Martha Stewart’s secret ingredient to make pumpkin pie 10x better

On November 28, 2024By Littum

If there was one thing I really wanted to do that I prepared for Thanksgiving this year it was to find ways to free myself from classic rigid rules Thanksgiving dishes. Because for each Campbell’s Green Bean Casserolethere is its umami sister, green bean casserole with miso. And yes, pecan pie can actually go naked without the crust and still be socially acceptable. And mac and cheese was meant to be riffed on…and on and on and on.

But in my quest to find completely unique spins on the iconic pumpkin pie, I was shocked. 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 piece of autumn heaven that ends this year’s holiday dinner. No pressure, right?!

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After some digging I ran across the perfect one pumpkin pie solution, thanks to queen Martha Stewart. Her ingenious twist on the classic dessert kept the core elements of the beloved pie, but quintupled the taste. Why not tenfold you ask? Well Martha says “the humble pumpkin pie gets a dramatic makeover” by swapping pumpkin pie spice for Chinese powder with five spices.

What is Chinese Five Spice Powder?

Chinese five-spice powder is one Chinese cooking pantry staples. The ratio of spices in Chinese five spice can vary by recipe or brand, but generally it is a blend of five key spices: star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns, and fennel seeds. Chinese five spice powder is often used in season meat, stir fries and marinades, but you can also use the pantry ingredient to take cabbagesoups and desserts a notch up. Example: Pumpkin Pie!

What is 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 is usually a mixture of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice and cloves. It has a warm spicy flavor that is usually used in sweet applications. Chinese five-spice powder has cinnamon and cloves, but the addition of star anise, Sichuan peppercorns, and fennel seeds gives 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 excellence in cooking and entertaining, teaching multiple generations how to elevate everyday meals into beautiful, delicious and memorable experiences. And that’s exactly what she does here. She starts with a classic pumpkin pie, then adds five spice powders to the filling and substitutes classic butter pie crust with a phyllo crust that looks fancy.

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

How to make five-spice pumpkin pie like Martha Stewart

To make a Chinese Five Spice Powder Pumpkin Pie inspired by Martha Stewart, simply 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 entirely up to you.

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