A Truly Traditional Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie That’s Baked Right Inside the Gourd

In a Thanksgiving themed episode of the series How Does it Grow? in partnership with the Today Food, host Nicole Cotroneo Jolly demonstrates how to make the original traditional pumpkin pie. This simple recipe features a custard-filled pie pumpkin (not the bright orange ones) that’s baked and sliced just like any other pie.

For the first American Thanksgiving, the pilgrims made pumpkin pie — only it didn’t look anything like the pumpkin pie we eat today. The original, colonial recipe is surprisingly delicious — and gorgeous! You might never make a modern pumpkin pie again.

Traditional Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie

Jolly visited Duffields Farm in Sewell, New Jersey to learn what it takes to grow pumpkins, both the decorative and the ones more commonly used as food.

You’ve been duped: that “pumpkin” puree in the can isn’t pumpkin at all — at least not the kind you think! We bust the great American pumpkin myth and discover why we grow 500 million pounds of the stuff each year — without eating any of it.

Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.