This Crustless Pumpkin Pie is refined sugar free and gluten free, and deliciously creamy with just the right amount of sweetness. And you wouldn’t believe how EASY it is to make! Read the post for tips that will guarantee PERFECT results every time.
This crustless pumpkin pie pudding is so satisfying and silky smooth that you won’t miss the crust at all. Plus, you can make it all in ONE bowl!
Ladies and gentlemen, this here is THE BEST Crustless Pumpkin Pie in the world! 🙂 No exaggerations really, as far as no crust pumpkin pies go, this one takes the um… pie.
Let me first say that I’ve got nothing against pie crusts. In fact, I love pie crust so much that I could eat it on its own. But let’s face it, pie crusts can be a pain in the ass to make. And if I’m making this for family on Thanksgiving day or for friends and guests, I’d rather make my life easier by not having to worry about a finicky pie crust.
So why is this the BEST crustless pumpkin pie?
- Simple ingredients.
- Super simple to make, can make it all in one bowl.
- Gluten free and refined sugar free.
- Foolproof recipe that guarantees delicious, creamy, silky smooth, absolutely perfect results, every time (no weeping or curdling).
- Flexibility to make this either as one large pie to feed a crowd. Or in smaller/individual portions as personal pumpkin pie custards (which is even faster to make).
- Don’t need to worry about pie crusts.
I’ve made this recipe a bunch of times. Made all the mistakes while trying to perfect this gluten free pumpkin pie, so that you don’t have to! 🙂 It’s sweetened with maple syrup which makes this no crust pumpkin pie even more flavorful in my opinion (and also refined sugar free). But you’re welcome to use honey or white sugar or brown sugar if you prefer.
My favorite way to serve this crustless pumpkin pie is to slice it like a pie (duh), and serve with whipped cream. You can do the same. Or let your guests scoop it like a pudding into cups. After all, this tastes and feels like a really creamy pumpkin pie pudding too.
For even better results, you can flavor your whipped cream for even more flavor. Use maple syrup, brown sugar, bourbon, vanilla, cinnamon or any other flavor you like. My husband likes it with slightly sweetened whipped cream, I prefer it with a drizzle of extra maple syrup on top.
But the best part is that this no crust pumpkin pie is healthy enough for breakfast too! Just add some granola and Greek yogurt and you have yourself a pumpkin pie parfait.
My first attempt at making this gluten free pumpkin pie was to follow the famous Libby’s no crust pumpkin pie recipe with the refined sugar as well. So I followed the pumpkin pie recipe on the Libby pumpkin can, without the crust. Unfortunately, I was so disappointed with the results, even after following the recipe precisely as stated.
Here’s the one thing you need to keep in mind when making no crust pumpkin pie. Without the crust, the pumpkin pie filling is essentially a pumpkin flavored custard. Therefore it relies on eggs to set it into a creamy, smooth filling.
The two biggest problems I had with some crustless pumpkin pie recipes including Libby’s recipe were,
- Weeping (technical term for that is syneresis)
- Curdling
When a custard is baked at a high temperature, the eggs in the custard bake too rapidly. This leads the eggs to coagulate and separate into curd and whey. That’s because the egg proteins form a very tight network (curds). This tight network causes the water to be “squeezed out” (whey), causing the baked custard to weep. This also makes the custard taste and feel like it’s curdled.
The original Libby’s famous crustless pumpkin pie recipe tests the doneness with a knife inserted into the custard. Then checking whether it comes out clean. I followed this recipe against my better judgement, hoping that the custard would somehow come out OK. But my gut feeling was correct. The problem is, your custard is already overbaked by the time you reach this level of doneness (or will be overbaked by the residual heat).
So here are my solutions to prevent weeping, curdling and overbaking of this no crust pumpkin pie
Solution #1 – Reduce the oven temperature. Baking this crustless pumpkin pie at 350°F as suggested in the original recipe will most definitely cause the eggs in the custard to cook too quickly. This will lead to a curdled texture and weeping pumpkin pie custard. I cook this crustless pumpkin pie at 300°F, so that it cooks low and slow. Allowing for more even baking, and reducing the chances of the eggs overbaking. You can lower the chances of weeping and curdling even more by baking this custard in a water bath. But it’s not necessary. Also remember to preheat oven before placing the crustless pumpkin pie inside.
Solution #2 – Adding cornstarch to the custard. The starch molecules expand as they cook with the water in the custard. Then they can act as a buffer to prevent the eggs from curdling. The result is a creamy, pudding like pumpkin pie.
Solution #3 – Don’t wait until the “inserted knife comes out clean” stage. I always remove this pumpkin pie pudding while the middle is still a bit runny or jiggly. The residual heat will continue to cook the custard to perfection.
Solution #4 – Allow the crustless pumpkin pie to cool completely after baking. It’s important to let the pumpkin pie cool completely, before covering it with plastic wrap and refrigerating it. Let the excess water evaporate while it cools down, uncovered, to prevent the water re-entering the pumpkin pie pudding.
Solution #5 – Use of a thermometer. Since every oven and baking dish can transfer heat differently, it’s hard to say exactly when the custard is done. The foolproof way to know when the custard is perfect and is ready to come out, is to use a thermometer.
Cooking this crustless pumpkin pie to an internal temperature of 165°F – 170°F ensures that you get perfect, creamy, smooth results. I prefer a good medium of 167-168°F, and NEVER over 175°F.
More tips to make a perfect gluten free crustless pumpkin pie
- Do not add the pumpkin pie spice mix into the egg mix. The eggs are gloopy and can cause the spices to clump up and not distribute evenly. So I prefer to always mix the spices with the cornstarch and maple syrup first. Make sure it’s well mixed through. Then add this to the egg mix and whisk. This way, the spices will disperse more evenly through the custard.
- By following the order of ingredients added that’s indicated in this recipe, you can make this no crust pumpkin pie pudding using only 1 bowl!
- Butter the baking dish or pie plate with a very thin coating of butter.
- Pour the custard into the dish and knock it on your kitchen counter-top a few times to knock out any excess air. Air bubbles on the surface of the custard can be removed easily. Use a blow torch to gently flame the surface of the custard.
- I prefer making this in a 9 inch glass porcelain pie plate / dish. It guarantees consistent results every time. I’ve made this in 1/2 cup ramekins and in individual pie dishes (1 cup capacity) as well (see pictures in the post).
- I usually place the pie dish/dishes on a baking tray and bake them in a preheated oven. This way it’s easier to remove the dishes from the oven and even to rotate them half way through the cooking process.
- When the baking is done, I remove the baking tray (with the pumpkin pie dish) from the oven first. Then immediately transfer the pumpkin pie dish/dishes on to a cold surface. Otherwise, the residual heat from the baking sheet/tray will cook the custard further.
- When the crustless pumpkin pie custard has been transferred to a cooler surface, let it cool completely to room temperature. This can take 15 minutes on a very cold day, or up to 1 hour on warmer days. Only then, transfer it to the fridge, wrapped in plastic wrap. Otherwise the condensation will cause the pumpkin pie to “weep”.
Can I make this with canned pumpkin pie filling?
I wouldn’t recommend it. This is made with 100% pumpkin puree, and this is different from the canned pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling is already spiced, and yet somehow less flavorful!
So stick with 100% pumpkin puree and add your own spices to get the best results.
Can I make this dairy free?
YES! I have had some readers who have made this pie dairy free. They used coconut milk instead, with great results.
I do prefer evaporated milk because it’s so creamy. But if you use a good quality coconut milk with a higher fat percentage you should be OK. Do NOT use light coconut milk though.
This refined sugar free, gluten free crustless pumpkin pie is guaranteed to be a hit at your Thanksgiving spread. And you can make it any time you want to whip up some simple, delicious pumpkin pie! It’s incredibly creamy, smooth and perfectly sweet, and just so satisfying that you won’t miss the crust at all.
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Crustless Pumpkin Pie Pudding
Ingredients:
- Butter or coconut oil to butter the pie dish/dishes
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp cloves
- ⅛ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- ¼ tsp salt kosher salt or sea salt
- 1 ½ tbsp cornstarch (cornflour)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 2 eggs
- 1 egg yolk
- 15 oz canned pumpkin puree 1 can
- 12 fl oz evaporated milk 1 can
To Serve
- Sweetened whipped cream optional
- Maple syrup optional
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 300°F and butter a glass porcelain 9 inch pie dish, OR 5 mini pie dishes (1 cup capacity), OR 9 ramekins (½ cup ramekins).
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, salt and cornstarch. Whisk this mix until there are no lumps in the cornstarch.
- Add half of the maple syrup and whisk it in until the cornstarch is completely dissolved and there are no lumps. Then add the rest of the maple syrup and the vanilla and mix well.
- Add the 2 eggs and yolk, and whisk to combine.
- Add the pumpkin puree and whisk until it's mixed in well.
- Stir in the evaporated milk. Make sure that the evaporated milk is also mixed in well.
- Pour the prepared pumpkin custard into the 9 inch pie dish. Knock the pie dish on a hard surface like your kitchen counter firmly (don't break the dish though!), a couple of times, to remove any air bubbles. See recipe notes on how to bake this crustless pumpkin pie in smaller dishes.
- Place the pie dish in the preheated oven and bake for 60 - 70 minutes, rotating the pie dish halfway through the cooking time (30 minutes).
- If you have a thermometer, check for an internal temperature of 165 - 170°F in the middle of the pie. If you don’t have a thermometer, remove the pie from the oven while the middle still seems a bit runny or jiggly, but the edges are set - this should take between 60 - 70 minutes.
- Remove the pie dish from the oven and keep it in a cool, dry place to cool down, UNCOVERED. When the pie has completely cooled to room temperature, cover the pie dish and refrigerate overnight. Keep the pumpkin pie pudding in the fridge until you're ready to serve.
- Slice the crustless pumpkin pie pudding into 8 - 10 servings, and serve with sweetened whipped cream and a drizzle of maple syrup (optional).
Tips & Tricks
- Measure the pumpkin pie custard into the smaller ramekins using a measuring cup. Add ½ cup of the custard into the ½ cup ramekins, and 1 cup of the custard into the mini pie dishes.
- It’s easier to move the dishes in and out of the oven if you place them all on a larger baking sheet/tray. I use a half baking sheet.
- Bake the ½ cup ramekins for about 22 - 25 minutes. The ramekins I used are the flat ramekins, where the pumpkin pie custard only fills up about 1 1/2 inches deep. If it's a taller baking dish, the custard will take longer to bake.
- Bake the 1 cup mini pie dish for about 30 minutes (the pumpkin pie custard only fills up for about 1 1/2 inches.)
- Remove the baking tray from the oven, and then transfer the smaller dishes onto a cold surface to let the individual pumpkin pie puddings cool completely.
Nutrition Information:
“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
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Janis says
Can you use cream instead of evaporated milk
Dini says
Hi Janis
I have had other readers who have used heavy cream and have had good results. I haven’t tried it myself though.
I hope that helps
Cecilia S. says
Excellent flavor, consistency, taste!
The spices were perfect.
I used 3/4 cup monk fruit, which was really too sweet, so I will cut down to 1/2 cup next time.
Thank You for a wonderful recipe.
Brie says
I made this at Thanksgiving and it was the best pumpkin pie I can remember eating. I’d like to make it for Christmas but am conisdering trying it in a gluten free pie crust for a change. Would you change any of the directions if baking in a crust?
Dini says
Hi Brie
With regular pumpkin pie with a crust, I usually always par- bake the crust and then add the filling and bake it again until the filling is baked. I par bake my pie crust at 350 F for about 45 – 50 minutes, let it cool and then add the filling and bake it at a 350 F oven until the filling is set (about another 45 – 60 minutes).
I haven’t made gluten free pie crusts, so I won’t be able to give you advice there, but a good gluten free pie crust can be found through google!
I hope that helps!
Linda Barclay says
This recipe is fabulous! I have to eliminate all wheat in my diet and was missing many desserts I used to eat. Not pumpkin pie anymore! This is even creamier and more satisfying than a traditional recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Nicole Biesenbach says
I loved this crustless pumpkin pie it was nice and firm easy to cut. I used pumpkin pie spice ad used 2 top. I love more spice
Carol says
Is a glass pie plate ok? You specify “porcelain”. I’m eager to make this!
Dini says
Hi Carol
A glass pie plate will work well too!
Just keep an eye, as the baking times can vary depending on the size and thickness of the pie plate.
Debi says
I have not made this yet but have decided to have it for Thanksgiving. How far ahead can I make this as I have a large menu and like to do the things as far ahead as I safely can I can?
Dini says
Hi Debi
This can be made about 2 days ahead, if stored in an air tight container or wrapped tightly. This is like a pumpkin pie, just without the crust, so the filling will taste stale after two days.
I hope that helps.
DAS says
This is VERY close to my mother’s pie b. 1932. Her recipe was legendary. The proportions of her spices are a little off, like 1/2 of each and 1 t. of cinnamon and 1/4 t. cloves plus ALLSPICE. She also would use hard winter squash which makes better pie than pumpkin. Eggs are a tad different, so glad you knew about the condensed milk. I used to like to drink it before it was cooked as a child. I bet this is great. I will try it during the holidays for sure!
Jasmine says
Hi! I made a x2 batch and the texture and everything was perfect but it had a bitter taste from one of the spices. In this case would you recommended cutting down on the spices? I’m afraid it won’t have that pumpkin pie taste if I just halved the spices.
Thank you!
Claudia says
Hi Dini!!! Made this crustless pie yesterday and it came out great!!!!! Your detailled instructions after your curiated culinary experience ARE GEMS. It was challenging to measure liquids properly though;O) because I get very confused with the fluid ounces, milliters and grams measurements …hahaha! (metric system in Spain). I had to adjust the recipe because I did not have enought pumpkin puree and no mapple syrup (used the exact same measurement of brown sugar as you very well instructed) but it worked!!!. I did bake it in a water bath!!! May be that also played the miracle too!. ALL THE BEST
Dana says
Hello! Do you know how much fresh pumpkin purée is needed in place of canned pumpkin? Thank you for this recipe!
Dini says
Hi Dana
A 1:1 substitution should work! However, it depends on the the fresh pumpkin puree you make as well. Canned pumpkin has less water (thicker) and is technically made with squash, and homemade pumpkin puree may have a different water content and different flavor profile. The results of the pie can vary in flavor and texture because of that.
I hope that helps!
David Denver says
I substituted corn starch with arrowroot powder and evaporated milk with plain ripple alternative milk and my god… it came out flawless. The absolute perfect mix of spice and wow, the custard texture. Exquisite. These two substitutes should make it an anti inflammatory recipe as well! Thank you
Karen says
I had to leave the pie in the over for about 90 minutes. At 60 min, it was liquid. Also, there is not enough pumpkin flavoring for me but that! Just my preference.
Dini says
Hi Karen
If the pie took over 90 minutes to bake AND the pumpkin flavor wasn’t enough, I think you may have added too much liquid to the pie filling. The extra liquid will lead to a longer bake time AND a more diluted flavor.
I hope that helps!
Essess says
It tasted pretty good, but mine definitely needed more time in the oven. I did mine for 65 minutes and was jiggly in the middle but never finished setting. I would do mine next time for 70-75 minutes.
Essess says
My second time making this… It took 84 minutes to get the middle to set. I saw other comments about not using too much liquid, but I used exactly the size can of evaporated milk that the recipe calls for so I had the exact amount of liquid.
Araya Sol says
Have you tried using a muffin pan to make smaller individual portions? Do you think it would work?
Thanks!
Dini says
Hi Araya
I haven’t tried that! But it sounds like a good idea! Taking the custards out of the muffin pan will be a challenge though as these are very softly set. Individually baked custards don’t have this issue as they do not need to be unmolded.
The baking times will also be less depending on how much you pour into the muffin pans.
John D says
Great recipe. If this was made using a 29 oz can of pumpkin, is it safe to say that you need to double up the rest of the ingredients?
Dini says
Hi John
Yes, you would have to double the recipe, but the baking times will change greatly too. I would advise baking it in two separate dishes rather than in one large dish. If you do bake it in one large dish the baking temperature and time will change.
I hope that help
Anna M. says
I love this recipe! So easy. Im gluten and sugar free so this is perfect for me. I love, love pie crust but I don’t miss it at all, and everyone here loves this pie too.
Sarah S. says
I’ve made this recipe 3x now and can honestly say it really is THE BEST crustless pumpkin pie recipe I’ve ever tried. I subbed arrowroot powder for the corn starch and coconut cream for the evaporated milk. So, so easy to make. It takes about 5 minutes to throw all of the ingredients together and pop it into the oven. I could seriously eat this every day.
Dini says
That’s fantastic, I’m so happy to hear that Sarah! 🙂 Thanks so much for letting me know. I could totally eat this every day too haha.
Tink Bayton says
While I JUST saw this recipe today and will make it this afternoon, I must say I have never been more impressed with the instructions and serving calculator. Can you share where to find the serving/ingredient calculator it is wonderful.
Thank you so much.
Dini says
Hi Tink!
Thank you! 🙂
The nutritional information is calculated automatically by the recipe plug in, from the ingredient list and amounts. These are only approximations, and are calculated using an automated algorithm. You can read more about it here.
I hope that helps!
Beth Wessel says
I don’t have maple syrup and I am diabetic. Can I use Stevia instead and how much? Thanks!
Dini says
Hi Beth
I haven’t made this with sugar substitutes unfortunately.
I have had another reader who did use a sugar substitute, and liked the recipe but said they would probably reduce the amount that they used. They used 2/3 cup Truvia Brown Sugar Baking Blend.
You can see their comment here.
Hope that helps!
Mary says
This is a delicious dessert. Quick and easy to make. First time trying and loved it. My husband had 2 pieces and was very impressed. Will be my “go to” holiday recipe!
Dini says
Yay, I’m so glad everyone enjoyed the recipe Mary, thanks so much for letting me know! 🙂
Shirley Herman says
Can the mini pies be frozen before or after being baked? Would love to try recipe but since I am a single lady I would like to enjoy over a longer time period.
Dini says
Hi Shirley
I have refrigerated them, but unfortunately I haven’t tried to freeze these pies.
It should be fine, but there might be a little weeping as the custard thaws. Make sure that the pies are kept in the fridge the day before consumption to allow them to thaw out.
I hope that helps!
Neil says
Can I use a sugar substitute like Splenda or Truvia??
Dini says
Hi Neil
I haven’t made this with sugar substitutes unfortunately.
I have had another reader who did use a sugar substitute, and liked the recipe but said they would probably reduce the amount that they used. They used 2/3 cup Truvia Brown Sugar Baking Blend.
You can see their comment here.
Hope that helps!
Alice says
Can you substitute the cornstarch? I normally don’t use it.
Dini says
Hi Alice
Cornstarch is used to prevent weeping and curdling, as it acts as a buffer to make the custard more stable.
You can make this without the cornstarch, as long as you understand that there’s a chance for some weeping in the custard after baking.
Hope that helps!
Kassandra says
I am allergic to eggs as well to being gluten and dairy free. Would I be able to substitute flax eggs for the eggs in this?
Dini says
Hi Kassandra
I haven’t made this with flaxseed as an egg substitute unfortunately. I don’t think it will work though, because flax seed isn’t a good egg substitute in the context of this recipe. Flax seed is a great replacement for some baked goods, like cakes or muffins because they replicate the eggs role in the recipe. But they won’t replicate the eggs role in this recipe.
Hope that helps
Susie Blue Jay says
AT LAST! A TRULY MAGNIFICIENT PUMPKIN PIE THAT TASTES AWESOME. And was SO easy to make. As I am dairy free, I subsituted the So Delicious French Vanilla Coconut Creamer. It is a winner!
Dini says
So happy you enjoyed the recipe Susie! 🙂 Thanks so much for letting me know!
Holly Radestam says
Is the nutritional value for one serving or for the whole pie?
Dini says
Hi Holly!
It is an approximate value for one serving.
Hope that helps
Holly Radestam says
Thank you so much
Linda J says
I loved this recipe so much! Made it for Thanksgiving this year.
Shirley Christenson says
What could be substituted for the milk for a dairy free pie?
Dini says
H Shirley
Dairy free substitutions are provided in the post.
Hope that helps
Barbaraatbara Lodge says
Super delicious and easy THANKU
Rosa Lee Gibbons says
This was so smooth and delicious! It will be my go to recipes from now on. I substituted a 2/3 cup Truvia Brown Sugar Baking Blend for the maple syrup due to diabetic requirements. It was a little sweeter that I prefer so I will cut back next time.
Renee G says
Served with bourbon/maple whipped cream and an apple cider reduction drizzle. So many compliments!
Dini says
Yay, I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe Renee! That whipped cream and apple cider reduction drizzle sound amazing! 🙂
Libby says
I just made this recipe for Thanksgiving and I’m pretty happy with it. The directions and details are incredibly helpful! In order to make this for someone with Celiac I couldn’t use corn starch so I replaced it with 0.5tbsp of xanthan gum. I’ve never made it with cornstarch, but my results are tasty and comparable to a creme caramel in texture. I dont think it’s sweet enough for my guests so I brushed it with maple syrup and added more sweetness to the whipped creme than I usually do. It’s very good and I’ll make it again!
Kristina says
Hi Libby, xanthum gum is corn based.
Kristina says
I’ve made this recipe substituting tapioca flour for the cornstarch. I doubled the amount that was called for on recipe. With successful results. Turned out smooth and creamy.
Lori M. says
I meant to thank you over a year ago and again last November, but I just made another pie today. I appreciate all the more scientific and instructional aspects of your page. I do moderately low carb and your recipe is perfect for a brown granulated sweetener swap as maple flavoring is used in those products. The addition of another egg (or just yolk) and starch (to the basic Libby’s) definitely lets the custard have the body to be sliced while preserving the smooth texture. I would love to know if you (or anyone) have successfully used a gellant that was lower in carbs than corn/potato/arrowroot starch. Thanks again for all your work!
Cassie Jean siebold says
This was a great recipe! I used coconut cream so my lactose intolerant husband could enjoy it and it turned out perfectly. I would also make this with a crust. I love pumpkin pie and this is one of the best fillings ever as it was rich, creamy, and spiced to perfection!
Dini says
Thanks so much for letting me know Cassie! I’m really glad it turned out well with coconut cream and everyone enjoyed it! 🙂