Maple Pumpkin Pie

Make the pâte brisée

1. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the flour and salt until mixed, 10 to 15 seconds. Add the butter and beat slowly until the flour is no longer bright white, holds together when you clump it, and there are still lumps of butter about the size of a pecan throughout the mixture, 45 to 60 seconds.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and milk. Add it all at once to the flour-butter mixture. Beat very briefly on low speed just until it barely comes together, 15 to 30 seconds. It will look really shaggy and more like a mess than a dough. Using your hands, shape the shaggy dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to use.
3. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and lightly knead it to make it malleable if it feels stiff. Using a rolling pin, press the dough to flatten it into disk about 1/2 inch (12 mm) thick. Generously flour your work surface as well as the dough. Carefully roll out the disk into a circle about 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter. You may need to incrementally add a little more flour to the work surface and the rolling pin to make sure the dough remains floured well enough to keep your rolling pin from sticking to it. Roll from the center of the disk outward and gently rotate the disk a quarter turn after each roll to ensure that the disk gets stretched out evenly into a nice circle. Don’t worry if the dough breaks a bit, especially towards the edges. You can easily patch these tears up once you’ve lined your pie plate.
4. Once the dough circle is about 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter, gently roll it around the rolling pin and then unfurl it on top of a 9-inch (23-cm) aluminum or glass pie plate. Press the dough gently into the bottom and sides of the plate. Either fold the overhanging dough and crimp with your fingers evenly all around for a more dramatic edge, or use scissors to trim the overhang, leaving a 1/2-inch (12-mm) lip around the edge to allow for shrinkage in the oven. Use any scraps or odd pieces to patch up any tears or missing bits.
5. Refrigerate the pie crust for at least 30 minutes. (The gluten needs a little time to relax so it doesn’t shrink as much in the oven). You can refrigerate the unbaked pie crust, tightly wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 4 weeks. If frozen, the pie shell can be baked directly from the freezer.

Make the pumpkin filling

1. Meanwhile, scrape the pumpkin purée into a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, or until the pumpkin reduces into a somewhat-thick paste and darkens in color, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Stir in the cream, vanilla, and maple syrup until well combined. Whisk in the eggs thoroughly, one at a time.

Assemble the maple pumpkin pie

1. When you’re ready to make the pie, place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F (175°C).
2. Line the crust with parchment paper or a large coffee filter and then fill it with pie weights, uncooked beans, uncooked rice, or even well-washed marble-size rocks. Press down slightly on the weights to make sure the shell is entirely filled and place it in the oven. Bake until the crust is brown on the edges and pale and matte when you lift the parchment and peek at the surface of the shell, 30 to 35 minutes. (If the edges brown too quickly, cover the shell with foil.) It doesn’t need to color at this point. You’re just giving the crust a chance to partially bake. Let the pastry cool on a wire rack, leaving the weights and parchment in place.
3. Remove the parchment paper and pie weights from the crust and pour the pumpkin custard into the crust. Bake until the custard is just set, 45 to 55 minutes. The edges of the custard will puff up a little and the center should still have a little wiggle in it. Remove the pie from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for at least 1 hour.
4. Serve at room temperature or chilled, topped with the whipped cream, if desired. The pie can be stored, wrapped in plastic wrap, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.