Crustless Pumpkin Pie?

Dear Aunt Sally Good Food,

I'm sure you're the right friend for this question!

Can I make pumpkin pie filling and just bake it in a pan like brownies instead of baking it in a crust? It's for a holiday party so I don't have time for a practice run... 

Erica

Dear Erica,

Sure. It's basically a pumpkin custard. Be sure to butter the inside of the pan so the pumpkin custard will come out.

It will cook more evenly if you put the pumpkin custard pan inside another pan. Fill the outer pan with hot water so that the water comes up to the height of the custard inside the inner pan. If it's not exactly the same height, it'll be fine, but get as close as possible. The hot water acts as a buffer, ensuring even heating of the custard. Follow your pie recipe for the time and temperature.


Have fun cooking!

Aunt Sally