I am SO excited about this recipe!! I just love it when an idea comes to fruition! This recipe for The Original Pumpkin Pie - The Way The Pilgrims Made It is one I hope you will try and make it a new Thanksgiving tradition.
I may not have been at the original Thanksgiving in America, however, the Pumpkin Pie recipe as we know it was not always the way it is made today.
400ish years ago at the first Thanksgiving in Plymouth (Massachusetts) the Pilgrims did not have access to flour. It had been used up or gone rancid on the trip over and they had not yet learned from Native American Indians how to grow and harvest their own.
That would have made it impossible to make any sort of pie crust. Plus, settlers hadn't yet come up with an oven for baking as we know it today.
According to some accounts, early English settlers in North America improvised by hollowing out pumpkins, filling the shells with milk, honey, and spices to make a custard, then they roasted them whole in hot ashes.
The English have always liked their custard.
Look for smaller pumpkins 12-15 inches around, typically called sugar pumpkins or pie pumpkins, like this.
A Pumpkin pie recipe as we know it didn't appear in an American cookbook until the early 19th century
Watch how this is made on my TikTok, it's a 1 minute video
After finding this out years ago, I set out to somewhat replicate what the original Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie, the way the pilgrims made it.
It was written a number of times that the American Indians did not eat any form of dairy. So this recipe is a marriage of two cultures.
I published this recipe back in 2013, since then SO many have made this for Thanksgiving and Christmas. LOVE that! I have even had teacher tell me they had their kids make it in Home Economics classes and cooking classes.
Ingredients
- sugar pumpkin
- sugar
- eggs
- vanilla
- heavy cream
- cornstarch
- salt
Tips
- First select small pumpkin 4-5 inches in height and 12-13 inches or so in circumference (often referred to as a sugar pumpkin or pie pumpkin)
- Carefully use a sharp knife to cut away an opening. Pumpkins are tough skinned, be careful when doing this. It does not have to be a perfect circle.
- Be careful to not puncture the pumpkin down low to prevent leaks
- Use a spoon to scrape away send and guts of the pumpkin.
- Optional: reserve the top of the pumpkin to place alongside the dessert if you like (you can add it to roasting sheet the last 15 minutes if you wish.
- Don't fill pumpkin to the brim, leave some headspace for custard to expand. It will puff up and then settle down lower as it cools.
- Bake on a baking sheet. That is a must. Like with parchment to make any spills/cleanup easier.
- If it overflows, just let it go.
- It doesn't need to have a browned top to be "done". If you want it a bit browned carefully broil for a few minutes, watching as it goes.
- You can use smaller pumpkins for individual desserts, like those that fit in your palm, they are just difficult to cut open. Be careful You can microwave mini pumpkins for 60 seconds, and then in a couple 30 second bursts to make slicing tops off easier. Must be in small increments or pumpkin will burst.
Chef Tip
My TOP TIP is practice this before the big day, make it once before a holiday meal. This is the only recipe out of 700 on my blog I would say this about. It really is easy but a run through is recommended.
This delicious Thanksgiving dessert recipe is a beautiful centerpiece, and an edible history lesson.
This custard filled pumpkin is easy to make. It tastes a bit like crème brulee and the wonderful part is as you scrape out the custard to serve it you get bits of the roasted pumpkin mingling in.
Bonus! Since the pumpkin is the vessel for this Thanksgiving dessert recipe, no dished to clean!
Variations
- To rush things you could begin to cook the custard stove top a bit and then pour into pumpkin(s) and finish in the oven.
- Add seasonings to your custard like nutmeg, vanilla bean, cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice.
- Choose to make as mini's for individual servings, a bit more work opening and cleaning the mini pumpkins but super cute!
I hope you enjoy this fun and tasty recipe!! Happy Thanksgiving!! Colleen
You may also enjoy there Thanksgiving recipes
- Nantucket Pie aka Cranberry Pie - This will be a new Thanksgiving and Christmas favorite!
- Sweet Potato Stacks - A lighter take on sweet potatoes.
- Sweet Potato Bread - If you have never had this prepare to fall in love!
- Leftover Thanksgiving Balls - The reason WHY I make sure we have leftovers whenever there is turkey!!
- Fall Mule Cocktail - Easy & delicious, if you like a Moscow Mule, you'll dig this!
Recipe originally published 2014, updated 2022 with images and additional text.
The Original Pumpkin Pie - The Way The Pilgrims Made It
Ingredients
- 1 small pumpkin 4-5 inches in height and 12-13 inches in circumference (sugar pumpkin)
- ¾ cup sugar
- 3 large eggs plus 4 egg yolks
- ½ TBS vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon of cornstarch
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Prepare your pumpkin by scooping out the seeds and pulp, place it on a baking sheet, do not put the top of the pumpkin (stem) on the sheet just yet.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- In a mixing bowl combine the sugar, eggs, and vanilla and whisk until combined.
- Add the heavy cream, cornstarch, and salt and whisk until fully combined.
- Pour mixture into your prepared pumpkin (allowing about ¾ of an inch space between the filling and the top of the pumpkin and begin baking it.
- Bake at 400 degrees uncovered.
- After 15 minutes, cover the top of the pumpkin loosely with foil (don't let it touch the top of the custard or it will stick and "ruin" the appearance) and bake another 15 minutes.
- Lower oven temp to 375, place the top of the pumpkin on the tray and continue baking for 15 minutes more. Remover the foil and bake an additional 30 minutes or until a knife inserted into the custard comes out mostly clean.
- Turn off the oven, allow the pumpkin to cool for an hour, then place it in your cold garage (loosely covered with wrap or foil) or your refrigerator and allow the custard to set 6 hours or overnight. (You can also enjoy it warm) When ready to serve, scoop out custard into small dishes (you can scrape the sides a bit as you scoop it out if you choose to scrape off some of the cooked pumpkin for additional flavor, I am sure the Pilgrims wasted nothing).
Carla says
Ok now this sounds like a fun recipe! Great educational lesson plus I loved how you served it in an actual pumpkin.
OXENDINE says
Native Americans actually had this long before Contact using eggs from raided nests of both fowl or reptiles and maple syrup along with nut flour.
Tim Iron Horse says
Thanks Oxendine for giving us real history!
cjrmommy says
i definitely want to try making this! now, just to find a pumpkin that's not rotten! thanks for sharing all your delicious creations! xoxo
Paula-bell'alimento says
Now that is a pumpkin pie! Happy Thanksgiving Colleen!
Back for Seconds says
I had no idea! How awesome!
Erin Dee says
This is sooo cool! I'm excited about your post, too. 😀 I remember seeing them make this at the Plymouth colony thing. So neat!
Angie says
How fun and it looks so delicious!
Kelly says
Thank you Oxendine!!! “Poor Pilgrims”...give me a break. Much respect for the ingenuity, intelligence and skills of the native Americans.
Tim Iron Horse says
YES to Oxendine, Thanks Kelly! The Pilgrims had tons of amazing food because of the Native Peoples!
Renee Goerger says
How pretty! I love the simplicity of the presentation!
Renee - Kudos Kitchen
Lauren says
Such a fun idea!
Brenda@SugarFreeMom says
Beautiful presentation!
Ashley Presciutti says
Oh my gosh this is awesome - the presentation is the best!
Martha @ A Family Feast says
We live in Plymouth, MA 🙂 and you are absolutely right - those poor pilgrims didn't have many ingredients at all to make a fancy dessert on that first Thanksgiving! Great recipe and history lesson!
OXENDINE says
The so called poor Pilgrims had tons of awesome foods from the Native Americans here in the "New World" including amazing things to make amazing desserts!
Wendy says
I love Plymouth and have visited twice. That whole area is so beautiful, I can hardly wait to see it again someday
Anonymous says
Stupid question...do you whip the cream first before adding?
Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez says
Oh my gosh, I love this! This is so much fun. I bet it tastes fantastic, too.
Anita says
I didn't know about this history - at last a pumpkin pie that looks different! So cute!
Kim Bee says
This is just the coolest thing around. I totally love this recipe. I want to whip one up immediately.
Nikki says
This looks like fun to make! Thanks for sharing!
Angela | Mind Over Batter says
Kicking it (real) old school - I love it!! This pumpkin pie looks so impressive. You must've had so much fun baking it. Thanks for the history lesson!
Angela | Mind Over Batter says
Kicking it (real) old school - I love it!! This pumpkin pie looks so impressive. You must've had so much fun baking it. Thanks for the history lesson!
Nancy Piran says
I think this is just about the coolest way you could cookie pumpkin pie! Love it!
Beth says
They had cornstarch?
Colleen says
I don't know what they used for a thickener actually. This is how I replicated it.
OXENDINE says
Native Americans used and taught the White Man many ways to thicken everything from soups and stews to even sweet desserts - this included all kinds of nut meal from acorns, walnuts, pecans and more as well as corn meal.
keith hinckley says
If you really want to be authentic, cook it the way the Indians did! In ashes! You said they didn't have ovens.
Colleen says
I actually thought about trying that, one day!
PJ says
Wonder if a BBQ grill would work? Also, I add 2-3 Tbls of Wild Turkey bourbon to my pumpkin pie.
Colleen says
A grill should work via indirect heat, and place the pumpkin on something like a cast iron pan. What a delicious idea with the Bourbon PJ! Bourbon is always a good idea!
Elena says
Did you mean an 8 inch pumpkin? 18 inches in diameter is not a small pumpkin and the approximately 4 cups of custard won't come close to filling it.
Pam says
I agree. That can't be right.
Colleen says
I took out the word diameter....I measured the pumpkin around with measuring tape. 16=-18 inches around should work out fine. TY!
Pam Ward says
Ok, I see. 🙂 I have made this two times since finding this recipe. I used two small round pie pumpkins because that was all I could find. It was great and everyone loved it. I am making them for Thanksgiving also. What I wonder is if I could assemble the pumpkins and custard the day before and put them in the fridge over night and bake them the next morning? Do you think that could be a problem?
Colleen says
Oh great Pam! I have not done that, the only issue I can see is condensation...So make sure it/they are completely cooled prior to refrigerating and be careful if you cover the top...You want that gorgeous brown to stay...It's yummy! Happy Thanksgiving!
Pam Ward says
Ok, thanks. Good advice.
Kel says
If you want to correct the recipe (which does still say diameter) what you were measuring was the circumference. 16-18 inches is a very reasonable circumference for a pie pumpkin, which would be about 6 inches in diameter.
Looking forward to making this! Kids and I are going to make two pies, one this way and one the "usual" way and compare.
Colleen says
Thanks Kel and I hope they have a blast making and eating it!
Daysha Greenawalt says
U actually were measuring pumpkins for the right fit? Lol why not just see how much is going in then pick a pumpkin that could hold? Shes giving a eound about and sugar pumpking are shorter and wider thats what i used shes perfect! Great idea.. my daughter husband and i lived it! Always looking for new Older recipies.
Pam says
I want to eat the pumpkin too though. Surely the pilgrims did!
Colleen says
They probably did Pam, I am sure they wasted nothing! I do scrape the edges a bit and get some of the tender pumpkin mingling with the custard, mmmm!
Sin says
Can you suggest a substitute for eggs in this recipe?
David says
I have to admit, the recipe confused me. I kept waiting for the part of the instructions where you took some of the pumpkin you scooped out and did something with it or added it into the sugar/cream/eggs/salt mixture. So the pumpkin shell is basically for decoration?...any pumpkin flavor comes only from the mixture being cooked inside the pumpkin?
Colleen says
As I serve it, I do scoop out some of the cooked pumpkin to include with the custard. I am sure the Pilgrims wasted nothing. Depending on who is eating it, some enjoy the pumpkin pulp mixed in and some just want the custard.
Pam Ward says
After mine cooled, I sliced the whole pumpkin like a pie. Each piece is like a wedge and you can just pick it up and eat it, pumpkin and custard together. It's very good. Just don't eat the rind, of course. 😉 My friends and family loved it and thought it was fun.
Jill says
Made this recipe yesterday - absolutely LOVED it! I've never been a fan of how sickly sweet most traditional pre-made pumpkin pies are, and I loved how creamy and subtly sweet this "pumpkin custard" was. The presentation is also awesome! As some other people commented, I recommend scraping all of the cooked pumpkin out along with the custard as you eat it - it turns into a delicious squash that has a great texture to eat along with the custard.
All I changed about the recipe was that I added about a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, and I microwaved the pumpkin for about 5 minutes before cutting it so that it was really easy to carve the stem off. I only have a couple of recommendations for improvement: 1) I didn't find any use for the stem, and would recommend just tossing that. 2) Save the pumpkin seeds and roast them with oil and salt after for a delicious snack. 3) Step 3 of the recipe should really be broken down into a lot more steps - the giant paragraph was difficult to follow and actually contains a lot of smaller steps.
I've already got my 2nd pumpkin so I can make this again, and this time I'm going to make a crunchy oatmeal crumble to sprinkle over the top.
Colleen says
So glad you made it and enjoyed it Jill! Thanks for all of your recommendations as well. I will adjust the recipe, It was an older one before my site converted to a different recipe system. I just haven't gotten around to updating all of the older recipes. Happy Thanksgiving!
Danielle says
This sounds delightful and I'm about to go to the store for ingredients. As a historian, however, I'm very curious what sources you found this recipe, or description of it, in?
Colleen says
Hi Danielle,
I had read it in a few places that a custard-like concoction was baked (vis hot ashes) into a pumpkin since flour wasn't available in the early days.
Here are a few places I found reference to it before and after my post went up. I just thought it was a fun twist with a splash of history for the kiddos that just so happened to be deklish! Enjoy!
https://www.almanac.com/blog/gardening-blog/real-pumpkin-pie
http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving/first-thanksgiving-meal
https://whatscookingamerica.net/History/PieHistory/PumpkinPie.htm
http://watch.opb.org/video/2365896392/
Rose says
After you turn off the oven, do you leave the pumpkin in the oven to cool off for an hour before putting it in the fridge/garage overnight?
Colleen says
Yes, that is what I do...I let it sit in the oven with the door open to cool down. Just jiggle it, you don't want liquid...Just a juggle. Cook time varies by pumpkin size.
Kate says
Thank you Coleen!
A couple of years ago, I was looking for authentic pilgrim/Cherokee recipes as we are descended from an original Jamestoen planter and a Cherokee. I remembered reading that the pumpkin pie they enjoyed (as well as George Washington!) was a custard baked in the pumpkin. I just went to the store to buy the ingredients for what I thought would make a good creams brûlée and was going to wing it, but having your successful recipie will help me avoid the pitfalls of re-inventi g the wheel. Thank you!
Colleen says
Thant's awesome! Hope you enjoy it! Happy Thanksgiving!
Colleen says
Fantastic! Thanks for letting me know!
Kim says
I made this a couple of days ago (test run for the big day) and it was a hit! Plan on making it again, but looking for advice.... my pumpkin cam out wrinkly and did not hold its original shape. Anybody else experience this or have some tips to avoid it?
Colleen says
Good to hear...Maybe leave more flesh inside the pumpkin and make 2 small/med instead of one? Hope that helps. OR maybe add just a smidge more cornstarch to help it solidify sooner.
Kim says
Fantastic, will try that! Thanks so much, and Happy Thanksgiving!
K Ross says
Cute story but if the pilgrims didn't have butter, where would they get milk or heavy cream?
Colleen says
Flour was the issue. They did have milk.
OXENDINE says
Four was not an issue - the Native Americans showed them how to make many kinds of nut flour and fine con meal worked as a great thicken agent also.
OXENDINE says
Typo there - Flour was not an issue.
Tim Iron Horse says
Thanks Oxendine for letting them know the real history and yes Natives Peoples HAD FLOUR and EGGS and SUGAR (Maple) and so much more! We were NOT Primitive by far!!!!
Colleen says
Hello Tim, Nowhere was I referring to what the natives did and did not make. Of course they knew what to do with every ingredient the land provided to them and how I would have love to have been and observer and recipient/taster of a feast created by them back then, Here, I referred to the Pilgrims and what they were able/capable to do.
Daniell says
I am Baking this as we speak for Thanksgiving Dinner tomorrow !! i sprinkled a tad bit of ground cinnamon on top 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving!!
Colleen says
Oh yum! Hope its a hit! HAppy Thanksgiving!
Theresa says
I made 2 of these for the feast today. Daring I know for an untested (by the family) recipe lol. I wanted to add the novelty and history aspect to remind the family what the day is about. I cut the sugar in half and used an equal amount of honey, one I left vanilla only and the other I added pumpkin pie spice. I did prefer the vanilla only and eating the pumpkin flesh along with the custard is a must! They were amazing! I will make this again, Thank you for sharing the recipe 🙂
Colleen says
Fantastic Theresa! I also love the history aspect, it's a great tie-in to remind everyone why we celebrate 🙂
Alex Darc says
Flour was available at Plimoth Plantation ( they grew their own wheat) and they cooked pies and breads on the hearth over hot coals in Dutch Ovens. It is a cute recipe for custard in a pumpkin, but the people of Plimoth Colony would have likely eaten their pumpkin stewed or mashed. Pies were mostly savories and made from leftover meats and veg from the last meal and served for breakfast or lunch. https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/food-dining/2014/10/07/plimoth-making-bread-like-pilgrims-and-wampanoag/ByZ0tdnSG6wbx2rFma9FwN/story.html
d says
i suppose i am confused on step 8. are you turning the pumpkin upside down and baking it once you’ve lowered the oven temperature to 375?
Robbie Kampen says
can you print or post a recipe of making a cinderella pumpkin pie in the pumpkin ?
Colleen says
I am not sure what that is?
Talea says
I used a Cinderella pumpkin to make this last night. I added more custard to fill it even though is was a fairly small cinderella. I had a lot of moisture come out that I ended up spooning off.
Colleen says
Glad you tried it. Maybe if you make it again, scrape a little more of the pumpkin flesh out. That should solve that.
Miggie D says
I made two of these last night. I am bringing them to my students so that they can compare and contrast them with contemporary pumpkin pie. I taste tested one this morning, and it was delicious. I spooned out some of the custard and made sure to scrape some pumpkin meat with it. Awesome. The only thing that didn’t work perfectly was that the customer and collapsed a bit. It is not flat across the top like in the picture. The texture and everything is still perfect, but what can I do to avoid collapsing in the future?
Colleen says
That's SO cool to hear Miggie! Maybe bake it a little longer so the custard puffs up a bit? OR fill it to the tipy top. Hope the kids enjoy the edible history lesson!!
Peggi says
I saw this on a tv show last night. Instead of a round pumpkin, they used a larger & squat pumpkin. After the top was removed, it looked to be no higher than 4”. That should solve the problem. Glad to hear it turned out well. I hope to try it also.
Quin says
How do you know this is the way the pilgrims did it? I am a historical interpreter and work in a Victorian kitchen. I made this dish at home yesterday. LOVED it. I want to make it at the museum, but must have primary source documentation. Would you share the resource where you found this recipe, please? Thanks!
Realdeal says
https://newsmaven.io/indiancountrytoday/archive/what-really-happened-at-the-first-thanksgiving-the-wampanoag-side-of-the-tale-iTFzfinx_Eiclx573os-yg/
Kate says
I have made this a few times.
We first used small sugar pumpkins for individual servings/ servings for two. They were beautiful and delicious. Then I experimented using a large Cinderella pumpkin and the walls collapsed. It was still delicious but unappetizing. It looked gross.
Just a word to the wise...use the sugar pumpkin as suggested or experiment in advance of serving to actual guests:D
Jennifer says
I don't know what I did wrong 😭 I followed the directions to a T. It came out runny very runny. Are you sure only 1 teaspoon cornstarch?
Colleen says
Oh no Jennifer, sorry to hear that. And yes, that is all I use. Maybe you needed to keep it in the oven longer until the top was just a bit jiggly prior to removal. I know pumpkin dimensions vary.
Kristy L. Kenyon says
do u precook the pumpkin before adding the custard
Colleen says
No, the pumpkin and custard cook together.
Athena Philips says
I had the same problem. At the end of cook time, it had not set up at all, and was still liquid. I was wondering if instead of mixing thoroughly, we were suppose to wisk hard. I used a wisk by hand, not an electric mixer.
I'm still cooking as I type. I left it in for another half hour and it has started to set on the top though it's bubbling hot liquid in the center. I'll probably cook it for double the time at this rate.
During the initial pour, my pumpkin had about 1 1/2" head room, instead of the suggested 3/4", so maybe that is a factor? I don't have a good explanation for the cause.
Athena says
I did cook it for twice as long, and kept it at 400 for the entire second half, with the foil on. It finally set, but didn't brown. I'll be content with not browned. Have to wait till tomorrow to see how it tastes.
Perhaps my oven heat is off , but I've been making cookies with no issue, so that isn't a real likely culprit either. *Sigh
Colleen says
I hope it worked out for you!
Mary says
Confused do you leave the meat of the pumpkin in? The pumpkin will than cook with the custard filling, so you scoop both out?
Colleen says
Hi Mary, you scoop the seeds and pulp out of a sugar pumpkin (they are the smaller pumpkins...not the ones you would carve for Halloween). As the custard cooks, it mingles with the pumpkin so that when you serve it later...as you scoop out the custard, you sort of drag the spoon against the side of the pumpkin and some of the pumpkin ends up with the custard...Delicious!
Genowefa Mensching says
This sounds yummy. Do you think you could use a carving pumpkin?
Colleen says
No, that would be too large and the custard would never fully set up without the pumpkin breaking down from a long cook time. Sugar pumpkins work best. Look for something no taller than 6 inches and no more than 20 inches around.
A says
This looks great. Any ideas for dairy substitute? Thanks! Really want to try this
Colleen says
HI, I have never used a dairy substitute for anything actually. So I really don't know. If you do figure something out, let me know.
Alisha Ross says
Love your website. Is the reduced sugar you mentioned for your personal taste reflected in the recipe? Thanks
Jukes muh shoots says
Ayoooo something interesting to do during my coronavirus quarantine!!! Yes please!
JP says
This recipe is seriously the best and so fun to make. We have been making pumpkin pie with this recipe for 3 years in a row now. We have a tried some different adjustments each year, and it's always fun to see how it comes out. Eating the soft, sweet pumpkin "meat" is absolutely delicious with the creamy custard filling.
Colleen says
SO fantastic to hear! I am making one next week to pre-game for Thanksgiving! Tis the season for pumpkin 🙂
Ann says
Beautiful and delicious I served it as slices and it was so cute. I wish I could post the pictures here.
Colleen says
Oh I wish you could as well Ann! If you are on Instagram, you could post and tag me and I could highlight 🙂 You can find me under @soufflebombay Thanks for the comment and stars and Happy Thanksgiving!
Lazy K says
My small Sugar Pie pumpkins will be perfect for this. I'll give it a try.
Colleen says
Hope you love it!! I actually have some growing this year (by accident!!) Can't wait!
Lazy K says
PS So sorry that there are people who have to "virtue signal" everything. Just enjoy the recipe.
Lazy K says
18" in DIAMETER?????????????????????? That's a Small pumpkin???????????????
Maybe you meant in circumference?
Colleen says
Yes, circumference! 12-18 inches. The smaller the better I would say, something that your hands cant quite wrap around. A sugar pumpkin.
B W says
Just made this and after 15 min in the oven on 400 degrees the entire top of pumpkin in black. What went wrong?
Colleen says
Maybe too close to the heat source based on your oven type? And did you tent with foil?
A says
We just made this last night and it turned out so wonderful. Added an extra 1/2 tbsp vanilla. Next time I think I'll add some vanilla bean paste and try brown sugar instead and see how it turns out. This is a new holiday tradition for us for sure. It really was even better cold today. We will chill overnight in the future before digging in now that weve tried both ways, next day is far superior! Many thanks for sharing!
Colleen says
So glad to hear! I enjoy it cold as well and its how I typically serve this. You can also add in pumpkin pie spice or cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon etc.
Amanda says
I love this! Best tasting dessert I’ve ever had. Do you think I could use this same recipe and cooking instructions to bake in pie crust instead of a pumpkin? I’d like to make it as a custard pie.
Colleen says
SO glad to hear that! I would prebake the crust a bit and then fill, Rater tan a crust, you can bake in ramekins.