The Best Dairy-Free Soy-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe (2024)

A decade ago, a reader named June emailed me asking for a good dairy-free soy-free pumpkin pie recipe. Unfortunately, all of the tried-and-true recipes she found were vegan versions made with tofu.

I had received this request so many times during the holidays that I knew I had to come up with a reliable milk-free and soy-free recipe before the next Thanksgiving. And after several rounds of pumpkin pie trials, I created a recipe that my family thinks is one of the most delicious pumpkin pies they have ever tasted, dairy-free or not. And many of you agree! Since I first posted the recipe, way back in 2009, this dairy-free soy-free pumpkin pie has become a beloved recipe in so many households.

Today I’m giving this post a big update with some new photos that I recently took and several reader tips. But the time-tested recipe remains untouched.

The Best Dairy-Free Soy-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe (1)

This is The Best Dairy-Free Soy-Free Pumpkin Pie

This delicious recipe for dairy-free soy-free pumpkin pie uses everyday ingredients and is a great make-ahead option. We now consider it a staple on our Classic Dairy-Free Thanksgiving Menu.

The Best Dairy-Free Soy-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe (2)As a kid, I remember how the famousLibby’s Pumpkin Pie recipe would leave asoggy crust when stored overnight. But thisrecipe keeps a nice firm crust, allowing the filling to firm up and the flavor to develop as it chills in the refrigerator. In fact, Tony and I actually prefer this pie after a nightof refrigeration.

Foradditional dairy-free holiday dessert options, you can enjoy more of my recipes inGo Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook.Need itnow?Go Dairy Free is also available in all major eBook formats.

The Best Dairy-Free Soy-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe (3)

Reader Feedback:Dairy-Free Soy-Free Pumpkin Pie

You can read tons of comments on this post, but many of you left feedback on our social media or on my other blog (where I originally posted this recipe). Here are some of those comments, which include answers to many of your questions!

How Does It Taste?

I have been making this recipe since I went dairy free over 5 years ago. I have had people who don’t like pumpkin pie love this recipe. ~Anna

This is by far my family’s favorite! been using thus recipe for several years now. its amazing! ~Summer

My daughter is severely allergic. We have this every Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Everyone can’t believe it is not dairy. ~Michael-ann

THANK YOU!! Made this last night and it turned out absolutely amazing, it was my practice run before thanksgiving which this year will be entirely dairy/soy free so i can eat everything!!! Thanks again .. I’m headed for another slice right now! ~ Trinidy

Finally, a dairy free pumpkin pie that tastes great!! I tried three different dairy free recipes last year and they were all disasters. I used coconut cream instead of milk and it was perfect. ~ Susan

This is the best pumpkin pie I have ever had! ~ Katy

I have made your pumpkin pie recipe for the last two years and it’s a big hit! In fact, we prefer it to the traditional recipe! ~ Becky

I wanted to make a pumpkin pie that would also satisfy my guests who are not dairy-free, and this recipe was absolutely PERFECT. I will make this time and time again! For gluten-free, I did use the pecan crust recipe from the Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook though, which I thought was a great compliment. ~ Sharon

We made this pie, two of them actually, for a group of people. We are gluten and dairy free, and one of our friends sons is soy free as well. Every single person said it was the best pumpkin pie they ever tasted! I am back to make it for Thanksgiving today! ~ Lisa

But Can You Taste the Coconut?

Didn’t taste like coconut – all pumpkin pie. Making another one tomorrow to use my 2nd “Wholly Wholesome” pie crust (from Whole Foods). Thanks again for the recipe! ~ Amy

Can I Make It Sugar-Free?

I just want to say, “Thank you” AGAIN! This recipe is just AMAZING!!! I have made it 5 times in the last year! It’s past New Year’s, but, I don’t care. This pie is SOOO good and soo guiltless (I use xylitol sweetener). I also tried stevia. The taste was great, but it did cause the pie to pull away from the crust. ~ Adelaide

Did You Try Any Other Modifications?

For the first time ever my dairy allergic daughter was able to eat pumpkin pie! And she loved it, as did everyone else who ate it. I tweaked it just a bit by adding an extra egg white and about a 1/2 TBS of cornstarch. The texture was absolutely identical to traditional pumpkin pie. Can not wait to make this again (and again, and again, and again…)!!! ~Kim

I have made these twice and rave reviews. And shared it with Kim who commented above! I too tweaked it some and subbed 3/4 cup coconut crystals for the white and brown sugar. And I used 3 large eggs in mine. ~ Deb

I tried this recipe with EnerG egg replacer, and it worked fine. I also used soymilk instead of coconut milk, since I am allergic to dairy and eggs, but not soy. Usually my pumpkin pies are a little watery, so I used just a little less milk than it called for (between 3/4 and 1 cup). I thought it was very flavorful pie, and although it didn’t stand up quite the way a pie with eggs does, it was close enough that the filling didn’t leave the crust when I served it. THANK YOU for this lovely recipe, I’ll probably use it for years to come. ~ Victoria

My daughter is 21 and never been able to enjoy pumpkin pie and that was her wish this Thanksgiving. Thanks to your recipe it made 2 pies. I used 3 eggs and 1/2 tsp of cornstarch. My husband said it was even better than “regular” pumpkin pie. ~ Carol

The Best Dairy-Free Soy-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe (4)

Special Diet Notes: Dairy-Free, Soy-Free Pumpkin Pie

By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, optionally gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, and vegetarian.

For an egg-free and vegan soy-free pumpkin pie, several readers have had good luck substituting a powdered egg replacer like Ener-G for the eggs. I also recommend aquafaba as a substitute. The egg-free version rises up a little less.

5.0 from 13 reviews

Dairy-Free Soy-Free Pumpkin Pie

The Best Dairy-Free Soy-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe (5)

Print

Prep time

Cook time

Total time

This beloved recipe is a true favorite. And don't worry, it doesn't taste like coconut! Please note that the Prep time is hands on time only, not cooling time. Which means this is a great make ahead recipe! The easy peasy pie crust s adapted from my book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook.

Author: Alisa Fleming

Serves: 8 dee-licious slices

Ingredients

Easy Peasy Pie Crust (alternatively use the recipe below this one for a gluten-free crust, or use a store-bought shell)

  • 1½ cups all-purpose or whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1½ teaspoons sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons oil (your baking oil of choice)
  • 3 tablespoons cold water

Dairy-Free Soy-Free Pumpkin Pie Filling

  • ½ cup brown sugar, firmly packed
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg or allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs (see egg-free note above for vegan option)
  • 1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup regular, full-fat, canned coconut milk (see Notes below)

Instructions

Easy Peasy Pie Crust

  1. Put the flour, sugar, and salt in a bowl and whisk to combine. Make a well in the flour, add the oil and water, and stir until it forms dough.
  2. Press the dough into a 9-inch pie pan.

Pumpkin Pie Filling and Baking

  1. Preheat your oven to 425ºF.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugars, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg or allspice, cloves and salt.
  3. In a large bowl, beat the eggs. Beat in the sugar mixture, pumpkin, and vanilla until smooth. Fold in the coconut milk.
  4. Pour the filling into your unbaked pie crust and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 350ºF and continue to bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a knife inserted comes out clean. It may be a bit wobbly still, but it will firm-up as it cools.
  5. Allow the pie to cool on a wire rack for 2 hours (Be patient! This is important). For the firmest pie, refrigerate it for 4 hours or more before serving.

Notes

Coconut Milk Notes: How thick the pie sets up will depend on the richness of your coconut milk (NOT coconut milk beverage). If a lot of coconut cream forms when the can is chilled, then your pie will set up more firmly. But you can shake the can before using the coconut milk in this recipe.

Spice Cheat: In a pinch, you can substitute the spices with 1½ to 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice.

For More of My Recipes, Get Go Dairy Free!

The Best Dairy-Free Soy-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe (6)

The Best Dairy-Free Soy-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can replace evaporated milk in pumpkin pie? ›

While many recipes call for it, you can absolutely make an outstanding pumpkin pie without evaporated milk. If your recipe calls for one can of evaporated milk (as most do), you can substitute 1 ½ cups of cream or half and half, or a combination of the two. You can also use milk (any kind from whole to skim).

Is condensed milk or evaporated milk better for pumpkin pie? ›

As the name suggests, sweetened condensed milk makes the pie sweeter and gives it a denser, creamier texture. Evaporated milk, on the other hand, yields a lighter, airier result. Evaporated milk isn't sweetened either, which is why you can't simply swap one thickener for the other.

Does pumpkin pie contain dairy? ›

Yes, traditional pumpkin pie does have dairy in the form of evaporated milk. To make pumpkin pie dairy-free, I've used vegan sweetened condensed milk in my recipe!

Why does my pumpkin pie have no flavor? ›

If the recipe doesn't use enough spice, or if the spices were old enough to have lost much of their flavour, or if the mixture isn't well balanced, then the pie is not going to taste right and could be quite bland.

What is a good non dairy substitute for evaporated milk? ›

Soy milk can be heated, and the water content reduced to use it like evaporated milk. The taste is slightly different, but in most recipes you won't notice. It can be used in sweet and savory dishes alike.

What is a non dairy substitute for evaporated milk? ›

Dairy alternatives to evaporated milk include whole milk, cream, and half-and-half, while nondairy options include soy milk, nut milk, and quinoa milk. When choosing an alternative to evaporated milk, a person may wish to consider the taste and consistency of the product.

Can I substitute soy milk for evaporated milk in pumpkin pie? ›

The first is soy milk. Soy milk has a bit of a “beany” taste, but the good news is that the spices in a pumpkin pie hide that taste almost completely. You can make a one-to-one substitution for the evaporated milk in the recipe: 12 oz., or 1½ cups.

What happens if you put too much evaporated milk in pumpkin pie? ›

Pies with too much evaporated milk formed blisters on top.

Though the interior of the filling had a great, creamy texture. The flavor was ever-so-slightly muted and had a hint of milkiness to it.

What happens if I use condensed milk instead of evaporated milk? ›

Don't Substitute One for the Other

Thus, using condensed milk in a recipe that requires evaporated milk will yield an overly sweet dish.

What is a substitute for heavy cream in pumpkin pie? ›

A combination of half-and-half and butter makes the best all-around heavy cream substitute. Both heavy cream and half-and-half are made from cream — the distinction is that half-and-half is a mixture of cream and milk and has about a third as much as fat.

Why use evaporated milk in pumpkin pie? ›

I think if you added regular milk to pumpkin, you would not achieve the desired texture. My guess it that it wouldn't 'set' properly, giving it the firm texture you'd expect. Evaporated milk will be much thicker than regular milk, providing that rich, creamy texture without the unwanted water.

Why am I allergic to pumpkin pie? ›

It is unclear why some people are allergic to pumpkins in the first place. Some people may have a predisposition to this type of allergy if they are already allergic to gourds or melons. Several genetic and environmental factors are at play.

What makes pumpkin pie taste so good? ›

The pie is generally flavored with pumpkin pie spice, a blend that includes cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves or allspice. The pie is usually prepared with canned pumpkin, but fresh-cooked pumpkin can be used.

How do you fix a bland pumpkin pie? ›

Now if your pie tends to come out bland, you may not be letting your spices hit their full potential. Joy Wilson of Joy the Baker suggests, "To get the most festive flavor out of the spices in your pumpkin pie, bloom the spices with the pumpkin puree in a small saucepan before incorporating into the filling.

What happens if you forget to add sugar to pumpkin pie? ›

If you forgot to add sugar to the pumpkin pie filling (from scratch) is it still going to turn out okay? It will not be very sweet. So offset the blah with a salted caramel glaze or a sweet cream topping or even a butterscotch layer of pudding. Put together a nutty streusel topping with maple syrup or brown sugar.

What can I use in place of regular evaporated milk? ›

Evaporated milk is made by slowly heating milk to remove about half of its water—a process that develops a light golden color and mildly sweet flavor. Nestlé states that Carnation evaporated milk can be substituted in a 1:1 ratio for regular whole milk.

Can I use condensed milk instead of evaporated milk in a pie? ›

Although it may be tempting, because of the added sugar, you should generally avoid substituting sweetened condensed milk in any recipe that calls for evaporated. If you don't have evaporated milk available, it's possible to substitute a cup of light cream, or you can make your own.

Can you substitute evaporated milk for milk in pie? ›

No you can't use equal amounts because evaporated is thicker. You want to replace half of the amount with water. Example: If your recipe calls for 1 cup of milk use 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup milk to equal the 1 cup.

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