What do you do when you've been scouring Pinterest for days, drafting an army of chocolate-based, Valentine-y dessert options, and The Help announces he wants pumpkin pie?
If you're me, you crank up the Jersey Boys soundtrack, break out the rolling pin, and treat the people across the airshaft to your happy dance (a collage of The Twist, The Cabbage Patch, The Carlton Dance and The Rest Break).
If you're me, you crank up the Jersey Boys soundtrack, break out the rolling pin, and treat the people across the airshaft to your happy dance (a collage of The Twist, The Cabbage Patch, The Carlton Dance and The Rest Break).
My relationship with pumpkin pie is still in its infancy - up until about three years ago, I had never tried it. Pumpkins were not for pie. They were for carving in October and for taking Cinderella to the ball. Then, one fateful Thanksgiving, a family friend sent one to our house, and I reluctantly tried a bite. A bite turned into a slice, a slice turned into three, and here we are. A little rounder, but mostly better for having finally paid my respects to the reigning Don of Autumn Desserts.
And honestly, with the weather we've been having here in New York, who doesn't want to close their eyes and rewind to autumn?
I always prefer pumpkin pie to be really spicy and flavorful, which is why I added a little extra cinnamon in addition to the pumpkin pie spice. If you prefer a milder spice flavor, skip the extra cinnamon!
Also, the addition of walnuts adds a little bit of saltiness to the pie. I found that if you balance this with a little bit of sweetened whipped cream, it tastes delicious, but if you want a sweeter pie, either candy the walnuts first, or skip them!
And honestly, with the weather we've been having here in New York, who doesn't want to close their eyes and rewind to autumn?
I always prefer pumpkin pie to be really spicy and flavorful, which is why I added a little extra cinnamon in addition to the pumpkin pie spice. If you prefer a milder spice flavor, skip the extra cinnamon!
Also, the addition of walnuts adds a little bit of saltiness to the pie. I found that if you balance this with a little bit of sweetened whipped cream, it tastes delicious, but if you want a sweeter pie, either candy the walnuts first, or skip them!
If you're not interested in backpedaling to Autumn, and are looking to fast forward to spring instead, stay tuned for Key Lime Pie, coming up in a couple weeks (a birthday request from The Help).
Recipe for Maple Walnut Pumpkin Pie (adapted from Joy of Baking)
For the crust:
Preheat the oven to 375°
In a food processor, combine the flour, salt and sugar. Add the butter and combine until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the water until the dough can hold together when pinched.
Roll the dough into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 min.
On a well-floured work surface, roll out the dough until it is a circle roughly 13" in diameter. Transfer the rolled-out crust to the 9" pie pan.
For the filling:
Whisk the eggs in a large mixing bowl. Add the pumpkin puree, light brown sugar, maple syrup and whipping cream. Stir to combine. Add the pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and salt until well-combined.
Sprinkle the roasted walnuts evenly over the pie crust. Pour the filling over the walnuts.
Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until crust is golden-brown and a knife near the edge of the pie comes out almost clean.
Serve at room temperature with ice cream or whipped cream. Enjoy!
For the crust:
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 Tbsp. granulated white sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, COLD, cut into pieces
- 2 Tbsp. ice water
Preheat the oven to 375°
In a food processor, combine the flour, salt and sugar. Add the butter and combine until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the water until the dough can hold together when pinched.
Roll the dough into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 min.
On a well-floured work surface, roll out the dough until it is a circle roughly 13" in diameter. Transfer the rolled-out crust to the 9" pie pan.
For the filling:
- 3/4 cup walnuts, chopped, roasted
- 1 15 oz. can of pumpkin puree
- 3 large eggs
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
- 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. salt
Whisk the eggs in a large mixing bowl. Add the pumpkin puree, light brown sugar, maple syrup and whipping cream. Stir to combine. Add the pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and salt until well-combined.
Sprinkle the roasted walnuts evenly over the pie crust. Pour the filling over the walnuts.
Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until crust is golden-brown and a knife near the edge of the pie comes out almost clean.
Serve at room temperature with ice cream or whipped cream. Enjoy!