It wouldn’t be the holidays without a classic pumpkin pie! Sick of the store-bought options and looking to make one from scratch? Give this recipe a try! For all the pumpkin lovers out there, this pie is sure to please their sweet tooth! The best part? This can be prepared ahead of time to make baking around the holidays even easier! Less hassle in the kitchen and more food to eat – sounds like a win!

FRESH PUMPKIN PIE

Yield: 8 to 10 people

Prep Time: 45 minutes, plus 3 hours cooling and chilling time

Cook Time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Make-Ahead: Dough can be made up to 2 weeks ahead, wrapped tightly and frozen. Pie filling can be made up to 2 days ahead, covered and refrigerated. Bring filling to room temperature before using.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar, divided
• 8 tbs. (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• Two 1 1/2-lb. sugar pie pumpkins
• 2 3/4 cups heavy cream, divided
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup packed golden brown sugar
• 1 tsp. each ground cinnamon and ground ginger
• 3/4 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp. ground cloves

Directions:

To make crust:

1. In a food processor, pulse flour, 1 tbs. granulated sugar, and 1/2 tsp. salt to blend.

2. Add butter and pulse about 10 times, or until butter is in pea-size pieces; do not over process. While pulsing, add 3 tbs. ice water, then pulse just until moist clumps of dough form, adding more water 1 tsp. at a time, if necessary.

3. Shape dough into a disc, wrap, and refrigerate for about 1 hour, or until firm.

To make filling:

4. Position a rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 425°F.

5. Place pumpkins on a baking sheet and roast for about 25 minutes, or until they are slightly tender. Using a small sharp knife, pierce pumpkins 4 to 5 times to allow steam to escape. Continue roasting for about 20 minutes, or until pumpkins have softened and a knife can easily pierce through skin. Cool pumpkins for 10 minutes. Lower oven temperature to 375°F.

6. Cut pumpkins in half. Using a large spoon, scoop seeds from pumpkins and discard. Scrape softened flesh from skin and place in a blender. Discard skin. You should have about 1 lb. softened pumpkin. Puree hot pumpkin until smooth, adding 1/4 cup cream to help move pumpkin around, if necessary. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes to allow steam to soften pumpkin further. Transfer puree to a large bowl and cool. You should have about 2 cups of puree.

7. Whisk remaining granulated sugar, 1 cup cream, eggs, brown sugar, spices, and 1/2 tsp. salt into pumpkin puree. Reserve filling at room temperature.

To blind bake crust:

8. Unwrap dough, set it on a floured surface, and lightly dust top of dough. Roll out dough to a 12-inch round, occasionally rotating dough and dusting with flour to prevent sticking. Brush away excess flour and transfer dough to a 9-inch pie dish, centering it in dish and allowing excess dough to hang over edges. Lightly press dough into dish. Trim dough, leaving a 1-inch overhang. Fold overhang under itself and crimp edge. Freeze for 10 minutes, or until dough is very firm.

9. Line frozen dough with parchment paper, leaving an overhang, and fill with about 1 lb. dried beans. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until edges are light golden. Remove beans and parchment paper and bake crust for 5 to 10 minutes, or until bottom of crust is pale golden.

To finish pie:

10. Pour enough pumpkin filling into hot crust to fill it completely but without it spilling over. Lower oven temperature to 350°F and bake pie for 30 to 35 minutes, or until filling around edges is set and center still jiggles slightly when pie is gently jostled, (pie will continue to set as it cools).

11. Transfer pie to a rack to cool completely, about 2 hours. Serve or refrigerate until firm.

To serve:

12. In a medium bowl, whip remaining 1 1/2 cups cream until soft peaks form. Cut pie into wedges. Top with whipped cream and serve. Enjoy!

*Photography by Quentin Bacon