​​The Tangy Topping That Takes Pumpkin Pie To Another Level

Ask just about anyone and they are likely to have a favorite type of pie, along with some strong feelings about it. If coffeehouses around the country are to be believed, an overwhelming number of people lean heavily towards pumpkin (and the obligatory spice) as their flavor of choice. When making your next pumpkin pie, or as a lovely way to doctor up a store-bought variety, take it from one-note to a zestier and more festive place with the addition of a cranberry glaze.

Much like a homemade cranberry sauce, this topping relies on water or another type of liquid — orange juice is a popular choice — to which fresh or frozen cranberries are added and then cooked on the stovetop until thick and the berries start to break down. In fact, you could further cook down a cranberry sauce if you have some on hand, yielding a concentrate and leaning towards candy-like fruit compote. Other welcome additions to the topping are fruit zest, spices like cinnamon, or even toasted nuts, which significantly up the cranberry texture game. Once poured over the baked pie, a quick stint in the fridge will set this homespun pumpkin flavor lifter.

To give your cranberry glaze the perfect base, make sure to avoid common pumpkin pie mistakes like not blind-baking the shell, cheating with pumpkin puree instead of making an actual pumpkin pie filling, not paying attention to the spices in the mixture, or overbaking the whole pie. If you've followed your recipe to the letter, but are still facing a runny pumpkin filling, you can easily remedy the situation by further cooking it, adding an extra egg to make sure the structure is set, or adding baking time or additional time in the refrigerator.

If you'd like to flex your pie-making skills to truly 2.0 levels, go all in by incorporating a gooey caramel in the bottom of the pumpkin pie and then finishing with the cranberry glaze. This layered approach starts with buttery and rich toffee-like notes, leading into the warmly spiced and perfectly set pumpkin filling, and finishes with the bright tasting and visually pleasing cranberry element. Talk about a showstopper. Just know your crowd may revolt against basic pumpkin pie from here forward.