How To Make The Perfect Pumpkin Pie For Thanksgiving

Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the word “perfect” means different things to different people especially when it comes to the subject of Thanksgiving pumpkin pies.

My personal pumpkin pie preference is a tried-and-true Betty Crocker Recipe. (Who is more of an expert than Betty anyway?) And the name of it warms the cockles of my heart because I am not a gifted baker. It is called the “Impossibly Easy Pumpkin Pie.”

The impossibly easy pumpkin pie has many advantages. Its name implies that you can’t mess it up (which is definitely true since I have not). It also is a healthier choice among pumpkin pies (even though healthy eating is not a high priority on Thanksgiving day) because it does not have a crust. That’s right, the carbs you are saving from the crust can be used to indulge in more stuffing. I prefer my pies with more filling than crust so you can see why this suits me perfectly. And finally, it is quickly made. You can mix, assemble, and bake in less than one hour! The caveat is that you need to let it cool for a few hours after it comes out of the oven so you can’t dig in right away, but you will want to.

The main ingredients are Bisquick (whichever variety appeals to you; Regular, Heart Smart, or Gluten-Free, sugar, canned pure pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, margarine, vanilla extract, and plenty of spices. Because it is fool-proof, I have also added chocolate chips, wheat germ, and flaxseed, and it still turns out great.

When it is finished, you can have whipped topping, nuts, ice cream, or extra cinnamon to offer as toppings for people to customize their slice(s).

Ironically, because it comes out as more of a custard-like or flan consistency, people always think you worked really hard to make this pie. They don’t know it is “impossibly easy” unless you choose to tell them.

Here is a link to the traditional Betty Crocker recipe: https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/impossibly-easy-pumpkin-pie/c0eab3d9-06a3-4829-9125-7581f1d96315

Though not all Thanksgiving-themed, it should be noted that Betty Crocker has a variety of impossibly easy pies including cheeseburger, taco, vegetable, and zucchini varieties, to name a few. All use Bisquick as a base and follow a similar pattern of having a few ingredients and quick preparation time. Betty Crocker is a genius!

One more suggestion is to make two at the same time. One regular-sized can of pumpkin and evaporated milk can yield two pies so why store the extra ingredients. Make and bake both at the same time.

With your newfound free time not messing with making the perfect crust and while you are waiting for your pies to cool, why not take the time to stroll around The Shops at Rockvale to get an early start on your holiday shopping? There are so many great deals to be found that your holiday shopping may turn out to be as “impossibly easy” as your pumpkin pie.