I love everything about autumn. The cool crisp air, the breathtaking colors of the leaves, the outdoor bonfires, and all the extra snuggling opportunities that ensue are some of my favorite things about the season.
However, the thing that I look forward to the most during this time of year is all of the wonderful, seasonal food! I absolutely love the flavors that are associated with autumn. To me, these flavors speak ultimate comfort food!
Two of my favorite autumn dishes are true classics – pumpkin pie and sweet potato casserole. I grew up eating both of these time-honored dishes every Thanksgiving. I love both of them in their own right, but when the thought came to me of combining the two into one dish, I knew I couldn’t resist!
With all of the spices and flavor of pumpkin pie and all of the subtly sweet, crunchy goodness of sweet potato casserole, this Pumpkin Pie Casserole is absolutely delicious. It is the perfect side dish to any special autumn dinner!
In addition to being delicious, this casserole also packs quite the nutritional punch. Did you know that pumpkins are considered a super food? They are full of antioxidants, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, and fiber! Pumpkins can also help in fighting the flu. Yes, I would say that pumpkins do deserve the title of “super food!”
Pumpkin Pie Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups pumpkin puree I recommend using fresh over canned
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup preferably grade b
- 2 eggs
- 4 tablespoons butter softened
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract I use homemade vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp cloves
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans walnuts would work also
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1/2 cup sucanat
- 3 tbsp butter softened
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Combine the first eleven ingredients (through nutmeg) in a mixing bowl. Mix until well blended.
- Place the pumpkin mixture in a shallow 2.5 quart, greased baking dish.
- Combine the pecans, coconut, sucanat, and butter until everything is well incorporated.
- Sprinkle evenly over the pumpkin mixture.
- Bake for 60-75 minutes, until the top is well browned and the casserole is set.
What are your favorite comfort foods for autumn? And what do you love to make with pumpkin? Enjoy!
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Amanda Z
November 1, 2011 at 4:26 AMLooks super yummy! May use this as a substitute for pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving. Thanks for sharing
Mindy @ The Purposed Heart
November 1, 2011 at 11:01 AM@Amanda Z, You’re welcome! If you’re family isn’t used to sweet desserts, this would be a great replacement for pumpkin pie. However, if you want something more like what most people refer to as “dessert” you could up the sweetener in the pumpkin mixture. I wouldn’t add any more maple syrup because it might make it too runny, but you could try adding some sucanat in with the maple syrup.
Melissa
November 1, 2011 at 5:11 AMLooks delicious! Can’t wait to try!!
Nola
November 1, 2011 at 5:43 AMWow I didn’t know it was a super food. I have lots of pumpkin this year. I have a bit from last year I am still using (frozen puree from my own garden) and then 4 pumpkins (medium sized, they are supposed to be good for multi purposes) for this year. I have 3 sitting in my dining room and one cooked and pureed so far.
I don’t do sweeteners except fruit type ones, so my recipes reflect that mostly. I do occassionally make pumpkin pie for my husband, converting a typical recipe into “real food”. I use whole wheat flour and butter for the crust, and the filling I use the puree, spices, milk and a bit of sucanat (although much less than I would normally since we are either used to no or little sugar…you could simply substitute the sugar for sucanat). For the milk it calls for condensed milk, but those cans have AWFUL ingredients. So I double the milk, and then slowly (so not to burn) simmer it on the stove until it equals the amount I want eg. I want 1 cup condensed so simmer 2 cups. It takes a while. Maybe 20 minutes or a bit more. The pie is a bit different in that the crust LOOKS brownish but I’ve served it to others with good reviews and my husband says it tastes “just like the normal kind” so that means it passes, LOL!
I use pumpkin mainly in muffins (sweetened with apple juice or apple sauce) and pumpkin corn bread. I have yet to find a soup recipe I like, but my brother suggested combining it with half the butternut squash in a squash soup and I haven’t tried that yet. Plain pumpkin soup didn’t go over well.
Meg @ Cracking An Egg
November 1, 2011 at 8:17 AM@Nola, I love your idea for “condensing” your own milk. I usually take the quick way out and add cream instead. 😉
Mindy @ The Purposed Heart
November 1, 2011 at 11:08 AM@Nola, I’m with Meg – I usually go the cream route! I will have to try making my own condensed milk sometime. 🙂
I’ve never heard of pumpkin cornbread before, but it sounds intriguing. I’m going to have to look that up! As for the pumpkin soup, this is one that my family loves. http://thepurposedheart.com/creamy-pumpkin-soup/ We’ve had others before that we didn’t care for, but this one has an excellent flavor. Let me know if you try it out!
Rachel @ day2day joys
November 1, 2011 at 6:24 AMMindy, I enjoy both pumpkin pie & sweet potato casserole so it makes sense to combine them. I love how you made the pie mixture the traditional way replacing ingredients with “real” ones and made the traditional topping for sweet potato casserole and added them together. When I was reading your intro I thought you were going to have pumpkin & sweet potatoes in the ingredients but I really like this take on the casserole. I also might try combining them in one dish this year.
Mindy @ The Purposed Heart
November 1, 2011 at 11:10 AM@Rachel @ day2day joys, That’s a great idea to use both sweet potatoes and pumpkin in the base, Rachel. I might have to try that next time!
Stephanie Davis
November 1, 2011 at 7:02 AMLooks delicious!!
Erin--The Humbled Homemaker
November 1, 2011 at 7:08 AMMindy, this looks absolutely delicious!!! Pumpkin pie has always been my favorite Thanksgiving dessert, and I love sweet potato casserole! I actually prefer the taste of pumpkin to sweet potatoes, so I may just make this this year and call it a side dish/dessert!! I’m pinning this recipe! Can’t wait to try it!
Leigh Ann @ Intentional By Grace
November 1, 2011 at 7:15 AMI’m Erin! This looks amazing, and I’m pinning it for later! I too prefer pumpkin to sweet potato (though I adore sweet potato too). Thanks for sharing this recipe. Can’t wait to try it. Your recipes are always family favorites!
Stacy Makes Cents
November 1, 2011 at 8:20 AMLooks delicious. 🙂
Vida
November 1, 2011 at 9:59 AMDo you think I could substitute sunflower seeds or pepitas for nuts? Allergies…
Nikki @ Christian Mommy Blogger
November 1, 2011 at 10:33 AMSo going to add this to my menu for this “season”….not waiting for Thanksgiving! Pin for sure…thanks Mindy 🙂
Candi
November 1, 2011 at 12:55 PMThis looks fabulous. I can’t wait to try it.
Jedonne
November 1, 2011 at 3:58 PMI love making pumpkin pancakes! I use the normal pumpkin pie spices and pumpkin and maybe some chopped pecans in the batter. Then I top with Maple syrup! Yummy!
Mindy @ The Purposed Heart
November 1, 2011 at 9:26 PM@Jedonne, We LOVE pumpkin pancakes also. We have them for Thanksgiving day breakfast every year as a family tradition along with homemade eggnog! We usually top our pumpkin pancakes with pecans, but I like that you just add them to the batter. Good idea!
Wick
November 1, 2011 at 8:43 PMYes. Yes. And yes, again. Including many of these comments. Now just add the element of “donut” to any of the above, and some fresh pressed apple cider. I’m in. 🙂
Joelle
November 2, 2011 at 10:46 AMI made this last night! I used a little less sweetener than was called for, but it was still delicious! My husband gets so annoyed with me when I decrease or omit the sugar from dessert recipes, but he had NO CLUE on this one! In fact, he said “I usually don’t like pumpkin pie, but this is really good!” as he served himself seconds. This is a keeper for sure!
Emily
November 2, 2011 at 2:36 PMWe LOVE pumpkin pie – thanks for sharing this modification; looks delish! 🙂
Living the Balanced Life
November 7, 2011 at 9:12 AMI have always made sweet potato casserole and love pumpkin pie. I always feel so guilty pouring so much brown sugar into the casserole, and this year I am really trying to eat healthier, so I love the idea of real maple syrup! Definitely going to be making this one!
Thanks for sharing!
Bernice
Sarah
November 10, 2011 at 10:38 AMI am making this right now. Can’t wait to eat it! Thanks for posting!
Ella Bean
November 10, 2011 at 6:51 PMLove that Pumpkin Pie Casserole, it is truly great for Autumn.. That looks very yummy andI love to make this one, thanks for the recipe.
Jen
November 23, 2011 at 4:20 PMThis was SO good! I subbed honey for the sucanat; my husband loved it and the kids are begging me to make it for Thanksgiving dessert…so that is what I’ll be doing tonight. We’re going to serve it with some whipped cream. Thanks for such a delicious, healthy recipe!
anu
November 24, 2011 at 12:58 PMThanks you so much for this recipe. I used fresh pumpkin from the farmer’s mkt and used Jaggery(unrefined palm sugar) instead of sucanat and it turned out great. This is the first time I tried something like this.. and we loved it.