This secretly vegan healthy pumpkin pie recipe is truly my favorite. With a flaky vegan crust and creamy and rich filling, this easy and healthy twist on a traditional pumpkin pie is full of pumpkin spice and the perfect pie recipe for your Thanksgiving table!
My all time favorite pumpkin pie recipe
My excitement for Thanksgiving and all things fall is too real right now. In fact, I had to hold back from sharing this vegan and Paleo pumpkin pie recipe way back in August in order for it to be the grand finale of Pie Week 2019!
I’m not even joking, this healthy pumpkin pie will be the best dang pumpkin pie you’ll ever taste. And it’s easy! Yes, easy! You can have it all!
Lightly sweetened with maple syrup and full of those warming pumpkin spices, this pumpkin pie is smooth to slice into, holds its shape, and with a beautifully delicious and flaky homemade pie crust, it will be the showstopper at your Thanksgiving table!
Every year at Thanksgiving, someone always brings a store bought pumpkin pie even though I make a large one for everyone, and every year, my pumpkin pie is the only one completely gone!
If that doesn’t tell you that this is the best pumpkin pie recipe, then I don’t know what will!
Why this is the best healthy pumpkin pie
This pumpkin pie doesn’t taste healthy in the slightest, and yet it’s low in sugar, completely vegan, egg free, gluten free, dairy free, can be made Paleo, andddd packed with nutrient dense pumpkin puree.
You can’t even tell that it’s vegan nor even by looking at it (I feel like people think healthier desserts don’t look as good as the more traditional ones).
While I try to hit all of these various health markers so that everyone can have them, I always strive to have the dessert taste just like or better than the original or traditional version. This vegan pumpkin pie does just that.
Not that there’s anything wrong with a traditional pumpkin pie. But I believe that everyone deserves to enjoy something they love on Thanksgiving, and food is love and love is inclusive!
Every single person who tried this pie, even one of my mom’s friends who I didn’t even tell that I made the pie, was speechless and kept going back for another slice.
What is a substitute for eggs in pumpkin pie?
So this pumpkin pie that we’re making is actually naturally vegan and dairy free, but the kicker is that we’re using arrowroot to replace the eggs!
Arrowroot powder is a fantastic binding agent that is derived from the cassava root.
It’s very similar to cornstarch, so if you’d like to replace the arrowroot with cornstarch, you absolutely can, but for those that want to keep this pumpkin pie both Paleo and vegan, arrowroot powder is the move.
How to make a healthy pumpkin pie
I know many people resort to buying their pumpkin pie because let’s be honest, you just cooked all that food, the last thing you want to think about is making a dessert for Thanksgiving.
Well, this happens to be an incredibly easy pumpkin pie, sooooo I triple dog dare you to try it!
How to make a vegan pumpkin pie crust
First, we’ll start by preparing the vegan pie crust.
You don’t have to make your pumpkin pie crust Paleo, but I give you option to just in case someone is both grain free and gluten free, aside from just dairy free, egg free, and vegan.
Basically, the only thing that differs between making my regular vegan pie crust and making my Paleo pie crust is the flour: swap out all-purpose flour for cassava flour.
I have all of the details on how to customize this pie crust all in my Perfect Pie Crust Guide.
The full steps to making this crust are found below in the recipe card, but these are basics steps to making the flakiest vegan pie crust:
- Pulse the flour, baking soda, and coconut sugar in a food processor until mixed.
- Add in the cubed vegan butter or coconut oil, and pulse again until it’s a grainy sand texture.
- While the food processor is blending, add in 5-7 tbsp of chilled water and continue to process the dough until it becomes a thick, smooth clump of dough.
Then you’ll form the dough into a disk and chill, much like you would a regular pie crust. Roll the pie crust out to be larger than the pie dish you’re using (I used a 9″ pie dish).
Carefully transfer the pie crust into the pie dish and gently press the dough into the dish. You can do any design for the edges. I chose to simply mold them to the dish since I liked the pie dish ruffles!
Use any scraps of dough and create little pie crust designs. I used the pie cutters from William Sonoma for the pumpkin and leaves.
Blind bake the crust for 7-8 minutes (this will ensure we don’t have any soggy crusts!). Then we can make the filling while the crust is cooling!
The creamy vegan pumpkin pie filling
Now that you know the trick behind making pumpkin pie filling vegan, let’s actually get to making the filling.
All you’ll need is:
- Pumpkin puree (see the next section for using fresh versus canned)
- Maple syrup
- Coconut sugar (a replacement for brown sugar)
- Pumpkin pie spice
- Coconut milk or dairy free milk of your choice
- Arrowroot powder
- Vanilla (a must!)
Basically what you need to do is whip together all of the ingredients in a large bowl using a hand mixer. Then pour the filling into your homemade pie crust, and bake!
How to keep pumpkin pie from cracking
This healthy pumpkin pie recipe is almost fool proof to ensuring that your pumpkin pie won’t have any cracks in it.
Really, whether or not a pumpkin pie cracks is highly dependent on the recipe, and I’ve tested this one dozens of times, in a variety of ways to determine what’s the best way to avoid cracks.
However, there are a few tips that I want to go over to ensure that your pumpkin pie doesn’t crack.
- Bake at the correct temperature: do not stick your pie into the oven until it is fully preheated. I would actually recommend waiting an extra 5 minutes after the initial “ding” that it’s preheated to ensure that it’s at the right temperature.
- Bake the pumpkin pie on the middle or low rack. I personally have had great success baking on the middle rack, so that I can put a baking sheet below in case of any accidents of pie crust. However, if you know that your oven is more powerful than most, I would stick the pumpkin pie on the lower rack to be safe.
- Look for the middle being “set”: what this means is that the pumpkin pie won’t be as glossy as it was when it first went in. The edges to the very middle should be mostly baked in place, but it will wiggle a bit when you remove it. It will also look darker at first. You didn’t burn it! This pumpkin pie recipe will need at least 4 hours (preferably overnight) to chill in the fridge after it has baked.
Pumpkin Pie Tips & Tricks:
- Make sure you’re using pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling! I say this because I’ve been there, and I’ve seen other people go there! Always better to be safe than sorry!
- Any dairy free milk will work. I recommend coconut milk because I like to keep my Paleo and vegan recipes as nut free as possible, but go for whatever you prefer!
- Can I use fresh pumpkin puree? I personally would choose canned pumpkin here, which I know sounds sort of weird, since I’m all about fresh foods. But trust me, the taste is better! There’s a lot more variance in fresh pumpkin puree, so the same results aren’t guaranteed.
- This vegan pumpkin pie needs to set in the fridge overnight! When you first bake it, it will appear very dark and might not have that glossy look to it, like you normally see with pumpkin pies. This is normal and don’t fret! When you let it set in the fridge overnight, it develops the glossy look.
- Top with coconut whipped cream or ice cream! Not really a trick, but definitely an eating tip! 🙂
I hope you love this healthy pumpkin pie as much as I do! It’s truly my favorite pumpkin pie out there and I just know it will be a hit at your Thanksgiving 🙂
If you make this pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, let me know in the comments below! As always, I absolutely love to see your beautiful creations, so be sure to tag me on Instagram and Pinterest 🙂
Happy Pumpkin Pie Eating!
More Healthy Thanksgiving Desserts:
Paleo Vegan Chocolate Cream Pie
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This secretly vegan healthy pumpkin pie recipe is truly my favorite. With a flaky vegan crust and creamy and rich filling, this healthy twist on a traditional pumpkin pie is full of pumpkin spice and the perfect pie vegan recipe for your Thanksgiving table!
Ingredients
Pumpkin Pie Crust (see pie crust guide for a customizable pie crust)
- 1 1/2 cups cassava flour, all-purpose flour, or gluten free 1-to-1 baking flour
- 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp vegan butter or coconut oil, cubed
- 2 tbsp arrowroot powder
- 1/8 cup coconut sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 5–7 tbsp chilled water
Pumpkin Pie Filling:
- 1 1/2 (15 oz) cans pumpkin puree (22.5 oz total- not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 1/4 cup arrowroot powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
Instructions
Pumpkin Pie Crust:
- In a food processor, pulse together the flour, arrowroot powder, coconut sugar, and baking soda.
- Add the coconut oil/vegan butter into the food processor and pulse until it becomes a grainy sand texture..
- Add in the chilled water, and continue processing until it’s a thick and smooth dough.
- Form the dough into a large disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill it in the fridge for 1 hour.
- When it’s ready to be rolled into a 9-10″ pie dish, let the dough sit on the table for 15 minutes to come to room temperature, then dust a clean surface with extra flour and roll the dough out to be 12″ in diameter.
- Carefully transfer the dough into the pie dish and lightly press the dough to meet the bottom edges of the dish. Use your fingers to gently crimp the edges of the pie crust. Any leftover dough can be used to make pie cut-outs. Place the pie dish back into the fridge to chill for 15 minutes while the oven preheats to 375F. Place the pie cut-outs onto a piece of parchment paper and into the fridge to chill. You’ll bake the pie cut-outs with the pumpkin pie (but towards the end).
- Once the oven is preheated, remove the pie crust from the fridge and place a piece of parchment paper into the middle of the crust, along with pie weights or dried rice.
- Bake the crust for 7-8 minutes then remove from the oven and lower the temperature to 350F.
- Let the crust cool while you prepare the filling.
Pumpkin Pie Filling:
- In a large bowl, beat together pumpkin puree, maple syrup, coconut sugar, coconut milk, arrowroot powder, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice until smooth and there are no clumps of arrowroot.
- Pour filling into the pie crust and cover the edges of the pie crust with either a pie crust saver or tin foil. If you have cut outs, place the parchment paper with the cut outs on a baking sheet and not onto the pie to decorate it just yet. Bake the cutouts only for 7-8 minutes then remove from the oven. I recommend baking them towards the end of the pumpkin pie baking time.
- Place the pie into the oven and bake for 40 minutes. Remove the tinfoil, and continue to bake for another 20 more minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow the pie to cool for 15 minutes at room temperature. Then transfer the pie set overnight or for a minimum of 4 hours.
- When ready to serve, decorate with the pumpkin pie cut outs and serve. Enjoy!
Keywords: vegan pumpkin pie, healthy pumpkin pie, healthy pumpkin pie recipe, vegan pie crust, vegan pumpkin pie recipe
The filling looks yummy but i have to admit I am not a big fan of the typical regular pie crust. Do you think I could you a gingersnap crust instead? Or it be too moist for that?
Thanks.
Aw thank you so much!! And absolutely, that sounds like it would be LOVELY!
This is the BEST pumpkin pie I’ve ever had! HANDS DOWN! I could seriously eat this all year round 🙂
★★★★★
Aw this makes me so happy to hear it!! Enjoy!!
This pumpkin pie looks to die for! Pumpkin pie is one of my favorites and I will make one next week for sure. 🙂
★★★★★
Aw thank you, sweet Ela!! You’re always so kind!! Enjoy!
The recipe looks great!
is the coconut milk the milk from a can or is it regular milk that can be subbed for any type of milk?
Hi Chloe!
Aw thank you so much!! And you can use regular coconut milk (or any type of milk!), but I will say slightly higher in fat tastes best! Enjoy!
This pie looks divine 🙂 and your pie crust cutouts are adorable! For the pumpkin puree, the recipe says 1 1/2 cans. What size/amount are the cans you use?
Aw I’m so happy to hear it, thank you!! For the cans, you’ll need two 15-ounce cans! But you’ll only use 1.5 of the cans! You can save extra pumpkin puree for another treat 🙂
Yum! Would the filling still work nicely if I wanted to use an egg instead of the arrowroot? do you think 1 egg would suffice?
Hi Lauren! So I actually haven’t tried this with an egg- I know it might make the filling bake a bit differently (i.e. I’m not sure if it will crack!). I would try using just 1 but again I can’t promise results!
Hi Britt –
This pie sounds wonderful. I’m excited to try it. One question: I am actually wanting to make a crustless pumpkin pie. Do you think this pie filling will set up without the crust part?
Thanks,
Kim
Hi Kim! So excited for you to try this!! I’ve actually never tried this as a crustless pumpkin pie- I would imagine it would work, as many pumpkin pies can actually be made as crustless pumpkin pies, but I can’t guarantee the results, as I have not tried this myself!
Can you substitute almond milk for the coconut milk?
Hi Christine! Yes you can use almond milk!
Hi, can I substitute the arrowroot flour for cornstarch or something else.
Hi Anthony! You can substitute cornstarch no problem here.
Thanks very much for your response
Is the ratio the same when using cornstarch instead of arrowroot? Thank you!
Hi Caitlin! Yes it is 🙂
I don’t like coconut sugar, would you suggest real sugar? Would the ratio be different?
Hi there! You can use regular granulated sugar, no problem here! Ratio is the same!
Hi, so excited to make this! The recipe says to cool for 15 minutes then to “transfer pie set overnight” not sure what that means?! Transfer to refrigerator? Sorry to ask, I’ve never made one ☺️ Thanks!
Hi Celeste!! Oh so sorry, not a problem!! Yes, it means transfer to the fridge 🙂 I’ll make that more clear! Enjoy!!
When making the crust, what would you recommend to use if you don’t have a food processor? I have a ninja blender, but didn’t know if that would work or not.
Hi Rachel!
You’ll first whisk together the dry ingredients in a bowl. Then you can “cut” the coconut oil/vegan butter into the flour, much like Spruce Eats describes here: https://www.thespruceeats.com/how-to-cut-butter-into-flour-995216
You’ll want to look for a grain-y sandy texture. Then add in 1 tbsp water at a time as you’re mixing it until it forms a thick dough!
Could I use tapioca starch instead of arrowroot?
Hi Nikki! Yes, tapioca will work!
Hi! Could I use Almond flour or coconut flour instead of cassava flour?! Thank you 🤍
Hi Wendy!
For this recipe, I haven’t tested it with coconut flour nor almond flour- I know that many people combine the two, but I just haven’t tested this! I would recommend cassava, GF 1:1 flour, regular flour, or you can use an oat crust from this vegan cheesecake (just double the recipe!): https://thebananadiaries.com/the-best-cannoli-cheesecake-vegan-gluten-free/
I hope that helps!
I made this for Thanksgiving as a replacement to the classic Libby’s recipe and it was amazing! The color is obviously different than Libby’s but in a more rustic way and the flavor is identical. My family loved it! I bought too little of arrowroot so ended up using cornstarch in the filling with no issues. Recipe otherwise was followed to a T. Love!!
★★★★★
Aw my goodness! So wonderful to hear! Thank you so much for giving it a go, and happy Thanksgiving!
Amazing!!! I’m allergic to eggs and I’ve tried a few pumpkin pie recipes over the years and have always been disappointed. But this was amazing!!! I used tapioca starch because it’s what I had, and I used a different crust but the filling (which is the important part) was absolutely delicious!!! My kids all said it was better than their traditional pumpkin pie. Thanks for a great recipe!!
★★★★★
Oh my goodness!! So so wonderful to hear!! Truly thank you so much, and so elated that your kids loved it as well!! Enjoy!
It calls for 2 cans of pumpkin but what size cans? I have 2 different sizes. Thanks.
Hi Shannon! Apologies for that! it’s a 15 ounce can, so 22.5 ounce total!
This pie was PERFECTION. as someone else said, the crust is amazing!! It was like a cookie crust. Anyways, the spices in the pie were just enough and not too overwhelming. Definitely making again!!
★★★★★
Aw you are just so sweet! So happy to hear it 🙂 Enjoy and thank you!
My rating is for the pie crust. I used your recipe for a pumpkin pie at “Friendsgiving”. The crust was incredibly simple — a key for me, someone who had never made her own pie crust before — and the perfect companion with the pumpkin filling. I used cornstarch instead of arrowroot powder. This is the pie crust recipe I will be making again!!
★★★★★
Oh my goodness!! Just the sweetest!! So happy to hear that and so glad it went so well with your friends!! Happy holidays!
I made this for thanksgiving and everyone loved it. I used eggs instead of arrowroot, however. Great recipe 🙂
★★★★★
Aw I’m SO happy to hear it!! Thank you so much for letting us know the swaps too- so helpful for other readers! Enjoy!!