5-spice Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Prep oven and crust

Position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 425°F (220°C). Fit the prepared 9-inch pie crust into a 9-inch pie dish, crimping the edges as desired. Chill the crust in the refrigerator while you make the filling to help prevent shrinking.

Mix dry spices and sugars

In a medium bowl, whisk together granulated sugar, light brown sugar, sea salt, Chinese five-spice powder, ground cinnamon, and ground ginger until evenly combined.

Combine pumpkin and eggs

In a large mixing bowl, add the pumpkin puree and whisk until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking thoroughly after each addition so the mixture is even and slightly aerated.

Finish filling

Stir the dry sugar-spice mixture into the pumpkin-egg mixture. Add the vanilla extract, then gradually whisk in the evaporated milk and heavy cream until the filling is fully combined and smooth. Pass the filling through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl if you prefer an extra-smooth custard.

Fill and bake

Remove the chilled crust from the refrigerator and gently pour the filling into the crust, smoothing the top. Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 15 minutes to set the edges, then reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and continue baking for 35–45 minutes, or until the center is mostly set but still has a slight jiggle (a knife inserted near the center should come out clean with just a few moist crumbs).

Cool

Remove the pie from the oven and place it on a wire rack. Let it cool at room temperature for 2 hours to finish setting, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours (or overnight) before serving to achieve a clean slice.

Scoop vanilla ice cream into 4 serving bowls or plates (one generous scoop per person plus an extra for sharing). If using, sprinkle toasted chopped pecans over each scoop and drizzle with a teaspoon of maple syrup or caramel.

Serve each slice of chilled 5-Spice Pumpkin Pie with a scoop (or more) of vanilla ice cream on the side. The contrast of warm-spiced pumpkin and cold vanilla is classic — allow guests to add the ice cream on top if they prefer.