Pumpkin Pie Facts That Will Make Your Mouth Water!

Do you like pumpkin pie?

Pumpkin pie is one of the most popular Thanksgiving desserts and for a good reason. It's delicious and healthy too.

A pumpkin pie is a dessert that is typically made from pumpkin, sugar, eggs, butter, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. It is usually baked in a pastry shell, sometimes with a decorative top crust, and served with whipped cream or ice cream.

Read on for insight into all things pumpkin pie, from the history of pumpkin pie to its nutritional value.

The History Of Pumpkin Pie

Did you know that pumpkin pie is a traditional American dessert? It was first mentioned in print back in 1651. But where did this recipe come from? And who invented it? Let's explore the history of pumpkin pie.

The word 'pumpkin' evolved over time. It has its roots in Greek and came from the word 'pepon', meaning 'large melon'. In French, 'pepon' became 'pompon', which the English promptly turned into 'pompion'. The earliest ancestor of the modern pumpkin pie is believed to have been made by the English settlers in Plymouth colony in the early 1620s.

Squash and pumpkin grew without effort in the New World, and the Native American locals welcomed the first settlers with pumpkins as gifts, teaching them its many uses. These recipes involved stewing and baking an emptied-out pumpkin with pie filling.

It was in 1651 that the historic French chef published a pumpkin pie recipe with a pie shell in his cookbook 'Le Vrai Cuisinier Francois'.

This was one of the most influential cookbooks of the 17th century, and it was later translated into English in 1653 by the title 'The French Cook'. This recipe had a big part to play in popularizing the pumpkin pie.

In a few decades, pumpkin pie recipes began appearing in English cookbooks, too, featuring spices similar to the modern version, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Eventually, pumpkin pies grew in popularity and became associated with Thanksgiving.

Although pumpkin pies became common in England, they were made differently from today. The pies had sliced pieces of pumpkin and sometimes apple mixed with sugar and spices baked between two crusts, the bottom pie shell and a crust coating the pie. The filling was unlike the one used in modern pies.

It was in 1796 that pumpkin pie was solidly established as an American Thanksgiving staple when Amelia Simmons' 'American Cookery' was published. Regarded as the first American cookbook, it contained two recipes for pumpkin pie, one of which is very close to the modern-day recipe.

Mentions of pumpkin pie can be found in poems and novels from the Civil War era.

Lydia Maria Child's famous poem has a line that goes, 'Hurra for the pumpkin pie!'. The cultural significance of pumpkin pie resulted in it being a popular topic in women's magazines, newspapers, and children's books.

At the turn of the 19th century, industrialization brought a major change to pumpkin pie with the advent of canned pumpkin. Bakers no longer had to stew pumpkin for long hours, and most cooks embraced the canned alternative.

By the 20th century, advanced machinery led to the commercially produced pumpkin pie. These were churned out to supply bakeries and restaurants.

The commercialization of pumpkin pie, batter spices, and pumpkin itself led to a shift in marketing and advertising. At the onset of 'pumpkin season', various products and offers would be announced in newspapers and displayed outside bakehouses.

It was in the early '60s that one of the most convenient forms of the pie came into existence, the frozen pumpkin pie. Easy to cook in a microwave oven and affordable, frozen pies caught on, and they are still a popular dessert option today.

In the present, pumpkin pies are an iconic part of several cultures and a must-have tradition at Thanksgiving dinner.

Homemade Vs. Canned Pumpkin Pie

Homemade pumpkin pies are usually made from canned pumpkin puree, sugar, eggs, milk, and spice mixture. It is very easy to bake a pumpkin pie at home. However, there are many different ways to make this dessert.

The main ingredient in pumpkin pie filling is pumpkin puree, which you can make yourself by roasting a pumpkin or buying canned pumpkin puree at the store. The crust for pumpkin pies can be made at home or can be store-bought.

Frozen pie crusts are widely available and don't really make a difference in the flavor or texture of the baked pie. Some people tend to use canned pumpkin pie filling instead of mixing in the other ingredients with canned puree.

Pumpkin filling comes pre-sweetened with spices such as cinnamon, ground ginger, and ground cloves already incorporated into the mix. This means you don't have to add sugar or spices to your pies. Although using pumpkin filling makes it even easier to bake the pie, the flavor is sometimes not as authentic as mixing in the assorted spices by hand.

Not many people use the traditional method of using a stewed and baked pumpkin to make the pie filling.

This is a cumbersome and time-consuming method, and taste tests have revealed using fresh pumpkins doesn't add much in terms of quality and taste.

As easy as it is to bake a pie at home, there are many standardized options available in grocery stores and bakeries for people who don't have the time or aren't in the mood for baking.

Most store-bought pies are made in a similar fashion, using canned pumpkin puree.

Nutritional Value

Not only is pumpkin pie delicious, but it's also healthy for you in a lot of ways. Pumpkins are a type of winter squash and are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

Pumpkin pie has a high amount of vitamin C, zinc, and iron. It also contains large amounts of dietary fiber, magnesium, and manganese. A slice of a commercially produced pumpkin pie contains approximately 323 calories, 1.63 oz (46.3 g) of carbohydrates, 0.5 oz (13 g) of fats, and 0.18 oz (5.2 g) of protein.

Pumpkins are very rich in the antioxidant beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A by the body, which is essential for good eye health. One cup of pumpkin contains more than 200% of the required daily intake of vitamin A. Beta-carotene also has other advantages, like reduced risk of cancer and protection from damaging ultraviolet radiation.

A pumpkin pie contains more than just pumpkins, there is a lot of sugar and spices in there, not to mention unhealthy ingredients like flour. These items aren't good for you in large quantities.

So it's best to have easy portions no matter how delicious this holiday delight is. A lot of people use pumpkin pie mix in their recipes, which has added sweeteners and other components. While this doesn't undermine the benefits of pumpkin, it definitely makes pumpkin pie a tad more unhealthy.

FAQs

What is a fun fact about pumpkin pie?

The world's largest pumpkin pie weighed 3,699 lb (1,678 kg).

What is pumpkin pie?

Pumpkin pie is a dessert with a pumpkin-flavored sweet crust.

Where did pumpkin pie originate?

Pumpkin pie is believed to have originated among the Native Americans.

When was pumpkin pie invented?

The earliest versions of the pie were made in the 17th century.

Who made the first pumpkin pie?

The first pumpkin pie was made by colonists in 1621.

Where did pumpkin pie come from?

The pumpkin pie was brought to 17th-century France and England by colonists from the New World.

What country invented pumpkin pie?

Pumpkin pie originated in North America.

Is pumpkin pie a dessert?

Pumpkin pie is widely categorized as a dessert, although it is sometimes eaten for breakfast.

How long does pumpkin pie last in the fridge?

A homemade pumpkin pie lasts about three to four days in the fridge.