Creamy carrot pie is a refreshing change from the usual pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, and heavy casseroles. With its smooth texture and perfectly balanced sweet and savory flavors, this pie is just as perfect as a holiday side dish as the star of a dessert table.
If you’ve never had carrot pie, think of it as a delicious blend between pumpkin and sweet potato pie but with its own unique flavor. The carrots bring a natural sweetness, while warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg add a cozy, comforting taste. With its smooth, creamy filling and buttery crust, this carrot pie recipe is bound to become a new family favorite!
One of the best things about carrot pie recipes is how versatile they are. You can serve it warm or chilled, pair it with whipped cream or ice cream, or even make it ahead of time for stress-free holiday prep. Plus, it’s a great way to use up extra carrots and sneak in some veggies while still enjoying dessert.
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Why We Love This Carrot Pie Recipe
- No special ingredients are necessary for this recipe. No more waiting in line at the grocery store for specific ingredients you’ll only use once or twice a year!
- You can make it ahead. If your holidays are full of travel, potlucks, and numerous family dinners, being able to bake ahead of time and freeze is a lifesaver!
- It’s a new, refreshing take on typical holiday desserts. Just change out a few of the spices, and this recipe isn’t reserved just for Thanksgiving. It’s perfect for Easter and any time of year!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Crust: Make things easy on yourself with a ready-to-bake crust, or make your own from scratch.
- Carrots: Baby carrots soften quickly and don’t require peeling!. If desired, you can purchase full-sized carrots and cut them down to a smaller size. Or check out our 3 ways to make shredded carrots for an even quicker, easier prep.
- Evaporated milk: Luckily, this ingredient has a pretty simple substitute! Heavy cream can be used in place of evaporated milk at a 1:1 ratio, but it will have a creamier, fattier flavor.
- Maple syrup: A classic pairing with carrots, this sweetener contributes a gorgeous caramel-like flavor that glazes the filling in the most delicious way.
Spice substitutions
- Cinnamon: We recommend ground cinnamon over cinnamon powder, which is finer and can be more easily lost among the other seasonings.
- Nutmeg: Allspice, cloves, and even pumpkin spice are possible substitutes.
- Ginger: You could use the same substitutes for nutmeg: allspice, pumpkin pie spice, or even more nutmeg or cinnamon.
Recipe Variations
- Creamy twist: Add cream cheese to the filling for a rich, tangy flavor.
- Warm and sweet: Use brown sugar instead of white sugar for a deeper caramel-like taste.
- Rich and buttery: Brush the crust with melted butter before baking for a golden finish.
- Flavor boost: Adjust the spices to your taste, adding extra cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves.
- Alternative crust: Make it with pie dough or try a gluten-free crust for a dietary-friendly option.
Carrot desserts are great, like this pie is another alternative for carrot cake. But if you’d like another savory pie dish at the table this season, we have some great ideas! Consider making chicken pot pie and Bisquick (which could be a turkey pot pie with your Thanksgiving leftovers!).
Equipment Used in this Recipe
- 9-inch pie plate
- Rimmed baking sheet
- Parchment paper or aluminum foil
- Fork
- Wire rack
- Large saucepan
- Speed blender or food processor
How to Make Carrot Pie Recipes
- Stick with evaporated milk or heavy cream for the best consistency.
Using dairy with high fat content is essential for the filling to firm up and reach that creamy consistency.
- Remember to par-bake the crust.
It doesn’t take very long, and it is well worth the effort!
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
Whether store-bought or homemade, par-baking (aka blind baking) accomplishes two things: it prevents the bottom from becoming soggy after the filling is introduced. It also prevents the crust from rising too much (and the edges from crumpling).
Luckily, the crust for your carrot pie can be blind baked 2 or 3 days in advance, saving you some time and oven space.
- Tips for avoiding a watery filling.
Don’t add too much water — just enough to cover the carrots by an inch or so while boiling.
After softening, drain the water and return to the stove so that the leftover moisture can evaporate. Keep the carrots moving so they don’t burn!
- Cover the crust to avoid burnt edges.
Don’t skip over the crust! It’s an easy way to maintain the texture and appearance of the crust.
After adding the filling, cover the edges with aluminum foil or a crust guard. It’s a worthwhile investment if you bake a lot of pies!
Top your pie with whipped cream and enjoy!
This carrot pie recipe is perfect for a cozy, unique dessert that’s a twist on classic carrot cake. If you’re craving something similar, check out our carrot cake loaf recipe for a deliciously moist treat that’s just as comforting.
Serving Suggestions
These carrot pie recipes pair beautifully with classic holiday flavors and can be served as either a side dish or dessert. If you’re looking for the perfect pie pairing, try serving it alongside pecan pie for a well-rounded dessert spread. For a bit of crunch, sprinkle toasted coconut over the top, or serve it with a dollop of whipped cream.
To complement the sweet and spiced flavors, enjoy a slice with a cold soda or a warm spiced cider. If you’re making a full holiday meal, serve it as a side dish next to sweet potato pie or a classic pastry for a variety of textures and flavors. Whether you serve it as a main dessert or a holiday side, this pie is sure to impress!
Recipe FAQs
It’s actually both — Kind of like a sweet potato casserole, but without the marshmallow topping.
The carrots are naturally sweet, and the maple syrup contributes a light sweetness as well. But there is a lot of savory richness that comes from the baked carrots, heavy cream and warm spices as well.
Yes, you can. Be sure to let it cool completely before wrapping in aluminum foil — and wrap it tightly! Any ice crystals can affect the overall consistency of the filling.
It keeps well in the freezer for a couple of months. Be sure to thaw it in the fridge before serving.
Since this dessert contains cream and eggs, it must be refrigerated. After cooling, wrap in aluminum foil or transfer to a larger, airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Make sure to blend or mash the cooked carrots thoroughly before mixing them into the pie filling for the creamiest texture.
More Holiday Sweet Treats To Love…
If you tried this carrot pie recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Carrot Pie
Equipment
- pie plate
- rimmed baking sheet
- parchment paper or aluminum foil
- fork
- wire rack
- large saucepan
- speed blender or food processor
Ingredients
- 1 9-inch pie crust. ready-to-bake or homemade
- 1 pound baby carrots **See Notes for using large carrots
- 1 cup evaporated milk. or heavy cream
- ¾ cup maple syrup
- 3 eggs beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375ºF. Place unbaked crust in a pie plate, and set it on a rimmed baking sheet. Line the crust with a sheet of parchment paper or aluminum foil, and cover with a layer of pie weights or dried beans to weigh it down.
- Parbake the crust in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and remove the weights and parchment/foil.
- Using the tines of a fork, poke several venting holes in the bottom portion of the crust. Return crust to the oven and continue baking, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes, or until lightly golden in color.
- Remove crust from oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool while you prepare the filling. Keep the oven heated to 375ºF.
- Place baby carrots in a large saucepan and add water to one inch higher than the carrots. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium and cover the pan with a lid.
- Cook carrots for 12-15 minutes, or until fork tender. Drain excess water from the pan, then return it (and the carrots) to the stovetop burner. Let the carrots sit for a few minutes, to “steam” off any excess moisture.
- Add the cooked carrots, evaporated milk (or cream), maple syrup, eggs, vanilla extract, and all seasonings to a high speed blender or food processor.
- Blend until the mixture is smooth, about 1 minute. Pour the filling into the pie crust. To prevent burning the crust, cover the edges with aluminum foil, or use a crust guard.
- Bake in preheated oven for 50-65 minutes, or until the center of the pie no longer “jiggles” and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The top of the pie should be slightly caramelized.
- Remove from oven and let the pie cool for 30 minutes at room temperature. Then, transfer to the fridge for at least an hour to finish cooling. If you are pressed for time, you can skip the fridge and place the pie in a freezer for 20-30 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
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Katherine says
I love this alternative to pumpkin pie! Looks so good.
Mahy says
This pie is absolutely amazing! I’ve got lots of carrots sitting in the kitchen, so it is time to get to cooking!
Dina and Bruce says
My son wanted pumpkin pie, but we had no filling. I saw your recipe, grabbed a bag of carrots from our fridge, and wow! He loved it!
Tara says
You had me at the sweet maple flavor! So good paired with the carrots and I absolutely love that texture.
Dannii says
What a great autumn dessert. I bet my kids would love this.