Crustless Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe (The Best) (2024)

For affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Crustless Pumpkin Pie. Crustless Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie. If you’re gluten free, those last four words have a much bigger impact than the first three words, right?

Today, October 12, is National Pumpkin Pie Day so I thought it was time to remind you about this pumpkin pie that has made so very many gfe readers happy!

Now, let me tell you about this phenomenal Crustless Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie that has pretty much changed my life with all kinds of pie! To be specific, let me tell you about the concept of crustless pies for gluten-free baking and how I learned about them.

Sue is an active and enthusiastic member of a neighboring support group. She loves to bake. Several years ago, my good friend and former co-leader of my support group, Donna, had just been introduced to Sue. She couldn’t say enough nice things about her.

Donna, in turn, connected the two of us.Sue and Ihad a nice long chat on the phone. That wasn’t hard to do since we both live tobake.

We talked flour mixes. We talked cookies and cakes.

Then Sue said, “You know about the trick of adding ¼ cup of flour to a pie to make it crustless, don’t you?” What??!!

“No,” I answered. “Tell me more.” She laughed and said, “That’s all there is to it!”

She went on to tell me that if you add ¼ cup of gluten-free flour to most pie recipes, like pumpkin, coconut, and such, you end up with a wonderful, crustless pie. I immediately pulled out my pie plate and ingredients for pumpkin pie, a family favorite.

I added ¼ cup of gluten-free flour to my classic pumpkin pie recipe sans crust, loved the results, and I’ve never looked back. I don’t think you will either.

Oh, and, you’ve probably already said to yourself … that’s gluten free easilygfe!

Crustless Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe (The Best) (2)

I make this pumpkin pie for holiday gatherings, support group meetings, work functions, girlfriend dinners … you name it! Nobody even notices this pie has no crust. When I purposely ask individuals—after they’ve eaten their slice of pie—if they noticed that there was no crust, they are surprised and honestly say they did not.

This recipe is perfect for Mr. GFE and Son because they always left their crust on the plate anyway. They simply never liked crusts. So, no more sad, empty crusts left behind in my house.

It’s all about the pumpkin custard flavor in this one, baby. You don’t even taste the small amount of flour added; it just holds the custard together nicely.

In fact, many individuals who have never liked pumpkin pie before love this one. They say that small amount of gluten-free flour mix added to the filling results in pie that’s less “wet”—for lack of a better term—and delightfully custardy.

So you just want to share this pumpkin pie with everyone in your family, not just those who are gluten free.

Enjoy!

Crustless Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe (The Best) (3)

Crustless Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe (The Best) (4)

Crustless Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe (The Best) (5)

Crustless Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe (The Best) (6)

Crustless Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe (The Best) (7)

Crustless Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe (The Best) (8)

Crustless Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe (The Best) (9)

More Gluten-Free Pumpkin Recipes

Crustless Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe (The Best) (10)

Looking for other ways to use pumpkin?Fantastic recipes abound.Check out the following:

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Recipes on gfe

~Best Pumpkin Pie Ever (Crustless, Gluten Free, and Dairy Free)

~Classic Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread

~Pumpkin Pie Smoothie with Honey Cinnamon Whipped Cream

See all the pumpkin recipes on gfe here.

A Few More Gluten-Free Pumpkin Recipes from Friends

~Pumpkin Cheesecake (with a luscious topping)

~ Pumpkin Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake Bars(via the Wayback Machine)

~Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Crustless Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Yield: 8 servings

Crustless Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie

Crustless Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe (The Best) (11)

This Crustless Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie is life changing! It makes pumpkin pie making so easy and delicious. Nobody ever notices that there's no crust with this pie; it's just not needed.

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time1 hour

Total Time1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs
  • one can/box (15 - 16 ounces) pumpkin puree or 2 cups cooked fresh pumpkin puree (I used fresh pumpkin puree, hence, the lighter color)
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar (see notes)
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ½ tsp ground allspice
  • 1/8 tsp ground cloves
  • one 12-ounce can evaporated milk (one regular-sized can, not low-fat or fat free)
  • ¼ cup gluten-free flour (your choice—your favorite single flour or favorite mix; coconut flour can be used to make this pie grain free; sift flour)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Grease pie plate and set aside. In large mixing bowl, beat eggs slightly; mix in remaining ingredients using mixer on medium speed.
  2. Place pie plate on oven rack; pour in filling. (I never do this, but it makes sense. Personally, I’m in the "hum" or "count as you carry the pie to the oven" school of thinking to ensure the pie plate contents do not spill. Hey, it works for me!)
  3. Sprinkle pie filling with cinnamon. Bake 15 minutes.
  4. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Bake until knife or toothpick comes out clean, about 45 minutes longer. (Pies made with fresh pumpkin may take slightly longer to bake due to higher moisture content.)

Notes

Adapted from Betty Crocker with thanks to Sue!

Note that this particular crustless method will not work for pies that contain heavier ingredients, like fruit. However, be sure to check out my recipe for Crustless Apple Pie.

If you need a gluten-free, dairy-free pumpkin pie, here's your recipe. (This latter recipe is so good that you don't need to make two versions, one for gluten-free folks, and one for gluten-free and dairy-free folks. It will be enjoyed by all.) If you're grain free and use sifted gluten-free coconut flour, the coconut flour will absorb some of the filling, so less baking time will be required. Check at about 30 to 35 minutes.

One reader substitutes 1/2 cup honey for the granulated sugar. She says the results are perfect!

If you'd prefer using pumpkin pie spice instead of these individual spices, just substitute 2 3/4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice.

Using fresh pumpkin puree not only gives the pie a lighter color, it also gives the pie a lighter taste in my opinion.

One reader uses the blender to mix the ingredients. He likes to use 1/3 cup gluten-free flour mix (vs 1/4 cup) for a slightly thicker texture.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Originally published October 26, 2009; updated October 11, 2023.

Crustless Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe (The Best) (2024)

FAQs

What is better for pumpkin pie sweetened condensed milk or evaporated milk? ›

Sweetened condensed milk is thicker and contains added sugar, so you won't have to add extra sugar and the filling will be very rich. Evaporated milk is unsweetened and has a thinner consistency. This means that you will have to add some extra sugar and that your pie will have a lighter, airier filling.

What makes pumpkin pie filling pull away from the crust? ›

A pumpkin pie that bakes in the wrong oven rack position—in this case, too close to the oven's top heating element—can result in its filling developing a skin that cracks as it bakes. It also causes the filling to settle while cooling, making it pull away from the crust.

What happens if you put too much evaporated milk in pumpkin pie? ›

Pies with too much evaporated milk formed blisters on top.

Though the interior of the filling had a great, creamy texture. The flavor was ever-so-slightly muted and had a hint of milkiness to it.

Is pumpkin pie anti inflammatory? ›

As for pumpkin pie, here we start with a vegetable. The pumpkin is loaded with fiber—7 g in 1 cup, per the USDA. And like all orange foods, pumpkins are packed with carotenoids, which can help tackle free radicals and decrease inflammation.

What happens if I use condensed milk instead of evaporated milk? ›

These items are essentially the same with one big difference: no sugar is added to evaporated milk. Sweetened condensed milk also has 60% of the water removed, but contains 40% sugar. Due to the big flavor difference, they cannot be substituted for each other.

What is a substitute for evaporated milk in pumpkin pie? ›

While many recipes call for it, you can absolutely make an outstanding pumpkin pie without evaporated milk. If your recipe calls for one can of evaporated milk (as most do), you can substitute 1 ½ cups of cream or half and half, or a combination of the two. You can also use milk (any kind from whole to skim).

How do you keep the bottom crust of pumpkin pie from getting soggy? ›

Often, blind-baking solves this problem. If you're making a single crust custard-filled pie, like a pumpkin pie, bake the pie dough first before adding filling to allow some of the moisture in the crust to evaporate. You can also totally blind-bake fruit pies.

Why should you cut slits in the pie crust? ›

With docking, the holes allow steam to escape, so the crust should stay flat against the baking dish when it isn't held down by pie weights or a filling. Otherwise the crust can puff up, not only impacting appearance but also leaving you with less space for whatever filling you have planned.

When should you not use evaporated milk? ›

Unopened cans of evaporated milk can keep for more than a year. But if you open a can and it's dark yellow or brown (a light brown color is normal), smells bad or appears curdled, don't use it.

Should you prebake pie crust for pumpkin pie? ›

No, if the pie is a baked pie. Pumpkin custard (the filling) takes a long time to bake, your pre-baked crust would be burned and not tasty. However if the pumpkin filling is more like pudding or a mousse with whipped cream and no raw eggs and after whipping the pie is refrigerated then yes, prebake the crust.

Why use evaporated milk in pumpkin pie? ›

Evaporated milk: A can of evaporated milk lends richness and helps thicken the pie filling.

What organ is pumpkin good for? ›

Pumpkin is recommended as part of a heart-healthy diet that may help lower your risk of heart disease. It offers a long list of nutrients that protect and support the heart, such as vitamins A, B1, B6, and C, copper, fiber, folate, and manganese.

Is pumpkin pie good for your bowels? ›

Pumpkin is rich in fiber and contains prebiotics, which can help improve digestive system health and bowel movement. It may help relieve constipation and diarrhea in some people. However, if constipation or diarrhea persists, a person should consult a doctor.

What does pumpkin do to your gut? ›

Improves digestive health: Pumpkins are high in fiber, which keeps your bowel movements regular, promotes healthy weight management, and can help lower your cholesterol.

Should I use evaporated milk or condensed milk? ›

As Leal explains: "Evaporated milk offers creaminess without sweetness and is suitable for savory dishes and some desserts. On the other hand, sweetened condensed milk is intensely sweet and used in desserts and sweet treats, thanks to its thick, syrupy texture."

Is condensed milk better than evaporated milk? ›

Evaporated milk and condensed milk are both shelf-stable canned milks that are easily found at most grocery stores. The main difference is that condensed milk is very sweet, and evaporated milk is unsweetened.

Can I use condensed milk in pumpkin pie instead of evaporated milk? ›

No. Pies that use evaporated milk also add sugar in some form to the recipe and using sweetened condensed milk instead of evaporated will make the pie overly sweet. This recipe used both.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rueben Jacobs

Last Updated:

Views: 6398

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (57 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rueben Jacobs

Birthday: 1999-03-14

Address: 951 Caterina Walk, Schambergerside, CA 67667-0896

Phone: +6881806848632

Job: Internal Education Planner

Hobby: Candle making, Cabaret, Poi, Gambling, Rock climbing, Wood carving, Computer programming

Introduction: My name is Rueben Jacobs, I am a cooperative, beautiful, kind, comfortable, glamorous, open, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.