Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

Pumpkin pie lovers, take note! This Pumpkin Chiffon Pie has a gingersnap crust and a light, pudding-like filling. It's a fun and elegant riff on the classic pie, and sure to become a favorite.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

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Updated September 16, 2021
Elise Bauer
Pumpkin Chiffon Pie
Elise Bauer

If you are looking for a special pie for the holidays, this is it — a light pumpkin pie with beaten egg whites folded into the pumpkin custard, spiked with rum, set in a gingersnap cookie crust, and covered with whipped cream.

What's a Chiffon Pie

Have you ever had a chiffon pie? They first made an appearance in the 1920s. They are called "chiffon" because of how light and airy they are. Typically they involve folding beaten egg whites or meringue into a custard base that has been stabilized with gelatin. Then the pie is chilled until firm.

Chiffon Pumpkin Pie
Elise Bauer

Gingersnap Crust and Rum-Spiked Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

This Pumpkin Chiffon Pie recipe is adapted from one my friend Heidi pulled from the Boston Globe many years ago. The original recipe called for including a half cup of rum! Needless to say, that made a pie a bit too boozy to be family-friendly.

For this recipe, I'm using only two tablespoons of rum, for flavor, which you could certainly omit if you wanted to.

The pie has a gingersnap crust and a classic pumpkin pie custard filling with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger spices, that has been lightened up with egg whites that have been whipped to stiff peaks. It's topped with whipped cream and crushed gingersnaps.

As they say in New England, it's wicked good!

Pumpkin Chiffon Pie with whipped cream
Elise Bauer

More Delicious Pumpkin Dessert Recipes

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Making Pumpkin Chiffon Pie in Advance

You can make this pie up to 3 days in advance, keeping it chilled in the refrigerator, or several days more if you freeze it. With the freezing option, it's best to do so without the whipped cream topping, adding it once you're ready to serve the pie. You can also prepare the whipped cream a day or two ahead of time, keeping it in a covered bowl in the refrigerator.

Pumpkin Chiffon Pie vs. Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin chiffon pie distinguishes itself from the traditional pumpkin pie that's more commonly found on the Thanksgiving menu in two key ways. For starters, there's the difference in texture: pumpkin chiffon pie, with beaten egg whites that are folded into the custard, is light and airy while pumpkin pie tends to be denser and creamier. Secondly, pumpkin chiffon pie is chilled to set, while pumpkin pie is baked.

Tips for a Perfect Crust

To make a gingersnap crust that offers a nice, crunchy base without becoming overly hard it's important to 1) grind the gingersnap crumbs very finely, 2) press the crust into the pie plate evenly but not overly compacted, and 3) avoid overbaking the crust.

Make Your Own Pumpkin Puree

If you want to make pumpkin purée from scratch, instead of using a can, cut a sugar pumpkin in half, scoop out the seeds, lie face down on a tin-foil-lined baking pan. Bake at 350°F until soft, about 45 min to an hour. Cool, scoop out the flesh, and run through a food processor or blender to purée. Freeze whatever you don't use for future use.

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

Prep Time 25 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Chill Time 3 hrs
Total Time 3 hrs 55 mins
Servings 8
Yield 1 pie

This recipe requires using beaten raw egg whites. Many people avoid eating raw eggs, especially those who are very young, old, or have compromised immune systems. If eating raw eggs gives you pause, use pasteurized egg whites.

Use a food processor to finely grind the gingersnap cookies, or put in a large freezer bag and roll over several times with a rolling pin.

You'll need a 9-inch deep-dish (about 1 3/4 inch high) pie plate for this pie. A 10-inch pie dish may also work.

Recipe adapted from the Boston Globe, which got it originally from the granddaughter of Sarah Mazick of Newton, Mass.

Ingredients

Crust:

  • 2 cups finely ground gingersnap cookie crumbs (from about 10 ounces of gingersnaps)

  • 1/3 cup sugar

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Filling:

  • 1 (.25-ounce) envelope gelatin (2 1/2 teaspoons)

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1/2 cup milk

  • 3 large eggs, separated (or 3 egg yolks and enough egg white substitute for 3 egg whites)

  • 2 tablespoons rum (note original recipe called for 1/2 cup of rum, but I and several others think it's a bit much)

  • 1/4 cup sugar

  • 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree (1 3/4 cups)

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream, softly whipped (for topping)

  • Extra crushed gingersnaps, for garnish

Method

  1. Pre-bake the crust:

    Set the oven at 325°F. Have on hand a 9-inch deep-dish pie pan. Butter it lightly.

    In a bowl, combine the crushed gingersnaps, sugar, and butter. Press the mixture into the pie plate with the back of a spoon or metal measuring cup, making the top edge even all around.

    pumpkin pie crust dry ingredients
    Elise Bauer
    making pie crust for pumpkin chiffon pie
    Elise Bauer

    Bake the crust for 10 minutes at 325°F. Remove from oven and let cool.

  2. Make the custard base:

    In a heavy-based saucepan, combine the gelatin, brown sugar, salt, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, milk, and egg yolks. Stir thoroughly.

    Set the pan over medium heat and cook gently, stirring constantly, until the mixture just begins to thicken, then immediately remove it from the heat.

    making custard for pumpkin chiffon pie
    Elise Bauer

    Do not let it boil! If the mixture comes close to boiling the egg yolks will curdle. (If this happens strain the mixture through a sieve or purée in a blender.)

    Remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool.

  3. Add pumpkin purée and rum, then refrigerate:

    Add the pumpkin purée and the rum. Refrigerate the mixture, stirring occasionally, until it thickens enough to form mounds.

    adding pumpkin puree to mix
    Elise Bauer
    mixed and refrigerated pumpkin chiffon pie batter
    Elise Bauer
  4. Beat egg whites and fold into filling mixture:

    In an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and granulated sugar until they form stiff peaks. Stir a few spoonfuls of the egg whites into the pumpkin mixture, then fold in the remaining whites.

    folding egg whites in pumpkin chiffon pie mixture
    Elise Bauer
    pumpkin chiffon pie mixed and ready
    Elise Bauer

    (If you are concerned about eating raw egg whites, use pasteurized egg whites, an egg white substitute, or dried egg whites, that you can find in the grocery store.)

  5. Pour the filling into the cooled crust. Refrigerate for several hours:

    Refrigerate the pie for several hours for the gelatin to set.

    poured pumpkin chiffon pie mix into cooled crust
    Elise Bauer
  6. Top with whipped cream and gingersnap crumbs:

    Just before serving, spoon the whipped cream onto the filling and sprinkle with crushed gingersnaps. Cut the pie into wedges to serve.

    chiffon pumpkin pie in homemade crust with whipped cream
    Elise Bauer
Pumpkin Chiffon Pie served with whipped cream
Elise Bauer
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1129 Calories
58g Fat
143g Carbs
13g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 1129
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 58g 75%
Saturated Fat 23g 117%
Cholesterol 111mg 37%
Sodium 713mg 31%
Total Carbohydrate 143g 52%
Dietary Fiber 5g 18%
Total Sugars 84g
Protein 13g
Vitamin C 2mg 12%
Calcium 104mg 8%
Iron 11mg 60%
Potassium 486mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.