Sometimes, you just want to skip the flour-covered counter, the half-empty spice jars, and the inevitable “is this done yet?” arguments that come with baking from scratch. Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Pie is here to save you from yourself and from that one relative who insists on homemade or bust. Spoiler: they won’t be able to tell the difference.
🥧 The Bottom Line Up Front
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (9/10)
Price: $6.99 / 27 oz (9-inch pie)
Category: Bakery / Seasonal
Best for: Thanksgiving backups, Friendsgiving potlucks, and “I forgot dessert” emergencies
Skip if: You’re expecting grandma’s secret crust recipe or want it fresh from the oven
Quick Take: Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Pie nails the classics buttery crust, smooth custard, and just enough spice to whisper “fall” instead of screaming it. If the Libby’s pumpkin pie recipe is a 10, this is a solid 9, and you didn’t even have to dirty a mixing bowl.
This pumpkin pie is in the bakery section, not frozen like previous years. I don’t know why they made that change but I am happy because no thawing involved anymore. Just take it home and start wolfing it down! Unless you plan on eating all in one day, make sure to refridgerate it after you eat a slice. Serve with whipped cream! I can’t imagine pumpkin pie without whipped cream! I put it on my slice for this review.
The Crust: Flaky, But Not Fickle
Let’s start with what everyone secretly cares about the crust. This isn’t one of those sad, soggy bottom pies that collapses under the weight of its own custard. Trader Joe’s version has a flaky, golden edge and a tender but fully baked center, which is more than you can say for a lot of grocery store pies.
If you get it fresh, it’s legitimately fantastic crisp, buttery, and structured enough to hold its slice shape. But like most pre-made pies, it doesn’t love sitting around. After a couple of days, the crust starts to soften a bit, kind of like crackers left open on the counter. The flavor’s still great; it just loses that first-day snap.
The Filling: Pumpkin Pie 101 (and That’s a Compliment)
The filling is where this pie earns its keep. It’s silky smooth, perfectly spiced, and not too sweet. You get that mellow pumpkin flavor with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves playing supporting roles instead of stealing the show. It’s classic, not trendy no “chai pumpkin spice latte marshmallow drizzle” situation here. It’s 100% American pumpkin pie.
It’s remarkably close to the Libby’s canned pumpkin pie recipe (which, let’s be honest, is the gold standard for 90% of America). If Libby’s is a 10, this is a proud 9 maybe a touch less custardy, but with the same comforting balance of pumpkin and spice that makes you want to grab another slice immediately. Like I said the only downside is that it’s not fresh out of the oven.
Dietary Detective Work (Because Someone’s Always Asking)
❌ Not gluten-free (the crust is 100% wheat flour)
❌ Not vegan (milk and eggs are the main players)
✅ Vegetarian-friendly (no sneaky gelatin or lard)
⚠️ Contains milk, eggs, and wheat
✅ Freezer-safe if you want to stock up before it vanishes after Thanksgiving
Busy parent translation: You can grab this, and pass it off as homemade with a straight face. Just add whipped cream and confidence.
Serving Suggestions: Dress It Up or Go Classic
Trader Joe’s suggests serving it cold with their Pumpkin Ice Cream or warm with a dollop of whipped cream, and both options are solid. Personally, I like it slightly warmed with a little vanilla ice cream melting over the top the temperature contrast makes it feel downright gourmet.
If you want to add some flair, drizzle a bit of Trader Joe’s Maple Butter or crumble some Ginger Snap Cookies on top for crunch. Or keep it simple: a plain slice and a strong cup of coffee is as classic as it gets.
Value: The Math Works in Your Favor
At $6.99 for a 27-ounce pie, this is one of the most economical desserts you can bring to a holiday table. Buying the ingredients separately (pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, spices, crust dough) would easily cost more not to mention your time and sanity. You’re essentially paying seven bucks to look like you spent an afternoon baking.
It serves 8 reasonable people or 4 Trader Joe’s shoppers in denial about portion sizes.
How It Compares
If you love this, check out my reviews of other fall bakery favorites:
- Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice Mini Sheet Cake — the viral cake that actually deserved the hype
- Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Butternut Squash Bisque — savory, cozy soup weather in a container
- Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese — creamy, cheesy, and shockingly classy for frozen food
Who Should Buy (and Who Should Skip)
Buy If You:
- Want a low-effort dessert that tastes homemade
- Are hosting and need an emergency backup pie
- Don’t want to gamble on someone else’s baking skills
Skip If You:
- Are gluten-free or vegan
- Insist on making crusts from scratch for “the texture”
- Think pumpkin pie should reinvent itself every year
The Final Verdict: Tradition Wins Again
Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Pie proves you don’t have to reinvent a classic to make it worth buying. The crust is buttery and properly baked, the filling is smooth and spiced just right, and it all comes together in a package that tastes far more homemade than it has any right to.
Would I serve this to family at Thanksgiving? Absolutely and I might even claim partial credit. Serve with whipped cream!
Final Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (9/10)
Bottom Line: A nearly perfect pumpkin pie for $6.99 that saves your holiday sanity and still gets you compliments.
Ingredients
PIE FILLING (SUGAR, PUMPKIN PUREE, WATER, NONFAT DRY MILK, EGGS, PALM OIL, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF MODIFIED TAPIOCA STARCH, GROUND CINNAMON, CULTURED DEXTROSE [FOR FRESHNESS], INULIN, SEA SALT, GROUND GINGER, CLOVES), PIE CRUST (UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR [WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID], PALM OIL, SUGAR, WATER, EGGS, SEA SALT, NONFAT DRY MILK, BAKING POWDER [SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, SODIUM BICARBONATE, CORNSTARCH, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE], BAKING SODA). CONTAINS MILK, EGG, WHEAT.
MAY CONTAIN TRACES OF SOY, PEANUT, ALMOND, COCONUT, PECAN, WALNUT.
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