Homemade Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Recipe: Fall’s Cozy Sweet Treat
Autumn whispers call for a delectable bourbon pumpkin pie that combines warm spices with a rich, spirited twist.
The smooth bourbon weaves complexity through traditional pumpkin pie flavors, creating a dessert that sings of cozy evenings.
Seasonal baking reaches new heights with this sophisticated take on a classic comfort treat.
Every forkful promises a luxurious blend of creamy pumpkin and subtle bourbon warmth.
The golden, flaky crust cradles a silky filling that dances between sweet and sophisticated.
Spices like cinnamon and nutmeg mingle with the deep caramel notes of bourbon, promising a memorable slice of autumn magic.
Serve this pie and watch as smiles spread around the table, celebrating the season’s most delightful dessert.
Serving Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Like a Pro
Festive Autumn Serving Delights
Creamy Bourbon Whipped Topping: Whip heavy cream with a splash of bourbon and a hint of powdered sugar for an extra indulgent pie accompaniment that elevates the dessert's rich flavors.
Caramel Drizzle Elegance: Warm caramel sauce carefully drizzled over each slice adds a luxurious touch that complements the pie's deep bourbon and pumpkin notes, creating a stunning presentation.
Seasonal Ice Cream Pairing: Serve alongside a scoop of vanilla bean or cinnamon ice cream to create a temperature contrast that highlights the pie's warm spices and nutty streusel texture.
Maple Candied Pecan Garnish: Sprinkle additional candied pecans around the plate's edge for a crunchy, sweet garnish that echoes the streusel's nutty complexity and adds visual appeal.
Keeping Your Pumpkin Streusel Pie Fresh
Slice and Store Smart: Refrigerate the bourbon pumpkin pie in an airtight container for up to 4 days. The crisp streusel stays crunchy when chilled properly.
Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the pie crust and streusel components two days before baking. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap to maintain freshness and prevent flavor absorption from other refrigerator items.
Freezing Friendly: Wrap the completely cooled pie in double layers of plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for maximum 2 weeks. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving to maintain texture and taste.
Serving Temperature Tips: Allow refrigerated pie to sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving. This helps restore the streusel's delightful crunch and allows the bourbon-infused filling to develop full flavor complexity.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Calories: 320 kcal
Servings: 9
What Makes Bourbon Pumpkin Pie So Rich
For Pie Base:
Pie Crust: Use a high-quality, pre-made 9-inch crust for convenience and consistent texture.
Eggs: Bind the filling and create a smooth, custardy consistency with rich flavor.
Pumpkin Puree: Select pure, organic pumpkin puree for authentic, deep autumn taste and creamy texture.
Brown Sugar: Adds deep caramel notes and natural sweetness to complement the pumpkin.
Evaporated Milk: Creates a silky, rich filling with concentrated dairy flavor.
Bourbon: Introduces warm, complex undertones that elevate the traditional pumpkin pie.
For Spice Blend:
Ground Nutmeg: Provides warm, slightly sweet aromatic depth to the pie filling.
Ground Ginger: Adds a subtle, zesty warmth that complements pumpkin's earthiness.
Ground Cinnamon: Delivers classic, comforting fall spice and rounds out the flavor profile.
Salt: Balances and enhances the sweet and spicy elements of the pie.
For Streusel Topping:
Unsalted Butter: Brown the butter to develop rich, nutty caramel-like flavors.
Brown Sugar: Creates a deep, molasses-like sweetness in the streusel.
All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and crumbly texture to the topping.
Sea Salt: Adds a delightful contrast to the sweet streusel.
Pecans: Brings crunchy texture and rich, toasted nutty flavor to the pie.
Tools for Baking Pumpkin Pie with Brown-Butter Streusel
9-inch pie dish: Essential for baking the perfect pie with the right depth and size.
Large mixing bowl: Perfect for combining all pie filling ingredients smoothly.
Whisk: Key tool for blending eggs and creating a silky, lump-free mixture.
Measuring cups and spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient proportions.
Saucepan: Needed for browning butter with precision.
Spatula: Great for scraping and mixing streusel ingredients.
Cooling rack: Helps pie cool evenly and prevents soggy bottom.
Sharp knife: Useful for cutting and serving pie slices.
How to Make Bourbon Pumpkin Pie with Streusel
Oven Preparation Warm up your oven to create the perfect baking environment at a toasty 425°F, ensuring the ideal temperature for your delightful dessert.
Silky Filling Blend together eggs, pumpkin goodness, rich brown sugar, warming spices, splash of bourbon, and creamy evaporated milk until the mixture transforms into a smooth, luxurious liquid.
First Bake Pour the velvety mixture into a waiting pie crust and let it bake for a quick 15 minutes, allowing the initial flavors to meld and develop.
Temperature Adjustment Reduce the oven heat to a gentle 350°F and continue baking for about half an hour, watching for the filling to set perfectly with a subtle wiggle.
Streusel Magic Brown butter in a skillet until it reaches a golden, nutty perfection, then mix with brown sugar, flour, a pinch of salt, and chopped pecans to create a crunchy, irresistible topping.
Final Touch Sprinkle the divine pecan streusel over the pie and return to the oven for a final 10-minute transformation, creating a crispy, caramelized crown.
Cooling Moment Allow the pie to cool completely, letting the flavors settle and mingle, creating a dessert that whispers of cozy autumn evenings.
Tips to Level Up Your Pumpkin Streusel Pie
Add an extra splash of bourbon to the filling for a deeper, more complex taste that enhances the pumpkin's natural sweetness.
Prepare the entire pie up to two days in advance and store in the refrigerator. The flavors actually intensify and become more robust overnight.
Experiment with graham cracker or gingersnap crusts instead of traditional pie dough to add an extra layer of complementary spice and crunch.
Replace pecans with toasted walnuts or almonds for a different nutty profile, or swap half the nuts with crystallized ginger for a spicy-sweet kick.
Substitute coconut milk for evaporated milk and use a vegan butter alternative in the streusel to make this indulgent dessert accessible to more dietary needs.
Hearty Southern bourbon pumpkin pie delivers a rich, spiced experience with creamy custard and flaky crust. Seasonal warmth and deep whiskey notes create a memorable dessert that connects generations of bakers.
Ingredients
Scale
1 pie crust (9 in, 22.86 cm, unbaked)
1 ¾ cups (415 ml) pumpkin puree
1 cup (240 ml) brown sugar
2 eggs
½ cup (120 ml) evaporated milk
⅓ cup (75 g) unsalted butter
2 tbsps (30 ml) bourbon
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp sea salt
½ cup (60 g) all-purpose flour
¼ cup (60 g) brown sugar
½ cup (60 g) pecans, coarsely chopped
Instructions
Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C), positioning the rack in the lower third for optimal heat distribution.
Filling Creation: Whisk eggs until light, then fold in pumpkin puree, creating a smooth base. Integrate brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, ensuring even spice dispersion.
Liquid Integration: Pour bourbon into the mixture, then blend evenly with evaporated milk, developing a rich, aromatic filling.
Crust Filling: Carefully pour the prepared filling into an unbaked pie crust, maintaining uniform coverage.
Initial Baking Phase: Place pie in the oven and bake for 15 minutes to establish the initial structure, then reduce temperature to 350°F (175°C).
Continued Baking: Continue baking for 30-35 minutes until the filling is mostly set with a slight wobble.
Streusel Preparation: Create brown-butter pecan streusel by browning butter until golden and fragrant, then combining with brown sugar, flour, salt, and chopped pecans.
Streusel Application: After 30 minutes of baking, sprinkle streusel evenly across the pie’s surface.
Final Baking: Return pie to oven for an additional 10 minutes, allowing streusel to become golden and crisp.
Cooling and Serving: Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack for at least 2 hours. Serve at room temperature or chilled, optionally topped with whipped cream.
Notes
Bourbon Boost: Add bourbon gradually to enhance flavor without overwhelming the pie’s delicate spice profile.
Butter Browning Technique: Watch butter closely when browning to prevent burning; golden amber color signals perfect caramelization.
Streusel Sprinkling Strategy: Apply streusel in the final baking stage to maintain crispness and prevent soggy topping.
Temperature Transition Tip: Sharp initial high-temperature baking helps set the pie’s structure before lowering heat for even cooking.
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder, CO
Degree: Diploma in Culinary Arts
Focus: Hands-on training in classic and modern culinary techniques, emphasizing sustainable cooking practices, kitchen professionalism, and real-world restaurant experience through externships.
Oregon State University
Degree: B.S. in Nutrition and Food Management
Focus: In-depth study of human nutrition, food safety, meal planning, and food-service operations, with a strong foundation in public health, dietetics, and community-based nutrition programs.
Sophie Reynolds is the recipe developer and culinary voice behind many of the approachable, flavor-focused creations at The Dream Café.
Sophie’s style leans into comfort food made simple: wholesome, satisfying meals anyone can make with confidence. Her passion lies in helping home cooks feel at ease in the kitchen while finding joy in the everyday act of cooking.
Sophie Reynolds
Co-Founder, Recipe Curator & Culinary Educator
Expertise
Education
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder, CO
Oregon State University
Sophie Reynolds is the recipe developer and culinary voice behind many of the approachable, flavor-focused creations at The Dream Café.
Sophie’s style leans into comfort food made simple: wholesome, satisfying meals anyone can make with confidence. Her passion lies in helping home cooks feel at ease in the kitchen while finding joy in the everyday act of cooking.