The BEST Pumpkin Pie Recipe (From Scratch)

This is the best Pumpkin Pie recipe from scratch, complete with step-by-step instructions for making your very own homemade pie crust.  The filling is smooth and creamy with the perfect blend of pumpkin pie spice all wrapped up in a buttery, flakey crust.

If you’re looking for more holiday pies and desserts, be sure to to try our Berry Pie, Chocolate Cheesecake, and Nutella Cream Cheese Cake. They’re sure to make everyone swoon.

Best Pumpkin Pie Recipe From Scratch

No fall season would be complete in our house without this homemade pumpkin pie recipe.  The filling is super creamy, rich, and pumpkiny and the crust is tender, flakey, and so easy to make.  You could buy a premade crust in a pinch, but trust us when we say that you can totally do it.  

Whether you want to use fresh pumpkin puree or canned is completely up to you.  We like it both ways, although canned is far quicker and has that “pumpkin pie flavor” that you may be used to.  When in doubt, why not try it both ways!?

For a total stunner, top with these Sugared Cranberries and a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream.

Key Ingredients

• Flour – for the crust for pumpkin pie, all-purpose flour works great.
• Crisco – in my experience, Crisco works great because it doesn’t melt as easily as butter.  But, you can absolutely substitute cold butter if you’d prefer.
• Cold Water – use super cold water to keep the dough as cool as possible.  You can even add ice cubes to the water (just don’t add the ice cubes into the dough).
• Pumpkin Puree – you can use canned pumpkin puree or make your own. Just don’t use pumpkin pie filling because it already has seasoning and sweeteners added.
• Evaporated Milk – this makes your pie silky smooth.  
• Brown Sugar – you can use light or dark brown sugar.
• Eggs – any kind of large eggs will work great as a binder for the filling.
• Baking Spices – we use a blend of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.

How to Make this Pumpkin Pie Recipe from Scratch

1. Mix the pie dough.  Combine the four and salt, then add the Crisco (or cold butter) and use your fingers to combine.  Once the mixture resembles coarse meal, make a well in the center and add the water.  Carefully bring the flour mixture from the sides of the bowl into the center with the water and gently mix until combined and the flour is all moistened.  Do not overmix or knead!
2. Chill.  Form the dough into a flat disc, wrap in plastic and let rest in the cooler for about 30 minutes—1 hour.
3. Roll the dough out.  Using a rolling pin, start in the middle of the dough and roll outwards to make a circle that is large enough for the dough to hang over your pie plate at least 1/2″.
4. Line your pie plate.  Carefully line a 9″ pie plate with the rolled dough, cutting the excess dough off to leave a ½” overhang.  Tuck the dough under to create a smooth edge, then use your fingers to crimp the dough into a decorative pattern and set it aside.  
5. Make the filling.  In a blender, combine the pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger, cloves, and eggs.  Blend on low until all of the ingredients are combined, then pour into the prepared pumpkin pie crust.
6. Bake.  Bake in a preheated 425-degree oven for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for another 45 minutes, or until the filling is set in the center and the crust is golden brown.  If the edges of the pie become golden before the baking time is complete, cover the edges with strips of aluminum foil and finish baking.
7. Serve.  Once the pie has finished baking, remove it from the oven and let cool on a wire rack to room temperature before slicing and serving with a scoop of fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.  Enjoy!

Tips for Making the Crust

• If you have the time, blind baking the crust will keep it from getting soggy if it’s stored for a couple of days before serving. If you plan to serve this pie within 24 hours, there’s no need to blind-bake the crust.
• If you want to save some time, you can use a store-bought pie crust. You can find them in the refrigerator aisle at the grocery store by the biscuits. That will take a few minutes off your preparation time. You can also use a frozen pie crust found by the frozen berries at the grocery store.
• If you want to make a deep dish pie, I would recommend making 1 1/2 times the pumpkin pie custard recipe and adjusting the baking time as needed.
• When it comes to making flakey pie dough, remember to keep your ingredients cold, cold, cold!  Using cold butter or Crisco and ice water will help immensely. 
• It’s a good idea to chill your pie dough if you have the time, but if you are in a rush, you can skip it.  This recipe still rolls out nicely without chilling.
• The trick to making sure your Pumpkin Pie doesn’t crack is turning the oven down after 15 minutes of baking and making sure you don’t over bake it.  Once the center is jiggly, it’s done!

Frequently Asked Questions

Storing Instructions

• Refrigerator: you can also cover and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• Freezer: if you plan to freeze your pie, let it cool completely and then wrap in aluminum foil, then plastic wrap.  Store frozen for up to 2 months, then thaw in the fridge overnight once you are ready to eat.

More Of the Best Pumpkin Recipes

• Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Baked Pumpkin Rice Pudding
• Pumpkin Cake
• Pumpkin Stuffed French Toast
• No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake
• Einkorn Pumpkin Muffins
• More Dessert Recipes
• More Pie Recipes
• More Holiday Recipes

This Pumpkin Pie is super creamy and rich with a perfectly tender and flakey homemade pie crust. Follow these step-by-step instructions and you will see just how easy it is to make your own pie right at home. Every family loves this classic Pumpkin Pie Recipe!