Here’s a heavily spiced pumpkin pie with brown sugar and a simple short crust. And it’s MUCH easier than I thought.

I know it’s late! I know you probably have your Thanksgiving plans carved into stone tablets already BUT if any of you are like me and are putting things together last minute for whatever reason… well here is my favorite pumpkin pie recipe!  I came up with it for a fun video I did for NYU a couple of years ago making pie with then NYU President John Sexton. And I shared the recipe then. But this year’s version is both better and easier.

Since then I have realized that the crust on this pie actually turns out beautifully when you don’t blind bake it and I’ve tinkered with several other things and simplified it so it tastes just as good (maybe better??) but is significantly less fussy. And you don’t need a food processor to make the crust. Improvements? I think so. Sorry for the lousy photo quality. I ran out of daylight.

Lastly, pumpkin pies are my favorite of the Thanksgiving standards, but if you prefer sweet potato (who could blame you, they are awesome too!) or butternut squash you can substitute them for the pumpkin puree, or even do a blend of sweet potato and pumpkin. This is my favorite style, with the dark richness of molasses from the brown sugar and a strong hit of cinnamon and spices and even a little zing from the orange zest. Don’t forget to add the cinnamon or orange zest to the whipped cream, it makes it that much more special.

Okay, I love you all. Thank you for bearing with me through my absences. I hope to be with you again more regularly soon!

Pumpkin Pie

Heavily spiced pumpkin pie with brown sugar and a simple short crust.

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Servings 8 slices

Ingredients

  

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Crust

• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
• 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup +1 Tbsp water

Filling

• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups pumpkin or squash puree
• 3/4 cup dark brown sugar packed
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp orange zest (or one small orange worth)
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp ginger powder
• 1 tsp cardamom powder
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg freshly grated
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1 cup whipping cream

Special Whipped Cream

• 1 cup whipping cream
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon or orange zest

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!