Making a pumpkin pie from scratch and need help?

Question

My recipe says to use "canned pumpkin" and everytime I go to the store all I see is "pumpkin pie filling" and I'm making it from scratch.

I was wondering where I would get this "canned pumpkin"?And I'm asking to double check that "pumpkin pie filling" is not the same as "canned pumpkin"?

Thank you for the help

Answer 1

They are not entirely the same - pumpkin pie filling is thinner and preseasoned (there is a recipe on the label to make a pie from it) Canned pumpkin is in the same area and should be available at most grocery stores it is just packed pumpkin - that's it. You can get a medium size fresh pumpkin, cut it in half, remove the seeds, rinse and bake open side down on cookie sheets for 45minutes at 350 then let cool and scrap the cooked pumpkin from the skin, measure what you need - freeze the rest or make pumpkin soup- and there you will have the same product as is in the can with no preservatives. Good Luck!

Answer 2

I've done all three. Didn't care for the pumpkin pie filling in the can - the seasonings were off for my taste. I prefer the canned pumpkin. But I've taken the Halloween pumpkin and baked that to use for my pies. A lot of work and came out pretty much like the canned pumpkin since the seasonings were the same. I froze the baked pumpkin in portions so I could make breads, etc. with it later but that's the only difference. I understand the pumpkins you buy to make the Halloween decorations out of are a different kind of pumpkin than what is in the can but I didn't notice a taste difference since I controlled it with my spices. So, given a choice, you can either do from the pumpkin or canned pumpkin but leave the pumpkin pie filling one behind. Hope that helps.

Answer 3

You are correct that pumpkin pie filling and canned pumpkin are not the same. In fact, they are quite different. pie filling has been seasoned and the spices and sugar added to it along with a little extra liquid and to make a pie just add eggs to the pie filling and you're done. This product in my opinion leaves a very unsatisfactory pie.

canned pumpkin is cooked and pureed pumpkin meats pure and simple. You add you own spices and seasonings to it to flavor the pumpkin how you like it or according to your recipe. There is still water in the canned pumpkin and I like to squeeze out the extra water using a lint free linen kitchen towel and squeezing out the water for the recipe I use.

When pumpkins are in season (just about that time now) I buy my pumpkins and cook my own pumpkin in chunks then freeze it so I can use it for soups, stews, and of course pies and cheese cakes.
I hope this helps! Good Luck!!!

BTW canned pumpkin is usually found in the same section as pumpkin pie filling in your grocery store or in the canned vegetable section.

Answer 4

It is not the same thing. Pumpkin Pie filling is usually already spiced. Canned pumpkin is just pumpkin and when you use it for pie you can spice it to your taste. Canned where I shop is either in the canned fruit section or the veggie section. I can't remember cuz I buy it so seldom. Pie filling is usually where the baking stuff is where I shop. Ask where you shop and say you just want plain canned pumpkin. Not the pie filling.

Answer 5

Pumpkin Pie filling might already have spices in it. Check that it is just canned pumpkin under the ingredients.

I have bought plain canned pumpkin from nicer grocery stores. I know they sell it at Williams Sonoma but it costs a lot for a can of pumpkin.

Use the can of pumpkin pie filling...

Answer 6

Look for the canned pumpkin with the canned vegetable section, not the pie filling section. They are NOT the same, because the canned filling is ready to put in a pan and bake and you have no control over your ingredients.

Answer 7

No, dear. They are not the same thing. Pumpkin pie filing already has seasonings and spices in it; canned pumpkin is just plain cooked pumpkin. That is the one you want. You add your own spices according to your preferred recipe.

Answer 8

From my own experience, they are the same thing, no spices are added to the can. You add the eggs, sugar,spices, and canned milk. It's usually there with the apple and cherry pie filling.

Answer 9

You may find 'pumkin pie filling' with all the spices already included, or you may buy pure canned pumkin, and add the spices yourself. I always buy the 'pie filling', ultimately it tastes no different than doing it the harder way. I once tried making it from the actual pumkin scrapings - very time consuming and messy.

Answer 10

Same stuff. Try to make it from scratch entirely and you'll be forever scraping and pureeing-it's quite a chore. Use the canned filling, by all means.