
For the pumpkin filling
- 15 ounces pumpkin purée
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, plus more for garnish
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup maple syrup, preferably dark amber
- 3 large eggs
- Whipped cream, to serve
Instructions
Make the pâte brisée
- Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the flour and salt until mixed, 10 to 15 seconds. Add the butter and beat slowly until the flour is no longer bright white, holds together when you clump it, and there are still lumps of butter about the size of a pecan throughout the mixture, 45 to 60 seconds.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and milk. Add it all at once to the flour-butter mixture. Beat very briefly on low speed just until it barely comes together, 15 to 30 seconds. It will look really shaggy and more like a mess than a dough. Using your hands, shape the shaggy dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator and lightly knead it to make it malleable if it feels stiff. Using a rolling pin, press the dough to flatten it into disk about 1/2 inch (12 mm) thick. Generously flour your work surface as well as the dough. Carefully roll out the disk into a circle about 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter. You may need to incrementally add a little more flour to the work surface and the rolling pin to make sure the dough remains floured well enough to keep your rolling pin from sticking to it. Roll from the center of the disk outward and gently rotate the disk a quarter turn after each roll to ensure that the disk gets stretched out evenly into a nice circle. Don’t worry if the dough breaks a bit, especially towards the edges. You can easily patch these tears up once you’ve lined your pie plate.
- Once the dough circle is about 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter, gently roll it around the rolling pin and then unfurl it on top of a 9-inch (23-cm) aluminum or glass pie plate. Press the dough gently into the bottom and sides of the plate. Either fold the overhanging dough and crimp with your fingers evenly all around for a more dramatic edge, or use scissors to trim the overhang, leaving a 1/2-inch (12-mm) lip around the edge to allow for shrinkage in the oven. Use any scraps or odd pieces to patch up any tears or missing bits.
- Refrigerate the pie crust for at least 30 minutes. (The gluten needs a little time to relax so it doesn’t shrink as much in the oven). You can refrigerate the unbaked pie crust, tightly wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 4 weeks. If frozen, the pie shell can be baked directly from the freezer.
Make the pumpkin filling
- Meanwhile, scrape the pumpkin purée into a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, or until the pumpkin reduces into a somewhat-thick paste and darkens in color, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Stir in the cream, vanilla, and maple syrup until well combined. Whisk in the eggs thoroughly, one at a time.
Assemble the maple pumpkin pie
- When you’re ready to make the pie, place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F (175°C).
- Line the crust with parchment paper or a large coffee filter and then fill it with pie weights, uncooked beans, uncooked rice, or even well-washed marble-size rocks. Press down slightly on the weights to make sure the shell is entirely filled and place it in the oven. Bake until the crust is brown on the edges and pale and matte when you lift the parchment and peek at the surface of the shell, 30 to 35 minutes. (If the edges brown too quickly, cover the shell with foil.) It doesn’t need to color at this point. You’re just giving the crust a chance to partially bake. Let the pastry cool on a wire rack, leaving the weights and parchment in place.
- Remove the parchment paper and pie weights from the crust and pour the pumpkin custard into the crust. Bake until the custard is just set, 45 to 55 minutes. The edges of the custard will puff up a little and the center should still have a little wiggle in it. Remove the pie from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for at least 1 hour.
- Serve at room temperature or chilled, topped with the whipped cream, if desired. The pie can be stored, wrapped in plastic wrap, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe Testers’ Reviews
Pumpkin pie perfected! The maple pumpkin filling is creamy and smooth, slices beautifully, and the maple syrup and spices have just enough presence, allowing the flavor of the pie to be authentic to the main star, the pumpkin.
The pie kept very well for a few days in the refrigerator. On the third day, the filling was just as delicious, had the same great texture, and the crust was light and flaky and not moist and stale. But don’t think the pie will linger untouched for that long; I’m just hinting that it’s a great make-ahead pie.
Also, when a recipe calls for “1 cup heavy cream,” I typically buy 1/2 pint carton and use all of it. It’s not super precisely 1 cup, but it’s darn close enough.
I served the pie plain, without whipped cream. It was part of our Thanksgiving dinner, so I thought I could skip the extra calories.
“This maple pumpkin pie a winner!” were the words out of my husband’s mouth after he took the first bite. Creamy, not-too-sweet, and, as promised in the description, it delivered a great pumpkin and maple flavor. This one will be returning to my Thanksgiving table next year.
The pate brisée was also really easy to put together and to roll out. I chilled the pie overnight and served it with whipped cream. It sliced beautifully, with no cracking or oozing, and tasted absolutely fantastic.
The filling for this maple pumpkin pie was nicely spiced and creamy, not overly sweet. Pumpkin pie perfection!
With all the Fall talk about pumpkin spice flavors, I was ready to treat myself (and family, of course) to pumpkin pie. Looking for something other than my usual recipe, this pie with maple syrup caught my eye. The flavor is a little less sweet and the custard is softer than my usual recipe but the finished pie was very sliceable. We enjoyed it tremendously.
It is indeed a beautifully flavored pumpkin pie. Yes, a little less sweet, but there is depth in the flavor of the filling, thanks to the reduced pumpkin purée and maple syrup. So glad it was enjoyed, Deb L!
I prefer dessert to be on the less sweet side so I was quite intrigued by the idea of a pumpkin pie made with maple syrup as its only sweetener. I am tasked with bringing desserts to my mom’s house for Thanksgiving and after several disasters, I have finally learned to try out new recipes well in advance of the holiday. This pumpkin pie will be making an appearance on the dessert table come November. The velvety filling was not very sweet thus letting the pumpkin flavor shine through. I loved how perfectly it cut and the crust was easy to make. It did crack when I rolled it out but was easy to patch together as promised; on day two it tastes just as delicious and flaky as day one. With a dollop of whip cream and a cup of coffee, you will have yourself a luscious treat.
On a side note: I left the piece of pie pictured unattended on the counter while fixing my coffee; I returned to find my dog Milo enjoying the pie! He has good taste! Naughty boy.
Thank you for writing, Sasha Pravdic! Isn’t this a dream of a pie? (Right? Milo?) It may just become one of the frequently requested autumnal desserts—just warning you!
Since I’m not a fan of pie crust (sorry David) I’ll be making this filling & putting it in a baking dish. Can’t wait – sound delicious!
That works, Martha in KS! I would do the same thing myself. Enjoy that subtle lilt of maple…!