Make A Sweet Pumpkin Maple Galette || Easy To Put Together
A sweet pumpkin maple galette is one of the best fall season desserts around. It’s free form crust couldn’t be easier to make. And it’s sweet, rich, maple sweetened pumpkin filling can’t be beat.
I’ve grown very fond of this tasty dessert. It’s had a place on my fall table for a few years now. And I know if you make one for yourself, it will earn a place on your fall table as well.
It’s super fun to make. There’s something about it’s sheer simplicity and rustic charm that beckons you into the kitchen to whip one up.
And it doesn’t hurt that the hands on time it takes to make this dish is pretty minimal. It takes a long time from start to finish. But most of that time is hands off and leaves you free to do other things.
What Is A Galette?
A galette is a free-form pastry dough that is topped with either a sweet or a savory filling. It is a French dessert that is very easy to make.
Seasonal fruit is usually a main component of the filling in this delicious dessert. It may be sweet and dessert-like, or it may be rich and savory, but it is generally based around a fruit component.
Although, occasionally other ingredients are the star of the show, such as; eggs, potatoes, or mushrooms.
Galettes are basically a pie that doesn’t require any real fussing around with the crust. This makes them a big win in a busy kitchen.
They do have a different crust to filling ratio than a pie though. They are quite shallow, which reduces the amount of filling in comparison with the amount of crust.
I’m okay with that, because the crust in this recipe is so tender and flaky that I could eat it without any filling at all!
A galette is traditionally baked on a sheet pan or a baking stone. I’ve seen them made in cast iron skillets, which is a great idea because of how the skillet adds a crisp to the crust.
And I’ve seen some people bake them in a pie dish. This is probably also a great idea, especially if you’re going for a more symmetrical crust.
But, it just makes me feel like I should have baked a pie. I tend to gravitate toward using my baking stone.
Ingredients Needed To Make A Sweet Pumpkin Maple Galette
You can use any pie crust recipe you like to make a galette. So, if you have a favorite crust recipe already, feel free to use it if you like.
I’m a little partial to the recipe in this post. It’s not my go-to pie crust recipe. But it’s flavor profile is perfect for this sweet pumpkin maple galette.
These are the ingredients you’ll need to make the crust …
- All-Purpose White Flour – A good quality organic all-purpose white flour is the base for the crust in this recipe.
- Cornmeal – Finely ground cornmeal adds a nice texture to the crust in this recipe.
- Sugar – There’s just enough sugar in this crust to give it a hint of sweetness.
- Salt – Salt is used in pie crust to enhance the flavor of the flour and fat.
- Lard – Lard is the fat used to make this crust. It gives it a flaky texture that is far superior to pie crusts made with other fats.
- Water – Icy cold water brings this crust together nicely.
- Egg – The edge of this crust is washed with an egg to provide a light shine and to help the sugar sprinkled on it to stick.
- Turbinado Sugar – Any coarse sugar can be used to dust the crust of this dessert. I used turbinado sugar.
These are the ingredients you’ll need to whip up the filling …
- Pumpkin – Farm fresh pumpkin is the best way to go when making the filling for this dessert. You can use canned pumpkin if that’s all you have. Be sure that the only ingredient is pumpkin, as most canned pumpkin products are mixed with other ingredients for baking.
- Maple Syrup – There is a warmth and depth of flavor that maple syrup lends to this desserts filling that can’t be matched by other sweeteners.
- Salt – The salt brings out the intensity of the other flavors in this dessert.
- Cinnamon, Ginger, & Nutmeg – These 3 classic pumpkin pie spices offer the perfect flavoring for this recipe.
- Eggs – Eggs help to bind all of the ingredients together in this recipe.
- Sour Cream – A good quality farm fresh sour cream is the perfect choice for this dessert.
How To Make A Sweet Pumpkin Maple Galette
Making a sweet pumpkin maple galette is pretty similar to making a pie, except easier.
The logistics are the same. You’ll make a pie crust and refrigerate it for about an hour or so.
Whie it’s in the fridge, you’ll whip up some pumpkin maple filling and set it aside to cool. When it’s cool you’ll roll out the crust, top it with the filling, and fold the edges over to hold the filling in.
Then you’ll egg wash the crust and dust it with a little coarse sugar, and pop it in the oven. It will bake until the crust is a nice golden brown color.
It can then be cooled on a cooling rack and served.
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The really great thing about this dessert is it’s homemade vibe. It is meant to have a rustic charm. There’s no need to be too fussy with it.
It can be a little bit of an odd shape. And if the crust is a bit uneven that’s okay. It just adds that much more character.
Tips And Tricks
There are a few tips and tricks that will enhance your sweet pumpkin maple galette dessert making experience.
I’ve put together a list of them for you to consider …
- Use a food processor to make the dough – You can easily make the pie dough in a food processor. It will do the blending for you and it tends to produce a very smooth crust.
- Make the dough in advance – Pie dough can be made and stored in the refrigerator for 3-5 days before you use it. So, go ahead and get the dough made when you have a chance early in the week and then use it to whip your galettes together on the weekend. You’ll need to let the dough rest at room temperature for an hour before you roll it out for your galette.
- Cook the pumpkin in advance – Go ahead and cook off the pumpkin for this dessert up to 3 days ahead of time. It can simply be roasted in the oven, on a parchment lined sheet pan until soft. Once it’s cooked the flesh will easily separate from the skin. It can then be mashed, cooled, and put in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake your dessert.
How To Serve This Dish
Serving sweet pumpkin maple galette is really no different than serving pie, except it’s easy to pick up with your fingers!
You can serve it while it is still a little warm. It’s especially nice this way with a scoop of ice cream on top. All that creamy goodness starts to melt down onto your slice of galette and adds even more flavor to it.
I like it best straight out of the fridge. I slice it into thin slices before I put it in there, so that I can just grab a little slice and go on my way. It’s a great treat on the go.
It can be served with or without whipped cream topping. And you can drizzle it with a little caramel sauce or chocolate syrup if you like.
How To Store A Sweet Pumpkin Maple Galette
This sweet pumpkin maple galette will last in the fridge for 5-7 days. That’s how I usually store mine, as I prefer to eat it cold.
I really don’t know, off the top of my head, what the food safety guidelines are for storing this dish. After close to 50 years in the kitchen, I know it’s safe to assume that it is recommended that you refrigerate it. It contains fruit and dairy which would make it susceptible to spoilage by safety standards.
I, like so many other people, have been eating pumpkin pie straight from the counter for days around the holidays. So I have been known to leave it out, if I know it is going to get eaten in a short period of time.
However, please note that the choice to follow my lead is strictly at your own discretion. You decide what you feel is safe for yourself and your family and go with it.
I’ll be over here just eating my sweet pumpkin maple galette any darn way I can get my hands on it. It’s sooooooooo good!
Recommended For You
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Sweet Pumpkin Maple Galette
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Fork or pastry blender
- Plastic wrap
- Rolling pin
- Parchment paper
- Baking stone or parchment-lined sheet pan
- Pastry brush
- Whisk
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup medium-grind cornmeal
- 1 tbls granulated sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup cold lard
- 4 tbls icy cold water
- 1 egg beaten (for brushing)
- 1 tbls turbinado sugar
For the Filling:
- 2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Instructions
Make the Dough:
- Combine dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, and salt.
- Cut in the lard: Use a fork or pastry blender to cut the lard into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add water gradually: Stir in the water, 1 tbls at a time, until the dough begins to come together. Add more if needed.
- Form & chill: Use your hands to press the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
Prepare the Filling:
- Cook fresh pumpkin if needed: If using fresh pumpkin, cook it down until it has the consistency of loose tomato paste. 100% pure canned pumpkin, no spices added, can be used as is.
- Mix spices & sweetener: Stir the maple syrup, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg into the pumpkin.
- Blend eggs & sour cream: In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and sour cream together.
- Combine: Pour the sour cream mixture into the pumpkin mixture and stir until fully blended. Set aside.
Assemble & Bake:
- Preheat oven: Set oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Roll out the dough: Lightly flour a work surface. Unwrap the dough, flour both sides, and roll it out into a 1/4" thick round.
- Transfer to pan: Place the rolled dough on a parchment-lined sheet pan or baking stone.
- Fill & fold: Spread the pumpkin filling in the center, leaving a 2” border. Fold the edges over the filling, crimping as needed.
- Brush & sugar: Brush the crust with beaten egg and sprinkle turbinado sugar over it.
- Bake: Bake for 40 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.
- Cool & serve: Transfer to a cooling rack. Serve slightly warm, at room temperature, or chilled.
Video
Notes
- Chill the dough properly: Refrigerating the dough for at least an hour ensures a flaky, tender crust.
- Rustic shape is fine: No need for a perfect circle—galettes are meant to look handmade.
- Adjust the spice level: Increase or reduce cinnamon, ginger, or nutmeg to suit your taste.
- Use quality maple syrup: Opt for pure maple syrup for the best flavor — avoid pancake syrups.
This looks so delicious!! Can’t wait to try!
Give it a try. It’s a keeper 😉
Yum! Delicious! Thank you!
So welcome 😉
This Pumpkin Maple Galette is the perfect cozy dessert, with its sweet, spiced pumpkin filling and a touch of maple for extra warmth! It’s simple to make and absolutely delicious — perfect for any fall occasion or just when you’re craving something comforting. If you try it, I’d love to hear what you think! Please leave a review and share your experience with others. And if you have any questions while making it, feel free to ask in the comments — I’m always happy to help. Enjoy every bite!