Ingredients:
- 240 g (2 cups) All-Purpose Flour (plus extra for dusting)
- 1 tbsp Granulated Sugar
- 1 tsp Fine Sea Salt (for pastry)
- 225 g (1 cup/2 sticks) Unsalted Butter, chilled and cut into 1 cm cubes
- 6 – 8 tbsp Ice Water
- 425 g (15 oz) Pumpkin Puree (100% pumpkin, not pie filling)
- 118 ml (½ cup) Heavy Cream (or Evaporated Milk)
- 3 Large Eggs, lightly beaten
- 150 g (¾ cup) Light Brown Sugar, packed
- 2 tbsp Maple Syrup (or Molasses)
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 tsp Fine Sea Salt (for filling)
- 1 ½ tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Ground Ginger
- ½ tsp Ground Nutmeg
- ¼ tsp Ground Cloves
- ⅛ tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Instructions:
- Pastry Preparation: Combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Cut in the chilled butter cubes using a pastry blender or food processor until the mixture resembles coarse sand with some pea-sized pieces remaining.
- Add Water & Chill: Gradually add 6 to 8 tablespoons of ice water, mixing until the dough just comes together. Form the dough into a flat disc, wrap tightly, and refrigerate for at least 90 minutes.
- Roll and Fit Crust: On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a 12-inch circle. Transfer the pastry to the 9-inch pie dish, trim the excess, crimp the edges, and refrigerate the formed crust for 20 minutes.
- Blind Baking: Preheat the oven to 200°C / 400°F. Line the chilled pastry with parchment paper and fill completely with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Finish Crust: Carefully remove the weights and parchment. Reduce the oven heat to 180°C / 350°F and bake for another 5–8 minutes until the bottom is pale golden. Remove and cool slightly.
- Prepare Filling: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. In a separate bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, brown sugar, salt, and all the spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, clove, black pepper).
- Mix and Strain: Gradually pour the wet mixture into the spiced pumpkin mixture, whisking until just combined. Pour the entire filling through a fine-mesh sieve directly into the partially baked pie crust for a silky texture.
- Bake the Pie: Place the pie on a baking sheet. Bake at 180°C / 350°F for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to 165°C / 325°F and continue baking for 40–50 minutes, or until the edges are set and the very center still has a slight, gentle wobble.
- Cool Completely: Remove the pie from the oven. Let it cool on a wire rack for a minimum of 2 hours at room temperature to stabilize the custard. Slice and serve, ideally after chilling for another hour or two.