McCormick has been around since 1873, and its pumpkin pies have been a big part of the company’s success.
What Is The McCormick Pumpkin Pie Recipe?
The McCormick Pumpkin Pie Recipe was first introduced in 1921 by Dr. W.H. McCormick, who founded the spice company in 1873.
The original recipe included ingredients like evaporated milk, real cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, vanilla extract, and white sugar.
It also contained eggs, but they were replaced with egg whites due to their high cholesterol content.
Dr. McCormick continued tinkering with the recipe over time until he created what we know today as the classic McCormick Pumpkin Pie recipe.
This version contains fresh pumpkin puree, brown sugar, salt, heavy cream, whole eggs, and McCormick spices.
A few years later, the recipe was updated again when McCormick added a touch more sweetness using honey instead of brown sugar.
Since then, McCormick Pumpkin Pies have become a staple on American Thanksgiving tables across the country.
They are so popular that even President Harry S. Truman requested his favorite pie during a White House dinner.
Today, most people associate McCormick Pumpkin Pies with Thanksgiving or other major holidays.
But did you know that these treats can be enjoyed any day of the year?
You can find them in supermarkets, convenience stores, grocery chains, bakeries, delis, and other places where desserts and baked goods are sold.
If you want to try your hand at making a homemade McCormick Pumpkin Pie, keep reading below to get started.
How Do You Make A McCormick Pumpkin Pie?
Pumpkin pie recipes are as varied as pumpkins themselves, but the McCormick recipe is pretty easy to follow.
It calls for two types of pumpkin puree — canned or fresh — which can be used interchangeably.
The first step is to mix together all of the ingredients into a thick batter.
Then, pour that mixture into a baking dish (a 9-inch by 13-inch pan works well).
Finally, bake the pie until the top starts to turn golden brown.
When the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan, remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool completely before cutting it open and serving it up.
What Are The Ingredients In A McCormick Pumpkin Pie?
A McCormick pumpkin pie is made using a combination of all-natural ingredients, including real pumpkin, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and mace.
This makes for an incredibly flavorful pie that will wow everyone who eats it.
The McCormick pumpkin pie also uses real cream cheese instead of the traditional butter or shortening used by other manufacturers.
The result is a creamy filling that provides ample sweetness without being overly sweet.
If you want to add more spice to your pumpkin pie, you can use whole pecans, walnuts, almonds, or even hazelnuts.
You could also try adding some crushed candy bars into the mixture before baking.
How Long Does It Take To Make A McCormick Pumpkin Pie?
The average time to prepare and bake a McCormick pumpkin pie is about 45 minutes.
This includes prepping the pumpkins, preparing the filling, baking the crust, and assembling the pie.
The actual cooking time depends on how large or small you cut them up.
If you use medium-sized pumpkins, they will require an additional 15 minutes of cooking time.
If you choose to add marshmallow fluff to your pumpkin pie, expect that extra step to take another 20 minutes.
Preparing the Pumpkins
To get started, wash all the vegetables used in your pumpkin pie thoroughly before cutting them into pieces.
When cleaning out your fridge, make sure there is nothing left behind that could affect the taste of your pumpkin pie.
For example, if you have any moldy cheese sitting in your refrigerator, throw it away.
Next, slice off the top and bottom ends of each pumpkin so that you can remove the seeds.
Then, using a sharp knife, carefully carve out the flesh of the pumpkin until you reach the skin.
Remove the skin by gently pulling it over the edge of the carving board.
Next, scoop out the pulp and place it in a bowl.
Discard the shells.
When you are finished slicing, washing and removing the pumpkin parts, turn your attention to the spice mixture.
You should already have everything you need to start making your pumpkin pie filling.
- 1 1/4 cups (250 mL) white sugar
- 1 teaspoon (5 mL) ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon (15 mL) cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon (0.5 mL) nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon (0.5 mL) cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon (0.5 mL) salt
- 1 cup (250 mL) evaporated milk
- 1 egg
- 1 cup (250 mL) sour cream
- 1 tablespoon (15 mL) vanilla extract
(Note: if you want to use McCormick’s Pumpkin Pie Spice instead of McCormick’s All Purpose Seasoning, follow the instructions for adding seasonings on page 13.)
Making Your Filling
Now that you have prepared your three main ingredients – pumpkin, spices, and milk – it is time to mix together the pumpkin filling.
To do this, first pour the pumpkin pulp back into the shell, then stir in the rest of the ingredients.
Continue stirring until well combined.
Baking Your Crust
After mixing your ingredients together, you must now create a dough for your pie crust.
First, combine the flour, shortening, and water in a food processor.
Pulse together until crumbly.
Add more flour if needed to form a firm ball.
Flatten down the ball slightly and roll between two sheets of plastic wrap until approximately 14 inches square (35 cm).
Place the crust onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Once you have rolled out your crust, begin heating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 C), or as close to that temperature as possible.
After placing the pan in the oven, immediately prick the entire surface of the crust with a fork.
This helps prevent bubbles and allows steam to escape during baking.
Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (160 C) and continue baking for 30 more minutes.
Once baked, let cool completely before pouring in your filling.
Assembling Your Pie
With your pumpkin pie partially assembled, it is finally time to assemble the final product.
Start by spreading the layer of crust evenly across the bottom of a 9-inch deep dish pie plate.
Pour half of the cooled pumpkin filling inside the crust and spread it as even as possible.
Next, sprinkle half of the remaining crust on top of the pumpkin filling.
Using a pastry brush, apply some of the melted butter to the edges of the crust.
Finally, cover the pie with the other half of the crust.
Brush the edges again with melted butter before crimping the rim of the pie to seal the crust in place.
What Is The Nutritional Value Of A McCormick Pumpkin Pie?
The ingredients in a McCormick pumpkin pie are simple but effective.
The filling contains whole wheat pastry flour as well as sugar, brown sugar, and butter or shortening.
In addition to these basic ingredients, you can also find oats, honey, eggs, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, and leavening agents such as baking soda and cream of tartar (which helps prevent gluten development).
Is The McCormick Pumpkin Pie Recipe Vegan?
The answer is yes – the McCormick Pumpkin Pie Recipe is completely vegan-friendly.
It doesn’t contain any milk or eggs, so there are no animal products in the ingredients list.
The only exception is the crust which contains butter (although it is non-vegan).
But even then, you can use an alternative like coconut oil instead if that makes you feel more comfortable.
You will also find that there are no artificial flavors or preservatives added into the recipe either, making it ideal for those who prefer their food without them.
Is The McCormick Pumpkin Pie Recipe Glutenfree?
No, but you can find gluten-free versions of most foods these days.
If you are looking for a great gluten free pumpkin pie recipe that’s simple enough for kids and adults alike then look no further than McCormick Pumpkin Pie Recipe.
The ingredients in this recipe include cornstarch or potato starch, which means that if you choose not to use them, there will still be plenty of flavor without any added texture.
You can also substitute some of the other spices used for others that better suit your tastes, such as cinnamon instead of ginger.
If you want to make an even healthier version of this recipe, try substituting the butter for coconut oil or olive oil, and using brown rice flour instead of white flour.
This will give the crust a bit more moisture while keeping it crispy.
What Is The History Of The McCormick Pumpkin Pie Recipe?
The first McCormick pumpkins were grown in New York state by farmer William H. McCormick.
He was looking to develop a new crop that would provide food during the winter months when other crops failed due to cold weather or other factors.
In 1863, he developed a hybrid seed variety called “H.M. 2690” which had excellent yields and could withstand harsh winters.
The seeds were given out as free samples to farmers across the country who planted them in their fields.
They proved successful enough to warrant mass production, so they became known as “The McCormick Seed Company.”
When the Civil War broke out, demand for wheat dropped dramatically because so many people were serving overseas.
In response, McCormick began growing other types of grains like corn, barley, oats, rye, and rice, but still needed something to feed families during the long winter months when most other crops fail.
That’s where the pumpkin came into play.
Pumpkin farming was already popular in North America, especially Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana.
When the war ended, demand for these items increased significantly, so McCormick expanded to grow pumpkins on an even larger scale.
From there, the company grew to become the largest producer of canned vegetables in the world, producing over 12 million cans every year.
As a result, McCormick now produces everything from baby foods to pizza dough and even dog treats.
It also sells more than 2 billion packets of spice each year.
Today, you can find McCormick products everywhere, including grocery stores, supermarkets, restaurants, schools, offices, bakeries, and even online retailers.
You can use any type of pumpkin (or squash) in this recipe if you want, but we recommend using a pie pumpkin variety such as ‘Buttercup’ or ‘Hubbard.’
These are generally sweeter and easier to carve than other varieties.
How Did The McCormick Pumpkin Pie Recipe Come About?
It all started in 1878 when Frank Wiegand, an employee at the spice company, introduced his own version of pumpkin pie as a special treat during Thanksgiving dinner.
Wiegand was so pleased by how well his new creation went over that he decided to share the recipe with other employees later on that day.
Within days, his colleagues were asking him for more information, but they had to wait until after Thanksgiving before receiving another batch of instructions.
Over time, Wiegand shared the recipe with friends and family members who wanted to make their own versions of pumpkin pie.
Soon enough, people began referring to his original recipe as “the McCormick way.”
The popularity of the McCormick pumpkin pie continued to grow throughout the years thanks to the many variations of recipes that emerged from Wiegand’s original idea.
In fact, some of those early recipes are still popular today — including the classic McCormick Pumpkin Pie Recipe below (which we’ll discuss shortly).
But what exactly does the McCormick pumpkin pie recipe include? Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients and steps involved in making this tasty holiday dessert.
Who Created The McCormick Pumpkin Pie Recipe?
The McCormick Pumpkin Pie Recipe is an original recipe that was developed in-house by McCormick employees.
The recipe uses only ingredients found in local farms and is made using fresh seasonal ingredients.
It also contains McCormick’s exclusive blend of spices that are used as seasonings across all of their products.
As you can see, there aren’t any artificial or preservatives added into the mix either — just real food ingredients that will bring out the best flavors in your pumpkin pie.
Equipment
- Oven
Ingredients
- 1 pie crust frozen unbaked deep dish 9-inch
- 15 ounces pumpkin
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- To begin making this signature pumpkin pie recipe, preheat the oven to 425°F. Place the frozen pie crust on a large baking sheet lined with foil.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine pumpkin, milk, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla extract until smooth. Pour into the pie crust.
- Cook for 15 minutes. Reduce the temperature of the oven to 350°F. Bake for another 40 minutes, or until a knife inserted 1 inch from the crust comes out clean. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack. If desired, top with Vanilla Whipped Cream.
Video
Nutrition
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