This is a truly special autumnal pie. It’s infused with espresso powder inside and out, and that flavor works beautifully with pumpkin. Note that the crust stage involves several phases of chilling, so it should be started days or hours ahead of baking time. Modified from Food Network Magazine November 2023.
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: coffee, pie, pumpkin
Author: Beth Cato
Equipment
food processor
Rolling Pin
deep 9-inch pie plate
pie weights
aluminum foil
Ingredients
Crust
1 1/4cupsall-purpose flour plus more for dusting
1teaspooninstant espresso powder
1teaspoonwhite sugar
1/2teaspoonapple cider vinegar
1/4teaspoonkosher salt
1/2cupunsalted butter (1 stick) cut into small pieces
2 to 4Tablespoonswater
Filling
1 1/4cupsheavy cream
1Tablespooninstant espresso powder
15ouncespure pumpkin puree
2/3cupwhite sugar
2large eggs room temperature
2teaspoonspumpkin pie spice
1/2teaspoonvanilla bean paste
1/4teaspoonkosher salt
Instructions
Make the crust
In a food processor, pulse together the flour, espresso powder, sugar, vinegar, and salt. Add the butter and pulse until everything forms pea-sized pieces. Sprinkle in 2 tablespoons water and pulse the dough. If it comes together, great, but if not, add another tablespoon, pulse, then add another tablespoon if necessary. The dough should look crumbly but become cohesive when squeezed.
Put dough on a strip of plastic wrap and pat into a disc shape. Encase in wrap and chill at least an hour, or a day or two.
Sprinkle flour on a work surface then roll dough into a 12-inch round. Use the rolling pin to lift it onto a pie plate. Press into place, folding over extra at edges to crimp. Prick the bottom and sides with a fork. Cover with plastic wrap (such as the one just used to chill dough) and freeze for at least an hour, or overnight.
Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Line the crust with foil. Fill pie with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until edges are golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the foil and weights--such as lifting them onto a rimmed baking pan to cool--and continue baking crust for 10 to 15 minutes, until it is golden all over. Transfer to a rack to cool.
Make the filling
Whisk together heavy cream and espresso powder in a large bowl until the powder has dissolved. Add the pumpkin puree, white sugar, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla paste and salt. Scrape the bottom a few times to incorporate everything.
Pour filling into the cooled crust and smooth out the top. Bake until filling is set at edges but still slightly jiggly in center, 50 to 60 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool for 3 hours.
Store at room temperature, covered by foil. Slice and top with whipped topping. Pie is best eaten within 3 days.