Autumn Season: Pumpkin Pie from Kilduff Farm

Nothing tastes quite like autumn more than a pumpkin pie. Traditionally enjoyed by our American cousins when celebrating Thanksgiving, pumpkin pie has had a bit of a popularity boost, this side of the pond thanks to social media. So, who better to ask for a recipe than the pumpkin growers themselves? We hit up our pals at Kilduff Farm in East Lothian for their take on this yummy American classic with a distinctly Scottish twist.

Combining fresh pumpkin and blossom honey from The Scottish Bee Company hives straight from The Patch at Kilduff, makes this pie all the more delicious.

Kilduff Pumpkin and Honey Pie 

Serves 12

Ingredients:

Pastry

• 100 g pecans (optional but delicious)

• 150 g plain flour

• 75 g unsalted butter, room temperature • 50 g icing sugar

• 1 large egg

Pumpkin filling

• 450g freshly roasted & cooled pumpkin flesh only

• 2 tsp honey (plus extra honey for pumpkin seed brittle)

• 150 ml carnation milk

• 150 ml double cream

• 100 g soft brown sugar

• 3 large eggs

• 1 tbsp cornflour

• 1 tsp mixed spice

• 1⁄2 tsp ginger powder

• 1⁄2 tsp grated nutmeg

• 1⁄2 tsp cinnamon powder 

• 1⁄4 tsp ground cloves

• 10 turns of black pepper

• 8 turns of Himalayan salt

Method:

Pastry

1. Heat the oven to 190C|180C fan|gas 5.

2. Grease a 10” ceramic pie dish with butter. If you don’t have one, a metal or glass pie dish will do.

3. Blitz the pecans in a food processor or finely chop. Add the flour, butter and icing sugar to the pecans and blend until the pastry starts to crumb.

4. Add the whole egg and blend until the pastry forms one giant ball around the bowl. If the mixture is too wet, add a little more flour until a ball forms.

5. Put the pastry mix straight into the prepared pie dish. With your hands, gently push the pastry mix evenly into the edges and around the base of the dish.

6. Prick the pastry with a fork, cover and rest in the fridge for 20 minutes.

7. Cover the pastry, especially the edges, with tin foil and line with baking beans. Blind bake the pastry case for 20 minutes. This will partly cook the pastry and prevent the pie having a raw, soggy base.

Filling

1. Cut the pumpkin in half, scoop out the seeds (saving them for later), cut into quarters and place on a baking sheet, face down, skin up. Bake at 180C for approximately 30-40 minutes until soft.

2. Place the cooled pumpkin (flesh only, no skin), honey, carnation milk and double cream into a food processor and blend until you have a smooth puree. Add the sugar, cornflour, spices, salt & pepper. In the final stages blend in the eggs.

3. Pour the mix into the pumpkin pastry shell. Take care not to overfill the dish, 3/4 full is perfect (you will have to carry it to the oven!) If you have any spare mix, pour it into individual ramekin dishes and bake along with the pie for a pastry free option.

4. Bake the pie in the preheated oven for 50 – 55 minutes. About halfway through, when the top of pie has set, gently cover the pie with tin foil. This stops the pastry edge singeing. If you are baking the mix in ramekins these ones should be ready at this point too.

Honey Pumpkin Seeds

1. Rinse the pumpkin seeds, removing the stringy pumpkin flesh and dry. 2. Toss the seeds in a mix of 2 tbsp honey & a dash of water.

3. Lay the honey coated seeds flat on a greased tray and bake in the oven at 180C for approximately 15 minutes. Make sure you keep an eye on the pumpkin seeds as they can burn easily.

4. Once golden, remove the seeds from the oven and leave to cool completely. Then break into pieces.

5. Use the seeds to decorate the edge of you pie.

To Serve

Warm or cold, slice it up and eat straight from the dish! For a special pudding, top with a dusting of icing sugar, honey pumpkin seeds and nutmeg cream. The pie will keep well in the fridge for a few days.

This recipe has been lovingly created for Kilduff Farm by Sonia Lee, LeeLifeNutition.

Fancy picking your own pumpkins? Kilduff Farm is a working arable farm located in a secluded location in the heart of East Lothian between the towns of North Berwick and Haddington owned and run by Lucy and Russ. With spectacular views south to the Lammermuir Hills and north to the Firth of Forth, Kilduff Farm sits less than a mile outside the village of Athelstaneford and the pumpkin patch is open between 16 and 31 October. Book you tickets here…