Pumpkin Pie Recipe

1. Roll out the pie dough on a lightly floured piece of parchment paper so the crust is 2 inches larger than your pie plate.
2. Carefully transfer the dough to the pie pan, trim the excess dough with scissors, and crimp the edges. Use a fork to poke several holes in the bottom of the crust. Put the pie in your fridge for at least 30 minutes, until the dough is firm.
3. Position a rack in the middle of your oven and preheat to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Press the parchment paper you used to roll the dough into the pie, then add pie weights - dried beans or rice work well, too. Bake for 15 minutes, until the edges of the pie are firm.
4. Remove the parchment paper and pie weights and then put the pie back into the oven for another 10-12 minutes, until the bottom is firm and light brown. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, pumpkin pie spice, salt, and pepper.
6. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the pumpkin puree, whipping cream, vanilla, and eggs. Add the dry ingredients and whisk until the filling is smooth.
7. Brush the rim of the pie crust with an egg wash and sprinkle with sugar - see notes. Pour the filling into the par-baked crust and smooth down the top. If there are any bubbles in the filling, gently tap the pan on your counter to remove them.
8. Bake the pie for 55-60 minutes, until the edges are set and slightly puffed and the center 4 inches are slightly jiggly - it will look underdone. Keep an eye on the pie while it bakes and if the crust is browning too quickly, add a pie shield or cover the edge with a thin piece of aluminum foil.
9. Place the pie on a cooling rack and let it cool completely (3-4 hours minimum) before decorating or slicing it.

Pumpkin Decorations

1. Roll the extra pie dough ⅛ inch thick and cut out the shapes you want. Place the cutouts on a baking sheet, brush them lightly with egg wash, and sprinkle them with a little sugar. Refrigerate them until you're ready to bake them.
2. Bake the decorations at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-30 minutes, until they are golden brown. The time varies widely depending on how thin/thick you roll the dough. Check them after 15 minutes and then every 5 minutes until they are golden. Let them cool before using them to decorate the pie.