Grandma's Pumpkin Pie Recipe

In years past, when author Bill Eichner, M.D.’s girls were
small, he wanted big pumpkins for carving. Known as cow pumpkins,
they have names like Big Moon and Dill’s Atlantic Giant.

Once his family outgrew jack-o’lanterns (well, almost) he started
selecting his pumpkin varieties for flavor rather than size.
The best pie varieties are only 8 inches in diameter, with
coy names like Small Sugar, or elegant names that sound
aristocratic, like the French heirloom rouge Vif d’Etampes.
Their sweet flavor is also great for soup and cake.

This recipe is from his Grandmother.

1 10-inch pie shell, unbaked
1 tablespoon butter, melted
2 plus cups pumpkin, cooked
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 to 2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 to 2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cloves (optional)
1/4 teaspoon allspice (optional)
2 ounces dark molasses (optional)
1 cup milk, scalded
1 small can (5 ounces) evaporated milk
3 eggs, beaten

Brush the pie shell with melted butter then refrigerate.

Cook the pumpkin, brown sugar, salt, spices, and molasses in a saucepan over moderate heat until thick, about 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the two kinds of milk and the eggs, and cook over low heat for another 5 minutes. Pour into a pie shell, and bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees F, and then at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes.

Read more: Food, All recipes, Desserts

Adapted from The New Family Cookbook, by Bill Eichner, M.D. Copyright (c)2000 by Bill Eichner. Reprinted by permission of Chelsea Green Publishing Company.
Adapted from The New Family Cookbook, by Bill Eichner, M.D.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Holly L.

10:10PM PST on Dec 14, 2011

Super...thank you!

send a green star

Anne G.

8:37AM PST on Dec 14, 2011

Interesting, I've never cooked the mixture before putting it into the pie crust, I wonder why one would.

Sue M.

6:18AM PST on Dec 13, 2011

thanks

Greg P.

3:49PM PDT on Sep 22, 2009

Oh, this recipe is quite delicious! I've only had a few better, but that could just be because I've baked them that way before. This is going in with the rest of my pumpkin pie recipes!

Antoinette R.

3:33PM PST on Nov 15, 2007

yes, it means to cook the pumpkin first!

Gigi W.

1:27PM PDT on Oct 7, 2007

does this mean cook pumpkin before adding to the "brown sugar,spices,and molassis", "In Sauce pan"??