Martha Stewart’s Secret Ingredient For Making Pumpkin Pie 10x Better

Angel Albring
·3-min read

If there was one thing I really wanted to do as I prepped for Thanksgiving this year, it was to find ways to free myself from the rigid rules of classic Thanksgiving dishes. Because for every Campbell's green bean casserole, there's its umami sister, green bean casserole with miso. And yes, pecan pie can in fact go nude without the crust and still be socially acceptable. And mac and cheese was meant to be riffed on...and on and on and on.

Related: Patti LaBelle’s Easy Mac and Cheese Is Practically Perfect

But in my quest to find truly unique spins on the iconic pumpkin pie, I was stumped. Pumpkin pie is at the top of the list of pies I plan to make for Thanksgiving. This creamy, spiced dessert with a flaky, golden crust isn’t just a Thanksgiving tradition. It’s a slice of autumnal heaven that caps off the holiday dinner for the year. No pressure, right?!

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After some digging, I ran across the perfect pumpkin pie solution, thanks to queen Martha Stewart. Her genius twist on the classic dessert kept the core elements of the beloved pie, but increased the flavor five-fold. Why not tenfold you ask? Well Martha says "the humble pumpkin pie gets a dramatic makeover" by swapping out pumpkin pie spice for Chinese five-spice powder.

Related: The Asian Way To Make Sweet Potato Casserole 10x Better

What is Chinese Five-Spice Powder?

Chinese five-spice powder is a Chinese cooking pantry staple. The ratio of spices in Chinese five spice can vary by recipe or brand but generally speaking, it's a blend of five key spices: star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns and fennel seeds. Chinese five-spice powder is often used in season meats, stir-fries and marinades, but you can also use the pantry ingredient to take cabbage, soups and desserts up a notch. Case in point: pumpkin pie!

Related: Yes, You Can Freeze Pumpkin Pie—Here's How To Do It

What's the Difference Between Chinese Five-Spice and Pumpkin Pie Spice?

While both blends share some overlapping spices, their overall flavor profiles vary significantly. Pumpkin pie spice also has some variations, but it's usually a mix of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice and cloves. It has a warm spiced flavor that is usually used in sweet applications. Chinese five-spice powder has the cinnamon and cloves, but the addition of star anise, Sichuan peppercorns and fennel seeds give it a more layered depth of flavor that balances sweet, savory and spicy notes.

Why Martha Stewart Adds Five Spice Powder to Pumpkin Pie

Stewart is a lifestyle and food icon, celebrated for her expertise in cooking and entertaining, and teaching multiple generations how to elevate everyday meals into beautiful, delicious and memorable experiences. And that's just what she does here. She starts with a classic, pumpkin pie, then adds five spice powder to the filling and replaces the classic butter pie crust with a frilly, fancy-looking phyllo crust.

Using five-spice powder in a pie may seem over-the-top, but two of the spices (cinnamon and cloves) are already in standard pumpkin pie spice, so Martha's just making a slight change from the traditional flavor. It's a small change that makes a big difference.

Related: The Store-Bought Item Martha Stewart Admits to Using for Her Thanksgiving Menu

How to Make Pumpkin Pie With Five-Spice Powder Like Martha Stewart

To make a pumpkin pie with Chinese five-spice powder inspired by Martha Stewart, just replace the spices in your pumpkin pie recipe with an equal amount of Chinese five-spice powder. If you want to take things further, you can also use the phyllo crust. How far you steer away from tradition is totally up to you.

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