Unbelievably Vegan Pumpkin Pie Recipe (No one will know!) (2024)

This incredibly easy vegan pumpkin pie is unbelievably dairy free and made without eggs! With the flakiest vegan pie crust, and perfectly set pumpkin pie filling, absolutely no one will know this homemade pumpkin pie is vegan (and easily gluten free too). A family favorite Thanksgiving recipe for years to come!

Unbelievably Vegan Pumpkin Pie Recipe (No one will know!) (1)

Unbelievably vegan pumpkin pie for all eaters

If you’re looking for the best pumpkin pie recipe of all time, vegan or not, this is it.

I’m not even joking, this truly unbelievably vegan pumpkin pie will be the best dang pumpkin pie you’ll ever taste. And it’s easy! SO easy!Youcanhave it all!

Like my vegan pecan pie and vegan chocolate pecan pie, your vegan Thanksgiving dinner is just not complete without some pumpkin (but check out this vegan Thanksgiving desserts post for more recipes other than vegan pies – for chocolate lovers, you definitely have to try my vegan brownie pie!).

Just sweet enough with maple syrup and full of those warming pumpkin spices, this pumpkin pie is smooth to slice into, holds its shape, and with a beautifully delicious and flaky homemade pie crust, it will be the showstopper at your Thanksgiving table!

Every year at Thanksgiving, someone always brings a store bought pumpkin pie even though I make a large one for everyone, and every year, my pumpkin pie is the only one completely gone!

If that doesn’t tell you that this isthe best pumpkin pie recipe, then I don’t know what will!

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Why this is the best healthy pumpkin pie

This pumpkin pie doesn’t taste healthy in the slightest, and yet it’s low in sugar, completely vegan, egg free, gluten free, dairy free, andddd packed with nutrient dense pumpkin puree.

You can’t even tell that it’s vegan nor even by looking at it (I feel like people think healthier desserts don’t look as good as the more traditional ones).

While I try to hit all of these various health markers so that everyone can have them, I always strive to have the dessert taste just like or better than the original or traditional version. This vegan pumpkin pie does just that.

Not that there’s anything wrong with a traditional pumpkin pie. But I believe that everyone deserves to enjoy something they love on Thanksgiving, and food is love and love is inclusive!

Every single person who tried this pie, even one of my mom’s friends who I didn’t even tell that I made the pie, was speechless and kept going back for another slice.

What is a substitute for eggs in pumpkin pie?

So this pumpkin pie that we’re making is actually naturally vegan and dairy free, but the kicker is that we’re using arrowroot to replace the eggs!

Arrowroot powder is a fantastic binding agent that is derived from the cassava root.

It’s very similar to cornstarch, so if you’d like to replace the arrowroot with cornstarch, you absolutely can, but for those that want to keep this pumpkin pie both corn-free, allergen-friendly and vegan, arrowroot powder is the move.

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Overview: Step by Step How To Make Vegan Pumpkin Pie

For the full written instructions and ingredient measurements, see the bottom of this post in the recipe card. You can also hit the “jump to recipe” button at the top of this post! Here, we’ll go over a brief overview of the steps, along with providing visuals for a better understanding of the recipe.

I know many people resort to buying their pumpkin pie because let’s be honest, you just cooked all that food, the last thing you want to think about is making a dessert for Thanksgiving.

Well, this happens to be an incredibly easy pumpkin pie.

Easy vegan pie crust:

First, we’ll start by preparing the vegan pie crust.

I also give the option for making a gluten-free pie crust as well. All of the details on how to customize this pie crust all are in myPerfect Pie Crust Guide. For gluten free, you can use my oat flour pie crust or traditional flakygluten free pie crust!

The full steps to making this crust are found below in the recipe card, but these are basics steps to making the flakiest vegan pie crust recipe:

  1. Pulse the flour and arrowroot starch (or tapioca starch or cornstarch)in a food processor until mixed.
  2. Add in the cubed vegan butter or coconut oil, and pulse again until it’s a grainy sand texture.
  3. While the food processor is blending, add in 5-7 tbsp of chilled water and continue to process the dough until it becomes a thick, smooth clump of dough.
Unbelievably Vegan Pumpkin Pie Recipe (No one will know!) (4)

Then you’ll form the dough into a disk and chill, much like you would a regular pie crust. Roll the pie crust out to be larger than the pie dish you’re using (I used a 9″ pie dish).

Carefully transfer the pie crust into the pie dish and gently press the dough into the dish. You can do any design for the edges. I chose to simply mold them to the dish since I liked the pie dish ruffles!

Use any scraps of dough and create little pie crust designs. I used the pie cutters from William Sonoma for the pumpkin and leaves.

Blind bake the crust for 7-8 minutes (this will ensure we don’t have any soggy crusts!). Then we can make the filling while the crust is cooling!

Best ever vegan pumpkin pie filling

Now that you know the trick behind making pumpkin pie filling vegan, let’s actually get to making the filling.

All you’ll need is:

  • Pumpkin puree (see the next section for using fresh versus canned)
  • Maple syrup
  • Coconut sugar (a replacement for brown sugar)
  • Pumpkin pie spice: This is a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves! You can also make your own pumpkin spice blend!
  • Coconut milk or dairy free milk of your choice
  • Arrowroot powder
  • Vanilla (a must!)
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Basically what you need to do is mix together all of the ingredients in a large bowl using a hand mixer. You can also whisk everything together or use a food processor to blend.Then pour the filling into your homemade pie crust, and bake!

How to keep pumpkin pie from cracking

This healthy vegan pumpkin pie recipe is foolproof to ensuring that your pumpkin pie won’t have any cracks in it.

Really, whether or not a pumpkin pie cracks is highly dependent on the recipe, and I’ve tested this one dozens of times, in a variety of ways to determine what’s the best way to avoid cracks.

However, there are a few tips that I want to go over to ensure that your pumpkin pie doesn’t crack.

  • Bake at the correct temperature: do not stick your pie into the oven until it is fully preheated. I would actually recommend waiting an extra 5 minutes after the initial “ding” that it’s preheated to ensure that it’s at the right temperature.
  • Bake the pumpkin pie on the middle or low rack. I personally have had great success baking on the middle rack, so that I can put a baking sheet below in case of any accidents of pie crust. However, if you know that your oven is more powerful than most, I would stick the pumpkin pie on the lower rack to be safe.
  • Look for the middle being “set”: what this means is that the pumpkin pie won’t be as glossy as it was when it first went in. The edges to the very middle should be mostly baked in place, but it will wiggle a bit when you remove it. It will also look darker at first. You didn’t burn it! This pumpkin pie recipe will need at least 4 hours (preferably overnight) to chill in the fridge after it has baked.

How to carefully transfer your pie dough to your pie dish

This was definitely the most intimidating part of making pumpkin pie when I first started. The trick is to work with really cold dough, though, and you’ll be absolutely fine!

Make sure that you’ve chilled your vegan pie dough for at least 30 minutes. Then when you’re rolling, make sure to pick up the edges every once in a while to ensure that your dough is easily moveable and not sticking.

When it comes time to transferring the dough to the pie pan, you should be able to easily just pick up the dough and place it over your pie dish!

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FAQ’s

  • Make sure you’re using pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling!I say this because I’ve been there, and I’ve seen other people go there! Always better to be safe than sorry!
  • Any dairy free milk will work!I recommend coconut milk or a creamy oat milk because I like to keep my vegan recipes as nut free as possible when I’m serving to other family members because of nut allergies. However, if it’s just for me, you can also use cashew milk or almond- go for whatever you prefer!
  • If you don’t have pie weights to blind bake the crust:You can also use either dried beans, uncooked rice, or even flour! Yes, you can use flour to par-bake your curst! Just make sure that the crust is lined with parchment paper and either the beans or the flour reach the top of the crust to prevent any sinking.
  • Can I use homemade pumpkin puree?Yes, you can! You can absolutely use your own fresh homemade pumpkin puree in this pie, and it works great. I recently tried this myself, and I was stunned by the results. Just make sure that you’re using a food processor to blend your pumpkin into a really fine puree. If you don’t, then the whole recipe won’t work so be sure you’re pureeing the pumpkin much like you would find in a can.
  • This vegan pumpkin pie needs to set in the fridge overnight!When you first bake it, it will appear very dark and might not have that glossy look to it, like you normally see with pumpkin pies.This is normal and don’t fret!When you let it set in the fridge overnight, it develops the glossy look.
  • If you don’t have a hand mixer for the pumpkin pie filling:Guess what? You can easily use a blender, whisk, or a food processor!

You are just going to absolutely love this super easy vegan pumpkin pie!! It honestly tastes just like traditional pumpkin pie- no one will know it’s vegan, eggless, and dairy free!

If you make this pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, let me know in the comments below! As always, I absolutely love to see your beautiful creations, so be sure to tag me on Instagram and Pinterest 🙂

Happy Pumpkin Pie Eating!

Want to save this recipe for later? Add it to your favorite recipe board on Pinterest!

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Watch how to make the best vegan pumpkin pie:

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below. This helps others to find the recipes! As always, I absolutely love to see your beautiful creations on Instagram and Pinterest, so be sure to tag me there as well!

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Unbelievably Vegan Pumpkin Pie Recipe (No one will know!) (9)

Unbelievably Vegan Pumpkin Pie (No one will know!)

★★★★★4.7 from 13 reviews

  • Author: Britt Berlin
  • Prep Time: 30
  • Cook Time: 60
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: 10 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

This secretly vegan healthy pumpkin pie recipe is truly my favorite. With a flaky vegan crust and creamy and rich filling, this healthy twist on a traditional pumpkin pie is full of pumpkin spice and the perfect pie vegan recipe for your Thanksgiving table!

Ingredients

Scale

Pumpkin Pie:

  • 1 serving vegan pie crust or gluten free vegan pie crust *
  • 1 1/2 (15 oz) cans pumpkin puree (22.5 oz total- not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 1/3 cup (80 g) maple syrup
  • 1/3 cup (67 g) coconut sugar
  • 1/2 cup (120 mL) dairy free milk (coconut milk, soy milk, oat milk, almond milk, etc.)
  • 1/4 cup (50 g) arrowroot powder or cornstarch
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 12 tbsp pumpkin pie spice*

Instructions

  1. Please read through all instructions before beginning.
  2. Prep: Measure out all ingredients for the pie crust and the pumpkin pie.
  3. Make the pie crust first:In a food processor, pulse together the flour and arrowroot powder. Add the coconut oil/vegan butter into the food processor and pulse until it becomes a grainy sand texture. Add in the maple syrup and chilled water, and continue processing until it’s a thick and smooth dough.
  4. Chill the pie dough:Form the dough into a large disc, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
  5. Roll out the pie dough:When it’s ready to be rolled into a 9-10″ pie dish, let the dough sit on the table for 15 minutes to come to room temperature, then dust a clean surface with extra flour and roll the dough out to be 14″ in diameter.Carefully transfer the dough into the pie dish and lightly press the dough to meet the bottom edges of the dish. Use your fingers to gently crimp the edges of the pie crust. Any leftover dough can be used to make pie cut-outs.Place the pie dish back into the fridge to chill for 15 minutes while the oven preheats to 425F. Place the pie cut-outs onto a piece of parchment paper and into the fridge to chill. You’ll bake the pie cut-outs with the pumpkin pie (but towards the end).
  6. Bake the pie crust:Once the oven is preheated, remove the pie crust from the fridge and place a piece of parchment paper into the middle of the crust, along with pie weights or dried beans or flour. Bake the crust for 12 minutes then remove from the oven andlower the temperature to 350F.Let the crust cool while you prepare the filling.
  7. Make the pumpkin pie filling In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to mix together pumpkin puree, maple syrup, coconut sugar, coconut milk, arrowroot powder, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice until smooth and there are no clumps of arrowroot.
  8. Pour the filling into the pie crust: Pour filling into the pie crust and cover the edges of the pie crust with either a pie crust saver or tin foil. If you have cut outs, place the parchment paper with the cut outs on a baking sheet andnot onto the pie to decorate it just yet. Bake the cutouts only for 7-8 minutes then remove from the oven. I recommend baking them towards the end of the pumpkin pie baking time.
  9. Bake the pumpkin pie:Place the pie into the oven and bake for 40 minutes. Remove the tinfoil, and continue to bake for another 15-20 more minutes. The center of the pie should be wiggly still, even wiggling a lot! That’s okay!
  10. Allow the pie to cool:Remove from the oven and allow the pie to cool for 15 minutes at room temperature. Then transfer the pie set overnight or for a minimum of 4 hours.
  11. Serve and enjoy:When ready to serve, decorate with the pumpkin pie cut outs and serve. Enjoy!

Notes

Gluten free: Use King Arthur Measure for Measure flour for the gluten free pie crust. You can also use this amazing oat flour pie crust.

Homemade pumpkin puree: I recently tried this, and it totally works! This recipe will work great with homemade fresh pumpkin puree. Just make sure you’re weighing out how much pumpkin you’ve made (aiming for 22.5 ounces total).

Pumpkin spice:If you like a heavily spiced pie, you can add 2 tbsp. Otherwise, stick with 1 tbsp.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/10th of pie
  • Calories: 308
  • Sugar: 27.2 g
  • Sodium: 146.7 mg
  • Fat: 11.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 48.9 g
  • Protein: 2.4 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Keywords: vegan pumpkin pie, healthy pumpkin pie, healthy pumpkin pie recipe, vegan pie crust, vegan pumpkin pie recipe

Unbelievably Vegan Pumpkin Pie Recipe (No one will know!) (10)
Unbelievably Vegan Pumpkin Pie Recipe (No one will know!) (11)
Unbelievably Vegan Pumpkin Pie Recipe (No one will know!) (12)
Unbelievably Vegan Pumpkin Pie Recipe (No one will know!) (13)
Unbelievably Vegan Pumpkin Pie Recipe (No one will know!) (14)

More Vegan Thanksgiving Desserts:

Healthy Apple Pie

Paleo Pecan Pie

Vegan Sweet Potato Pie

Paleo Vegan Chocolate Cream Pie

Pumpkin Swirl Brownies

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Unbelievably Vegan Pumpkin Pie Recipe (No one will know!) (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.

Can I eat 7 day old pumpkin pie? ›

The USDA says that pumpkin pie will last safely in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Some store-bought pumpkin pies may have preservatives that could affect this, but in general, pumpkin pies that are homemade or baked fresh at the bakery or store will follow this general rule.

What is the difference between pumpkin pie filling and 100 pure pumpkin? ›

They are the same product. Both canned pumpkin puree and pie filling are useful, shelf-stable ingredients that can help speed up your kitchen prep time. Just remember that puree is unsweetened, while pie filling contains sugar and spices. This will help you choose the right pumpkin product for your recipes.

Does vegan pie need to be refrigerated? ›

Fruit pies are best the first two days left at room temperature. All other pies are best within 5 days refrigerated and eaten fresh. Once a pie is sliced store it in an air tight container or loosely cover it with plastic wrap or foil.

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? ›

The benefit of evaporated milk is shelf-life: canned milk can remain stable for up to two years for peak flavor, and maybe longer. If you open a can of evaporated milk and it is dark yellow or brown, don't use it. Same goes for milk that smells bad or is curdled.

Why are store-bought pumpkin pie not refrigerated? ›

Why Are Store-Bought Pies Not Refrigerated? So that brings many of us to the question: Why are the pumpkin pies at the grocery store sitting out? Store-bought pumpkin pies include shelf-stable ingredients such as preservatives which allow them to last longer, even at room temp.

How long does Costco pumpkin pie last after sell by date? ›

For pies from a refrigerated case, use the same 2-hours-at-room-temperature limit as for a homemade pie, and then refrigerate. In the refrigerator, you can safely keep store-bought pies for 2 to 4 days past after their printed date. In the freezer, they last 6 to 9 months.

Are Costco pumpkin pies good? ›

Costco's pumpkin pies are wildly popular and wildly delicious, and at the unbeatable price of just $5.99, it's not hard to see why they are one of the top holiday items at Costco. In their research for the book, David and Susan did a deep dive into the Costco pumpkin pie.

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

If you meant to purchase pumpkin pie filling but accidentally grabbed a can of plain pumpkin, it's easy to sweeten and season the puree. Follow a good pumpkin pie recipe (there's usually a recipe printed right on the label) and add sugar and spices to the puree along with other ingredients like eggs before baking.

Is Libby's 100% pure pumpkin the same as pumpkin puree? ›

Most canned pumpkin is pureed pumpkin. It's been cooked and canned, but you'd have to cook it anyways to make it soft enough to puree. As long as you get plain canned pumpkin without added seasonings, it's the same as what you would make at home.

What happens if you use pumpkin pie filling instead of puree? ›

Don't use pumpkin pie filling in place of pumpkin purée.

Every can of pumpkin pie filling has a different amount of sugar and spices and if you add it to a bread or muffin recipe you might get a very sweet and not-spiced-enough loaf. Try this instead: Buy pumpkin purée!

What is a good substitute for pumpkin pie? ›

If you're seeking an alternative for pumpkin pie, look no further than butternut squash – you'll likely never go back.

Why is my pumpkin pie dark? ›

If you overcook a pumpkin pie in an oven, the crust can become too hard and the filling can become burnt or dry. The crust can become almost like a hard cookie, with a strong flavor and possibly a charred color. The filling can become dry and crumbly, with a burnt taste and a dark color.

What kind of pumpkin is used for pumpkin pie? ›

For cooking, you'll want to use sugar pumpkins (also called pie or sweet pumpkins), which are small and round. Long Island Cheese pumpkins, which are more oblong and can look like a wheel of cheese, are also good to eat. Field pumpkin types are larger, have watery, stringy flesh, and are best for decorating.

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.

Is too much evaporated milk bad for you? ›

Drinking too much evaporated milk could lead to acute diarrhea. The high lactose content in the milk can cause digestive distress, including bloating, cramps, and diarrhea.

What can I do with too much evaporated milk? ›

There are so many great uses for evaporated milk and what's leftover in a can, from pumpkin pie to cheese sauce to rice pudding, so don't let those unopened cans in the cupboard go to waste!

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