A Frugal, Eco-Friendly Pumpkin Galette 🎃🥧
As a frugal person, I simply cannot watch good food head to the trash. After Halloween, while pumpkins were being abandoned on curbs and destined for landfill limbo, I quietly rescued as many as I could. Roasted them, puréed them, froze them. This galette is made with the very last of those saved pumpkins.
Which means this is the final pumpkin recipe I’ll be sharing until next spooky season. Consider it a soft goodbye. A cozy curtain call. And a very eco-friendly one.
Instead of another pie, we’re making a rustic pumpkin galette. No pie dish, no perfection, no fuss. Just a flaky, buttery crust folded around a creamy pumpkin filling that bakes into the most comforting, custardy texture.
My kids absolutely love this one. They always say it has an Asian feel to it. And they’re right. The filling gently nods to Chinese egg tarts with its smooth, softly set custard, but with a warm pumpkin twist that feels grounding and familiar.
The crust is intentionally simple. Butter and flour, that’s it. Flaky, tender, and not overly sweet. I’ve never been someone who loves desserts that overwhelm you with sugar. I want balance. I want flavor. I want something that pairs beautifully with a cup of tea… or, let’s be honest, a scoop of vanilla ice cream. With ice cream, this galette is next-level good.
This recipe feels like everything I love about cooking. Thoughtful, unfussy, resourceful, and comforting.
🥧 Rustic Pumpkin Galette (Doubled Batch)
Yields: 2 galettes (serves 12–16)
Prep time: 25 minutes
Chill time: 30 minutes
Bake time: 40–45 minutes
Ingredients
For the crust
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (or spelt flour)
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp sugar (optional)
1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cubed
6–8 tbsp ice water
For the filling
2 cups pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling)
4 tbsp maple syrup (or brown sugar)
4 tbsp heavy cream or coconut cream
2 eggs
Vegan option: substitute with 2 tbsp cornstarch
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
Pinch of salt
Directions
Make the crust
In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, and sugar if using. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture looks crumbly, with small pieces of butter still visible. This is what makes the crust flaky.
Add the ice water one tablespoon at a time, gently mixing just until the dough comes together. Divide into two discs if making two galettes. Wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
Prepare the filling
In a separate bowl, whisk together the pumpkin purée, maple syrup, cream, eggs (or cornstarch), vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until smooth and creamy.
Assemble
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Roll each dough disc into a rough 12-inch circle on parchment paper. Don’t worry about the edges. Rustic is the point.
Divide the filling evenly between the crusts, leaving about a 2-inch border. Gently fold the edges over the filling, pleating as you go.
Bake
Brush the crust with beaten egg and sprinkle with coarse sugar if desired. Bake for 35–45 minutes, until the crust is golden and the filling is set but still softly custardy.
Serve
Let cool slightly before slicing. Serve as-is or with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or a drizzle of maple syrup.
This galette feels like a full-circle moment. From rescued pumpkins to the last cozy bake of the season. Simple ingredients and less waste.
