01 -
Grab a large mixing bowl, hon, and toss in your canned pumpkin puree, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and that essential pinch of salt. Whisk it all together until it’s beautifully smooth and the sugar has dissolved. I always take a moment here to just breathe in that incredible aroma—it’s like a warm autumn hug, seriously! Make sure there are no lumps, we're aiming for a silky-smooth canvas for our Pumpkin Pie Crisp.
02 -
Now, crack those large eggs into the pumpkin mixture and give them a good whisk to incorporate them fully. Then, pour in your heavy cream and vanilla extract. Stir gently until everything is just combined. Be careful not to overmix; we want a lovely, creamy texture, not something airy. I once got distracted and whisked too vigorously, and the filling lost some of its density, oops! It still tasted good, but it wasn't quite as rich.
03 -
Take a 9x13 inch baking dish and pour your gorgeous pumpkin filling evenly into it. Just spread it out with a spatula so it forms a nice, level base. You don't need to grease the dish, since the filling itself isn't prone to sticking, and we're topping it with streusel. I always make sure the filling is spread right to the edges, no empty corners here! This ensures every scoop of your Pumpkin Pie Crisp gets a good amount of that creamy goodness.
04 -
In a separate bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, rolled oats, and the remaining brown sugar. Now for the butter: dice your cold unsalted butter into small pieces and add them to the dry ingredients. Use your fingertips, a pastry blender, or even two knives to cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. This is where the magic happens for that crisp texture! If your butter isn't cold enough, it just melts into a greasy mess, and we don't want that for our Pumpkin Pie Crisp.
05 -
Once your streusel is perfectly crumbly, sprinkle it generously and evenly over the pumpkin filling in the baking dish. Don't be shy! I always try to get a good, thick layer because that crunchy topping is honestly my favorite part. Pop the dish into your preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) and bake for about 40-50 minutes, or until the streusel is golden brown and the pumpkin filling is set. You'll know it's ready when your kitchen smells absolutely divine!
06 -
This is the hardest part, I swear! Once your Pumpkin Pie Crisp is out of the oven, let it cool on a wire rack for at least 15-20 minutes before serving. This cooling time is crucial; it allows the filling to fully set, preventing a runny mess when you scoop it. I've been impatient more times than I can count, and while still delicious, it wasn't as neat. The aroma as it cools is just heavenly, a testament to a job well done!