The Simple Method For A More Flavorful Pumpkin Pie

Can you smell it? The air is crisp, leaves are skittering across the pavement, and floating on the breeze is the mouth-watering scent of baking spices and, perhaps most importantly, pumpkin! Jack-o'-lanterns need to be carved, seeds need to be toasted, and pumpkins need to be put in everything from lattes to butter cakes. We always love to show you how to improve the classics, and to honor the season of harvest, we must discuss ways of enhancing the classic pumpkin pie recipe.

We know everyone and their mother (and probably even their grandmother!) has a pumpkin pie recipe. Some people like to buy their filling canned, others like to go hunting for the great pumpkin, and a handful don't have the time to do anything other than swoop by Costco's baked goods section. We all do what we have to do to get our seasonal squash fix, but if you're planning on making your pie at home, there's a trick you must use to make your filling extra flavorful.

It may seem like all pumpkin pie fillings taste the same, but trust us, that's not the case. Pumpkin pie fillings can go stodgy in flavor and texture just as easily as any of your other bakes. It's important when you're mixing the ingredients of your pie together that they become fully infused, and one of the best ways to accomplish that is by pre-cooking your pumpkin purée. Preppy Kitchen suggests warming your sugar, pumpkin, and spices on the stovetop at medium-low heat to melt everything together for three to five minutes until fully incorporated.

To put this theory to the test, The Kitchn conducted a side-by-side experiment comparing two pumpkin pies — one was made with the pre-cooked filling and the other without. They claim that the extra step, while seemingly inconsequential at the time, makes a noticeable difference when you're eating the pie later. According to the food website, pre-cooking the filling's ingredients removes excess moisture and allows the warm spices to open up, which makes for a creamier and more flavorful pumpkin pie.