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    Home » Recipes » Pies & Tarts

    Published: Nov 22, 2022 by Sloane · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Black Bottom Pumpkin Custard Pie

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    This black bottom pumpkin custard pie is the quintessential fall pie with a unique twist! Layered under the creamy pumpkin filling is a rich ganache!

    pumpkin custard pie with whipped cream on wooden table

    This black bottom pumpkin custard pie is what fall dreams are made of. And Thanksgiving would not be the same without the best pumpkin pie! 

    Imagine a buttery, flaky pie crust filled with rich chocolate ganache and a smooth pumpkin custard filling, and to top it all off add homemade whipped cream and cute pie crust leaf cutouts! It's the most delicious (and practical!) make-ahead pumpkin pie. Don't forget to top it with homemade whipped cream & a sprinkling of cinnamon!

    For more pie recipes, try Turtle Pecan Pie, Salted Caramel Apple Pie, Balsamic Molasses Pear Galette, and Maple Pumpkin Hand Pies.

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this pumpkin custard pie
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Kitchen Equipment
    • Step by Step Instructions 
    • Expert Baking Tips
    • FAQ
    • Make Ahead Tips
    • Storage Tips
    • Baking in Grams
    • Other pie recipes you'll love
    • 📖 Recipe

    Why you'll love this pumpkin custard pie

    • Smooth, Creamy Pumpkin Filling: A custardy, melt-in-your-mouth filling PACKED with pumpkin flavor. SO good.
    • Rich Chocolate Ganache Layer: The bottom ganache layer adds a beautiful contrast in flavor to balance out this pumpkin pie. And I mean how can you say no to chocolate?!
    • Buttery, Flaky Pie Crust: My go-to all butter pie dough that creates an ultra flaky, tender crust that's perfect with any pie filling. 
    side view of pumpkin custard pie with whipped cream

    Ingredient Notes

    Ingredient quantities are listed in the recipe card below. Here you'll find notes on why I chose certain ingredients, as well as ingredient substitutions.

    ingredients for pie crust
    For the pie crust
    ingredients for ganache
    For the chocolate ganache
    ingredients for pumpkin custard filling
    For the pumpkin custard filling
    ingredients for whipped cream
    For the whipped cream
    • Chocolate: I recommend using semi-sweet chocolate for the ganache. 
    • Heavy Cream: You'll need heavy cream for both the ganache and the custard.
    • Butter: Add a small amount of butter to the ganache to ensure it stays silky smooth.
    • Brown Sugar: Use dark brown sugar for a deeper molasses flavor. 
    • Pumpkin Pie Spice: Add pumpkin pie spice or a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger to the custard filling. 
    • Eggs: Be sure to use room temperature eggs and do not over-mix the batter after you add them.

    Kitchen Equipment

    • Kitchen Scale
    • Mixing Bowls
    • Whisk
    • Plastic Wrap
    • Rolling Pin
    • 9" pie dish
    • Baking Sheet 
    • Pie Weights

    Step by Step Instructions 

    pie dough on floured surface
    STEP 1
    pie dough in pan crimped
    STEP 2

    STEP 1: Make the pie dough. A day or two before, make the pie dough and chill overnight. For more detailed step by step instructions, see this 3 Ingredient Pie Crust Recipe.  

    STEP 2: Par bake the pie dough. Roll the pie dough out to ⅛" in thickness and place in the pie dish. Chill for 15 minutes, then crimp the dough as desired. 

    crimped and docked pie dough in pie dish
    STEP 3
    Pie crust lined with parchment paper and filled with pie weights
    STEP 4

    STEP 3: Par bake the pie dough. Dock the pie dough on the bottom and along the sides with the tines of a fork. Chill for another 15 minutes.

    STEP 4: Par bake the pie dough: Line the dough with parchment paper and fill with pie weights to ensure it doesn't shrink in the oven. Bake for 18 minutes, then remove the pie weights & brush with an egg wash, and bake for another 3-5 minutes.

    par baked pie crust
    STEP 5
    chocolate ganache
    STEP 6

    STEP 5: Allow crust to cool. Allow the par baked pie crust to cool completely before adding the ganache and pumpkin custard filling. 

    STEP 6: Make the ganache. In a small bowl, heat the heavy cream in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Add in the chocolate and butter and stir until full combined and smooth.

    pumpkin custard filling in mixing bowl
    STEP 7
    ganache spread in par baked pie crust
    STEP 8

    STEP 7: Make the pumpkin custard filling. In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, heavy cream, eggs, and vanilla. Do not over-mix! Whisk in the brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and salt until fully combined.

    STEP 8: Assemble the pie. Pour the chocolate ganache in the cooled par-baked pie crust and spread into an even layer. 

    pumpkin pie filling added to par baked pie crust
    STEP 9
    baked pumpkin custard pie topped with whipped cream
    STEP 10

    STEP 9: Assemble the pie & bake. Gently pour the pumpkin custard filling on top of the ganache. Wrap aluminum foil around the pie crust edges to prevent them from burning. Place the pie on the hot baking sheet and bake for about 1 hour - 1 hour 10 minutes or until set on the edges and slightly jiggly in the center. Turn the oven off, crack the oven door open, and leave the pie in the oven for 30 minutes. Take the pie out and allow to cool completely at room temperature. Place in the fridge uncovered and chill overnight.

    STEP 10: Top with whipped cream & serve. Just before serving the pie, make the homemade whipped cream. Add it to the center of the pie or individual slices, and sprinkle with cinnamon and pie crust leaf cutouts. Enjoy!

    Expert Baking Tips

    • I recommend making this pie over two days. Make the pie dough the first day. The second day, par-bake the crust, make the fillings, and bake the whole pie. Chill it overnight and serve the next day.
    • For more detailed step by step instructions on how to make homemade pie dough, see this post.
    • If you have vodka on hand, you can add a tablespoon or two to the pie dough before the water. You'll end up adding less water, so still pay close attention to the hydration level. Vodka does not develop the gluten as much, which makes it perfect for hydrating pie dough and creating a super tender pie crust!
    • The most important thing with making pie crust is to always keep the dough cold at all steps. So use ice cold water and cold butter, and any time you touch the dough you should put it back in the fridge for at least 20 minutes. 
    • Hold off on making the whipped cream until right before serving the pie. 
    pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream on wooden table

    FAQ

    How to prevent cracks in a custard pie:

    The key to preventing cracks in a pumpkin custard pie is to bake at a low temperature (325 degrees F) for a long time (about one hour). After baking, you want to avoid dramatic temperature changes, so you need gradually cool the pie down. Turn the oven off, crack the door open, and leave the pie in the oven for 30 minutes. Then, take the pie out and allow to cool completely at room temperature. Cover the pie loosely with plastic wrap and chill overnight. The next day your pie will be ready to serve with zero cracks!

    Pumpkin pie filling vs pumpkin puree:

    Pumpkin puree is pure pumpkin and the only type of canned pumpkin you should be baking with! Canned pumpkin pie filling has added sugar and other ingredients.

    How to prevent a soggy pie crust:

    My three tricks to preventing a soggy pie crust:
    1. Bake at a high temperature - 425 degrees F (220 degrees C)
    2. Preheat the oven with a metal baking sheet in it
    3. Use a metal pie pan and bake the pie directly on the hot baking sheet

    Read all of my tips for making the best ultra flaky pie crust in this Homemade All Butter Pie Crust recipe.

    How to make pie crust leaf cutouts:

    Either use pie dough scraps or make a quarter of this pie dough recipe. Freeze the cutout leaves for at least 15 minutes, then brush with an egg wash, sprinkle with turbinado sugar, and bake at 400 degrees F for about 10 minutes.

    pumpkin custard pie in white pie dish cut into individual slices

    Make Ahead Tips

    You can make the pie dough up to 3 days ahead of time stored in the fridge or up to 3 months ahead of time if stored in the freezer. If it's stored in the freezer, be sure to thaw it out in the fridge overnight before using. 

    The day the pie is assembled, it must be baked! I highly recommend baking it the day before serving, as it needs a few hours to cool and set. This gives the filling enough time to set so you can get clean cut pie slices!

    Storage Tips

    Store leftover pie slices in the fridge for 2-3 days.

    slice of black bottom pumpkin custard pie on plate

    Baking in Grams

    All of the recipes on this blog are carefully developed with gram measurements so you can easily recreate them in your own kitchen with success. Volume measurements are extremely inaccurate and leave room for significant errors. Not all measuring cups are made equally, so your one cup of flour will be different from my one cup of flour. By providing precise measurements in grams (aside from minor ingredients, which are given in tsp/tbsp), you can make these recipes accurately and with less cleanup! All you need is this kitchen scale. 

    If this still isn't enough to convince you, I have provided volume measurements in the recipe card. If you are interested in understanding the conversions, this is the best conversion chart.

    But trust me, once you try baking in grams you'll never turn back!

    Happy baking! x

    slice of pumpkin pie turned on its side in pie dish

    Other pie recipes you'll love

    • turtle pecan pie slices on white plates
      Turtle Pecan Pie
    • slice of salted caramel apple pie on stacked plates with scoop of ice cream and caramel drizzle
      Salted Caramel Apple Pie
    • pear galette with vanilla ice cream
      Balsamic Molasses Pear Galette
    • pumpkin hand pie cut open to show inside texture
      Maple Pumpkin Hand Pies

    If you tried this recipe, I'd love to know how it turned out for you! Leave a star rating & review below and post a picture (or video!) on Instagram and tag me so I can see your bakes! Not ready to make this recipe yet? Click the heart button on the right of your screen to save it for later 🙂

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    📖 Recipe

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    pumpkin custard pie with whipped cream on wooden table

    Black Bottom Pumpkin Custard Pie

    • Author: Sloane
    • Prep Time: 1 hour
    • Cook Time: 1 hour
    • Total Time: 2 hours
    • Yield: 9 inch pie 1x
    • Category: Pie
    • Method: Baking
    • Cuisine: American
    Print Recipe
    Save Recipe Recipe Saved

    Description

    This black bottom pumpkin custard pie is the quintessential fall pie with a unique twist! Layered under the creamy pumpkin filling is a rich ganache!


    Ingredients

    Scale

    For the pie crust:

    • Get the ingredients here

    For the chocolate ganache:

    • 56g (¼ cup) heavy cream
    • 113g (4oz) semi-sweet chocolate
    • 14g (1 tbsp) unsalted butter, room temp

    For the pumpkin custard filling:

    • 15oz pumpkin puree
    • 227g (1 cup) heavy cream
    • 3 eggs, room temp
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    • 106g (½ cup) dark brown sugar
    • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
    • ½ tsp salt

    For the whipped cream:

    • 227g (1 cup) heavy cream, cold
    • 50g (¼ cup) granulated sugar

    Instructions

    For the pie crust:

    1. Follow the instructions for PAR BAKING here
    2. Allow par-baked pie crust to cool completely before adding the ganache and pumpkin filling and baking.

    For the chocolate ganache:

    1. In a small bowl, heat the heavy cream in the microwave for about 30 seconds.
    2. Add in the chocolate and butter and stir until full combined and smooth.

    For the pumpkin custard filling:

    1. In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, heavy cream, eggs, and vanilla. Do not over-mix!
    2. Whisk in the brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and salt until fully combined.

    For assembly & baking:

    1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C) with a baking sheet in it.
    2. Pour the chocolate ganache in the cooled par-baked pie crust and spread into an even layer. 
    3. Gently pour the pumpkin custard filling on top of the ganache.
    4. Wrap aluminum foil around the pie crust edges to prevent them from burning. 
    5. Place the pie on the hot baking sheet and bake for about 1 hour - 1 hour 10 minutes or until set on the edges and slightly jiggly in the center.
    6. Turn the oven off, crack the oven door open, and leave the pie in the oven for 30 minutes.
    7. Take the pie out and allow to cool completely at room temperature.
    8. Place in the fridge uncovered and chill overnight.

    For the whipped cream:

    1. Just before serving the pie, make the whipped cream.
    2. In a medium bowl, whip the heavy cream with an electric mixer while slowly pouring in the granulated sugar.
    3. Continue beating until soft peaks form.
    4. Top the chilled pumpkin pie with the whipped cream and sprinkle cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice on top.

    Notes

    • I recommend making this pie over two days. Make the pie dough the first day. The second day, par-bake the crust, make the fillings, and bake the whole pie. Chill it overnight and serve the next day.
    • For more detailed step by step instructions on how to make homemade pie dough, see this post.
    • If you have vodka on hand, you can add a tablespoon or two to the pie dough before the water. You'll end up adding less water, so still pay close attention to the hydration level. Vodka does not develop the gluten as much, which makes it perfect for hydrating pie dough and creating a super tender pie crust!
    • The most important thing with making pie crust is to always keep the dough cold at all steps. So use ice cold water and cold butter, and any time you touch the dough you should put it back in the fridge for at least 20 minutes. 
    • Hold off on making the whipped cream until right before serving the pie. 

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 piece
    • Calories: 594
    • Sugar: 28.2 g
    • Sodium: 278.5 mg
    • Fat: 40.3 g
    • Carbohydrates: 51 g
    • Protein: 8.9 g
    • Cholesterol: 190.3 mg

    Keywords: pumpkin custard pie, black bottom pumpkin pie, black bottom pie, custard pumpkin pie filling

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @sloanes.table on Instagram and hashtag it #sloanestable

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    Hi, I'm Sloane! Welcome to Sloane’s Table! I am a Dartmouth College alumna, professional baker, recipe developer, and food photographer. Here, you will find tried-and-true recipes of baked goods ranging from easy & indulgent to bakery-worthy to simple & healthyish.

    Learn more about me →

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