Pumpkin Maple Pie with Pomegranate Molasses

Fall is in the air and that means one thing: it’s pumpkin season! But as much as we love the classics— who can resist a good pumpkin spice latte or a homemade pumpkin pie!— tis the season for an exciting new twist: a Pumpkin Maple Pie with Pomegranate Molasses. 

Maple Pumpkin Lattes have become a popular new flavor for many coffee chains like Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts and they’re showing us just how much we love that combination of pumpkin and maple. But what if you could swirl those flavors together… in a pie? 

That’s exactly what this recipe does, so let’s take a look at what makes this pie so special!

What Makes This Pumpkin Pie Different?

This pie stands out from its classic counterpart for two awesome reasons: for starters, it’s sweetened with maple syrup, and it comes with the added bonus of a pomegranate molasses drizzle. 

This unconventional combination of flavors might seem like a wacky choice but just taste it for yourself and you’ll see that it’s the perfect new addition to any Thanksgiving dinner or crisp autumn afternoon. 

(Fun fact: this pie is made with my favorite pie dough recipe! You can check out my post about the finer points of making an amazing pie crust here!) 

Ingredients

• Pumpkin Puree- If you are buying it canned, make sure it is a puree and not pie mix.
• Maple Syrup
• Brown Sugar- I add in a little brown sugar for more depth of flavor
• Eggs
• vanilla
• evaporated milk
• pomegranate molasses
• pie dough

Notes For The Perfect Pumpkin Pie

1. Start with a good pie crust

The right pie crust makes more of an impact than you think! Your pie crust is to baking what foundation is to makeup. You can have beautiful eyeshadow but if your foundation is three shades too dark and has turned you orange, that beauty will be lost. 

However, with that said, it’s important to note that the right pie crust is the one that works best for you. If you prefer to make your own dough from scratch, you might enjoy my favorite dough recipe, which you can find here. If you’re gluten-free, no worries; there are some awesome gluten-free pie dough recipes. I personally love this one! 

And if you feel more comfortable with a premade crust, there are loads of options available at your local grocery store, including that trusty old favorite Pillsbury. 

2. The filling

If you start with the right crust, then the filling is pretty simple. But, when baking the perfect pumpkin maple time, you want to remember to be mindful of baking time. Don't underbake, but also be mindful not to overbake. 

I find that the “jiggle test” is helpful for achieving that perfect balance with bake time. If you’re not familiar with this method, the good news is that it’s super simple. Just jiggle your pie gently and watch how it moves. 

A light jiggling motion should cause the pie to wiggle slightly as a whole. But if your filling is sloshing around and still appears to be liquid, it’s a sign that your pie is under-baked and could use a little more time in the oven.  

3. The care and cooling of pumpkin maple pie

Not all pies are created equal! Some pies can sit at room temp, but maple pumpkin pie really shouldn't. That’s partly because the texture is better when it’s chilled but also because this pie has eggs and milk in it. So, to keep your ingredients fresh (and in-spoiled) make sure you refrigerate your pie after baking. 

How To Roast A Pumpkin For Pie Making

1. You can always buy your pumpkin if you prefer, but if you want the made-from-scratch pie experience, there is something really satisfying about roasting your own pumpkin for a pumpkin maple pie. 
2. So, what do you need to know about roasting your own pumpkin? For starters, this is not the place where you want a large pumpkin. Large pumpkins are awesome when you’re carving DIY Jack-o-Lanterns but they’re less appropriate for pumpkin maple pies. 
3. That’s why I prefer the smaller, sweeter pumpkins for my pies. Some of my favorite varieties include Sugar Pie, Baby Pam, Baby Bear, and Spookie. All of these will work wonderfully for pumpkin maple pie. 
4. Once you’ve selected your pumpkin, you’ll want to cut it in half and scoop out the seeds. Lay the pumpkin face down on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
5. Bake at 400 degrees until it is tender.
6. Then scoop out the pumpkin and blend until fairly smooth. Allow it to cool and it is ready to use.

The Perfect Pie Dough

If you want the homemade pumpkin maple pie experience, you’ll want to start by mixing your pie dough and chilling it all the way before starting. (Don’t forget to check out my perfect pie dough recipe if you want some pumpkin pie inspo!) 

Once your dough is prepared, put it on a lightly floured surface and— using your pan as a guide— roll your dough. (Dough pro tip: make sure your dough is chilled when you begin this process!) 

I used this tart pan for the pie. So, roll your dough the size of the tart pan with several inches of overhang.

Carefully press the rolled pie dough into the pan. I like to roll the dough over my rolling pin, then unroll it over the pan. This method keeps the dough from stretching and tearing.

Trim the top edge and place it in the fridge while you mix your filling. For an added bit of decorative fun, I like to cut some leaves out of the dough and use them for topping. This part is totally optional but it does make for a really pretty pie if you want to take your pumpkin maple pie game to the next level! 

If you do decide to cut out some leaves, make sure to chill these as well.

The Pumpkin Pie Filling

Making a pie from scratch can sound intimidating but making a maple pumpkin pie is more simple than you’d think! Even with the fun maple and pomegranate twist, this pumpkin pie filling is so easy to throw together!

I like to mix my eggs first, making sure they are blended well. Then add everything else in and mix.

Pour it all into your pie shell and— if you made some decorative dough leaves— gently put your leaves right on top of the filling. 

After these steps are completed, bake the pie until it is set. Don’t forget the jiggle test to see if the pie has baked thoroughly! 

Once it’s finished baking, I let my pie cool on the countertop for a while before moving it to the fridge. Pumpkin pie just tastes so much better when it’s chilled! 

What Is Pomegranate Molasses And How Do I Make It?

Now that your pie is baked and ready to serve, let’s turn our attention to the pomegranate molasses. Fun fact: pomegranate may seem like an unusual choice for a traditional autumn dessert in the US but it’s actually a staple in middle-eastern cuisine as a condiment. And, honestly, once you taste it, you’ll be able to see why! 

Pomegranate molasses is thick, sweet, and totally delicious, and it really elevates the overall flavor of the pumpkin maple pie. So, if you want to give this flavor a try but you’ve never made homemade molasses before, good news: this process is simpler than you’d think! 

What Is Pomegranate Molasses And How Do I Make It?

Now that your pie is baked and ready to serve, let’s turn our attention to the pomegranate molasses. Fun fact: pomegranate may seem like an unusual choice for a traditional autumn dessert in the US but it’s actually a staple in middle-eastern cuisine as a condiment. And, honestly, once you taste it, you’ll be able to see why! 

Pomegranate molasses is thick, sweet, and totally delicious, and it really elevates the overall flavor of the pumpkin maple pie. So, if you want to give this flavor a try but you’ve never made homemade molasses before, good news: this process is simpler than you’d think! 

Here’s what you’ll need to do: 

• Step one: Add your pomegranate juice, sugar, and lemon juice to a thick bottom pan.

• Step two: Cook it over low-medium heat for about 30 minutes, stirring frequently until it is reduced and has thickened.

• Step three: Serve over your pumpkin pie and enjoy! Seriously, that’s all there is to it!

Plating The Pumpkin Maple Pie With Pomegranate Molasses All Together.

Now it is time to put all this together! There are several ways you can do this, so mix and match until you find your favorite way to incorporate your pomegranate molasses into your pumpkin maple pie. 

Personally, I like to drizzle my plate with pomegranate molasses, adding my slice of pie to the plate on top of the molasses. But you can also put it on top of your slice of pie, over ice cream, or over whipped cream. 

However you choose to serve it, your homemade pumpkin maple pie and pomegranate molasses are now ready for you to enjoy! 

FAQ Maple Pumpkin Pie With Pomegranate Molasses

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