What Spices Are in Pumpkin Pie?

When you’re making pumpkin pie from scratch, you’ll need ground cloves, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and ginger. Those spices make up half of the ingredients of the average pumpkin pie recipe, so once you mix them together, you’re already halfway done!

The spices are a necessary component for your pumpkin pie because what makes pumpkin pie tasty, as it goes beyond just the pumpkin itself, whether it’s canned or fresh. The spices you mix into the filling give it that warm “pumpkin spice” flavor that everyone loves, which is why these spices have been used together in pie for centuries. And if you like to bake, you probably don’t even need to go out and buy spices to make pumpkin pie: All of these spices are relatively common in baking, so you probably have them in your cupboard already.

As an added bonus, once you have these spices, you don’t need to limit yourself to just pie. When you’re craving the flavor of fall, you can easily make all sorts of tasty treats with a pumpkin-spice flair!

How Many Apples for an Apple Pie?

It’s hard to know exactly how many apples you’ll need for an apple pie, but for one 9-inch pie, you probably won’t need more than 10 apples. If your apples are smaller, you’ll probably need 10; if they’re really big apples, you’ll use fewer of them. If you’re worried about getting the amount right, you could always pile the apples into your pie pan as you cut them and stop when it looks like you have enough. Keep in mind, though, that apple varieties that don’t hold their shape well will tend to shrink when you bake them, so you’ll want to use a bit more than you think you need.

Remember that your pie should be filled to the brim but not any higher than that. The filling may be tasty, but overfilling your pie crust means that you run the risk of making your crust wet from the extra fruit juice. It’s also important to make sure that you cut all of your pieces to the same size and thickness to ensure that they bake evenly.

Do Pecan Pies Need to Be Refrigerated?

Yes: Since pecan pie filling is made with eggs, the USDA recommends that you refrigerate your pie once it has cooled. This is also true of store-bought pies, although they can sit out a little longer because of all of the preservatives they contain. It’s best to store your pie either in the box it came in or loosely wrapped in plastic wrap in your refrigerator. However, it is safe to leave a pecan pie sitting out at room temperature for up to two hours, which should give you plenty of time to enjoy a slice or two with your loved ones.

Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Pie?

You may think of your dog as part of the family, but when you’re having a family meal that includes pumpkin pie, it’s not safe to share. Pumpkin pie contains nutmeg and sugar, both of which are bad for your dog. In fact, nutmeg can cause high blood pressure, seizures, and disorientation in dogs. Thankfully, pumpkin pie only contains a little bit of nutmeg, so if your dog happens to snag a bite of your pie, they’ll most likely just get a bit of a tummy ache.

If you really want to share a taste of autumn with your dog, do it while you’re baking, before you mix the pie filling. Pumpkin and pumpkin puree on their own can actually be good for dogs: Pumpkin is high in fiber as well as vitamins and minerals, and it can also aid in digestion. In fact, adding a little bit of pumpkin to your dog’s diet can alleviate diarrhea.

How to Thaw and Heat a Frozen, Baked Fruit Pie

Most pies freeze quite well, making it easy to bake a pie ahead of time for a special occasion, but it’s important to thaw and heat it properly to get the best results. Start by putting your frozen fruit pie into the refrigerator the day before you plan to eat it so that it can thaw out. Letting it thaw slowly in the fridge will ensure that it’s completely thawed all the way through. Then, right before you need it, set your oven to 350 degrees and cover the top of the pie with foil so the crust doesn’t burn. Pop the pie into the oven for just a few minutes, until the filling is warm and bubbling. Properly thawed and reheated, your pie will taste fresh-baked!

How Long to Bake a Pie Crust in a Metal Pan

The amount of time it takes to bake a pie crust in a metal pan depends on whether you need the crust to be par-baked or fully cooked. A par-baked crust, like what you’ll need for a quiche or custard-based pie, takes 10 to 15 minutes in a 425-degree oven. For a fully baked crust, you’ll need at least a half-hour in total.

To blind-bake a pie crust, start by rolling out the dough and forming your crust, then line the crust with foil or parchment paper and fill it with dried beans or pie weights. After 10 to 15 minutes, remove the par-baked crust from the oven and take out the weights and foil/parchment. If you need a fully baked crust to use for a cream pie, prick the bottom with a fork and return it to the oven for another 20 minutes or so, until it’s golden and crisp.

Is Cheesecake a Pie?

Whether or not cheesecake is considered a pie is up for debate within the cooking community, but it certainly seems to fit the definition of “pie”: It’s a crumb crust with a custard filling, much like a chocolate cream pie. In addition, despite its name, cheesecake doesn’t really fit the definition of “cake”: It’s not leavened or bread-like in any way and doesn’t have a soft crumb.

However, some chefs say that it can be defined as a cake because it has some of the same ingredients that a cake has, and it does fit the looser definition of “cake” as a solid mass of something, like a crab cake.

Of course, since cheesecake may only have a bottom crust and never has a top crust, you could also call it a tart. Then again, we tend to think of a tart as being much shorter than most cheesecakes.

Can You Freeze Pumpkin Pie?

Thanks to the high fat content in their custard filling, pumpkin pies are easy to freeze!

If you decide to freeze your pumpkin pie, make sure that it is in a disposable pie pan (like the aluminum ones you can buy at the grocery store) because this type of pan is thinner, which will allow the pie to freeze faster. This helps to prevent ice crystals from developing on the surface of the pie. You should also make sure to wrap your pie well, using multiple layers of plastic wrap; finishing with a layer of foil or a large zip-top bag can add more protection.

A pumpkin pie that’s been properly wrapped and frozen should last up to a month. Make sure to give the pie plenty of time to thaw before serving it: Move it to the fridge at least 8 hours before you want to eat it.

Does Pumpkin Pie Need to Be Refrigerated?

Whether you make it from scratch or you purchase it from your favorite bakery, pumpkin pie should absolutely be refrigerated. This is because pumpkin pie is a custard pie, made with milk and eggs, two ingredients that you don’t want to leave out at room temperature. According to the FDA, your pumpkin pie is safe at room temperature for up to two hours, which should give you plenty of time for dessert!

This two-hour window doesn’t include the time it takes for your pie to cool down after coming out of the oven. If you’re baking your own pumpkin pie, let it cool before you put it in the fridge to prevent a soggy crust.

What Is Pie?

A pie is a baked dish that consists of a pastry or crumb crust with a filling, usually baked in a shallow pan with sloped sides. Pies are usually round and between 8 and 10 inches in diameter, though this isn’t always true. In many cases, there’s a second crust on top that encloses the filling, but some pies only have a bottom crust. And fillings can be either sweet or savory, though they’re more commonly sweet.

Pie is a popular dessert in the United States and has been since the colonial era. Due to this, apple pie is considered a symbol of traditional American cooking. Other popular American pie varieties include pecan pie, pumpkin pie, chocolate cream pie, and sweet potato pie.