I’ve been eating Sara Lee’s pumpkin pie for as long as I can remember. I’m sure my mom propped me up in a makeshift high chair at my grandma’s house as a baby, giving me small bites of her slice at our annual Thanksgiving party.
You see, my mom is an incredible baker. Her pumpkin bars, pumpkin bread, pumpkin whoopie pies rival none. They are the talk of every family gathering. My fiancé waits patiently all year for fall to come around because that’s the only time she’ll make her pumpkin goodies. We almost served her pumpkin bars at our wedding. She’s that good.
But when it comes to pumpkin pie, she’s kept a secret most of my life.
My mom, the best baker I know, prefers store-bought. For years, she didn’t tell anyone in my family, except my sister and I, her delicious “homemade” pumpkin pie that we ate every single Thanksgiving … was Sara Lee.
She’d always bake it, bring it to my grandma’s, take all of the compliments, then snicker to my sister and I on the way home. No one knew. To this day we get a kick out of how much my great-grandma loved it, always asking my mom how she’d get the crust so perfect. “Well, the crust is store-bought, but I make the filling,” my mom would say. My great-grandma never knew the truth (and wherever she is now, I’m sure she’s laughing right alongside my mom about it all).
What’s So Great About Sara Lee Pumpkin Pie?
Sara Lee’s Pumpkin Pie is perfectly balanced, something that’s incredibly difficult to achieve when making a pumpkin pie from scratch. The filling is soft, but not watery, and the pumpkin pie spices are not too strong or not too subtle. The crust is crumbly, buttery, and moist in a way that just makes sense.
The ratio tastes just right: It’s mostly filling, of course, but it doesn’t feel overwhelming. The crust balances out the pumpkin and adds a slight saltiness that brings out all the spiced flavor. Every bite is delicious. Not to mention it looks beautiful, too.
What’s the Best Way to Enjoy Sara Lee Pumpkin Pie?
My favorite way to enjoy Sara Lee’s pumpkin pie is simple: served cold with a huge dollop of Cool Whip. I have a piece after Thanksgiving dinner, enjoying it with family and good conversation, then stash an extra away in a container to take home with me. Why? Because there’s nothing I love more than a slice of pumpkin pie with my cup of coffee the next morning, calling my mom to thank her for bringing such a delicious pie to the gathering.
Buy: Sara Lee Pumpkin Pie, $7.31 for 34 ounces at UberEats
What store-bought desserts are you bringing to Thanksgiving? Tell us about it in the comments below.
