Best Vegan Pumpkin Pie Recipe EVER! (2024)

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The most amazing Best Vegan Pumpkin Pie Recipe ever made with just 8 ingredients, is creamy, rich, decadent, dairy-free, gluten-free and oil-free! Made with a delicious gluten-free oil-free pie crust!

BEST VEGAN PUMPKIN PIE RECIPE

This recipe was originally posted in 2015, I updated it with new photos and better details in November 2019.

We all need that perfect pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving and the holidays, am I right? Well after multiple trials, I finally created the Best Vegan Pumpkin Pie ever. Actually, this is the best pumpkin pie I’ve ever tasted, period.

As a child, I didn’t care for traditional pumpkin pie because I have always found it’s too strong of pumpkin flavor or not enough flavor. The texture is so important to me, too, I need my pies to not be soggy, wet or blobs. I want to cut into my slice of pie and it not be the texture of pudding. This vegan pumpkin pie is creamy, soft and smooth, but holds its shape.

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MORE VEGAN PUMPKIN DESSERTS

  • Best Vegan Pumpkin Bread
  • Vegan Pumpkin Cake with Frosting
  • Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Brownies
  • Best Vegan Pumpkin Muffins
  • Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

THE PERFECT PUMPKIN PIE TEXTURE AND FLAVOR

Let me tell you, this is the best vegan pumpkin pie recipe, hands down. It has an amazing, rich cinnamon and pumpkin spice flavor, and the creamiest, dreamiest texture, thanks to using 2 very surprising ingredients in the filling: walnuts and sweet potatoes! I wanted to offer something different than what you are probably used to seeing in a vegan pumpkin pie, which is pumpkin, sugar and coconut milk. That is why I love creating recipes to begin with, the creative process.

Buttery walnuts give the dreamiest flavor and texture. The extra spices add depth like no other pumpkin pie. Kind of like a sweet cinnamon roll and this pie is FULL OF FLAVOR.My vegan gluten-free pumpkin pie will please a crowd, I promise you!

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INGREDIENTS FOR VEGAN PUMPKIN PIE

  • Pie crust:Use either my homemade gluten-free crust or a store-bought one.
  • Walnuts: These give a wonderful buttery flavor to the pie without having to use oil.
  • Maple syrup: Naturally-sweetened and adds so much more flavor than sugar.
  • Pumpkin puree from a can: Make sure you don’t buy pumpkin pie filling.
  • Sweet potato: Adds additional flavor and texture.
  • Pumpkin pie spice: (I use my homemade pumpkin pie spice recipe for the absolute best flavor!)
  • Cinnamon: For extra depth of flavor.
  • Cornstarch: This helps to set the pie as it bakes, similar to eggs.

HOW TO MAKE VEGAN PUMPKIN PIE

Step 1: First, you will make this easy gluten-free vegan pie crust or thisgluten-free pie crust from my Apple Hand Pies OR use a store-bought one for ease and time saving.

Step 2: Make the filling. Blend all of the filling ingredients until completely smooth. Now, taste it and tell me that doesn’t taste freaking amazing!!

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Step 3: Pour the filling into the pie crust and smooth it out with the back of a spoon or make a swirl effect like I did. I like how beautiful it bakes up with the swirls.

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Step 4: If using my homemade pie crust, place 4 double-folded 8 inch strips of foil around just the edges of the crust, just placed flat along the edges. Crimp them underneath the pie dish. This is crucial so the crust doesn’t burn. OR, use a pie crust protector (linked below) which works much easier. If using a store-bought crust, this can vary so I wouldn’t cover the crust unless you see it is browning too much towards the end of the baking.

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Step 5: Bake at 350°F (177°C) for 65 minutes until firm and set in the middle. A toothpick will not come out clean. Cool for 2 hours at room temperature and then place in the fridge to chill several hours or overnight is best. I love to eat my pie cold, but if you prefer it room temperature, just set it out at room temperature for a few hours before serving time.

Dollop with dairy-free whip cream, such as So Delicious or Reddiwip. Reddiwhip has 2 versions, one with almond milk and one with coconut milk. They are both so delicious and can be found at Walmart, Target, etc.

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MORE VEGAN PIE RECIPES

  • Vegan Chocolate Cream Pie
  • Vegan Apple Hand Pies
  • Oil-free Apple Pie Granola
  • No-Bake Pecan Pie Bars

MORE VEGAN HOLIDAY DESSERTS

  • The Best Vegan Thanksgiving Desserts
  • Vegan Gluten-free Apple Crisp
  • Vegan Sugar Cookies
  • Vegan Cardamom Pecan Cookies
  • Vegan Gingerbread Cake

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This recipe is the same as the “Cinnamon Roll Pumpkin Pie”, I changed the name since I removed the cinnamon roll drizzle, as I felt it wasn’t needed. I also updated the post with brand new photos and more detailed steps.

If you make this recipe, be sure to leave feedback below and share your pic on Instagram or Facebook and tag me @thevegan8 #thevegan8!

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Best Vegan Pumpkin Pie Recipe EVER!

Brandi Doming

The most amazing Best Vegan Pumpkin Pie Recipe ever made with just 8 ingredients, is creamy, rich, decadent, dairy-free, gluten-free and oil-free!

5 from 71 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

chilling 8 hours hrs

Total Time 9 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Yields 8 -10 slices

Ingredients

  • Use this gluten-free pie crust OR for my original Walnut Crust, SEE NOTES You can also use store-bought, but make sure you are using a pie crust or pie dish that isn't too shallow or you'll have too much filling

FILLING

  • 3/4 cup (240g) pure maple syrup
  • 3/4 cup (90g) raw walnuts
  • 3 tablespoons (24g) cornstarch
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (I used my Homemade Blend)
  • 1/4 teaspoon + 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • one 15 oz can pumpkin puree
  • 1/4 cup (60g) cooked, peeled & mashed sweet potato

NOTE

Instructions

  • First, cook your sweet potato first. To make things faster, I cooked a small, whole sweet potato in the microwave for about 5 minutes until really soft. Bake if you don't want to use a microwave, as steaming/boiling will add extra water. Let it cool some before proceeding.

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F degrees and grease a 9 inch pie dish REALLY well. Do not skip the spray or the crust will stick to the dish! Press your dough into the greased dish, flat and evenly across and going up the sides (if using homemade). You do not prebake the pie crust whether using my recipe OR a store-bought one. Use the crust raw because the pie bakes a really long time.

  • For the filling, first add the syrup and walnuts only to a high powered blender. I used my Vitamix. If you don't have one, I don't think a regular blender will be powerful enough, so I would suggest using your food processor. Blend until fairly smooth. Scrape down the sides and add the cornstarch, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and salt, pumpkin and sweet potato. Blend until completely smooth. It should be like a pudding consistency.

  • Pour the batter onto the crust and smooth out with the back of a spoon flat and evenly along the sides. I swirled the spoon in a circular motion for a pretty effect.

  • If using my homemade pie crust, place 4 double-folded 8 inch strips of foil around just the edges of the crust, just placed flat along the edges. (see photo) Crimp them underneath the pie dish. This is crucial so the crust doesn’t burn. Make sure they are not dipping into the pie filling, otherwise that will affect how the filling bakes up. OR, use a pie crust protector (linked below) which works much easier! (linked above) If using a store-bought crust, this can vary so I wouldn’t cover the crust unless you see it is browning too much towards the end of the baking.

  • Bake for 55 minutes (set your timer!), then add one large loosely placed piece of foil over the whole pie ONLY IF the top is browning too much. It should be a dark golden brown, but only place the foil if it looks like it may start to burn. I have not experienced this though. Just gently place it on top loosely, no need to even remove the pie.

  • Bake 10 more minutes with the foil on top, which will be 65 minutes total or until the center is set, not jiggly and a deep golden brown (as pictured). A toothpick will not come out clean. I removed mine at exactly 65 minutes. It will finish cooking as it cools and will firm up in the fridge a lot overnight.

  • Cool to room temperature (2 hours) and then chill in the fridge overnight or 8 hours. This will bring it to the complete firm, set texture. Once ready to serve, loosen the crust by gently going around the edges with a sharp knife. Keep stored in the fridge until ready to serve. I love to eat my pie cold, but if you prefer it room temperature, just set it out at room temperature a bit before serving time. This pie will last a week in the fridge.

Notes

Walnut Pie Crust: My original recipe was written with a walnut crust, but since that crust sticks horribly to any ceramic dish, I removed it from the main ingredients and created a new pie crust that is linked. However, due to many loving it and it working beautifully in a clear glass pie dish, I've included it here. Make sure you only use glass for this crust.

Ingredients for Walnut Crust:

  • 1 3/4 cups (190g) raw walnuts
  • 6 tablespoons (48g) cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons (16g) oat flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons (70g) pure maple syrup

Directions for crust:

  • Add the walnuts to a food processor and process into somewhat a flour, about 15 seconds. Add the cornstarch, oat flour, cinnamon and salt and pulse until briefly mixed. Add the syrup and process until large sticky chunks form. Press into a greased 9 inch glass pie dish evenly on the bottom and around the sides evenly. Follow the baking instructions as listed under step 5 and make sure you cover the crust or it will burn!

Icing Drizzle:

If you would like to make the icing drizzle that was originally featured in the pie when I first wrote the recipe, here are the ingredients. I removed it from the actual recipe since I had added it to look pretty and decorative, but it is completely unnecessary flavor-wise and feel that the pie doesn't need it. Also, it was tricky to make pretty drizzles. However, for those asking and would like to try it:

  • 2tablespoonswater or plant-based milk
  • 2tablespoonsmaple syrup
  • pinchsea salt
  • 2teaspoonscornstarch
  • 4tablespoons (60g)liquid melted coconut butter (melt in microwave to complete liquid first, then measure)

Make sure none of the liquids are cold or it will cause the coconut butter to seize up. Whisk the ingredients together until smooth and use a piping bag to drizzle on the chilled pie.

Nutrition

Serving: 8slicesCalories: 186kcalCarbohydrates: 30.4gProtein: 3.5gFat: 6.9gSaturated Fat: 0.5gSodium: 102mgPotassium: 270mgFiber: 2.8gSugar: 20.3gCalcium: 48mg

Tried this recipe?Tag @thevegan8brandi on Instagram and use tag #thevegan8!

Keyword best vegan pumpkin pie, healthy pumpkin pie, oil free pumpkin pie, vegan gluten free pumpkin pie, vegan pumpkin pie

Best Vegan Pumpkin Pie Recipe EVER! (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you put too much evaporated milk in pumpkin pie? ›

Pies with too much evaporated milk formed blisters on top.

Though the interior of the filling had a great, creamy texture. The flavor was ever-so-slightly muted and had a hint of milkiness to it.

What makes pumpkin pie taste so good? ›

The pie is generally flavored with pumpkin pie spice, a blend that includes cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves or allspice. The pie is usually prepared with canned pumpkin, but fresh-cooked pumpkin can be used.

How to get a crisp bottom crust on pumpkin pie? ›

How to Prevent a Soggy Bottom Pie Crust
  1. Blind Bake the Crust.
  2. Choose the Right Rack in the Oven.
  3. Brush the Bottom with Corn Syrup or Egg White.
  4. Put the Pie on a Hot Cookie Sheet.
  5. Make a Thicker Crust.
  6. Add a Layer.
  7. Consider a Metal Pie Pan.
Mar 18, 2024

Why is canned pumpkin better to use in baking? ›

So, Why Used Canned Pumpkin Instead of Fresh?
  • Canned Pumpkin Saves Time and Effort. “Making pumpkin puree is time-consuming,” says Maggie. ...
  • Canned Pumpkin Delivers Consistent Results. ...
  • Canned Just Tastes Better. ...
  • Canned Pumpkin Is Cost-Effective. ...
  • Canned Pumpkin Is Readily Available.
Nov 21, 2022

Is heavy cream or evaporated milk better for pumpkin pie? ›

During my testing of pumpkin pies, I tried lots of different milk options – heavy whipping cream, regular milk (I used 2% in my testing), sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk. Ultimately, I found heavy whipping cream to be the best. It produced the creamiest pie in my opinion.

When should you not use evaporated milk? ›

Unopened cans of evaporated milk can keep for more than a year. But if you open a can and it's dark yellow or brown (a light brown color is normal), smells bad or appears curdled, don't use it.

Is pumpkin pie healthy or unhealthy? ›

Yes, the actual pumpkin in the dish is quite healthy, but the butter and flour in the crust as well as the cream and sugar needed for the filling add a good dose of saturated fat and calories. But a healthy pumpkin pie is possible!

Why does my pumpkin pie have no flavor? ›

If the recipe doesn't use enough spice, or if the spices were old enough to have lost much of their flavour, or if the mixture isn't well balanced, then the pie is not going to taste right and could be quite bland.

How do you keep the bottom of a pumpkin pie from getting soggy? ›

Often, blind-baking solves this problem. If you're making a single crust custard-filled pie, like a pumpkin pie, bake the pie dough first before adding filling to allow some of the moisture in the crust to evaporate. You can also totally blind-bake fruit pies.

Should I Prebake my pie crust for pumpkin pie? ›

While not traditional or really necessary due to the time pumpkin custard takes to cook, you can avoid a 'soggy' bottomed pumpkin pie, by laying down some parchment paper in the shell, fill it with pie weights or old beans, wrapping the edges with foil then par baking the crust for 10-15 minutes at 425ºF.

Should I bake the bottom pie crust first? ›

Pre-baking is a must if you're looking for a flaky pie crust. It's especially helpful for recipes with a wet center. Recipes for most tarts, pies, and quiches call for pre-baking to ensure that the final product doesn't end up soggy.

Should I poke holes in the bottom of my pumpkin pie crust? ›

If you are making a pie where the filling bakes with the crust, like a fruit pie, then no, do not poke holes, as the liquid filling will leak and you won't get a properly baked crust. How do you crimp your pie crust after blind baking the bottom crust? The raw top crust just would not meld to the baked edges.

Can I use pumpkin puree instead of pumpkin pie filling? ›

Can You Substitute Pumpkin Puree for Pumpkin Pie Filling? Yes, you can use pumpkin puree in place of pumpkin pie filling by adding some additional ingredients. You'll need to add sweetener, spices, and possibly a thickener (like eggs).

What can I add to canned pumpkin to make it taste better? ›

How to Do It
  1. ⅓ cup ground cinnamon.
  2. 1½ tablespoons ground ginger.
  3. 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg.
  4. 1½ teaspoons ground cloves.
  5. 1½ teaspoons ground allspice.
Oct 13, 2020

What is the best canned pumpkin pie filling? ›

Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin

In this taste test, our Test Kitchen pros found that the biggest name in the pumpkin game does, in fact, make the best canned pumpkin on the market. Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin is a favorite among our culinary crew.

What do I do if my pumpkin pie filling is too runny? ›

The most common cause of a watery pumpkin pie is over baking. Take it out of the oven while the centre of it is still soft and jiggly. It'll finish setting as it cools. But there are other possible reasons, such as, using fresh instead of canned pumpkin.

Why is my pumpkin pie not creamy? ›

The egg proteins in pumpkin pie filling form a loose net that traps moisture. As the egg proteins are heated, they begin to contract. Cook them hot enough, and they'll contract so much that they separate from each other into curds, giving your pie filling that grainy, wet texture.

How does evaporated milk affect baking? ›

Bakers often use it as a substitute for cream to help reduce fat content. To substitute for a cup of regular milk, add in one part evaporated milk and one part water. For a more fresh-milk taste, add half the called for milk with evaporated milk, and the rest with water.

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