Hi, y’all!! I’m so glad you are here! This is the post I shared on Sugar Bee Crafts last week, but I wanted to share it here, too, in case you missed the guest post (like I did! LOL) And, honestly, this is too good not to share!
I’m sharing today a recipe – no, a solution – to a problem presented to me by The Hubster. Maybe you are making a lifestyle change or, like me, need to accommodate someone who is, or you need a gluten-free solution to accommodate a dietary issue for someone. Whatever it is, this can make dessert time the best time of the meal for everyone!
Quick background: My husband recently lost 100 lbs. by changing his eating habits and by adapting The Primal Diet, which is really a change in what you eat, not counting calories or having tiny portions. Basically, he doesn’t eat “white” – no white flour, white sugar, pastas, etc. He snacks, he eats regular man-size portions, just not processed white products! And it has worked like crazy, I have to admit. Seriously, if you are interested in what has worked for him, need some inspiration, have questions, or just want to pick his brain, check out his blog, Haver Wisdom.
But, Thanksgiving was coming and I make a killer scratch pumpkin pie! It’s not Thanksgiving without it. And, being a good and supportive wife (who doesn’t like to share her pumpkin pie anyway), I wanted to support him and help him stay on track where I can. Dinners were easy, but desserts? Well, I did some research and it’s not as tough as you might think!
Your basic baking substitutions are as follows:
- white flour -> switch to almond or coconut flour
- shortening -> switch to coconut oil
- sugar -> switch to organic local honey or maple flakes
- evaporated milk -> switch to coconut milk (if you need a true paleo primal recipe. My husband hasn’t taken diary out of his diet, so I use the regular evaporated milk)
So, let’s look at the recipe. The pie crust is made pretty much the same as you would make a regular flour and shortening crust.
- 1 1/2 cups of almond flour
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 tsp. sea salt (you can sub regular salt)
- 4-6 tbsp. cold water
Cut half your coconut oil into the flour and blend thoroughly with a pasty blender. Add the second half of the coconut oil and do the same. Blend until your flour is clumping together in the size of peas. Add water and lightly knead into a ball, handling the dough as little as necessary.
NOTE: Be really stingy with the water. Simply use a spoon and add a little bit at a time until your flour is holding together, but still dry feeling. I think the coconut oil adds more moisture than they realize. Just my guess. Put your dough on a sheet of floured waxed paper. Cover with another sheet and roll out from the center, like the spokes of a wheel, until you have a circle to cover your pie dish beyond the edge. I made mine a little thicker than 1/8″, just to hold together better.
Take off the top sheet of waxed paper and transfer the dough into the pie dish, pressing into the bottom, using the bottom sheet of paper. Trim the excess and either fork-press or finger-press your edge. TIP: At this point, I put all pie crusts I make into the freezer for about 10-15 minutes. I don’t know why, but it makes them bake up flakier! This was a tip I got my mother and grandmother and it does work! While you are freezing your spiffy brand new healthy pie crust, go ahead and preheat your oven to 425 degrees and grab your filling ingredients. (Remember, this is primal, but not paleo, so I will be using eggs and dairy.)
- 1 cup cooked mashed pumpkin (or 2 cups of canned 100% pure pumpkin works fine, too)
- 1/2 tsp. salt (scanty)
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup honey (or maple flakes)
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/3 tsp. ground ginger
- 1/3 tsp. nutmeg
This part is easy – put all your ingredients in your mixing bowl and blend! That’s it!
Pour the filling into your pie crust and pop into the oven. You are going to let it bake for 45-50 minutes. To check to be sure it’s done, insert a butter knife in the filling towards the side. If it comes out clean, you are done!
This tastes almost exactly like my own great-grandmother’s pie recipe and we were really happy with it. It was a hit at Thanksgiving, so much so that I’ll be making it again for my mum-in-law’s Christmas dinner. The crust cooks a little darker than a regular pie crust and it is definitely more crumbly, but the taste is nearly identical to a traditional crust! Now The Hubster can have his Thanksgiving pie and, hey, if I go healthy, I can have it too. Or I can pick up his slack on the regular pies I’m bake…by sneaking what would have been his portion and hiding someplace my kids can’t find me…maybe the bathroom…
(I would love for you to come back to visit, so please SUBSCRIBE using one of the buttons I have up there at the top on the right. And be sure to find me on Facebook for behind the scenes stuff and general goofiness. I’m on Twitter, too, but be warned – I have been known to accidentally tweet-bomb during baseball seasonl!)

Your blog is so unique!!
Plus mmmmm this pie looks delish!
Now I just want thanksgiving all over again!
Great post dear 🙂
XOX Angela
http://fashionablecents.blogspot.com
P.S. I'm following you back now 😉
New follower via GFC and from Empowered Mama.
And that pie? Oh now I'm hungry again!
nancy-of the crazy 9
http://nancyvnjourney.blogspot.com/
New GFC follower from the hop.
My goodness this pie looks yummy!
New follower! Hope you will hop over and visit and follow back as well!
http://www.heymommychocolatemilk.blogspot.com
thanks for the follow 🙂 i was already following you 😉
Found you through the GFC blog hop and glad I did this looks delish!
YUM!!! Can I have some… please???
Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer… From Dream To Reality!!
Looks so yummy!
Mandy
http://bunnygirlblog.com
This is fantastic! My husband has switched to a primal diet so this is perfect. Thank you so much for sharing!
Katie
http://www.funhomethings.com
Looks delicious, Kristy. You are very creative.
I can't wait to try the crust!
Blessings!
http://bit.ly/UJQLhc
I would like to invite you to join me at the Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week! http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/11/clever-chicks-blog-hop-10.html
I hope you can make it!
Cheers,
Kathy Shea Mormino
The Chicken Chick
Yum! I would love to eat this now! New follower to your lovely blog! Would love for you to visit me and join my site as well!
therecipecritic.com
this is an amazing recipe. I have a link party called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Link Party and would love to have you share this with everyone. Here is the link to the party.
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/11/mason-jar-center-piece-and-wednesdays.html
Debi @ Adorned From Above
Hi Lovely, I'm your new follower from Blog Hop.
Love your awesome blog. Feel free to check out & follow my blog @ revampspunkyrena.blogspot.com
xoxo
Rena
Yum!!! Thanks for sharing this recipe!! Glad you linked up at Romance on a dime.
Thanks so much for sharing at Wednesday's Adorned From Above Blog Hop. This weeks party is live. I hope to see you there.
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/12/fabric-covered-can-pen-and-pencil.html
Debi, Joye and Myrna (The Busy Bee's)
I am loving this adapted recipe. This diet is also recommended for people with type O blood. Does your husband have type O blood? I have been under allergy attack for the last two years and I have discovered that if I need to live without being miserable and on drugs that only treat the symptoms not the cause, then I need to follow this diet. Funny thing is I kept doing a allergy elimination diet and every time I logged a problem with a food I eliminated it and this Paleo Diet is exactly what I can eat! Nice side effect is I have also lost 60 lbs. It really works and it is so nice not to be miserable. Your pie looks amazing! Thanks for sharing at HSH!
Sherry
Stopping by from GFC. I love your about page! What a great history and future you have. I love your pie recipe and would love for you to drop by tonight or tomorrow for our Foodie Friends Friday party! I don't think I ssaw it on your list and I think you would enjoy it! Thanks so much.
Cynthia at http://FeedingBig.com
Hi Kristy,
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this pie. Maybe I'll love it more when I make it. You have spoken to me. Thank you.
Karina
http://www.momintheusa.blogspot.com
This looks really good AND healthy. I've thought about trying the "Primal" diet, even bought some cookbooks, but haven't bit the bullet yet…Thanks for linking it up!
http://www.joyfulhomemaking.com/2012/12/welcome-to-think-tank-thursday-8.html
Thanks for following Carole's Chatter Blog Tips. I am already a follower of yours. Cheers
Oh man, too delicious for words!!
Found you through the hop and am your newest follower,
-Jamie
http://chatterblossom.blogspot.com/
I wanted let you know I'm Having a Christmas contest at my blog please join me Thank you
Janice
This sounds great, and I haven't heard of flavored flour, but I bet it's quite a treat!
Visiting today from The No Rules Weekend Blog Hop. 🙂
Thank you so much for linking up to the Aloha Friday Blog Hop and for your comment! i hope you have a lovely weekend!
Aloha Friday Blog Hop {HERE}
YUM! I'm going to pin this recipe right now. I bet it's fabulous 🙂 Thanks for linking up with my NO RULES Weekend Blog Party!!
Paula
lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com
LOVELY!! I found you through the Aloha blog hop. Can't wait to follow. I learned something FABULOUS from the recipe above – substitute coconut oil for shortening. Huzzah! I have some Christmas recipes that call for shortening, but I want to try coconut oil now. Fantastic!
I have been keeping tabs on my carb intake, and this recipe will fit in nicely! Can't wait to try it. Thanks for joining in on the Alexa Blog Hop at Frugal Living and More.com! Have a great weekend!
this is a great post – i love pumpkin pie so i can't wait to try it out. thanks for coming by my blog!
xox P
phiphi's blog