Pumpkin Pie Recipes

Make spicy Pumpkin pie recipes at any time, not just for thanksgiving!

Pumpkin pie has been a part of thanksgiving celebrations for hundreds of years.

Pumpkin pie appeared in the first ever American cookbook in 1796 and has been an essential part of fall celebrations ever since. It is thought that the recipe originated when the early colonists took the top off a pumpkin, filled it with milk, honey and spices and cooked it over the ashes of their fire.

The traditional pumpkin pie hasn't changed much, but everyone has their favourite recipe. Nowadays there are some creative variations, such as the addition of beaten egg whites into the mix to make Pumpkin Chiffon Pie, or a meringue topping. Pie crusts can create a bit of variation, for a change why not try a crust of crushed ginger biscuits or walnuts. Or for a really special finish make a brulee by covering the top with brown sugar and melting the sugar with a kitchen blowtorch. This creates a crunchy caramel top for that really special dinner party.

Another gingery variation is to put a thin layer of finely chopped crystalised ginger over the pie crust just before you add the pie filling.

Experiment with your accompaniments too. Whipped cream is wonderful and everyone loves it, but why not try it with rum and raisin ice cream, or add a little vanilla essence to your creamy topping.

Pumpkin bars are a great innovation for convenience. Whenever you want a pumpkin pie taste but don't want to use cutlery and bowls, the bar is a fantastic alternative.

Which do you think is the best recipe?

You can use also use pie filling as a dessert on its own. Chilled as a mousse, or served hot in a mini pumpkin shell it can be very special. You can freeze it for up to a month too, so it can be a useful think to keep for those unexpected guests. It's better to freeze just the filling anyway, as pie crusts can go a bit soggy if you freeze the whole pie.

Here are links to all the different but yet perfect pumpkin pies:

Traditional Pumpkin Pie

Fresh Pumpkin Pie

Homemade Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Pie Bars