Pumpkin Cream Pie
Fluffy Pumpkin Cream Pie is a luxurious creamy pumpkin pie recipe that’s a bit of a change from the old standby. This spiced pie is brimming with autumn flavors and is sure to delight your guests!

FLUFFY Holiday Pie
This recipe started with my ho-hum attitude toward most traditional pumpkin pies.
I love baking with pumpkin, yet sometimes the texture of classic pumpkin pie filling is offputting to me… It’s a little too dense and not quite silky enough. So obviously, turning my pumpkin pie into a pumpkin cream pie was the perfect solution.
However, we also have several pumpkin desserts in which the texture of the filling is “Sommer Approved”.
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
- Pumpkin Slab Pie
- Libby’s Pumpkin Pie Recipe
- Layered Pumpkin Turtle Cheesecake

Pumpkin Cream Pie Ingredients
For the Crust:
- All-purpose flour
- COLD unsalted butter
- Salt
- Ice cold booze such as brandy, amaretto, or bourbon
For the Pumpkin Cream Pie:
- Cream cheese softened
- Pure pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
- Instant vanilla pudding
- Evaporated milk
- Pumpkin pie spice
- Powdered sugar
- Heavy whipping cream
- Vanilla extract
- Chopped candied walnuts or pecans (optional)


Perfect Pie Crust
As with all pies, the making of something spectacular starts with a great crust.
I don’t use water or milk for pie crust because a little nip of your favorite liquor makes the pie crust extra flaky and leaves a little note of boozy flavor behind as it evaporates in the oven.
Once the pie crust has baked and cooled, simply beat the creamy pumpkin filling and chill.
There’s no need to put this pie back in the oven, which is why this pie makes a fabulous desert for Thanksgiving or Christmas. You can even make it several days ahead.
So say goodbye to plain ol’ pumpkin pie this holiday season.

How to Make Pumpkin Cream Pie
Find the full printable recipe with detailed instructions in the recipe form at the bottom of the post.
Frequently Asked Questions
A cream pie will last in the fridge for 3 to 4 days loosely covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. If wrapped tightly, it can last in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Almost any type of liquor will work in a pie crust. For example, an amaretto, bourbon, brandy, or spiced rum are good choices because they all have unique flavors. Select a liquor that leaves a flavor behind, unlike vodka.

Other Fall Time Recipes
- Coconut Cream Pie Recipe
- Pumpkin Pie Dip and Cinnamon Chips Recipe
- Cinnamon Cream Pie with Brown Sugar Whipped Cream
- Best Mini Pumpkin Pies Recipe
- Pumpkin Pie Milkshake Recipe
Fluffy Pumpkin Cream Pie
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 1 1/4 cup all-purpose Gold Medal Flour + extra for rolling
- 1/2 cup COLD unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3-5 tablespoons ice cold booze brandy, amaretto, bourbon…
For the Pumpkin Cream Pie:
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 16 ounces pumpkin puree
- 5.1 ounces instant vanilla pudding
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar divided
- 3 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped candied walnuts or pecans
Instructions
For the Crust:
- Cut the butter into small cubes and place in the freezer to make sure it's very cold. Add the flour and salt to the food processor and pulse. Pour a couple ounces of your favorite booze over ice to chill. Then add the cold butter to the flour mixture and pulse until it's finely chopped and mixed into the flour. It should resemble oatmeal or little pellets. One tablespoon at a time, pulse in the chilled booze (not the ice cubes) until it clumps together. It should be firm, not sticky. Mine usually takes 4 tablespoons. Dump the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap and form into a disk. Wrap and refrigerate for at least thirty minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Once chilled, roll the dough out on a well floured work surface, into a 14-inch circle. Hold one side of the pie crust over the rolling pin and carefully roll it over the top of the rolling pin to transfer it to the pie pan. Don't stretch the pie crust, but gently move it into the center of the pie pan. Turn the edges underneath and crimp the edges to seal. You can do this with a fork or with your fingers. Place a large piece of foil (or parchment paper) over the pie crust and gently shape it over the dough. Fill the foil with ceramic pie weights, or dried beans. Bake the crust for 18-20 minutes. Then carefully remove the foil and weights. Cool completely before filling.
For the Filling:
- Using an electric mixer, whip the heavy cream with 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1/4 cup powdered sugar, until firm peaks form. Transfer to another bowl, cover and refrigerate. Then beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy. Slowly, beat in the pumpkin puree. Add a little at a time and scrape the bowl regularly, to ensure there are no clumps.
- Once combined beat in the pudding mix, evaporated milk, pumpkin pie spice and remaining 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar. Scrape the bowl and beat again. Fold in HALF the whipped cream. Carefully mix until smooth.
- Scoop the filling into the cooled pie crust. Top with the remaining whipped cream. Chill for at least 4 hours–overnight is even better. When ready to serve, sprinkle the top with candied nuts.
Nutrition
Disclosure: This post in sponsored by Gold Medal Flour. All opinions are my own.
Super delicious!
Love this…I tried substituting butterscotch pudding mix and topping with butterscotch chips. YUM
This was amazing. Thank you. I’m one of those people that adds to a recipe and then says how good it is lol. But without your insight I would have never known how good cream pie could be. I used a nilla wafer,granham cracker,gingersnaps,sugar and lots of butter baked crust. Then used 1cup brown sugar and 1/4 p.sugar in pie and half evap milk and half whipping cream in pie. The whipped cream i made with 8 tablespoons of brown sugar and fresh vanilla bean and cinnamon,half dash nutmeg and ginger. So freaking good. :) huge hit here
p.s. I made the pie crust but baked it for only 8mins. and used it for my dutch apple pie. Amazing
I made this pie last night for thanksgiving. Everything turned out perfect and super yummy except the pie crust. It tasted fine but it would not bake in the middle and I didn’t want it raw so I kept adding time to it. It was in there so long it started to shrink down the sides of the pie dish. While it tasted delicious, my presentation was lacking. Help! What did I do wrong?
This sounds utterly delicious!! Adding to my holiday menu this year!!
Yum, my kind of pumpkin pie easy and creamy!
What a perfect lovely pumpkin cream pie! Mmmm!
This pie is amazing! The crust is perfect and the candied walnuts bring a nice crunch to the creamy filling. Thanks!!!
xoxo ~Shari
http://www.pinkblotmom.com
My husband loves candied walnuts, he is going to go nuts over this pie! It looks perfect :)
What a gorgeous pie, Sommer!
Sommer I’ve been seeing this pie everywhere for the past couple days. It’s just gorgeous! Pinned! I love how cream and thick and rich the filling is!
This is brilliant, Sommer! Really love this idea and might just have to change up my traditional pumpkin pie this year.