Consider adding this vegan pumpkin pie recipe to your next holiday spread to impress even the staunchest of festive traditionalists. 


Vegan Pumpkin Pie Recipe: Tips for Making Vegan Pumpkin Pie

Vegan pumpkin pie is a vegan version of traditional [pumpkin pie](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/perfect-homemade-pumpkin-pie-recipe)—a dessert made with a spiced pumpkin custard filling layered inside a flaky pie crust and baked in a pie pan. The pie is usually served during the fall harvest holidays, like Thanksgiving, when pumpkins and gourds are in season. Instead of eggs and heavy cream, vegan pumpkin pie features an alternate binding agent to thicken it, such as cornstarch, tapioca starch, or arrowroot powder, and a rich, flavorful dairy-free cream substitute like coconut cream, which imparts a deep coconut flavor. 

Bakers typically make vegan pie crust recipes with vegan butter or vegan margarine made from plant-derived oils, which mimics the buttery flavor of classic homemade [pie crust](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/perfect-homemade-pie-crust-recipe). You can make a gluten-free pie crust from scratch using rice flour and a teaspoon of xanthan gum instead of graham crackers.

Serve the pie with a dollop of vegan whipped cream or a scoop of vegan ice cream made from non-dairy milk—like soy milk, <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-cashew-milk' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-cashew-milk","linkCopy":"cashew milk","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>cashew milk</a>, or almond milk—if preferred. 

Non-vegan pumpkin pie, like its root vegetable-based cousin, the [sweet potato pie](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/sweet-potato-pie-recipe), is synonymous with the fall season. If it’s your first time attempting this vegan Thanksgiving classic, the key to the best vegan pumpkin pie is helping the pumpkin purée be as velvety—and sturdy—as possible. 

1. __Use canned pumpkin purée__. While fresh is almost always a better bet for taste, canned pumpkin will get you closer to the smooth texture you want in a classic pumpkin pie. While you can always use fresh pumpkin purée, you may need to blitz it a few extra times to get the velvety mouthfeel that’s crucial to a good custard filling. 
2. __Opt for plain purée to control the flavor__. To build your own pumpkin pie flavor from scratch, use plain pumpkin purée instead of canned pumpkin pie filling with a blend of “pumpkin pie” spices. Using unspiced purée allows the baker to control the spice content of the pie.
3. __Adjust the sweetness with different types of sugar__. While white and brown sugar will result in a classic pumpkin pie flavor, try unrefined sugars, like coconut sugar or jaggery, for a more complex, earthy sweetness to complement the natural flavor of the pumpkin. Alternatively, swap the brown sugar in this easy recipe for a ½ cup of maple syrup if you prefer a more muted sweetness.

Consider adding this vegan pumpkin pie recipe to your next holiday spread to impress even the staunchest of festive traditionalists.

Vegan pumpkin pie is a vegan version of traditional <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/perfect-homemade-pumpkin-pie-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/perfect-homemade-pumpkin-pie-recipe","linkCopy":"pumpkin pie","category":null}'>pumpkin pie</a>—a dessert made with a spiced pumpkin custard filling layered inside a flaky pie crust and baked in a pie pan. The pie is usually served during the fall harvest holidays, like Thanksgiving, when pumpkins and gourds are in season. Instead of eggs and heavy cream, vegan pumpkin pie features an alternate binding agent to thicken it, such as cornstarch, tapioca starch, or arrowroot powder, and a rich, flavorful dairy-free cream substitute like coconut cream, which imparts a deep coconut flavor. Bakers typically make vegan pie crust recipes with vegan butter or vegan margarine made from plant-derived oils, which mimics the buttery flavor of classic homemade <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/perfect-homemade-pie-crust-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/perfect-homemade-pie-crust-recipe","linkCopy":"pie crust","category":null}'>pie crust</a>. You can make a gluten-free pie crust from scratch using rice flour and a teaspoon of xanthan gum instead of graham crackers.Serve the pie with a dollop of vegan whipped cream or a scoop of vegan ice cream made from non-dairy milk—like soy milk, <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-cashew-milk' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-cashew-milk","linkCopy":"cashew milk","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>cashew milk</a>, or almond milk—if preferred.

What Is Vegan Pumpkin Pie?

Non-vegan pumpkin pie, like its root vegetable-based cousin, the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/sweet-potato-pie-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/sweet-potato-pie-recipe","linkCopy":"sweet potato pie","category":null}'>sweet potato pie</a>, is synonymous with the fall season. If it’s your first time attempting this vegan Thanksgiving classic, the key to the best vegan pumpkin pie is helping the pumpkin purée be as velvety—and sturdy—as possible. <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Use canned pumpkin purée. While fresh is almost always a better bet for taste, canned pumpkin will get you closer to the smooth texture you want in a classic pumpkin pie. While you can always use fresh pumpkin purée, you may need to blitz it a few extra times to get the velvety mouthfeel that’s crucial to a good custard filling. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Opt for plain purée to control the flavor. To build your own pumpkin pie flavor from scratch, use plain pumpkin purée instead of canned pumpkin pie filling with a blend of “pumpkin pie” spices. Using unspiced purée allows the baker to control the spice content of the pie. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Adjust the sweetness with different types of sugar. While white and brown sugar will result in a classic pumpkin pie flavor, try unrefined sugars, like coconut sugar or jaggery, for a more complex, earthy sweetness to complement the natural flavor of the pumpkin. Alternatively, swap the brown sugar in this easy recipe for a ½ cup of maple syrup if you prefer a more muted sweetness. </li></ol>

3 Tips for Making Vegan Pumpkin Pie

Vegan Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Consider adding this vegan pumpkin pie recipe to your next holiday spread to impress even the staunchest of festive traditionalists.