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A pumpkin pie topped with meringue

Pumpkin Meringue Pie

A silky pumpkin custard filling, baked in a flaky crust and topped with a mile-high glossy meringue. Homemade pumpkin pie spice creates perfectly balanced flavours.

Ingredients

Pastry

  • cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp granulated sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ cup cold lard or shortening
  • cup cold unsalted butter cubed
  • 3-4 tbsp ice water approx

Filling

  • cups canned pumpkin purée
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 egg yolks save whites for meringue
  • ¾ cup sweetened condensed milk
  • ½ cup 35% cream
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice see below
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon

Meringue

  • 3 egg whites
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ tsp cream of tartar

Pumpkin Pie Spice

  • 3 tbsp cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp ground ginger
  • tsp ground all-spice
  • 1 tsp ground cloves
  • 1 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 pinch pepper

Instructions
 

Pastry

  • In food processor, pulse together flour, sugar and salt until combined; add lard and pulse until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Add butter and pulse until coarse crumbs the size of peas form, about 8 to 10 pulses. Drizzle in ice water; pulse to form ragged dough. Turn out onto work surface and press into ball. Wrap in plastic wrap, press into disc, then refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
  • Arrange oven racks in centre and bottom of oven. Preheat to 400°F.
  • On lightly floured surface, roll out dough into 13-inch circle; fit into 9-inch pie plate. Trim, leaving ¾ inch overhang; fold under and flute edge. Prick bottom all over with fork. Freeze until firm, about 10 minutes.
  • Line crust with parchment paper; fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake on bottom rack for 20 minutes. Remove paper and pie weights; bake until golden, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and reduce temperature to 350°F.

Filling

  • Meanwhile, in large bowl, whisk together pumpkin purée, eggs, yolks, condensed milk, cream, sugar, Pumpkin Pie Spice, salt and cinnamon until smooth. Scrape into crust.
  • Bake on centre rack until top is no longer shiny and edge is set yet centre still jiggles, 45 to 55 minutes. Let cool completely on rack; refrigerate until chilled.

Meringue

  • Just before serving, make the meringue. In bowl from stand mixer set over a pot of simmering water, whisk together egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar until sugar dissolves and mixture is hot, about 3 minutes. Wipe bottom of bowl.
  • Using stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat on medium until thick, about 2 minutes. Increase speed to high and beat until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 6 to 8 minutes. To remove any moisture on pie, lightly lay a paper towel on surface and remove quickly. Dollop meringue onto pie, then spread and swirl it. Using hand-held kitchen torch, brown at a 90-degree angle 3 inches from meringue, or brown in oven preheated to 425°F.

Pumpkin Pie Spice

  • In bowl, whisk together cinnamon, ginger, allspice, clove, nutmeg and pepper (if using). Transfer to a tightly sealed container and store for eight to 10 months.
Keyword Pumpkin, Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Pie Spice