Can I substitute pumpkin pie filling for pumpkin puree?

Plus What to Do When You Buy the Wrong Can

When making a recipe, canned pumpkin is a convenient ingredient that can save a lot of time and work, but the canned goods aisle’s pumpkin section can be a little confusing. Pumpkin pie filling and pumpkin puree have some differences despite the labels appearing to be nearly identical.

Puree is the cooked and mashed flesh of any number of different squash varieties—yes, squash—which is frequently called for in recipes for pumpkin. There are hard-skinned winter varieties like acorn squash, butternut squash, and the various orange ones we collectively refer to as pumpkins, as well as soft-skinned summer varieties like zucchini and yellow squash.

Winter squashes, some of which are exclusive (like the Dickinson squash, which is owned by the Libbys brand), are combined to make canned pumpkin puree. The common field pumpkin used to make Halloween jack-o-lanterns is the only variety of squash that cannot be purchased in a can. No matter how it is cooked or pureed, this type of squash isn’t particularly good for eating.

Pumpkin puree can be labeled as 100% pure pumpkin, pumpkin puree, solid pack pumpkin, or simply %22pumpkin No matter what it’s called, pumpkin puree won’t have any sugar or seasonings; it’s just cooked and mashed squash. The majority of recipes call for seasonings in addition to pumpkin puree to enhance the flavor of the dish.

Among other things, pumpkin puree can be used to make pies, cakes, muffins, breads, and soups. You can also make your own puree at home.

Pumpkin Pie Filling

The ingredients for pumpkin pie filling are cooked, mashed winter squash, sweetener, and spices. If you want to make a pumpkin pie but don’t have much time, you can use this ingredient. The pie filling is already preseasoned and ready to use, so there is no need to measure out the sugar and other seasonings like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.

Although pumpkin pie filling saves time, it is less adaptable than pumpkin puree. You might discover a brand to be too sweet or overly spicy for your tastes. When using plain pumpkin puree for cooking, you can flavor it however you like.

Subtly sweet with an almost nutty flavor profile, pumpkin is not only tasty but also super nutritious. In fact, Healthline notes that a single cup of canned pumpkin contains twice the daily recommended dose of vitamin A and can help support healthy immune function, along with promoting eye, skin, and heart health. So while purée is undoubtedly healthier, will swapping it for pumpkin pie filling really make a difference in your recipes?

However, while you can always substitute a filling for a purée, the reverse is not true. Additionally, using pumpkin pie filling in other recipes can be difficult because it might alter the flavors in dishes like pumpkin loaf or pumpkin and curry stew because it is intended to be used in pumpkin pie. Therefore, it is probably best to just make a pie if you find yourself stuck with a can of pumpkin pie filling. As an alternative, you could also use it to make desserts that are influenced by pumpkin pie.

Pumpkin is the quintessential autumn food. You can use it in pumpkin pie and other delectable desserts as well as savory soups and stews. Even though purchasing a fresh pumpkin from the farmers market is ideal, there are times when you simply do not have the time or patience to manually disassemble a whole gourd. Naturally, this is the reason it’s great to have a few cans of pumpkin purée on hand. What transpires, however, if you accidentally reach for pumpkin pie filling instead?

Despite what you might think, you cant use the two components interchangeably due to one main difference: the ingredient list. According to Allrecipes, pumpkin purée usually consists solely of pumpkins, but sometimes even other summer squashes. In contrast, Fine Dining Lovers explains that pumpkin pie filling will often contain pumpkin, in addition to a host of other ingredients like added sugar and seasonings like cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and cloves.

HOW TO: Pumpkin Puree from a Pie Pumpkin