Classic pumpkin pie made grain-free and paleo with a buttery cassava crust, vanilla-scented filling and a festive ginger and orange topping.

You, me, we cannot celebrate Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie. In fact, I’ve gone far too many years celebrating without pumpkin pie due to food allergies. I don’t recommend it.

This year, your addition to the family table can be this grain-free and Paleo Classic Pumpkin Pie. It’s made with a simple ice water cassava flour and butter crust and a flavorful homemade pumpkin pie filling. No underwhelming pumpkin pie flavors here!

Most recipes call for 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie seasoning. Instead of using store-bought seasoning, you can easily create your own with high-quality and flavorful organic spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice. This recipe uses over 3 teaspoons of spices to kick up the flavor a bit.

I have also added the seeds of a scraped vanilla bean to this recipe for REAL vanilla flavor. You can find a single vanilla bean in a glass jar in the spice aisle at most grocers. They are worth the price, but if you can’t find it, use 1 teaspoon vanilla extract instead. I may cry a little, but you’ll never know.

What does homemade Pumpkin Pie filling include?

• Canned or homemade pumpkin pie puree

• Maple sugar – adds a caramel depth of flavor you won’t get elsewhere

• Coconut cream – most pies use evaporated milk or heavy cream – scooped from 1 or 2 cans of refrigerated coconut milk

• Vanilla bean – for a more authentic vanilla flavor but you can also use 1 teaspoons vanilla extract in it’s place

• Grated orange zest – for a light citrus hint and something a little different

• Salt – helps bring out the sweetness and spices

• Spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice

• Eggs – I use both whole eggs and just a yolk for extra creaminess

Is it easy to make your own pie crust? 

Yes! It really is! This pie crust contains just a few ingredients: grain-free cassava flour, salt, butter and ice water (a bowl of water with ice in it to keep cold).

Cassava flour performs the closest to gluten flour in pie crusts among the grain-free flours. Hand-rubbing the butter in creates delicate flakes, while the ice water keeps the dough cold for the flakiest crust. The crust won’t be as flaky as a traditional gluten pastry crust, but your tummy will be much happier.

You’ll need the most finesse and attention to detail when rolling out the crust and flipping it evenly into the pie dish.

If you want enough crust for crimped edges and extra crust to bake into decorative pie toppings, then multiply the crust recipe by 1.5x.

You can see how the maple sugar browns nicely – adding an extra depth of flavor. Maple sugar is sweeter than brown sugar which is why this recipe uses a lower amount compared to traditional pumpkin pie recipes.

How far in advance should you make pumpkin pie?

This recipe takes a little extra time to set because of the extra egg yolk and coconut cream. You’ll want to start your pie in the oven at least 6 hours before serving. Pumpkin pie is best served cold or barely room temperature, not warm! If Thanksgiving dinner is at 4 pm, you’ll want to get your pie in the oven by 10 am at the latest or simply make it the night before!

What can I top pumpkin pie with?

In this recipe I use finely diced crystallized ginger for a spicy kick and orange zest for decoration. Add a big dollop of homemade or Reddi Whip Coconut Whipped Cream plus a little extra sprinkle of maple sugar for texture and decoration!

Classic Pumpkin Pie (Grain-Free, Paleo)

• Author: Alaena Haber
• Prep Time: 15 min
• Cook Time: 1 hour 5 min
• Total Time: 1 hour 20 min

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Ingredients

Crust

1 cup cassava flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 oz cold unsalted butter (8 tablespoons)

3 tablespoons ice water (bowl of water with ice in it)

Filling

15 oz can organic pumpkin puree

2/3 cup + 1 tbsp granulated maple sugar

1/2 teaspoon fine salt

1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped and reserved

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest

1/8 teaspoon ground allspice or ground cloves

Scant 1 cup coconut cream, from a can of refrigerated full-fat coconut milk

3 whole eggs

1 egg yolk

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Get your standard 9.5″ glass pie dish out.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the cassava flour and salt. 
3. Grate the cold unsalted butter using a cheese box grater using the side with the largest shredding holes. 
4. Using your hands, rub the butter into the flour until only small lumps remain. It will not be a smooth dough yet. Knead in the 3 tablespoons of ice water until you achieve a smooth dough. It will be dry and flaky but hold together when rolled into a ball. 
5. Place dough in between two sheets of parchment paper. Roll out the crust into a thin circle a little less than 1/8-inch thick to fit your glass pie dish. Very carefully flip pie dish upside down on center of crust. Carefully, flip your crust into the pie dish, using the parchment paper to assist you. Use clean hands to fix any cracks. The pie dough will not break unless it was rolled too thin.
6. Par-bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes while you prepare the filling. 
7. For the filling: In a high-speed blender, combine all filling ingredients except the eggs and blend for 30 seconds. Add the eggs and blend for 15 seconds until fully combined. 
8. Lower the oven temperature to 375 degrees. Pour the filling into the crust and bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue to bake another 40 minutes until the center no longer jiggles. If crust starts to brown too much, gently cover it with foil. 
9. Let pie cool completely (6 hours is best for the custard to set) and serve sliced with diced crystallized ginger, whipped cream, a sprinkle of maple sugar and/or grated orange zest.

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Notes

• 24 hours before making your pie filling – put 1 or 2 cans of coconut cream or full-fat coconut milk in the fridge to harden. Scoop out a scant cup of the coconut cream that has risen to the top of the can when ready to make your filling. I like Thai Kitchen Organic Full-Fat Coconut Milk for this recipe! Do NOT use Light Coconut Milk!