How To Freeze Pumpkin Pie — And Thaw It In Time for Thanksgiving
Makes1 frozen pie
Let me tell you the secret to holiday baking success: You can fully bake pumpkin pies right now and freeze them to enjoy later. Because of their fat content, fully baked pie crusts freeze beautifully, and the rich custard fillings of pumpkin pie and sweet potato pie were practically designed to be frozen too. Follow our guide to learn how to freeze a pumpkin pie—and defrost it perfectly when you’re ready to serve.
Can You Freeze Pumpkin Pie?
Yes, you can totally freeze pumpkin pie! Pie crust and custard fillings are good candidates for freezing. The pie will stay fresh up to a month — just be sure to transfer it to the fridge the at least a day before Thanksgiving.
How to Freeze Pumpkin Pie
- Cool the pie completely. Cool the pie completely on a wire rack at room temperature. This will take several hours.
- Tightly wrap the pie. Wrap the pie tightly in a few layers of plastic wrap. An additional wrap of aluminum foil is optional, but recommended.
- Label and freeze the pie. Label the pie with the freeze date. Freeze on a level shelf until solid.
- Thaw overnight before serving. Remove the aluminum foil if using and thaw in the fridge overnight, making sure the pie is on a level shelf in the refrigerator as it thaws.
How to Thaw Frozen Pumpkin Pie
- To thaw your frozen pie, transfer it from the freezer to the refrigerator at least 12 hours prior to serving. Do not thaw a fully frozen pumpkin pie at room temperature, as this can cause the filling to weep, leaving a soggy crust in its wake. A long, slow thaw is the way to go, so plan ahead!
- You can serve your defrosted pumpkin pie straight from the fridge or let it sit at room temperature for less than two hours before you plan to serve it.
- Occasionally, the plastic wrap will leave a few blemishes on the surface of the pie, but those are easy enough to cover with a sprinkle of cinnamon-sugar or generous dollop of whipped cream.
How Long Can Pumpkin Pie Stay Frozen?
Pumpkin pie can be frozen for up to 1 month. Transfer it from the freezer to the refrigerator at least 12 hours prior to serving.
How To Freeze Pumpkin Pie
Makes 1 frozen pie
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 1 fully baked pumpkin pie, preferably in a foil pie pan
Equipment
- Plastic wrap
- Aluminum foil
- Freezer tape
Instructions
Cool the pie completely. Cool the pie completely on a wire rack at room temperature. This will take several hours.
Tightly wrap the pie. Wrap the pie tightly in a few layers of plastic wrap. An additional wrap of aluminum foil is optional, but recommended.
Label and freeze the pie. Label the pie with the freeze date. Freeze on a level shelf until solid.
Thaw overnight before serving. Remove the aluminum foil if using and thaw in the fridge overnight, making sure the pie is on a level shelf in the refrigerator as it thaws.
Recipe Notes
Some of Our Favorite Pumpkin Pie Recipes
Pumpkin is a versatile ingredient, so you can bake pumpkin pies with traditional flavors, or experiment with deeply spiced iterations, and countless other versions.