fbpx

23+ best pumpkins for pie

The best pumpkin pie demands the best pumpkin purée – and the best pumpkin purée needs the absolute best gourmet pumpkins.

The best pumpkins for pie are heirloom culinary varieties with dense, sweet flesh that’s not watery or stringy. Some of the best pumpkin for making pumpkin pie include

The best pumpkins for pie are heirloom culinary varieties with dense, sweet flesh that’s not watery or stringy. Some of the best are Dickinson pumpkin, Long Pie pumpkin, Fairytale pumpkin, Jarrahdale pumpkin, and Red Kuri squash. Skip the carving/Jack-O-Lantern types and choose an heirloom cultivar for its cooked flavor and texture. Even the attractively-named “Sugar Pie Pumpkin” pales in comparison to the varieties below when baked in pies.

Read on to learn all about the best types of pumpkins for making gourmet pumpkin pie!

Which pumpkins to use for making pie
Go for the unique-looking heirlooms, not the bright orange jack-o-lantern types

A note about Pumpkins vs. Squash: All pumpkins are squash, but not all squash are referred to as “pumpkins”. In casual terms, the winter squash we call “pumpkins” are simply those that tend to have rounded melon-like shapes. Some varieties are sold as “squash” and others are sold as “pumpkin” (depending on local tradition), but they are all part of the Cucurbita botanical genus. Lots of pumpkins are species Cucurbita pepo, but some are Cucurbita maxima or Cucurbita moschata. In terms of the best pumpkin species for making pie filling, most prefer Cucurbita maxima or Cucurbita moschata due to the thicker, more flavorful flesh.

Dickinson pumpkin - pumpkin pie pumpkin
Dickinson pumpkin – american culinary heirloom

1. Dickinson pumpkin

The Dickinson pumpkin is an American heirloom pie pumpkin considered to be the go-to pie-making pumpkin by many bakers and chefs. These medium-sized, tall pumpkins are American heirlooms, with roots in Kentucky and Illinois. Ripe pumpkins weigh about 10-14 pounds each.

Dickinson pumpkins have dense orange flesh with minimal water content. Flavor is sweet and complex, while the texture is firm, making a thick purée. The dense flesh is not at all watery when puréed for pie, and this heritage cultivar is known for its rich flavor when baked.

The Dickinson Pumpkin is a Cucurbita moschata cultivar and other pumpkin pie-making favorites like Musquée de Provence (Fairytale Pumpkin), Butternut Squash, and Seminole Pumpkin.

“Grown by Elijah Dickinson, born in 1795, he brought the Dickinson pumpkin seeds to Eureka, Ill., from Kentucky in 1835. He didn’t know he was carrying with him the seeds of a million dollar pie pumpkin and one of the most valuable heirlooms in history. It is the backbone of the pie industry even today.”

Dickinson Pumpkin Seeds, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Catalog
Pumpkins for pie - musquee de provence - castilla squash - fairytale pumpkin
Fairytale pumpkins – french culinary heirloom

2. Fairytale pumpkins (Musquée De Provence/Calabaza de Castilla)

Fairytale pumpkins (also known as Musquée de Provence, Calabaza de Castilla, or Castilla Squash), are French heirloom gourmet culinary pumpkins. These medium-large-sized fruits have a dusky-tan exterior when ripe.

The Fairytale Pumpkins have a sweet, fresh flavor when used for pumpkin pies. Flesh is firm, making a thick pumpkin purée with a spicy scent and a sweet, mild flavor. Overall, Fairytale Pumpkin makes a delicious pumpkin pie filling that is creamy, smooth, and tender.

The Fairytale Pumpkin is a Cucurbita moschata cultivar, along with other pumpkin pie-making favorites like Dickinson Pumpkin, Butternut Squash, and Seminole Pumpkin.

3. Long Pie pumpkins (Nantucket pumpkins)

Long Pie pumpkins, also known as Nantucket Pumpkin, are an heirloom culinary pumpkin from the East Coast. These pumpkins are elongated (about 12″ long and 5″ wide) and weigh about 4 pounds each when ripe. The young rind is a dark green color, maturing to a tan-orange color.

Long Pie Pumpkins have thick orange flesh that makes an absolutely decadent pumpkin purée. These heirlooms have the classic old-fashioned pumpkin pie taste that is hard to find. This is a pumpkin worth searching for!

The Long Pie Pumpkin is a Cucurbita pepo cultivar, like the Winter Luxury Pumpkin.

Best pie pumpkins - heirloom jarrahdale
Jarrahdale pumpkins – australian culinary heirloom

4. Jarrahdale pumpkin

Jarrahdale pumpkin is an heirloom cooking pumpkin considered to be one of the best pumpkins for making pumpkin pie filling. These medium-large sized culinary pumpkins were originally cultivated in Australia, and grow to be in the range of 12-18 pounds when ripe.

Jarrahdale pumpkins have sweet, fruity flesh that roasts to absolute gourmet perfection. The flavor is almost melon-like, and the texture is smooth with minimal stringiness. Jarrahdale pumpkins make a balanced, savory-sweet pumpkin pie that’s perfect for those who shy away from overly-sweet desserts.

The Jarrahdale Pumpkin is a Cucurbita maxima cultivar, along with other pumpkin pie-making favorites like Buttercup Squash, Kabocha Pumpkin, and Hubbard Squash.

Red kuri squash – gourmet japanese heirloom

5. Red Kuri squash

Red Kuri squash is a Japanese heirloom squash that makes delicious, bright orange, rich, and flavorful pumpkin pies. This red-orange, teardrop-shaped squash weighs 5-8 pounds each. Some pie-makers may want to roast 2 squashes when making larger (or multiple) pies.

Red Kuri Squash is fantastic for pumpkin pie not only because of its dense, deliciously-sweet flesh but also because the bright color of the puree shines through even after the pie has been cooked. These squash make pumpkin pies that look just as good as they taste!

Red Kuri Squash is a Cucurbita maxima cultivar, along with other pumpkin pie-making favorites like Jarrahdale Pumpkin, Kabocha Pumpkin, and Hubbard Squash.

Seminole pumpkin at harvest

6. Seminole pumpkin

Seminole pumpkin is a small tan heirloom cooking pumpkin from the Everglades (Florida, USA). These pumpkins taste a lot like Butternut Squash but can be grown in hotter, more humid climates.

Seminole Pumpkins make a smooth and sweet pumpkin pie filling with a deep orange color. The flesh is dense and rich, making a hearty pie filling. Seminole Pumpkin pie filling tends to be a bit sweeter than pie filling from some other common choices, such as Jarrahdale or Butternut Squash.

The Seminole Pumpkin is a Cucurbita moschata cultivar, along with other pumpkin pie-making favorites like Musquée de Provence (Fairytale Pumpkins), Butternut Squash, and Dickinson Pie Pumpkin.

7. Zucchino Rampicante squash

Zucchino Rampicante Squash is an Italian heirloom squash with tender flesh and a sweet, delicious taste. While sometimes eaten when young as a summer squash, the Zucchino Rampicante can be left to mature into a winter squash with a tan-color rind (like butternut). The ripe fruits are very long and slender (like a zucchini), with a bulb-like end.

Zucchino Rampicante Squash has a subtle, sweet taste when used to make pumpkin pie filling. These Italian heirlooms are prized for their complex yet light flavor. The elongated shape of the squash means that it’s difficult to peel and cube the really thin parts, but fortunately, if you’re growing this one yourself, the plants are so vigorous that quantity will likely not be a problem.

The Zucchino Rampicante Squash is a Cucurbita moschata cultivar, along with other pumpkin pie-making favorites like Musquée de Provence (Fairytale Pumpkins), Butternut Squash, and Dickinson Pie Pumpkin.

“The Italians use it for stuffing in gnocchi and ravioli; the flesh is rich and flavorful, great for baking and pies! The vines produce good yields of this great all-purpose squash. The mature fruit grow very long. This one is in very high demand at specialty markets”

Zucchino Rampicante Squash Seeds, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Catalog
Kabocha pumpkin (japanese black pumpkin)
Kabocha pumpkin (japanese black pumpkin)

8. Kabocha Japanese pumpkin (Kabocha squash)

Kabocha Pumpkin is a small, dark green Japanese heirloom culinary pumpkin. These pumpkins have a rough outer rind and a bright orange interior. Each pumpkin ranges in size from about 3-5 pounds, so bakers may want to purchase a few squashes to roast.

Kabocha Pumpkins have moderately sweet, fine-textured flesh that makes an excellent, thick pie filling. Despite being a thick purée, the texture is rich and creamy while the flavor is subtle and earthy (but not mild enough to be completely obscured by the spices). The dark color of the squash also looks lovely in a baked pie shell, if not quite as bright as the Red Kuri Squash purée.

The Kabocha Pumpkin is a Cucurbita maxima cultivar, along with other pumpkin pie-making favorites like Buttercup Squash, Jarrahdale Pumpkin, and Hubbard Squash.

Buttercup squash

9. Buttercup squash

Buttercup Squash is a winter squash that works well as a small, green-skinned pumpkin in festive autumn displays. They have a turban-like button on the bottom, and the rind often has thin vertical grey streaks. Ripe fruits weigh about 3 pounds each.

Buttercup Squash looks and taste quite a bit like Kabocha Pumpkins, but with a sweeter flavor. Like Kabocha, the purée is thick and rich – perfect for pumpkin pie! When mixed into pumpkin pie filling, the result is a creamy and smooth baked pie.

Buttercup Squash is a Cucurbita maxima cultivar, along with other blue/green colored pumpkin pie-making favorites like Jarrahdale Pumpkin, Kabocha Pumpkin, and Hubbard Squash.

Butternut squash
Butternut squash

10. Butternut squash

Butternut Squash, known as Butternut Pumpkin (or Gramma) in Australia and New Zealand, is a commonly-available winter squash that makes excellent pumpkin pie filling.

Butternut Squash makes a yellow-orange purée with a sweet, nutty flavor. The aroma is almost like that of mashed sweet potatoes, but with a texture that’s slightly juicier and a brighter yellow color. Butternut Squash makes sweet pumpkin pies with a classic “nutty” autumn aroma.

Butternut Squash is a Cucurbita moschata cultivar, along with other tan/yellow-colored pumpkin pie-making favorites like Dickinson Pumpkin, Fairytale Pumpkin, and Seminole Pumpkin.

11. Black Futsu pumpkin

Futsu Black Pumpkin is a small-sized, green-black heirloom pumpkin from Japan. These unique pumpkins are round and very dark green as they start to mature, developing deep ribs and a wrinkly rind. Ripe Black Futsu Pumpkins turn a dusky brown color, and weighing about 3 pounds.

Black Futsu Pumpkins have a sweet, nutty flavor (think chestnuts or hazelnuts). The resulting purée is similar to a Butternut Squash purée if a little bit nuttier, deeper, and in a slightly darker yellow-orange shade.

The Black Futsu Pumpkin is a Cucurbita moschata cultivar, along with other pumpkin pie-making favorites like Dickinson Pumpkin, Fairytale Pumpkin, and Seminole Pumpkin.

12. Galeux d’Eysines pumpkin (Peanut pumpkin)

Galeux d’Eysines Pumpkin (Peanut Pumpkin) is a medium-sized, tan heirloom pumpkin from France. These pumpkins are known for their peach-colored skin that’s covered in bumpy “warts”! The more warts on a Galeux d’Eysines Pumpkin, the sweeter the flavor of the pumpkin will be!

Galeux d’Eysines Pumpkins are well-known as excellent baking pumpkins. The flesh is very flavorful, smooth, and sweet. Galeux d’Eysines (Peanut Pumpkin) makes a deliciously sweet pumpkin pie filling!

The Galeux d’Eysines Pumpkin is a Cucurbita maxima cultivar, along with other pumpkin pie-making favorites like Jarrahdale Pumpkin, Kabocha Pumpkin, and Hubbard Squash.

Winter luxury pumpkin

13. Winter Luxury pumpkin

Winter Luxury Pumpkin is a medium-sized, tan, North American heirloom pumpkin cultivar. These pumpkins grow to reach 6-8 pounds when ripe and are known for both their pale, rough, webbed rind and incredibly sweet, smooth flesh. Winter Luxury remains a sought-after pie pumpkin for bakers.

Winter Luxury makes a thick purée with a sweet flavor and a silky smooth texture. This pumpkin is a different botanical type than most pie pumpkins but has undeniably smooth and balanced characteristics that are so sought after by bakers.

The Winter Luxury Pumpkin is a Cucurbita pepo cultivar, like the Long Pie Pumpkin.

“Distinguished by its find and close netting. Unequaled table quality: The proof is in the pie.”

The Compleat Squash: A Passionate Grower’s Guide to Pumpkins, Squash, and Gourds, By Amy Goldman
Long island cheese pumpkins

14. Long Island Cheese pumpkin

Long Island Cheese Pumpkin is a medium-sized, tan heirloom pumpkin cultivar from Long Island (NY, USA). These pumpkins have a pale pastel creamy-yellow rind, rather like a big wheel of cheese. Each pumpkin weighs in the range of 6-10 pounds.

Long Island Cheese Pumpkin is popular for making pie filling as it makes a hearty purée perfect for cozy fall meals. The rich flavor is slightly earthy, but still well-balanced with dessert-quality sweetness.

The Long Island Cheese Pumpkin is a Cucurbita moschata cultivar, along with other pumpkin pie-making favorites like Dickinson Pumpkin, Fairytale Pumpkin, and Seminole Pumpkin.

15. Hubbard squash

Hubbard Squash is a large, teardrop-shaped heirloom squash that is known for its excellent cooking characteristics. These big fruits have grey-green-blue bumpy skin and weigh 15-20 pounds when ripe (if not more!).

Hubbard Squash makes fine-grained, smooth purée with a lovely subtle flavor. The yellow-gold flesh is sweet and earthy.

Hubbard Squash is a Cucurbita maxima cultivar, along with other pumpkin pie-making favorites like Jarrahdale Pumpkin, Kabocha Pumpkin, and Galeux d’Eysines Pumpkin.

Marina di chioggia pie pumpkin
Marina di chioggia pie pumpkin

16. Marina Di Chioggia pumpkin

Marina Di Chioggia pumpkin is a medium-sized, dark green heirloom pumpkin from the town of Chiogga, Italy (near Venice). These Italian heirlooms weigh about 10-12 pounds each and are known for their warty, wrinkly, almost bubbly rind.

Marina Di Chioggia is an excellent cooking pumpkin, making a purée with a deep, dark orange color. This rich, dense winter squash is delicious in pies due to its sweet flavor that is enhanced by roasting the flesh prior to pureeing.

The Marina Di Chioggia Pumpkin is a Cucurbita maxima cultivar, along with other pumpkin pie-making favorites like Jarrahdale Pumpkin, Kabocha Pumpkin, and Hubbard Squash.

17. Jaune Gros De Paris pumpkin (Yellow of Paris pumpkin)

Jaune Gros De Paris Pumpkin (Yellow Of Paris Pumpkin) is a large, yellow heirloom pumpkin variety from France. These big yellow pumpkins typically weigh 40-50 pounds but can grow to reach over 100 pounds in good conditions. While this heirloom is beautiful, it is known mainly for its tender, sweet cooked flesh. Use this pumpkin variety in pies, soups, or baked goods like pumpkin bread.

Jaune Gros de Paris Pumpkins make a bright yellow purée. The flesh is thick, making a dense yet tender purée for pumpkin pie. The bright color remains somewhat yellow-orange when cooked, for a nicely-colored cooked pie.

The Jaune Gros de Paris Pumpkin is a Cucurbita maxima cultivar, along with other pumpkin pie-making favorites like Jarrahdale Pumpkin, Kabocha Pumpkin, and Hubbard Squash.

Pumpkins for pie
Pie pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes.

18. Blue Doll pumpkin

Blue Doll Pumpkin is a medium-large, blue-grey modern hybrid pumpkin variety bred to have the appearance and flavor of an old-fashioned heirloom pumpkin. Fruits are deeply ribbed and reach 15-20 pounds per fruit.

The flesh is bright orange and sufficiently dense and flavorful to make an heirloom-quality pie filling. The flavor is not overly sweet and is a great choice for those who prefer a more savory taste in their pie filling (as opposed to the more saccharine pie filings).

The Blue Doll Pumpkin is a hybrid Cucurbita cultivar.

19. Queensland Blue pumpkin

Queensland Blue pumpkin is a large, blue-grey heirloom pumpkin cultivar from Australia. The gorgeous grey-blue pumpkins have deep ribs and a flattened, almost cylindrical frame. These pumpkins store for many months due to their thick rind.

Queensland Blue pumpkins have thick and meaty flesh with a wonderful bright golden-orange color. The resulting purée is very sweet and keeps a bit of its golden color after being baked in the oven.

The Queensland Blue pumpkin is a Cucurbita maxima cultivar, along with other pumpkin pie-making favorites like Jarrahdale pumpkin, Kabocha squash, and Hubbard squash.

20. Tokyo Blue squash (Tokyo pumpkin)

Tokyo Blue Squash (Tokyo Pumpkin) is a small, dark green heirloom pumpkin from Tachikawa City, Tokyo (Japan). These early-maturing fruits typically weigh about 5 pounds when ripe.

Tokyo Blue Squash is known for its incredibly smooth texture and sweet taste in pumpkin purée. When used for pie filling, the fine-grained flesh is aromatic, a bit earthy, and retains some of the yellow colors after cooking.

The Tokyo Blue Squash is a Cucurbita maxima cultivar, along with other pumpkin pie-making favorites like Jarrahdale Pumpkin, Kabocha Pumpkin, and Queensland Blue Pumpkin.

21. Flat White Boer pumpkin

Flat White Boer Pumpkin is a large, creamy-white heirloom pumpkin variety historically cultivated in South Africa. These pale pumpkins grow to 25-30 pounds when ripe. This variety is great both for decorating and for use in cooked pumpkin recipes.

Flat White Boer Pumpkins have sweet orange flesh that makes a great pie filling. While not as flavorful as some other old-fashioned varieties, these pumpkins still make a smooth and delicious pumpkin pie.

The Flat White Boer Pumpkin is a Cucurbita maxima cultivar, along with other pumpkin pie-making favorites like Jarrahdale Pumpkin, Kabocha Pumpkin, and Queensland Blue Pumpkin.

Pie pumpkins
Pie pumpkins! Cinderella is the big red-orange one (bottom center).

22. Cinderella pumpkin (Rouge Vif d’Etampes)

Cinderella Pumpkin (Rouge Vif d’Etampes) is a large, red-orange heirloom pumpkin variety from France. These pumpkins weigh about 20-30 pounds and are known for their brightly colored rind and classic flattened heirloom pumpkin shape.

Cinderella pumpkins have dense bright flesh perfect for baking in pies. The flavor is not as sweet as some other heirlooms and is a good choice for those who like their pumpkin pie filling on the more savory end. The flavor of this pumpkin is an excellent match for nutmeg, cinnamon, and other popular pumpkin pie spices.

The Cinderella Pumpkin is a Cucurbita maxima cultivar, along with other pumpkin pie-making favorites like Jarrahdale Pumpkin, Kabocha Pumpkin, and Queensland Blue Pumpkin.

23. Amish Pie squash

Amish Pie Squash (also known as Amish Pie Pumpkin) is an extra-large winter squash developed to make delicious baked goods. These giant white pumpkins can reach 60-80 pounds when ripe!

Amish Pie Squash has dense, sweet flesh that stays somewhat moist in a purée. These giant pumpkins make very large batches of pumpkin purée when roasted (enough for MANY pies!).

Amish Pie Squash is a Cucurbita maxima cultivar, along with other large-sized pumpkin pie-making favorites like Jarrahdale Pumpkin, Cinderella Pumpkin, and Queensland Blue Pumpkin.

24. Porcelain Doll pumpkin

Porcelain Doll Pumpkin is another medium-large modern hybrid pumpkin bred to have the appearance of an old-fashioned heirloom, but with a pale pink-colored rind. Individual pumpkins weigh 18-22 pounds and are deeply ribbed. A portion of proceeds from Porcelain Doll Pumpkins and seeds goes to support Breast Cancer research.

Porcelain Doll Pumpkins make a smooth, deep orange pumpkin purée. The orange flesh is sweet, but still nicely balanced in flavor.

Porcelain Doll is a Cucurbita maxima cultivar, along with other big pumpkin pie-making favorites like Jarrahdale Pumpkin, Cinderella Pumpkin, and Queensland Blue Pumpkin.

Two of my favourite pie pumpkins!
Mary Jane Duford
Mary Jane Duford

Mary Jane Duford is a quintessential Canadian gardener. An engineer by trade, she tends to an ever-expanding collection of plants. In her world, laughter blooms as freely as her flowers, and every plant is raised with a dash of Canadian grit.

Mary Jane is a certified Master Gardener and also holds a Permaculture Design Certificate. She's also a proud mom of three, teaching her little sprouts the crucial difference between a garden friend and foe.

When she's not playing in the dirt, Mary Jane revels in her love for Taylor Swift, Gilmore Girls, ice hockey, and the surprisingly soothing sounds of bluegrass covers of classic hip-hop songs. She invites you to join her garden party, a place where you can share in the joy of growing and where every day is a new opportunity to find the perfect spot for yet another plant.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *