There are certain things in life that are not worth the effort.
Making your own spring rolls complete with skins from scratch? Not worth the effort.
Rotating your own car tires? Not worth the effort.
Saving a few bucks by cutting your own hair with your kitchen scissors? Not worth the effort.
On the other hand, cutting your own steaks from a roast is completely worth the effort. Ditto for actually reading your camera's manual to figure out how to use it and making your own BBQ sauce.
The problem is you have to undergo a few experiments and a few wasted days in order to figure out what's worth the effort and what isn't. It took me several nights out on the lawn with a sprinkler and a flashlight to come to grips with the fact that it's not worth the effort. Now I just pay the $2 and buy a container of worms for fishing.
So for the longest time I've been wondering whether baking a pumpkin pie from scratch, complete with baking the actual pumpkin was worth it. Did it really produce a pie that was far superior to one made with canned pumpkin? I'd made and eaten both, but I'd never tried them side by side.
So last week I cooked 2 pumpkin pies.
One I made by baking a sugar pumpkin, hand grinding the cinnamon, and making the crust from scratch.
Table of Contents
Pumpkin Pie Made with Real Pumpkin
ANY CHARA CTER HERE
The other I made by using a can of pumpkin glop and a frozen crust.
Pumpkin Pie with Canned Pumpkin
And then I took to the streets (my mom's street, my sister's street, my niece's street .... ) to find out which pie tasted the best.
Was all the work of a scratch pumpkin pie really worth it? Or is buying a can of pumpkin and a frozen crust just as good? My hope was that the canned pumpkin glop and frozen crust would end up being as good, just for the sheer hilarity of it. And of course the convenience.
So ... after asking 10 people, including:
My mom
My niece
My boyfriend
One of my sisters
... the results were indisputable.
After tasting both pumpkin pies ....
9 out of 10 preferred ...
Real Pumpkin, Pumpkin Pie!
The one hold out was my sister. She actually preferred the canned pumpkin, pumpkin pie. She even tried it twice to make sure.
Everyone else, hands down, preferred the home made pumpkin pie. They liked the texture, the colour and the crust better.
So ... if given the choice over the next little while between spending time making a real pumpkin pie and squishing worms in the grass with your thumb. Go for the pie. It's worth the effort.
** Re: comments. Are you kidding me people?? What do I have to do???? Cut myself and bleed pumpkin?
Yes. If you want, you can used canned pumpkin. But no, it will not taste as good as using a pumpkin you baked yourself.
If you must choose between either making the crust or making the pumpkin filling from scratch, make the pumpkin filling!**
BIG EATER
I looked and looked in my camera manual and I can't find instructions for making my own BBQ sauce.
Oona
Hehe
Pete
I prefer using apples instead of pumpkin in my pumpkin pies...
Erika
Well, Pete, then that would just be peach pie then, now wouldn't it! Sheesh!
Natalie
Hahaha that's hilarious that everyone wants to cheat and use the canned pumpkin in the homemade crust :) tee hee
Rebecca
By the way, I figured out the cost of making your pie and using the crisco box recipe for the crust. I included all ingredients except salt and spices (because seriously, unless you're making 200 pies, those don't matter) and the grand total was $5.75. Yep, I'm a nerd, but I wanted to know how much I was saving. Soooo, you can buy one of those preservative-laden grocery store ones for less, but not the high-end bakery type. Round these parts those go for $12-$16.
Nichola
I actually did the same test last week, baked two pumpkin pies one from scratch and one from a can, and came to the same conclusion...the one from scratch was preferred. And you know, I was actually surprised by how easy it was to make it from scratch! Now obviously it was a little more time consuming than just whipping out my trusty can opener but oh so worth it.
Wendi
That would be a sweet potato pie then. When I make sweet potato pie, I use sweet potatoes. When I make pumpkin pies I use pie pumpkins and I have to agree, Karen. Changing your own oil doesn't actually even save you very much money (and I even find it fun) so isn't worth it but yes, baking your pie pumpkins at home always wins you fans. Always. Then you have to make more room at Thanksgiving...so...still worth it? ;)
Carol
How about a compromise,,,,,canned pumpkin in a homemade pie crust? Afterall,,,,,its really about the whip cream isn't it! ; )
Tina
You would not say that if you had had the WHOLE pumpkin pumkin pie! I will settle for Pilsbury ready made crust though but not not canned pumpkin!
Alexandra Dare
Okay, but WHAT IF you used canned pumpkin with a homemade crust? Do you think the results would have been different? I bet organic canned pumpkin would taste pretty good in a pie too :)
Although, I must admit, your REAL pumpkin pie looks far superior to the other one. I would have loved to have a bite of that :)
-Alexandra Dare
http://lafemmenotoire.com
Ana
There's nothing more organic than using the real thing! : )
I agree real pumpkin makes a far better pumpkin pie, although sometimes I just have a craving for cheap pumpkin pie from the corner store and a dollop of ice cream, preferably crammed into my mouth at lightning speeds.
Kevin Lepard
Was this a double blind test? (Ok, just kidding, but valid question. My wife used to swear she could tell the difference between brands of skim milk, but double blind testing proved she really couldn't so now we can buy the cheaper milk.)
Karen
Actually, Kevin! It was a double blind test! They got to see the pies and judge them based on looks. Then I had them close their eyes and fed them a piece of each. They had no idea which one they were eating. Sheesh. You think I'm an amateur at this or something? ;) ~ karen
Jen A
I think your sister just wanted more pie.
marilyn
hey karen maybe next year you can have a cranberry sauce VS cranberry sauce. ( she said completely tongue in cheek) ...just sayin
Karen
:) Heh.
Theresa
I'm going for the middle on this one canned pumkin but homemade crust. I've never done the from scratch thing. How do you know what kind of pumkin to buy?
Karen
NO! NO, no, no, no, no!!! You cannot use canned pumpkin. That was the whole point of this! It's the *pumpkin* that makes the huge difference. If you're going to only do one thing, cook the pumpkin and use a frozen crust. Pleaseeeeeee. :) ~karen
Ree
Keep at them, Karen!
Hang in there! Never give up! Never give in!
NO CANNED PUMPKIN!!!
Never. Not ever. No.
You are talking PUMPKIN Pie here.... not PIE!
Go ahead and use canned apples and frozen crust for apple pie...
But for Pumpkin Pie ... Fresh, handmade is BEST!
Caroline
well I know the crust is better homemade than the frozen crap. Frozen pie crust should be ILLEGAL. I always get a hankering for pie and then am so disappointed with fake crust.
I'm more concerned about the insides, though--my mom makes the best pie in the world and I showed her your entry how to use actual pumpkins. Is the insides really worth it??
magali
i think i will compromise. real pumpkin, pumpkin pie in a frozen crust.
mimi
Don't hit me over the head with a pumpkin, but I was wondering about hame-made crust with canned pumpkin? Or even, did they indicate which part tasted better?
I've never seen canned pumpkin here, so no option, though I've only ever made p pie once!
Karen
Mimi - No. No, no, no. No. Nuh. If you're going to compromise, compromise by using frozen crust but cooking the pumpkin. It's the pumpkin that makes the difference. The canned has a gloppy texture and unnatural colour. - karen!
Emy
my my own survey: real sweet potatoes make the best pumpkin pie.
coralie
Emy that would be sweet potato pie.
Shannon
I have only made pumpkin pie once..due to the fact such things are viewed as quite bizarre & foreign here in Australia. It didn't go to well, it was not a tasty experiment (I suspect this is my fault, not the pies fault) I think I got a bad recipe.
I did eat some tasty pumpkin pie in my travels though. Maybe I should give the homemade pumpkin pie another go?
Also not worth the effort, double podding required of fresh broadbeans (maybe you call them fava beans there?) I usually just give up & head for the freezer for some frozen peas.
Laura
next try adding molasses to your recipe
Christina S.
What a fun contest. I'd like to try the Real Pumpkin Pie. Looks tasty!
Lindsey @ Hot Polka Dot
I'm so relieved! Though canned pumpkin and frozen pie crust would be far easier, the real one must be far superior!
Linda
I make it from the can but use home made crust no one then can tell the difference from fresh pumpkin. The difference is in the crust
Karen
Ohhhhhh no it's not. I, and anyone who has made or tasted a real pumpkin pie will testify to that. Huge difference. Give it a shot. All you have to do is bake a sugar pumpkin. Crust is important, but canned doesn't compare in the slightest to real pumpkin. ~ karen!