Pumpkin Custard Pie Filling

Sep 14, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Pies tarts Origin: Madagascar Vanilla: Extract Medium

A creamy, sliceable pumpkin custard pie filling for one 9-inch pie. Best with Madagascar vanilla (rich, creamy, classic); any pure vanilla works. Makes one 9-inch pie (8 servings).

Prep 20 min

Cook 15 min

Chill 4 hr

Total 4 hr 35 min

Servings 8

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

1 ½ cups (360.0 ml)whole milk
1.0 cup (240.0 ml)heavy cream
¾ cup (184.0 g)pumpkin puree
1 ½ tsppumpkin pie spice
2.0 tsp (10.0 ml)VanillaGoods pure vanilla extract
5.0 (90.0 g)large egg yolks
⅔ cup (133.0 g)granulated sugar
⅓ cup (43.0 g)cornstarch
¼ tspfine sea salt
2.0 tbsp (28.0 g)unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1.0fully baked 9-inch pie crust, cooled

Make it at home

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Instructions

In a medium saucepan, heat the milk and cream with the pumpkin pie spice over medium heat until steaming, about 5 minutes.
In a heatproof bowl, whisk the egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, and salt until smooth.
Slowly whisk about half of the hot milk mixture into the yolks, then whisk everything back into the saucepan.
Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the filling is very thick and bubbles steadily. Keep whisking for 1 minute more so it sets firmly and reaches at least 160°F.
Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, pumpkin puree, and vanilla until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve if you see any lumps.
Pour the filling into the crust and smooth the top.
Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface and refrigerate until cold and firm enough to slice, at least 4 hours or overnight.

Tips

Top with whipped cream just before serving.
Vanilla swap: use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.
Best vanilla for this: Madagascar (rich, creamy, classic), or Mexican (spiced, warm, woodsy). Any pure vanilla works.
Storage: Refrigerate, covered, for up to 3 days.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make pumpkin custard pie filling?

Plan on 20 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking, plus 4 hours to chill. It makes one 9-inch pie (8 servings).

How should I store pumpkin custard pie filling?

Refrigerate, covered, for up to 3 days.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.

A creamy, sliceable pumpkin custard pie filling for one 9-inch pie. Best with Madagascar vanilla (rich, creamy, classic); any pure vanilla works. Makes one 9-inch pie (8 servings).

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

438 Calories / serving

27.7g Fat

42.0g Carbs

6.0g Protein

21.1g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~3504 cal · 222g fat · 336g carbs · 48g protein · 169g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 438 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 83 min·4.8 mi·~9700 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 59 min·3.0 mi·~5900 steps
Moderate cycling 44 min·8.8 mi
Swimming laps 61 min
Jogging 43 min·3.6 mi·~6900 steps
Stair climbing 40 min·~3600 steps
Dancing 71 min
Bodyweight circuit training 44 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 102 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.