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The Best Pumpkin Pie Recipe (Surprise Ingredient)

Your search for the Best Pumpkin Pie Recipe ends here. This is hands-down the best pumpkin pie recipe adapted from America’s Test Kitchen. You have to taste it for yourself.

best pumpkin pie recipe, america's test kitchen pumpkin pie

Pumpkin Pie

Happy Halloween, Friends.

So I promised we’d be back to all things pumpkin this week, and I’m here to deliver on that. Never break a promise 😉

We’re doing it Go Big or Go Home style with today’s recipe – we’re Going Big, of course. You’ve already loved on these pumpkin snickerdoodles and pumpkin pie coffeecake (huzzah, pumpkin for breakfast!)

Today we’re going back to the classics: pumpkin pie. Actually, the best pumpkin pie recipe that’s been kitchen tested and re-tested.

Everyone’s got a favorite pumpkin pie recipe. We’ve devoured our share of pumpkin pies, from restaurants to bakeries to homemade pies. We’ve baked more than our share of pies.

We’re here to confirm that this mouthwatering version adapted from American’s Test Kitchen is indeed the best pumpkin pie recipe ever…

Combined Ingredients of Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Pie Surprise Ingredient

We start off with all the goodness of pure, whole ingredients like milk, cream, eggs, vanilla, and of course plenty of pumpkin.

As always, we’re not shy with the autumn spices. Pour in the maple syrup and sprinkle on the cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Guaranteed, your house will smell simply delicious.

The surprise ingredient here is the inclusion of canned sweet yams. For reals and really. It helps create a wonderfully balanced texture and flavor that can’t be beat. You’ll pretty much go half-half with the pumpkin and yams. The result is nothing short of marvelous.

The only thing is, as with most pies: you have to let it cool completely to fully set. Yes, that means people can’t dig in when they see your perfect pumpkin pie coming out of the oven. Stand your ground and make them wait until your pie has fully cooled and set. Once it’s at room temp, you can keep it chilled until ready to serve.

best pumpkin pie recipe, america's test kitchen pumpkin pie

Why you’ll love this pie

  • It’s thick, velvety, rich, and smooth
  • It’s loaded with plenty of fall spices so every bite is bursting with flavor
  • The yams provide a boost of flavor and texture that can’t be beat
  • Only pure, whole ingredients go into this pie
  • You can make this perfect pumpkin pie ahead of time; just chill and serve
  • The flaky butter crust is incredible.

Here’s to Going Big with a thick slice of luscious, smooth, velvety best pumpkin pie.

With flaky, tender, all-butter crust if you dare. Enjoy.

You’ll Probably like this, too:

Did you make this?

Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!

Pumpkin Pie with Frosting

The Best Pumpkin Pie Recipe

4.77 from 38 ratings
Your search for the Best Pumpkin Pie Recipe ends here. This is hands-down the best pumpkin pie recipe adapted from America's Test Kitchen. You have to taste it for yourself.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 12 servings (1 deep dish, 9" pie)
Author: Amy Dong

Ingredients  

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400° F. Adjust oven rack to lowest position, and place rimmed baking sheet on the rack.
  • In a large bowl, whisk cream, milk, eggs, yolks, and vanilla together; set aside.
  • In a large, heavy pan (not nonstick): combine pumpkin puree, yams, sugar, maple syrup, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Bring to low boil over medium heat, 5-7 min. Continue simmering and stirring constantly while mashing yams against sides of pot with a fork until mixture is thick and smooth (10-15 min.)
  • Remove pan from heat. Whisk in cream mixture until fully incorporated and smooth without clumps.
  • Place prepared pie crust in a deep dish 9-inch pie plate. Flute edges as desired. Remove heated baking sheet from oven; carefully place pie on the preheated baking sheet. Pour the filling into the crust, and bake for 10 minutes at 400° F. Without taking the pie out of the oven, reduce the heat to 300° F, and continue baking until edges of pie are set (instant-read thermometer inserted in center registers 175° F), 45-55 minutes longer. The center may look firm but jiggle slightly; it will firm upon cooling. *Actual cook time depends on your specific oven.
  • Transfer to wire rack and cool to room temperature and not in the refrigerator to ensure that the filling sets, at least 3 hours depending on room temp. Cut into wedges and serve at room temperature or chilled with whipped cream.

Notes

As always, actual cook time depends on your oven. 
Be sure to give this pie plenty of time to cool at moderate room temp or chill in fridge to allow it to fully set.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 200mg | Potassium: 488mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 6327IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Method: baking

Kitchen Stuff We Love:

All the Pretty Pumpkins:

  1. The BEST ever New York Style Pumpkin Cheesecake – they’ll claim it’s better than restaurants!

A Slice of Pumpkin Pie with Frosting

2. Pumpkin Pasties (Hand Pies) – these aren’t just for Potter fans.

Pumpkin Hand Pies

3. Autumn Pumpkin Cornbread – such a great twist on an old favorite.

Pumpkin Cornbread with Melted Butter

4. Pumpkin Spice Trifle – easy and feeds a huge crowd!

Pumpkin Spice Trifle with Whipped Cream

Add a comment

Recipe Rating




65 comments

    • fasetto

    Great timing! I’m going to need this very soon. Can’t wait to make this for my family!

      • chewoutloud

      Hope you guys love it!! 🙂

    • JAGRITI ROY

    Happy Halloween to you too. 🙂 Never thought that our very own pumpkin can be used to prepare such a mouthwatering platter..

      • chewoutloud

      I can’t wait to plant pumpkins next fall!

    • Shubhada Bhide

    I love Pumpkin Pie! This Pie looks tempting and yummy! I would love to try this Pumpkin Pie recipe for my family, sure they will love this.

    • MomTraNeur

    I can’t remember if I’d tasted a pumpkin pie before. maybe not yet. Your post makes me want to bake one! It really looks yum!

      • chewoutloud

      Gotta try it once 🙂

    • myrabevlife

    I love pumpkin pie though I have not had it in years, thanks for the recipe definitely want to recreate it.

    • Agnes
    • 5 stars

    Doesn’t get better that pumpkin pie in the fall! Yams certainly make the difference in the recipe and it looks delicious.

      • chewoutloud

      You’re so right, the yams make a difference in the overall finished pie, but you can’t tell what it is that makes it so good! 🙂

    • poojakawatra
    • 5 stars

    This looks such a scrumptious recipe to try out this Halloween season and that pumpkin pasties and truffle is awesome.

      • chewoutloud

      It’s hard to pick just one to bake 😉

    • Gale

    Pumkin pie! Perfect for the halloween season. The yam intrigues me. I’ll try this recipe. Thanks!

      • chewoutloud

      Nobody can even tell there’s sweet yam in there 🙂

    • Deb B.
    • 5 stars

    OMG I am CRAVING pumpkin pie right now!!! SO delicious, and I’ve yet to have some this season. The homemade salted caramel sauce sounds absolutely divine!!

      • chewoutloud

      I can’t wait to have tons of pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving as well, Deb! 🙂

    • Nikki
    • 5 stars

    Aaaah I’m trying this recipe this weekend! It looks so good amazing. I loveeeee pumpkin pie.

      • chewoutloud

      Me too, Nikki! 🙂

    • Akamatra

    This looks like perfection. I bet it tastes divine! Have you ever tried it without the ginger in it?

      • chewoutloud

      I always love ginger, but feel free to omit it! 😉

    • Paige

    I’ve never heard of putting Yams in a pie before! This looks and sounds yummy though!

      • chewoutloud

      Thanks, Paige!

    • Preet

    I love pumpkin pie and this one looks so delicious, love all your pictures. I am going to try this next weekend.

      • chewoutloud

      Thank you, Preet!

    • Stephanie JNote

    Ooh! It is pie season. My favorite of them all. I cannot wait to get into the baking mode for Thanksgiving. I’m actually excited about it. I will definitely try this recipe. Looks so good. Thank you for sharing it!

      • chewoutloud

      The baking is the main thing that gets me excited about cold weather 😉

    • keisha1989

    I am not a pumpkin but this looks really good. I would love to try it. Thanks for sharing this.

    • Summer Mitch Ryan

    I think this is a great way to have my kids eat pumpkin. I might have to substitute some ingredients due to unavailability here.

      • chewoutloud

      Would love to hear how it turns out with your subs! 🙂

    • firsttimetravel

    I get hungry reading this post. Your pumpkin pie looks delectable. It’s great that you have shared the recipe here. It is very apt for the occasion.

      • chewoutloud

      Sometimes I get hungry writing posts 😉 LOL

    • thenafranssen

    Tis the season for pumpkin everything! This pumpkin pie looks so good, I’ll have to give it a try for sure!

      • chewoutloud

      Totally pumpkin season until at least Thanksgiving! 🙂

    • Jhilmil Bhansali

    I love pumpkins and this pie really looks tempting. It’s time for me to bake one of those pie’s and allow my kid to have a taste of them!

      • chewoutloud

      Yes, the kids actually really like this one! 🙂

    • brigettedanielle
    • 5 stars

    I love pumpkin and this looks perfect! I have been indulging in pumpkin french toast but now… it’s time to up the ante!

      • chewoutloud

      I’ve totally been indulging in Pumpkin everything, too! 🙂

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