There’s nothing quite like a classic pumpkin pie made completely from scratch. Forget the store-bought stuff—this homemade version has a creamy, spiced filling, a buttery crust, and that nostalgic Thanksgiving flavor we wait all year for. If you’ve ever felt nervous about making pumpkin pie from scratch, don’t worry…I’m walking you through every step so your pie bakes up smooth, creamy, and perfect every time.

Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving or just craving a cozy fall dessert, this is the only pumpkin pie recipe you’ll need.

Oh, pumpkin pie, oh pumpkin pie, thy flavor is so lovely… Who needs the Christmas tree song when we could be singing about pie?

I know we have some haters out there (haters gonna hate, hate, hate. Thank you Taylor Swift.) I can’t even understand the hate, but it’s fine. It exists. I believe that every blog should share their favorite classic recipes and this one is one of my favorites. Well this, and Mom’s Lemon Meringue Pie. 

Thanksgiving For Me Growing Up

Thanksgiving was always one of my favorite holidays growing up. We’d pack into my grandpa’s house in Le Grande, Oregon—cousins, aunts, uncles, everyone—filling every corner with folding tables and chairs. There were always more people than the house could technically hold, and more than once we kids ended up on the floor with our plates.

If we stayed home in Vancouver, Washington, the house still filled with family, plus a few people from church who didn’t have anywhere to go. Dad always made sure no one spent Thanksgiving alone. The cousins played nonstop, the adults snacked and chatted, and we’d finally sit down for “dinner” in the middle of the afternoon. After cleanup (always paper plates because… sanity), the ladies and kids did Christmas crafts, the men watched football, and then—pie time!

Honestly though, my favorite part was the next day: lazing around with movies, leftovers, and turkey sandwiches on rolls. I loved those even more than the big meal.

Thanksgiving at Our House Now

As an adult, Thanksgiving looks a little different. Where we live now, most people have deep roots and big family gatherings of their own, so it can feel a bit lonely when you’re not traveling. It’s not the bustling holiday I grew up with, but it’s taught me something important—be like Dad and always look around to see who might need a place at the table.

Our traditions have changed, but we still have pie… and honestly, pie makes everything okay.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Pie

You’ll want to start by making my favorite pie crust recipe or Mom’s failproof magic crust. Both recipes make a double crust, so you’ll only need half the dough for this pumpkin pie.

I’m a self-proclaimed pie fanatic and this easy, All Butter Pie Crust is my absolute favorite pie crust recipe! It’s super flaky, easy to make, and comes together quickly!

I’m here to teach you how to make a homemade pie crust that will be so easy, so delicious, and so flaky without any stress! Making a pie crust from scratch is one of the most intimidating recipes that a home baker will encounter. Yeast bread is almost equal, and I cannot only teach you how to make both, but I can make you an expert!

Your pie crust texture is 100% dependent on the fat that you choose to use. I’ve experimented with it all, and I’ve got a suggestion for you.

If you’re a beginner and you’ve already struggled with making a homemade pie crust recipe, let’s take a step back and make my mom’s fail-proof pie crust recipe. It is so easy and the addition of egg and vinegar along with using cold shortening makes for a really easy pie crust recipe.

However, if you’re really looking for the best pie crust recipe that’s not difficult and really brings flavor and texture, well that’s an all butter pie crust.

Ingredients in an All Butter Pie Crust

Making a flaky pie crust is one of the most basic recipes with perfectly basic ingredients:

• Flour: Forms the structure of the crust — it provides the gluten network that holds everything together while still allowing for a tender, flaky texture.
• Salt: Enhances flavor and balances the richness of the butter.
• Butter: The star of the crust! Cold butter creates steam pockets as it melts during baking, giving you that tender, flaky texture and rich buttery flavor.
• Ice Water: Brings the dough together without activating too much gluten. The cold temperature keeps the butter from melting before baking, which helps maintain flakiness.
• Sugar: I’ve found it does not sweeten the crust but does create a flakier, more golden crust.

**Keep reading to find out why I made this an all butter pie crust recipe! 

How to Pick the Best Source of Fat for Your Pie Crust

There are a few different fats that you can use for a pie crust. I’ve used lard a few times, but honestly I don’t find it to be worth it. Here’s a breakdown of each fat and why I’ve settled on butter.

Using Lard in Pie Crust

• Pros: Lard produces an extremely crisp, flaky crust. Its melting point is higher than butter, so it doesn’t soften as quickly while you handle it so you can really bust out a good crust.
• Cons: I don’t like lard because it’s too darn hard to find a good quality lard. And your pie can 100% taste like whatever lard you use. No thanks.

Using Shortening in Pie Crust

I have absolutely nothing against shortening. It’s cheaper to

My Absolute FAVORITE Pie Crust Recipe [+Video]

I’m a self-proclaimed pie fanatic and this easy, All Butter Pie Crust is my absolute favorite pie crust recipe! It’s super flaky, easy to make, and comes together quickly!

I’m here to teach you how to make a homemade pie crust that will be so easy, so delicious, and so flaky without any stress! Making a pie crust from scratch is one of the most intimidating recipes that a home baker will encounter. A yeast bread is almost equal, and I can not only teach you how to make both, but I can make you an expert!

Your pie crust texture is 100% dependent on the fat that you choose to use. I’ve experimented with it all, and I’ve got a suggestion for you.

If you’re a beginner and you’ve already struggled with making a homemade pie crust, let’s take a step back and make my mom’s fail-proof pie crust recipe. It is so easy and the addition of egg and vinegar along with using cold shortening makes for a really easy pie crust recipe.

However, if you’re really looking for the best pie crust recipe that’s not difficult and really brings flavor and texture, well that’s an all butter pie crust.

Ingredients in an All Butter Pie Crust

Making a flaky pie crust is one of the most basic recipes with perfectly basic ingredients:

• Flour
• Salt
• Butter
• Ice Water
• Sugar

You’ll notice this recipe adds a touch of sugar, which I’ve found does not sweeten the crust but does create a flakier, more golden crust.

Keep reading to find out why I made this an all butter pie crust recipe! 

How to Pick the Best Source of Fat for Your Pie Crust

There are a few different fats that you can use for a pie crust. I’ve used lard a few times, but honestly I don’t find it to be worth it. Here’s a breakdown of each fat and why I’ve settled on butter.

Using Lard in Pie Crust

• Pros: Lard produces an extremely crisp, flaky crust. Its melting point is higher than butter, so it doesn’t soften as quickly while you handle it so you can really bust out a good crust.
• Cons: I don’t like lard because it’s too darn hard to find a good quality lard. And your pie can 100% taste like whatever lard you use. No thanks.

Using Shortening in Pie Crust

I have absolutely nothing against shortening. It’s cheaper to buy than butter, so there’s that going for us. Sometimes I use both shortening and butter so that I can get in the flavor but still end up with a decorative crust.

• Pros: Shortening has a higher melting point than any other fat, so it’s easy to cut into pie dough and roll out. It’s also awesome when making any kind of decorative pie crust, because doughs made with shortening hold their shape the best during baking.
• Cons: