Aunt Willies Pumpkin Pie Recipes

JULIA CHILD'S AUNT HELEN'S FLUFFY PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450 degrees and place rack in center of oven. Separate eggs and set aside.
• Using a mixer, blender or large bowl, blend pumpkin, the 2 cups of the sugars, 1 teaspoon salt, molasses, bourbon or rum (if using), cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, egg yolks, cream and milk until smooth. Add more milk, a tablespoon at a time, if the mixture is stiff: it should be a soft purée.
• In a clean bowl, whip egg whites until foaming. Whip in a pinch of salt, then gradually whip in remaining 2 tablespoons sugar until shiny white peaks form. Beat 1/4 of the whites thoroughly into pumpkin mixture; gently fold in the rest.
• Immediately ladle filling into the shells, filling to just below the rim of the pan. Place in oven and bake just until rim of crust begins to turn gold, 10 to 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 and bake another 25 to 30 minutes, until a tester inserted into the filling 2 inches from the rim comes out clean. (The center should still be a bit wet; it will cook more as it cools.) If the rim of the crust starts to get too brown, cover it with aluminum foil.
• Immediately turn oven off, leave door ajar (stick in a wooden spoon to hold it open if necessary) and let sit 20 to 30 minutes more as the oven cools; this will prevent the filling from turning watery. Serve warm, or let cool, wrap tightly and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Let pie come to room temperature before serving.

VALERIE'S PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• For mom's flaky pie dough: Combine the flour, granulated sugar and salt in a food processor and pulse until combined. Gradually add the butter chunks and pulse until the largest chunks are pea-size. Add the ice water 1 tablespoon at a time and pulse just until the dough begins to clump together against the walls of the processor. Dump the dough out onto a work surface and press together to make a cohesive ball, kneading once or twice if it is falling apart. Divide the dough in half, wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 portion of the dough for 1 hour before using. (You'll be using only 1 portion of dough for the pie, so wrap the extra piece in a second layer of plastic wrap, put in a resealable plastic bag and freeze for another time.)
• On a well-floured surface with a well-floured rolling pin, roll the dough into a 9- to 10-inch round and transfer to an 8-inch pie plate. (If the rolling pin and work surface quickly become sticky, refrigerate the dough until firm, or, using a large spatula or bench scraper, transfer the dough to an 8-inch pie plate and press it into shape.) Crimp the edges and prick the bottom all over with a fork. Refrigerate the pie shell for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Place a sheet of parchment paper or foil in the pie shell and fill with pie weights, raw rice or dried beans. Bake until the edges are lightly golden, about 15 minutes. Remove the weights and paper and bake until golden and cooked on the bottom and sides, about 15 minutes more. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.
• For the pumpkin pie filling: Combine the pumpkin, cream, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and salt in a large bowl and whisk until thoroughly blended. Stir in the bourbon, vanilla and eggs. Whisk again until thoroughly blended.
• Pour the pumpkin mixture into the pie shell and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Bake until the center wobbles slightly when shaken, 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes. Cool completely on a rack for about 2 hours. Serve with Cinnamon-Buttermilk Whipped Cream.
• Add the heavy cream and buttermilk to a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until foamy. Gradually add the sugar and cinnamon while beating, then continue to beat until soft peaks form.

FROM SCRATCH PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• For the pumpkin: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Remove the stem from the pumpkin and scrape out the insides, discarding the seeds. Cut the pumpkin in half and lay the pieces cut-side down on a rimmed baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Rub canola oil all over the skin and bake until fork-tender, about 1 hour. Let cool.
• For the easy pie crust: While the pumpkin is cooking, make the crust. In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add in the butter and work into the dough with a fork until the mixture is crumbly. Stir in just enough cold water (4 to 5 tablespoons) with a fork just until the flour is moistened. Divide the dough in half, shape each half into a ball and flatten slightly. Wrap one ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for another use.
• Roll out the remaining dough ball on a lightly floured surface to a 12-inch round. Transfer to a 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Fold the overhangs under and crimp decoratively. Pierce the dough all over with a fork. Chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
• Line the crust with foil, fill with dried beans or pie weights and bake until the sides are set, about 12 minutes. Remove the foil and beans. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
• For the filling: Scoop out the pulp from the roasted pumpkin and puree in a food processor until smooth (you should have about 4 cups). Add the condensed milk, cream, cornstarch, molasses, canola oil, cinnamon, ginger, salt and eggs and combine thoroughly.
• Pour the filling into the crust and bake until the filling is set in the center, about 1 hour. Transfer the pie to a rack and cool for 30 minutes. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

LIBBY'S® FAMOUS PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Combine sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs lightly in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk. Pour into pie shell.
• Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees F.; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. (Do not freeze as this will cause the crust to separate from the filling.)

AUNT ANNIE'S PUMPKIN PIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Brush crusts lightly with some of the egg. Bake 4 min. Meanwhile, mix remaining eggs with all remaining ingredients until well blended.
• Pour into crusts.
• Bake 15 min. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Bake 40 to 45 min. or until knife inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool completely. Serve topped with COOL WHIP.

AUNT WILLIE JO'S SWEET POTATO PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400.
• Pierce sweet potatoes with a fork and microwave on high until tender, about 6 minutes on each side. Cut open; cool completely.
• Scrape potato flesh into bowl; mash until smooth.
• Measure out enough potato puree to equal 1 cup, discard the rest.
• Cream together sweet potatoes, butter, buttermilk, eggs and sugar. Add spices and baking soda and blend well.
• Pour half into each crust and bake on 400 for about 45 minutes or until set in center.
• (Adding a dollop of whipped cream to the top of each piece while it is still warm is a very special treat!).

WALNUT PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• In a mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin, condensed milk, egg, 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt. Pour batter into the pie crust.
• Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Cut in the butter or margarine until the mixture is crumbly. Stir in walnuts. Sprinkle mixture evenly over the pie. Bake pie for 40 minutes or until a knife inserted one inch from the edge comes out clean. Cool and garnish as desired.

AUNT NELL'S PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• Blend all ingredients.
• Pour into uncooked pie shell.
• Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.