Red Kuri Squash is a Japanese heirloom squash that makes delicious, bright orange, rich, and flavorful pumpkin pies. Red kuri squash – gourmet japanese heirloom 5. The Jarrahdale Pumpkin is a Cucurbita maxima cultivar, along with other pumpkin pie-making favorites like Buttercup Squash, Kabocha Pumpkin, and Hubbard Squash. Jarrahdale pumpkins make a balanced, savory-sweet pumpkin pie that’s perfect for those who shy away from overly-sweet desserts. The flavor is almost melon-like, and the texture is smooth with minimal stringiness. Jarrahdale pumpkins have sweet, fruity flesh that roasts to absolute gourmet perfection. These medium-large sized culinary pumpkins were originally cultivated in Australia, and grow to be in the range of 12-18 pounds when ripe. Jarrahdale Pumpkin is an heirloom cooking pumpkin considered to be one of the best pumpkins for making pumpkin pie filling. Jarrahdale pumpkins – australian culinary heirloom 4.

The Long Pie Pumpkin is a Cucurbita pepo cultivar, like the Winter Luxury Pumpkin. These heirlooms have the classic old-fashioned pumpkin pie taste that is hard to find. Long Pie Pumpkins have thick orange flesh that makes an absolutely decadent pumpkin purée.

The young rind is a dark green color, maturing to a tan-orange color. These pumpkins are elongated (about 12″ long and 5″ wide) and weigh about 4 pounds each when ripe. Long Pie Pumpkins, also known as Nantucket Pumpkin, are an heirloom culinary pumpkin from the East Coast. The Fairytale Pumpkin is a Cucurbita moschata cultivar, along with other pumpkin pie-making favorites like Dickinson Pumpkin, Butternut Squash, and Seminole Pumpkin. Overall, Fairytale Pumpkin makes a delicious pumpkin pie filling that is creamy, smooth, and tender. Flesh is firm, making a thick pumpkin purée with a spicy scent and a sweet, mild flavor. The Fairytale Pumpkins have a sweet, fresh flavor when used for pumpkin pies. These medium-large-sized fruits have a dusky-tan exterior when ripe. Fairytale pumpkins (Musquée De Provence/Calabaza de Castilla)įairytale Pumpkins (also known as Musquée de Provence, Calabaza de Castilla, or Castilla Squash), are French heirloom gourmet culinary pumpkins. It is the backbone of the pie industry even today.” Dickinson Pumpkin Seeds, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Catalog Fairytale pumpkins – french culinary heirloom 2. He didn’t know he was carrying with him the seeds of a million dollar pie pumpkin and one of the most valuable heirlooms in history. “Grown by Elijah Dickinson, born in 1795, he brought the Dickinson pumpkin seeds to Eureka, Ill., from Kentucky in 1835. The Dickinson Pumpkin is a Cucurbita moschata cultivar, along with other pumpkin pie-making favorites like Musquée de Provence (Fairytale Pumpkin), Butternut Squash, and Seminole Pumpkin. The dense flesh is not at all watery when pur éed for pie, and this heritage cultivar is known for its rich flavor when baked. Flavor is sweet and complex, while the texture is firm, making a thick pur ée. Ripe pumpkins weigh about 10-14 pounds each.ĭickinson pumpkins have dense orange flesh with minimal water content. These medium-sized, tall pumpkins are American heirlooms, with roots in Kentucky and Illinois. The Dickinson Pumpkin is an American heirloom pie pumpkin considered to be the go-to pie-making pumpkin by many bakers and chefs. Dickinson pumpkin – american culinary heirloomĢ4. In terms of the best pumpkins for making pie filling, most are Cucurbita maxima or Cucurbita moschata due to the thicker, more flavorful flesh. Lots of pumpkins are species Cucurbita pepo, but some are Cucurbita maxima or Cucurbita moschata.

Some varieties are sold as “squash” and others are sold as “pumpkin” (depending on local tradition), but they are all part of the Cucurbita botanical genus. The winter squash we call “pumpkins” in casual terms are simply those winter squash that tend to have round shapes and ribs down the side. Squash:All pumpkins are squash, but not all squash are referred to as “pumpkins”. Read on to learn all about the best types of pumpkins for making gourmet pumpkin pie! Go for the unique-looking heirlooms, not the bright orange jack-o-lantern typesĪ note about Pumpkins vs. Even the attractively-named “ Sugar Pie Pumpkin” pales in comparison to the varieties below when baked in pies. Skip the carving/Jack-O-Lantern types and opt for an heirloom cultivar chosen for its cooked flavor and texture. Some of the best pumpkin for making pumpkin pie include Fairytale Pumpkins, Jarrahdale Pumpkins, Dickinson Pumpkins, Long Pie Pumpkins, and Red Kuri Squash. The best pumpkins for pie are heirloom culinary varieties with dense, sweet flesh that’s not watery or stringy.

The best pumpkin pie demands the best pumpkin purée – and the best pumpkin purée needs the absolute best gourmet pumpkins.