National Pumpkin Pie Day is celebrated on December 25 each year. While pumpkin pie is most famous at Thanksgiving, it also appears on many Christmas dessert tables. Its smooth, spiced filling of pumpkin, eggs, milk or cream, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg in a flaky crust is one of the most iconic flavors of the American holiday season.
History of National Pumpkin Pie Day
Pumpkins are native to the Americas, and Native American peoples grew and cooked them long before Europeans arrived. Early colonists learned to grow pumpkins and sometimes baked them whole, filled with milk, spices and honey.
Recipes for pumpkin pie with a crust appeared in European cookbooks in the 1600s, including a French cookbook from 1651. The first American cookbook, Amelia Simmons' 'American Cookery' of 1796, included a recipe for 'pompkin' pudding baked in a crust, very similar to modern pumpkin pie.
In the 1800s, writer and editor Sarah Josepha Hale, who campaigned for Thanksgiving to become a national holiday, promoted pumpkin pie as a symbol of New England tradition. Canned pumpkin became widely available in the 20th century, making the pie easy to bake year-round. Interestingly, much canned pumpkin is made from a tan-skinned squash variety, not the orange jack-o'-lantern type. Who created National Pumpkin Pie Day is not documented.
Why National Pumpkin Pie Day Matters
Pumpkin pie is part of American food history, connecting Indigenous crops with colonial cooking and modern holiday traditions.
It's a dessert that brings families together, often baked from cherished family recipes.
Baking pumpkin pie also teaches useful skills, from making a flaky crust to understanding how custard sets.
How to Celebrate National Pumpkin Pie Day
- Bake a pumpkin pie: use canned or roasted pumpkin.
- Try a twist: add bourbon, maple or a gingersnap crust.
- Make whipped cream: top your pie with fresh cream.
- Use leftovers: blend pie into a milkshake or parfait.
- Share: bring a pie to a neighbor or holiday gathering.
Celebrating at Work, School and Home
At work, a pie potluck with pumpkin and other flavors is an easy holiday treat. In classrooms, students can learn about Native American crops, measure ingredients, or compare pumpkin and sweet potato pies. At home, families can bake a pie together, letting children mix spices and crimp the crust. Bake until the center is just set, and cool slowly to prevent cracks. Refrigerate leftovers.
Fun Facts About National Pumpkin Pie Day
- 'American Cookery' (1796) included a 'pompkin' pie-like recipe.
- Sarah Josepha Hale promoted pumpkin pie as a Thanksgiving symbol.
- Much canned pumpkin is made from a tan-skinned squash.
National Pumpkin Pie Day FAQs
When is National Pumpkin Pie Day?
National Pumpkin Pie Day is celebrated on December 25 each year.
When was pumpkin pie invented?
Pumpkin pie recipes appeared in the 1600s; America's first cookbook included one in 1796.
What is in pumpkin pie filling?
Pumpkin, eggs, milk or cream, sugar and spices such as cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.
How do I keep pumpkin pie from cracking?
Don't overbake, and let it cool slowly at room temperature.
Does pumpkin pie need to be refrigerated?
Yes, because it contains eggs and dairy, it should be refrigerated after cooling.
Is canned pumpkin really pumpkin?
Much canned pumpkin comes from tan-skinned squash varieties closely related to pumpkins.