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National Pumpkin Pie Day

Food · December 25

A day for pumpkin pie, the spiced custard pie with a soft orange filling and a flaky crust, often served with whipped cream.

National Pumpkin Pie Day falls on Friday, December 25, 2026. That is 59 days away.

Pumpkin pie is a custard pie. Cooked pumpkin is mashed smooth, then mixed with eggs, milk or cream, sugar and warm spices, poured into a pastry crust and baked until it just sets.

The spices do most of the talking. Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves are the usual group, and many kitchens keep a premixed jar labeled for exactly this job. The result is mild and sweet, with a filling that should hold a clean edge when sliced and still feel soft on the fork.

Most home bakers start with canned pumpkin puree, which is reliable and saves an afternoon of roasting and straining. Some people roast their own pie pumpkins instead, which are smaller and sweeter than the big carving kind. Others swap in sweetened condensed milk for the cream, or press a graham cracker crust into the pan in place of pastry.

The classic topping is a spoonful of whipped cream. A slice also turns up next to coffee at breakfast, which is more defensible than it sounds, since it is mostly eggs and squash.

A common trouble spot is the crack that opens across the top. It usually means the pie stayed in the oven a little too long. Bakers often pull it out while the center still wobbles slightly, because it keeps firming as it cools on the counter.

Ways to celebrate

• Bake a pumpkin pie from canned puree and a store-bought crust.
• Try whipping your own cream with a little sugar and vanilla.
• Share slices with neighbors or coworkers.
• Compare a pastry crust and a graham cracker crust side by side.
• Look up a family pumpkin pie recipe and ask who wrote it.

Dates

All national days on December 25

Also on December 25

• Christmas Day
• No "L" Day

Categories: Food days