10 Deliciously Entertaining Fun Facts About Pumpkin Pie You Never Knew
1. Ohio's Record-Breaking Pumpkin Pie
In a monstrous mishap of "easy as pie" proportions, the good folks of New Bremen, Ohio baked themselves into the record books with a pumpkin pie so large, it's said to have whispered its own pumpkin spice secrets to the town's children: During the New Bremen Pumpkinfest in 2010, they created the world's largest pumpkin pie, weighing 3,699 pounds and measuring 20 feet in diameter, using 1,212 pounds of canned pumpkin, 109 gallons of evaporated milk, 2,796 eggs, 7 pounds of salt, 14.5 pounds of cinnamon, and 525 pounds of sugar, showcasing the immense love for this dessert which traces its roots back to early American settlers and their Native American guides.
Source => tippinspies.com
2. Pumpkin Pie's Humble Origins
In the land of pies, size does matter, and Ohio took creamy dessert diplomacy to new heights when it pumped, baked, and spiced up a pumpkin-pie-chart of delicious enormity: At the New Bremen Pumpkinfest in 2010, a colossal pumpkin pie was created weighing 3,699 pounds, measuring 20 feet in diameter, and packed with 1,212 pounds of canned pumpkin, 109 gallons of evaporated milk, 2,796 eggs, 7 pounds of salt, 14.5 pounds of cinnamon, and 525 pounds of sugar – redefining the term "pumpkin pie personal space."
Source => tippinspies.com
Did you know that before the iPhone took over, a humble frontiersman named Johnny Appleseed wandered the land planting 14,000 delicious apple varieties? Discover the fascinating story behind America's favorite dessert!
=> Fun Facts about Apple-Pie
3. Refrigerate the Custard Creation
Pumpkin pie, or the culinary lovechild of Cinderella's carriage and Humpty Dumpty: did you know that it's actually an egg-based custard filling and should be stored in the refrigerator for a scrumptious experience that lasts up to four days?
Source => pillsbury.com
4. Pilgrims' Crustless Pies
Feast your pies on this juicy morsel: pumpkin pie wasn't originally on the Pilgrims' Thanksgiving menu! The first pies were actually crustless, with hollowed-out pumpkins filled with milk, honey, and spices baked in hot ashes. The modern pumpkin pie recipe only graced American cookbooks in the 19th century.
Source => soufflebombay.com
5. Dickinson Pumpkin Dynasty
Once upon a vine in the mystical lands of Kentucky, a farmer named Elijah Dickinson embarked on a quest to cultivate the most legendary orange gourd known to humankind—a pumpkin that would wear the crown of pie royalty and conquer pantry shelves across the realm: These noble gourds, called "Dickinson pumpkins," ventured north to central Illinois, where their descendants now rule 85% of the canned pumpkin market under the watchful eye of their loyal vassals, Libby's.
Source => thespruceeats.com
6. Squash to Pumpkin Pie Evolution
Before Cinderella's fairy godmother turned pumpkins into transportation, humans were transforming them into scrumptious pies: The first pumpkin pie recipe surfaced in a cookbook in 1796, emerging as a classic American dessert primarily made with squashes before pumpkin snatched the spotlight with its mild sweetness and velvety texture. And now, these orange beauties proudly rule our Thanksgiving feasts, boasting over 50 million pumpkin pies consumed in the U.S. every year!
Source => damblys.com
7. China's Fairy-Tale Pie
If pumpkins could talk, this one would be screaming, "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!": Chefs in Changsha, China, crafted a mammoth pumpkin pie scaling over 13 feet in diameter and tipping the scales at 1,894 pounds, with 40 cooks, two hydraulic excavators on the team, and a steamy cook time of just 30 minutes - a fairy-tale ending for a giant pie that fed a children's center, but fell short of the 20-foot, 3,699-pound Guinness World Record holder, proudly baked by Ohio's New Bremen Giant Pumpkin Growers in 2010.
Source => foodnetwork.com
8. Pumpkin's Greek Etymology
Sun-kissed Greek melons turned American emblems of fall cuisine: the word "pumpkin" originates from the Greek word "pepon", meaning "cooked by the sun", which later became "pumpion" in English, and then evolved into "pumpkin" by the seventeenth century.
Source => etymologynerd.com
9. Etsy's Pumpkin Pie Delivery Fairy
Move over, fairy godmother – pumpkin pies are getting a modern Cinderella moment! With a simple wave of a virtual wand, you can bibbidi-bobbidi-boo your way to a mouthwatering, personalized pumpkin pie delivered right to your doorstep: Etsy offers a splendid variety of homemade pumpkin pies, and many sellers grant free shipping for orders of $35 USD or more within their shop. By enjoying these 21st-century pumpkin delights, you'll also be bolstering small businesses. After all, Etsy-generated purchases in 2020 alone raked in nearly $4 billion in income and kickstarted 2.6 million jobs in the U.S., making it the equivalent of employing all of Houston, TX!
Source => etsy.com
10. Gluten-Free, Keto-Friendly Crustless Pie
When life hands you gourds, make pie – but who says you need the crust? Move aside, brittle pastries: Unbeknownst to many, a delightful crustless pumpkin pie can be concocted using pumpkin puree, heavy whipping cream, eggs, sugar substitutes like Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend, pumpkin pie spice, sea salt, vanilla extract, and, of all things, unflavored gelatin powder! The result? A gluten-free, sugar-free, low carb, low calorie, keto-friendly dessert that's smooth, creamy, and perfect for your thank-fall gatherings or freezing up to 3-4 months for that midnight pumpkin urge.
Source => wholesomeyum.com