Homemade Pumpkin Pie & Pie Crust Recipe | Yellowknife Homestead
Make homemade pumpkin pie with our traditional butter-and-lard pie crust recipe. Plus, order Thanksgiving pies from Yellowknife Homestead in Wooster, Ohio.
BAKING & RECIPES
Kelly Smith
11/3/20263 min read
There's something special about a homemade pie sitting on the Thanksgiving table. Whether it's a traditional pumpkin pie, a beautiful fruit pie, or a family favorite that's been served for generations, homemade pies are part of what makes the holidays memorable.
Here at Yellowknife Homestead, we believe that good food starts with simple ingredients and a little time in the kitchen.
And when it comes to pie, one of the most important parts is the crust!
A Homemade Pie Crust Worth Making
I've been making homemade pies for years, and one of my favorite things about baking from scratch is knowing exactly what goes into our food.
My pie crust recipe uses both butter and lard. The butter brings wonderful flavor, while the lard helps create that tender, flaky texture we love in a homemade crust.
There's no need for complicated ingredients or store-bought refrigerated dough. Just flour, salt, butter, lard, and ice water.
This recipe makes enough dough for one double-crust pie or two single-crust pies, which is perfect when you're making pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving.
Yellowknife Homestead Homemade Pie Crust
Ingredients
2 cups unbleached white flour
1 teaspoon sea salt
⅓ cup butter
⅓ cup lard
Up to ⅔ cup ice water
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and sea salt.
Cut the butter and lard into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Gradually add ice water, a little at a time, mixing gently until the dough begins to come together. You may not need the full amount of water.
Divide the dough according to the pies you're making.
Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface and transfer it to your pie plates.
Add your favorite pie filling and bake according to the directions for that pie.
Kelly's Kitchen Tip: Handle your pie dough as little as possible. Overworking it can make the crust tough instead of tender and flaky. Keeping your ingredients cold also helps produce a beautiful crust.
Homemade Pumpkin Pie Filling
Once you've made your homemade pie crust, it's time for the filling!
Pumpkin pie is one of those Thanksgiving traditions that never gets old. There's something special about the smell of pumpkin and warm spices filling the kitchen as the holidays approach.
This is the pumpkin pie recipe I use here at Yellowknife Homestead. It pairs beautifully with my homemade butter-and-lard pie crust.
Ingredients
2 cups pumpkin purée
1½ cups whole milk
¾ cup sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
2 large eggs
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 425°F.
In a small bowl, combine the sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs.
Stir the pumpkin purée and sugar-and-spice mixture into the beaten eggs.
Gradually stir in the whole milk until everything is well combined.
Pour the filling into your prepared, unbaked pie crust.
Bake at 425°F for 15 minutes.
Without removing the pie from the oven, reduce the temperature to 350°F and continue baking for 45–50 minutes, or until the filling is set.
To check for doneness, insert a fork about 1 inch from the crust. It should come out clean.
Allow the pie to cool before slicing and serving.
A Little Homestead Baking Tip
My homemade pie crust recipe makes enough dough for one double-crust pie or two single-crust pies. Since pumpkin pie only needs a bottom crust, you can divide the dough and prepare two pie shells. The pumpkin pie filling recipe above makes one batch.
Enjoy your pumpkin pie with a little whipped cream, and you've got a Thanksgiving dessert made from scratch!
Watch Me Make Homemade Pumpkin Pie
Find the link for the Fresh Pumpkin Pie Tutorial on YouTube
Whether you're an experienced baker or making your first homemade Thanksgiving pie, I hope the video encourages you to give scratch baking a try.
Celebrating Homemade Baking at the Wayne County Fair
Every year, I enjoy entering baked goods and home-canned foods in the Wayne County Fair.
In 2026, my raspberry pie received a first-place ribbon! It's always exciting to see something made in my own kitchen recognized at the fair.
But even more than winning ribbons, I love sharing the foods we grow, preserve, and prepare here on our homestead.
That's really what Yellowknife Homestead is all about.
Let Us Bake Your Thanksgiving Pies!
I know not everyone has the time to bake everything from scratch during the busy holiday season.
That's why we're offering homemade Thanksgiving pies for local pickup again this year.
Our 2026 Thanksgiving Pie Flavors
Pumpkin
Peach
Cherry
Apple
Raspberry
Blueberry
We're also offering our homemade seasoned stuffing mix, made with dried bread and ready for your Thanksgiving preparations.
Thanksgiving Ordering Details
Order Deadline: Sunday, November 22, 2026, at 8 PM
Pickup: Tuesday, November 24, 2026, from 6–8 PM
Location: Yellowknife Homestead, 8888 Finley Road, Wooster, Ohio
Payment: Pay at pickup.
Visit YellowknifeHomestead.com to place your Thanksgiving order.
From Our Homestead to Your Home
Whether you're baking your own pies this Thanksgiving or ordering one from our kitchen, I hope your holiday table is filled with delicious food, wonderful memories, and the people you love.
Thank you for supporting our small family homestead and allowing us to share a little of what we make with you.
Grown with Love, Made from Scratch.
Yellowknife Homestead
Thanksgiving Baking from Our Homestead Kitchen
Grown with Love, Made from Scratch.