Spicy ginger pumpkin pie deepens the classic with brown sugar and molasses over an all-butter crust. The filling bakes up dense and custardy, and the whole pie improves as the spices meld. Make it the day before your holiday dinner and thank yourself later.
Forget everything you thought you knew about pumpkin pie! While the classic is a beloved staple, I’ve always craved something with a little more… fire. This Spicy Ginger Pumpkin Pie is my answer. It’s a vibrant, aromatic twist on tradition, packed with warm cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and a generous, zesty kick of both ground and crystallized ginger. The creamy, luscious filling sits inside a perfectly flaky, buttery crust, creating a dessert that’s not just comforting, but truly unforgettable. If you’re a ginger lover like me, prepare to meet your new favorite holiday pie! This recipe makes two pies, perfect for sharing (or not!).
Ingredients
• For the All-Butter Pastry Crust (makes two 9-inch crusts)
• 1⅓ cups / 160g (5.6 oz) all-purpose flour
• ¼ tsp / 1.5g (0.05 oz) salt
• 1 Tbs / 12g (0.42 oz) granulated sugar
• ½ cup / 113g (4 oz) unsalted butter, well chilled and cubed
• scant ⅓ cup / 75ml (2.5 fl oz) ice water
• For the Spicy Ginger Pumpkin Filling
• ¾ cup / 165g (5.8 oz) packed brown sugar
• ¼ cup / 50g (1.76 oz) granulated sugar
• 1 Tbs / 21g (0.74 oz) molasses
• ¼ tsp / 1.5g (0.05 oz) salt
• ½ tsp / 1.5g (0.05 oz) ground cinnamon
• ¾ tsp / 1.5g (0.05 oz) ground ginger
• ¼ tsp / 0.5g (0.02 oz) ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp / 0.5g (0.02 oz) ground cloves
• 2 cups / 450g puréed cooked pumpkin
• 3 large eggs
• 1⅔ cups / 400ml (13.5 fl oz) undiluted evaporated milk
• 3 Tbs / 45ml (1.5 fl oz) sweet dark rum
• 2 to 3 Tbs / 30-45g (1.59 oz) chopped crystallized ginger, optional but highly recommended
• For Garnish
• Sweetened whipped cream
Instructions
1. Step-by-Step
2. Make the pastry: In a food processor, pulse the flour, salt, and sugar. Add the chilled, cubed butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized butter pieces remaining. Drizzle in the ice water, pulsing just until the dough comes together. Divide in half, form into two discs, wrap, and chill for at least 30 minutes.
3. Roll and shape the crusts: On a lightly floured surface, roll each disc of dough into a 12-inch circle. Carefully transfer each to a 9-inch pie plate. Trim the excess, and flute the edges to create a high rim. Chill the prepared pie shells for 15 minutes.
4. Blind bake the crusts: Preheat your oven to 400°F / 200°C. Line the chilled shells with parchment paper or foil and fill with pie weights, raw rice, or dried beans. Bake for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the weights and liner, dock the bottom of the crusts with a fork, and bake for another 10 minutes until lightly golden. Set aside.
5. Prepare the filling: In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, white sugar, molasses, salt, and all the spices. Stir in the pumpkin purée until well combined. In a separate bowl, lightly beat the eggs, then whisk in the evaporated milk and dark rum. Pour the wet into the pumpkin mixture and whisk until everything is smooth and thoroughly combined.
6. Assemble the pies: Sprinkle the chopped crystallized ginger evenly over the bottom of the two partially baked pastry shells. Carefully ladle the pumpkin filling over the ginger, dividing it evenly between the two pies.
7. Bake to perfection: Bake the pies in the preheated 400°F / 200°C oven for 35 to 40 minutes. The pies are done when the edges are set and a knife inserted about an inch from the center comes out clean. The center should still have a slight wobble.
8. Cool and serve: Let the pies cool completely on a wire rack for at least 2 hours before slicing. This allows the filling to set fully. Serve at room temperature or chilled, topped with a generous dollop of sweetened whipped cream.
Nutritional Information
• Serving: 1 slice | Calories: 350kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g (1.59 oz) | Protein: 7g (0.25 oz) | Fat: 16g (0.56 oz) | Note: These are estimates and will vary based on exact used.
Pro Tips
• for the Perfect Pie
• For an extra flaky crust, use a food processor and be careful not to overwork the dough. You should still see small, pea-sized pieces of butter.
• To prevent the crust edges from over-browning, cover them with a pie shield or strips of aluminum foil for the last 15-20 minutes of baking.
• Let the pies cool completely at room temperature for at least 2 hours. Chilling them in the fridge for another hour will help the filling set perfectly for clean, beautiful slices.
• Adjust the crystallized ginger to your liking. For a milder spice, use 2 tablespoons (30 ml / 1 fl oz); for a real ginger explosion, go for 3 or even 4!
FAQ
Q: Can I make this spicy pumpkin pie vegan
A: Yes, you can adapt this recipe to be fully vegan. For the crust, use a high-quality vegan butter block in place of dairy butter. For the filling, substitute the eggs with 1/2 cup (480 ml) of a liquid vegan egg replacer. Replace the evaporated milk with an equal amount of full-fat canned coconut milk or a store-bought vegan evaporated milk for a similarly creamy texture.
Q: Is there a non-alcoholic substitute for the dark rum
A: Absolutely. To make this pie alcohol-free, you can replace the 3 tablespoons (45 ml / 1.5 fl oz) of dark rum with 1 tablespoon (15 ml / 0.5 fl oz) of rum extract mixed with 2 tablespoons (30 ml / 1 fl oz) of water. Alternatively, you can simply use 1 tablespoon (15 ml / 0.5 fl oz) of vanilla extract for a different but still delicious flavor profile.
Q: How can I make a gluten-free version of this pumpkin pie
A: To make this recipe gluten-free, substitute the all-purpose flour in the crust with a high-quality 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend that contains xanthan gum. The filling is naturally gluten-free, so no other changes are needed for that part of the recipe.
Q: How should I store leftover vegetarian pumpkin pie
A: Once the pie has cooled completely to room temperature, cover it loosely with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store it in the refrigerator. Because it contains eggs and milk, it should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. It will stay fresh and delicious in the fridge for up to 4 days.
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Spicy Ginger Pumpkin Pie
Ingredients
Method
- Step-by-Step
- Make the pastry: In a food processor, pulse the flour, salt, and sugar.
- Add the chilled, cubed butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized butter pieces remaining.
- Drizzle in the ice water, pulsing just until the dough comes together.
- Divide in half, form into two discs, wrap, and chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Roll and shape the crusts: On a lightly floured surface, roll each disc of dough into a 12-inch circle. Carefully transfer each to a 9-inch pie plate. Trim the excess, and flute the edges to create a high rim.
- Chill the prepared pie shells for 15 minutes.
- Blind bake the crusts: Preheat your oven to 400°F / 200°C.
- Line the chilled shells with parchment paper or foil and fill with pie weights, raw rice, or dried beans.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the weights and liner, dock the bottom of the crusts with a fork, and bake for another 10 minutes until lightly golden.
- Set aside.
- Prepare the filling: In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, white sugar, molasses, salt, and all the spices.
- Stir in the pumpkin purée until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, lightly beat the eggs, then whisk in the evaporated milk and dark rum.
- Pour the wet into the pumpkin mixture and whisk until everything is smooth and thoroughly combined.
- Assemble the pies: Sprinkle the chopped crystallized ginger evenly over the bottom of the two partially baked pastry shells. Carefully ladle the pumpkin filling over the ginger, dividing it evenly between the two pies.
- Bake to perfection: Bake the pies in the preheated 400°F / 200°C oven for 35 to 40 minutes. The pies are done when the edges are set and a knife inserted about an inch from the center comes out clean. The center should still have a slight wobble.
- Cool and serve: Let the pies cool completely on a wire rack for at least 2 hours before slicing. This allows the filling to set fully.
- Serve at room temperature or chilled, topped with a generous dollop of sweetened whipped cream.
- Let the pies cool completely at room temperature for at least 2 hours.
- Chilling them in the fridge for another hour will help the filling set perfectly for clean, beautiful slices.
- Adjust the crystallized ginger to your liking. For a milder spice, use 2 tablespoons (30 ml / 1 fl oz); for a real ginger explosion, go for 3 or even 4!
