Healthy Pumpkin Pie

4.92 from 98 votes
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Smooth and ultra creamy, this healthy pumpkin pie recipe does not taste healthy at all!

Vegan Healthy Pumpkin Pie
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Homemade healthy pumpkin pie

Pumpkin pie is often considered a healthier choice than other popular holiday pies like pecan pie, apple pie, or chocolate cream pie.

However, many pumpkin pie recipes call for sweetened condensed milk, heavy cream, and a full cup of refined sugar.

In contrast, this healthier version is naturally sweetened and packed with the same spiced cinnamon pumpkin flavor as the classic holiday dessert.

Serve it for Thanksgiving or Christmas, and leave all of your guests speechless. This may just be the creamiest pumpkin pie you will ever taste.

You may also like this Crustless Pumpkin Pie

Healthy Pumpkin Pie Slice With Ice Cream

Pumpkin pie topping ideas

The healthy pumpkin pie is wonderful on its own.

But if you really want to take it to epic heights of deliciousness, top each slice with gooey vegan marshmallow fluff or homemade Coconut Whipped Cream.

Pumpkin pie plus whipped cream equals Thanksgiving in a dessert.

I can also vouch for the healthy pie topped with Coconut Ice Cream.

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Healthy pumpkin pie recipe video

Above, watch the full step by step video.

Healthy Canned Pumpkin Pie

Holiday healthy dessert ingredients

The filling calls for pumpkin, coconut milk, oats or flour, flax, unrefined sugar, spices, salt, and pure vanilla extract.

Pumpkin – Look for pumpkin puree as opposed to canned pumpkin pie mix. The latter already includes added sugar and spices.

Sometimes grocery stores run out of canned pumpkin puree during the holidays. If this happens, buy a sugar pumpkin or pie pumpkin and roast it at home.

Coconut milk – For the richest, thickest dairy free pumpkin pie, I recommend full fat canned coconut milk.

Lite coconut milk, skim milk, low calorie almond milk, or oat milk yield a thinner pie that is harder to slice. It still tastes delicious if you go with one of these substitutions.

Oats or flour – Try whole grain spelt flour, white flour, oat flour, all purpose gluten free flour, or almond flour. Coconut flour requires less, so feel free to experiment.

Rolled oats are a fantastic option with fiber, antioxidants, and other health benefits. Quick oats or instant oats can be substituted.

Steel cut oats will not thicken the pie and yield smooth results.

Flax egg – For an egg free vegan healthy pumpkin pie with no cholesterol, use ground flax. Non vegans can add one egg instead.

Spices – Cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice give flavor without extra fat and calories. If you cannot find pumpkin spice, replace it with additional cinnamon.

Or make homemade pumpkin pie spice. Combine 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon each ground nutmeg and ground ginger, 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves, and optional 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice.

Refined sugar free pumpkin pie

My favorite refined sugar free options are coconut sugar and date sugar.

While they are more highly processed and lack the trace amount of nutrients present in unrefined sugars, traditional brown sugar or white sugar also work.

Use xylitol or a monk fruit erythritol blend for a pie with no sugar added.

I have not yet tried swapping the sugar for pure maple syrup or honey. If you try one of these options before I do, please let other readers and myself know how it goes.

Still craving pumpkin? Make a Pumpkin Spice Latte

Healthy pumpkin pie crust

You may use your own favorite pie crust recipe or a store bought crust.

I like the following homemade whole wheat pastry crust. Unlike many refrigerated or frozen crusts, this one is free of ingredients high in saturated fat like butter, lard, hydrogenated oil, and shortening.

Even though you are making a baked pumpkin pie, I recommend prebaking the crust first. This step ensures the finished crust will taste flaky and buttery, not soggy from the weight and moisture of the pumpkin.

  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose or whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup sugar (or xylitol)
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 to 4 tablespoons water

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Add oil and stir. Add water as needed until it just sticks together but is not gummy. I normally need about 3 tablespoons. Press evenly into a well greased 9 inch pie pan. Put the crust into the preheated oven and immediately increase the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

The bottom of the crust will rise, so either use pie weights during baking or just press the pie crust back down afterwards. Bake for 15 minutes. Let cool while you prepare the pumpkin pie filling.

Readers also love this holiday Vegan Pecan Pie

Healthy Thanksgiving or Christmas Pumpkin Pie

How to make healthy pumpkin pie

Begin by preparing your pie crust of choice. Set this crust aside.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are using rolled oats instead of flour, blend them in a food processor or blender until they reach a fine flour consistency.

Add all remaining filling ingredients, and either blend again or stir very well in a large mixing bowl with a spoon.

Once the filling is thick and completely smooth, carefully pour it into your prepared pumpkin pie crust. If needed, use a spatula to spread it evenly into the crust.

Place the pan on the center rack of the oven. Bake for 27 minutes. The texture should still look quite underdone when time is up.

Remove the pie from the oven and let cool. Once the pan is no longer hot to the touch, refrigerate it uncovered (or very loosely covered with paper towels) at least 5 hours or overnight.

During this cooling stage, the pumpkin pie will thicken considerably and set to an easily sliceable texture.

Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. While you can technically slice and freeze the pie, its texture will be nowhere near as creamy once thawed.

Serving Pumpkin Pie At A Holiday Party

Serve to family and friends after a healthy holiday feast of stuffed butternut squash or lentil loaf, cranberry sauce, green beans, and Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole.

Naturally Sweetened Pumpkin Pie Dessert
4.92 from 98 votes

Healthy Pumpkin Pie

This holiday favorite healthy pumpkin pie recipe is rich, creamy, and naturally sweetened!
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 8 slices
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Ingredients

  • 15 oz pumpkin puree
  • 13.5 oz canned coconut milk
  • 1/4 cup rolled oats or 3 tbsp flour of choice
  • 2 tbsp ground flax or 1 egg (for flax free, try this Vegan Pumpkin Pie)
  • 1/2 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 pie crust (or use the crust recipe included above)

Instructions 

  • Prepare your pie crust in a 9 inch pan, then set it aside. To make the healthy pumpkin pie recipe, preheat the oven to 400 F. If using oats, blend them first into a fine flour consistency, using a blender or food processor. Then stir or blend all pie ingredients together until smooth. Pour the pumpkin filling into the crust. Bake the pie for 27 minutes on the center rack of the oven. Its texture should still look underdone after this time. Let it cool, then refrigerate at least 5 hours uncovered for the pie to thicken and set.
    View Nutrition Facts

Video

Notes

Also be sure to make this healthy Pumpkin Banana Bread.
 
Like this recipe? Leave a comment below!
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More About The Cookbook

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Meet Katie

Chocolate Covered Katie is one of the top 25 food websites in America, and Katie has been featured on The Today Show, CNN, Fox, The Huffington Post, and ABC’s 5 O’clock News. Her favorite food is chocolate, and she believes in eating dessert every single day.

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241 Comments

  1. becauseHeloves! says:

    This looks amazing! I loooove coconut (actually a recent discovery. I used to hate it!) and made homemade coconut butter yesterday! I seriously have like nine people “converted” to the chocolate-covered diet. Everybody loves your recipes!

    1. Chocolate Covered Katie says:

      Thank you so much… this really made me smile.

      1. K-Lee Atwell says:

        Katie
        First of all you are my hero bc my youngest child has multiple allergies one of which is egg whites. Everything I make from your site it yummy and he enjoys. So thrilled about this pumpkin recipe. My parents are vegan now so they will be happy as well. Is it possible to use chia seeds instead of the flaxseed (he’s allergic)?

        1. Jason Sanford says:

          Unfortunately we haven’t tried so have no way of knowing, but be sure to report back if you do try it!
          Jason (media relations)

    2. Maggie Calmels says:

      Hi, can you tell me how do you do the the homemade coconut butter, thanks maggie

    3. Elizabeth says:

      Same here! Everyone I know loves all the recipes I make on this blog! I have such fun just scrolling through the recipes, especially around the holidays. In fact, the holidays would not be the same without this blog! We make this pumpkin pie every year and were not even vegan. Sometimes we replace the coconut milk with evaporated milk or even just plain milk. (I’ve even used almond milk before, just a little less because it is more liquid-y).

  2. Amy in Toronto says:

    You can pretend to be Canadian, since we celebrate Thanksgiving in early October 🙂
    Your crustless pumpkin pie is one of my all-time favourite recipes to make – I absolutely love it – so I can’t wait to try this version!

  3. Sarah S. says:

    LMAO! You sound like my older sister when we were kids XD Of course we’re super-close now, too. How did I forgive her, again???

  4. christina @ The Beautiful Balance says:

    YUM! I just made a pumpkin pie with coconut milk and an oat/brown sugar crust but I never thought to blend the oats for a thicker texture! Genius!

  5. loulou says:

    hello katie,
    have you moved to another state? i remember a few days ago you mentioned packing up your car, and driving 22 hours away… all very mysterious! 🙂

    1. Chocolate Covered Katie says:

      Visiting all sorts of different places at the moment… seeing lots of friends 🙂

  6. Alexe @ Keys to the Cucina says:

    I really need to try working with coconut more for desserts- this looks out of this world! And yes I am super close with my family, and have been dreaming about the holidays coming up and how much fun it is to spend that time together. Enjoy your holidays too!

  7. Laura @ The Green Forks! says:

    Just in time for Thanksgiving! PERFECT!!

  8. Brittany @ The Fit Phoenician says:

    The pie looks amazeballs!
    I wish I weren’t the only pumpkin pie fan in my family, it’s keeping me from making one.

  9. Lisa Ernst says:

    I’ve been making vegan pumpkin pies for years now, and have always used tofu as the thickening agent. This is genius with the oats and flax, along with coconut milk. You can believe I will be making this pie for Thanksgiving and probably Christmas too!

  10. janae @ bring joy says:

    Were you guys military? My husband’s in the military so we’ll be moving around a lot for the next 20 years or so, but I’ve often felt okay with it, because though in some respects it will be hard for my kids, ultimately, I think it can help us rely on each other & be a stronger family unit because of it. It’s fun to see pictures of you with your family.

    1. Chocolate Covered Katie says:

      My dad was in international insurance… Yes, it is difficult but the experiences are SO priceless. And everyone I know who has been through it feels the same way, so don’t worry about your kids. Someday they will love you for it.