This easy homemade pumpkin pie is super smooth and velvety with the perfect blend of spices. A classic and delicious holiday dessert that will be the star of your Thanksgiving dinner!
Need more pie recipes? Other holiday favorites include sweet potato pie, Dutch apple pie and pecan pie!
Table of Contents
Simple Pumpkin Pie Recipe
Is it even the holidays without pumpkin pie on your Thanksgiving menu?? I think not! It’s the perfect dessert to accompany the roasted turkey and all of the famous Thanksgiving side dishes. The delicious fall flavors just can’t be beat!
I know I told you that razzleberry pie is my favorite, but this easy pumpkin pie comes in at a close second! It’s smooth and velvety with the perfect blend of spices.
I’ve tried so many different recipes and always seem to come back to Libby’s famous classic pumpkin pie recipe. I adapted it by reducing the evaporated milk to make it more firm and then added in a dash of vanilla. Mmm…so good!
Why This Recipe Works
This is the best pumpkin pie recipe! It just works! You will love how simple it is to make. It has the perfect taste with the best crust. You will love this holiday favorite pie!
- Simple and easy. Learning how to make a pumpkin pie from scratch has never been so easy! The filling only takes 15 minutes of prep and then the rest is just bake and cool time.
- The perfect texture. Between the flaky pie crust and the smooth, velvety and perfectly firm filling, each bite will prove that this is the best pumpkin pie you’ve ever tried!
- A holiday classic. This easy pumpkin pie will be the star of your holiday dinner. It’s perfect for both Thanksgiving and Christmas and is perfect for the dessert table with other pies like chocolate pecan pie!
Recipe Ingredients
This easy pumpkin pie recipe is made with a simple homemade pumpkin filling, with the option of using a pre-made or from scratch crust depending on how ambitious you feel. It’s a breeze to prepare and is loaded with the best flavor!
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Pumpkin pie filling: Made with a mixture of 100% pure pumpkin puree, eggs, vanilla, sugar, evaporated milk, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt. It has a smooth and creamy texture with just the right amount of pumpkin and spice flavor.
- Crust: A store-bought crust or homemade both work, just make sure it’s unbaked. If you would prefer to make it from scratch, I love this easy pie crust recipe or making an all butter pie crust.
- Topping: I don’t know about you, but whipped cream is a must on top of my pie! Make it extra special with a simple homemade whipped cream.
Variations
This pumpkin pie recipe would also taste delicious with an easy graham cracker crust or gingersnap crust.
You can also add other spices such as nutmeg like I do in sweet potato pie or a dash of pumpkin pie spice to the filling for a bolder spice flavor.
Need small bite size instead? Try these mini pumpkin pies!
If you would prefer bars instead of a pie, check out my favorite pumpkin pie bar recipe made with a shortbread crust. It has all the same flavors and textures and is so delicious!
How to Make Easy Pumpkin Pie
With only 15 minutes of prep time, this is the best pumpkin pie recipe to make for all of your holiday celebrations. All that’s left is baking and cooling time, and then you’re ready to dig in!
- Crust. I love to make a homemade pie crust, but you could definitely buy the premade refrigerated pie dough as well. Either way, no need to prebake the crust before adding the filling. Just roll the dough out, then press it into a 9-inch pie pan.
- Filling. Beat (or whisk) the eggs very well in a large bowl. Then mix in the vanilla, sugar and spices until combined. Stir in the canned pumpkin and then gradually mix in the evaporated milk until the filling has a smooth consistency. Then pour the filling on top of the pie dough.
- Bake. Bake at 425°F for about 40 to 55 minutes, or until the center is done. You can tell when it’s ready by sticking a knife in the center of the pie. If it comes out clean, you can remove it from the oven. If there’s filling on the knife, continue cooking it a little longer.
5 star review
“Made this extra pie just for hubby and I. Tastes just like mom used to make. Extremely easy to prepare. Pie baked perfectly in time allotted. Highly recommend using Libby’s as recipe suggests. DELICIOUS!“
– Alina
Expert Tips for the Best Pumpkin Pie
Always following the original recipe is best but using these expert tips will also help create the best pumpkin pie! It is simple to make with all the homemade love added in. Enjoy the best tasting pie using these extra ideas!
- Homemade pumpkin puree. You can make your own fresh pumpkin puree if you’d like. Just be sure to drain out the liquid from the fresh pumpkin with a paper towel. Pumpkin that’s fresh holds extra water.
- Heavy cream. Although I prefer to use evaporated milk, you can substitute with the same amount of heavy cream. The cream will make it a bit thicker and have a custard-like consistency.
- Keep crust from browning. I usually cover the crust edges with foil for the last 20 minutes so that it doesn’t get too brown.
- Don’t overcook. Overcooking is what causes the filling to crack. Remove it from the oven when the center has just a slight jiggle (the pie will continue to cook as it cools).
Recipe FAQs
Yes, this pie will need to be refrigerated instead of stored at room temperature due to the eggs in the pie filling.
It will stay fresh covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Yes, it freezes well. Simply bake according to directions, then remove from the oven and let cool completely. Cover tightly with foil or saran wrap, then store in the freezer for up to 1 month. The day before serving, place in the fridge to thaw overnight.
It’s a quintessential holiday dessert and tastes great with Thanksgiving or Christmas favorites like roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and fresh homemade dinner rolls.
Make Ahead Instructions
For best results – I’d recommend making the pie dough and filling ahead of time, then assembling and baking the day of. This way the crust stays nice and crisp and the filling will stay moist and smooth. You could bake it a day in advance if you’d like, however just make sure to refrigerate the pie until serving.
- Crust: You can make homemade pie dough in advance and either keep it in the fridge or the freezer. It will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw from frozen, place in the refrigerator overnight.
- Filling: The filling can be made 1 day in advance if preferred (no earlier due to the dairy components).
- Whipped cream: Make stabilized whipped cream with gelatin if preparing in advance. It will hold it’s shape for about 1-2 days.
Do you love pumpkin and need more recipe ideas?! These delicious pumpkin pie bars, pumpkin blondies, or this favorite pumpkin roll are always easy to make too!
More Holiday Pies to Try
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Homemade Pumpkin Pie
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 15 ounce can pure pumpkin (I use Libby's 100% pure pumpkin)
- 1 1/4 cups evaporated milk
- 1 unbaked pie crust
- whipped cream for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Roll out the pie dough on a floured surface to about 1/8 – 1/4" thick. Then carefully transfer to a pie pan. Make the crust edges using your thumb and index finger. You can also cut off the extra dough around the edges or press it down with a fork.
- Beat eggs in a large bowl. Add vanilla, sugar and spices and mix until combined. Stir in pumpkin. Gradually stir in evaporated milk until the mixture is smooth. Pour filling on top of the pie dough.
- Place the pie pan on a baking sheet and place in the oven to bake for 40-55 minutes, or until the center is done. Place a knife in the center to make sure it comes out clean. Also, I usually cover the crust with foil the last 20 minutes of baking so it doesn’t get too brown.
- Transfer pie to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely (about 3 hours). Top with homemade whipped cream when ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Christmas, Desserts, Pies + Tarts, Thanksgiving
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
can you freeze this pumpkin pie?If so, is two weeks okay in the freezer
Because of their rich custard filling, pumpkin pies freeze beautifully. Just make sure it is sealed to keep it fresh, and two weeks should be just fine. Don’t forget to thaw it out in time for the meal/event.
Best pumpkin pie, EVER! I love your cookbook and recipes ☺️
Yay! So happy to hear that. Thank you for your comment, Heather :)
Are you using a 9″ pie plate?
Yes!
Pumpkin pie is one of the many reasons I love the fall – this recipe is awesome!
Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without pumpkin pie!
Absolutely perfect! It was easy to make and unbelievably good!
Made this extra pie just for hubby and I. Tastes just like mom used to make. Extremely easy to prepare. Pie baked perfectly in time allotted. Highly recommend using Libby are recipe suggests. DELICIOUS!
Love this recipe I took out the cloves, but reducing some of the milk worked perfectly!!!
Really good! I can’t wait to make it over the holidays!
I can’t wait to make this Pumpkin Pie for Thanksgiving! I love how simple it is to make and it looks delicious!
This pumpkin pie looks amazing! So creamy and smooth! I can’t wait to try it this weekend!
Mmm, pumpkin pie is one of my faves! It’s very forgiving, so great for beginners.
This is such a nice recipe for a great fall classic!
I’ve been looking for a good pumpkin pie recipe! This one looks perfect!