Keto Pumpkin Custard Recipe - Crustless Pumpkin Pie (2024)

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If you love pumpkin, you’ll love this healthy and delicious keto pumpkin custard recipe. It’s like a crustless pumpkin pie, but so much easier! Keto pumpkin pie custard is simple to make, but fancy enough for special occasions, like Thanksgiving!

Keto Pumpkin Custard Recipe - Crustless Pumpkin Pie (1)

Keto Pumpkin Pie Custard

With fall just around the corner, I’ve noticed that more and more people are looking for keto pumpkin recipes. And I’m happy to oblige! So today, I’m bringing you a brand new recipe for keto pumpkin pie custard cups. They taste creamy and smooth, with the sweet taste of pumpkin and a hint of spice. With this recipe, you can enjoy the best parts of pumpkin pie, without all the carbs. It’s gluten-free and sugar-free, like all of my keto pumpkin recipes.

If you want more keto pumpkin recipes, be sure to check out this quick and easy Keto Pumpkin Mug Cake, this super popularKeto Pumpkin Bread, or these creamy and delicious Keto Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins.

Keto Pumpkin Custard Recipe - Crustless Pumpkin Pie (2)

Ingredients in Keto Pumpkin Pie Custard

One of the great things about this recipe is that it requires only 5 common keto ingredients, plus the pumpkin pie spice mix. Along with heavy cream and two eggs, you’ll also need the following ingredients:

Pumpkin Puree

What would a pumpkin custard cup be without real pumpkin puree? The recipe uses one standard can of pumpkin puree, which is 15oz.

You can use either canned pumpkin puree or homemade pumpkin puree in this recipe. Just make sure you’re not using pumpkin pie filling, which can be easy to grab by accident at the grocery store.

If you want to learn more about pumpkin on the keto diet, includinghow many carbs in pumpkin, check out this guide:Is Pumpkin Keto Diet Friendly?

The Spice Mixture

You can use a pre-made pumpkin pie spice mixture, but it’s just as easy to make your own spice blend at home. You’ll likely have all the spices you need in your cupboard already. To make homemade pumpkin pie spice, combine:

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly grated is even better!)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

You can keep this mixture in a small airtight container, and store it in your pantry.It’s also great to make a big batch and keep it on hand for any of the other keto pumpkin recipes I have posted on this site.

Sweetener

In addition to pureed pumpkin and spices, you’ll need a low-carb sweetener like erythritol, monk fruit extract or stevia extract. My preference is to use Swerve granulated sweetener in this recipe. Although, I bet that the brown sugar version of Swerve would be nice as well!

Keto Pumpkin Custard Recipe - Crustless Pumpkin Pie (3)

How to Make Low-Carb Pumpkin Custard

The method for making these little keto pumpkin custards couldn’t be easier. All you need to do is whisk up all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl, divide them among several individually sized ramekins, and bake them in a water bath. Simple as pie!

The Right Size Ramekins for Custard

I like to use small 8oz ceramic ramekins to bake my custards. You can use smaller or larger cups if you like, but the cooking time may be a bit different than described in this recipe. For reference, I used 5 ramekins for this recipe, and each ramekin held about a cup of custard at a depth of about 1 1/4 inches.

These are similar to the ramekins I have at home, and they come in all sorts of colors.

Keto Pumpkin Custard Recipe - Crustless Pumpkin Pie (4)

How to Tell When Custard is Done

Sometimes it’s hard to tell when the custard is done. Underdone custard can be runny, but overcooked custard can crack or curdle. To help you out, here are a few ways to test.

The knife test: You can test for doneness with a thin-bladed knife. Insert knife midway between center and edge of cups. If the knife is mostly clean when you pull it out, the custard is done.

The jiggle test: Baked custards like this pumpkin custard should jiggle (but not slosh around) when gently tapped. You can tell these custards are done when they are barely jiggly in the center.

Of either test, I find the jiggle test is more accurate for this particular recipe (and most pumpkin pie recipes, in general).

How to Use a Water Bath

In general, I recommend using a water bath to help these custards bake evenly. A water bath insulates custards from the direct heat of the oven, reducing the chances of overbaking or cracking.

To bake these custards using a water bath, you’ll need a baking pan that can fit all of your ramekins. For me, I could fit all of my ramekins in a regular 9×13 metal pan that has 2″ tall sides.

First, use a tea kettle to preheat your water. Then, place all the custards in a dry 9×13 pan, and put the whole thing in your preheated oven, but leave the oven door open. Then, use the kettle to pour the water carefully into the 9×13 pan around your ramekins, taking care not to splash.

Tip: the water just needs to come halfway—not all the way—up the sides of the ramekins.

When the pumpkin custard is done, you’ll want to remove the ramekins from the water bath and cool on a wire rack before chilling them in the refrigerator. Although you can eat these keto pumpkin custards warm, I prefer them served chilled with whipped cream.

Tip: The smaller dish you use for the custards, the faster your custard will cook.

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How to Store Keto Pumpkin Custards

One of the great things about this recipe is that you can make it ahead of time. You can safely store these pumpkin custards for about 3 days in the refrigerator. Make sure to cover them tightly with plastic wrap.

I do not recommend freezing pumpkin custard.

Other Healthy Low-Carb Pumpkin Recipes

If you love pumpkin, then you should check out these other healthy pumpkin recipes on the blog:

Keto Pumpkin Mug Cake – Quick and Easy!

Creamy Keto Pumpkin Soup

Keto Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Keto Pumpkin Bread

Keto Pumpkin Cheesecake

Pumpkin Pie Fat Bombs

Keto Pumpkin Custard Recipe - Crustless Pumpkin Pie (6)

Yield: 5

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Creamy pumpkin custards that are low-carb and keto-friendly. Like pumpkin pie, without the crust.

Ingredients

  • 15 oz pumpkin puree
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2/3 cup granulated erythritol sweetener
  • 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (see notes)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare ramekins in a larger pan for a water bath. Fill a kettle with water, and set to boil

  2. Combine pumpkin puree, eggs, cream, sweetener, spices, salt, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Whisk together until smooth.

  3. Divide the mixture into individual ramekins. Place the whole pan of ramekins into the oven, and carefully fill the outside pan with hot water until the water reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins.

  4. Bake at 350°F for 40 minutes or until set. Remove the ramekins from the water bath, and allow to cool on a wire rack. Store in the refrigerator.

Notes

Instead of 1 1/2 teaspoons of pre-made pumpkin pie spice, you can use the following homemade spice mix.

  • 3/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ginger
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/8 tsp allspice
  • 1/8 tsp cloves

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 5Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 235Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 128mgSodium: 296mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 4g

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. Carb count will vary with different ingredients and brands. It should not be considered as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Read this next:

  • Is Pumpkin Keto Diet Friendly?

    Now that fall is here, you may be wondering: is pumpkin keto-friendly? And if it…

  • Pumpkin Pie Fat Bombs

    If you’re a pumpkin spice fan, you are going to love these keto pumpkin pie…

  • Keto Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

    If you are looking for a delicious pumpkin recipe to celebrate fall, look no further…

Keto Pumpkin Custard Recipe - Crustless Pumpkin Pie (2024)

FAQs

How do I make sure my pumpkin pie doesn't crack? ›

Bake at the correct temperature.

It's a good idea to use an oven thermometer ($7, Target) to ensure the temperature is accurate. Cooling pumpkin pie too quickly also causes cracks. Once your pie is done (there should be a slight jiggle to the center), allow the pie to fully reach room temperature before serving.

What is a substitute for 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice? ›

To get 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, use ¾ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon ginger, allspice, cloves or nutmeg, whatever you have! If you have two of the above spices, use ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon of whichever two spices you do have.

Why is my pumpkin custard watery? ›

If you notice liquid on the top of your pie while it's still in the oven or still hot, then it has been overbaked. Just as above, the proteins in the custard have toughened too much, squeezing out the liquid from the filling.

Is canned pumpkin allowed on keto? ›

Pumpkin puree or canned pumpkin is perfectly fine. Be sure to read your labels because there is a difference between canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie filling. They stick them both in the same place in the grocery store. Pumpkin pie filling is not keto and it's full of sugar.

Can you fix a cracked pumpkin pie? ›

Once a pie cracks, you can't "uncrack" it. You can cover it up, however. Whether with swooshes of whipped cream or pie dough scraps you cut into decorative leaf shapes, you can artfully cover them up. Meringue is another great way to cover cracks, or you could even add a streusel topping.

How to tell if a pumpkin pie is done without sticking a knife in it? ›

Check for a Jiggle, Not a Wiggle

When it comes to a home-baked pumpkin pie, the famous old ditty, "jiggle like jello, not wiggle like a wave," is funny, but true. "You can tell it is done when the edges are set and the center has a little jiggle to it," explains Luck.

Can I just use cinnamon instead of pumpkin spice? ›

Because pumpkin pie spice is a blend, the short answer is no. Even though cinnamon is the base, your recipe will not taste the same using just one spice in place of the blend.

What spice is close to pumpkin spice? ›

For 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, substitute: ¾ teaspoon cinnamon + ¼ teaspoon ginger, allspice, cloves, or nutmeg (whatever you have!) ½ teaspoon cinnamon + ¼ teaspoon each of any of the two above.

Can I substitute apple pie spice for pumpkin pie spice? ›

Absolutely! Apple pie spice has many of the same ingredients as pumpkin pie spice, such as cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg, so it's a great pumpkin pie spice substitute. However, most apple pie spices don't contain the ginger and cloves that pumpkin pie spice has. So it won't be exactly the same, but it will be close!

What are the mistakes when making custard? ›

The most common mistake people make in baking a custard is not putting enough water in the hot-water bath. The water should come up to the level of the custard inside the cups. You must protect your custard from the heat.

Why does my custard pie taste like scrambled eggs? ›

Why does my egg custard pie taste like scrambled eggs? Overbaked custard can lead to an eggy flavor and rubbery consistency. Make sure to bake the custard pie until slightly jiggly in the center.

Why does my custard pie taste like eggs? ›

The crust can be soggy, the outer ring of custard often overcooks, and the flavor can easily cross over into "eggy," which is a little ironic because a custard wouldn't be a custard without eggs.

What vegetables are off limits for keto? ›

Vegetables to avoid in a keto diet
VegetableCarbs per 100 g
potatoes20.45 g
sweet potatoes16.82 g
beets9.56 g
parsnips16.47 g
3 more rows
Apr 28, 2021

What is the lowest carb canned food? ›

Green beans, olives, sauerkraut, pickles, and tomatoes are all good low-carb canned vegetable choices. Carrots are slightly higher in carbs, but can also be a good choice. You can also find canned coconut flesh and canned broccoli and cauliflower at many international grocery stores.

Is Zucchini good for keto? ›

Yes, zucchini is keto. A medium zucchini has about 6 total grams of carbs and 2 of them are fiber. So one whole zucchini has 4 net carbs. Zucchini is very popular on the low carb diet.

What causes pumpkin pie to crack on top? ›

The reason pies crack is often due to the eggs in the pumpkin pie recipe - if they get over baked, the protein in them tightens up, and as it cools, it causes cracks in the pumpkin pie.

How do you stop pies from bursting? ›

If the steam is trapped under the pie crust, the pressure will build as the temperature rises and the hot air volume increases. This will make the pie “explode”. To prevent this from happening, take a sharp knife and cut some slits into the top crust before baking/microwaving.

How do you make a pie crust not crack? ›

Here then, in brief, are the 5 things you can do to help prevent your pie dough from cracking.
  1. Make sure you cut the fat in enough. ...
  2. Add the water all at once. ...
  3. Knead the dough once. ...
  4. Put the dough in a plastic freezer bag and roll it out to about 8 inches in diameter.
Nov 8, 2013

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