Perfect Pumpkin Spice Whipped Cream for Thanksgiving Pie (and more)
It's time to start planning your big Fall feast menu, if you haven't already. So, let's talk 'turkey'... what's YOUR favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal?
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Let Them Eat Cake, er... PIE!
Even if you are living your best low-sugar life, Thanksgiving can put a lot of pressure on cooks. It IS the holiday most-focused on food, after all. For most of us, the traditional dishes are very carb-heavy. You'll have to decide for yourself whether to take a hall pass for the day or to make recipe adjustments that better align with your lifestyle goals. No judgement either way!
One of our FAVORITE parts of the meal is the end.
Pumpkin pie is a Thanksgiving-exclusive for some which makes it all the more special. All those amazing flavors in a buttery, flaky pie crust? You don't have to ask us twice.
Pie is one area where we stick with tradition, although we are seeing some tempting low(er) sugar pumpkin pie recipes making the rounds this year. Do you have a fool-proof pumpkin pie recipe to share? (Please post it in the comments or on our Low Sugar Recipe group so we can try it, too!)
Don't Serve Naked Pies
Growing up, we never had whipped cream except on Thanksgiving. Some years we used whipped topping and some years we used the magical whipped cream in a can. If you haven't shot whipped cream from a can into your mouth, did you even childhood?
It wasn't until we celebrated Friendsgiving as an adult that we discovered the joy (and workout) of homemade whipped cream.
WHY MAKE HOMEMADE WHIPPED CREAM
It's the ingredients for us. Look, no one can deny that ready-made products are convenient. At the end of the day, however, you have to live with the ingredients that the makers of those products chose for you. And we are not loving that journey for you.
"Whipped Topping" is all kinds of problematic. We'll assume that if you're here, you already care enough about ingredients to say 'no thank you' to any product with "Water, Corn Syrup, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil" listed as the first four ingredients. Further down, it also lists 'Artificial Flavor.'
The products in the spray can are a little trickier. It lists "cream" as the first ingredient and sometimes slaps a 'REAL' label on just to be a little more confusing. Although they typically have just 1g of sugar, they also contains corn syrup and carrageenan. Carrageenan is used as a thickening agent, but is under scrutiny for its potential to cause inflammation.
PUMPKIN SPICE WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP
If you're already obsessed with pumpkin pie, a pumpkin spice whipped cream topping is that je ne sais quoi that will make this year's pie totally unforgettable.
For this recipe, we're using a combination of Pumpkin Spice and Madagascar Vanilla Sinless Syrups with a pinch of cinnamon, just because. The flavor is perfect - just the right amount of sweet and complementary to the richness of the pie.
Other Ways to Use Pumpkin Spice Whipped Cream
Don't think this recipe is *just* for topping your pie once a year. The subtle yet comforting flavor of Pumpkin Spice Whipped Cream can be the best supporting ingredient to other favorite autumn treats too!
Of course, it should top a specialty coffee or chai latte. It would make a magical addition to hot cocoa. What about adding a dollop to protein pancakes or as a dip for apples, pears, or even figs?
No matter how you use it, we think you'll love it.
