Pumpkin pie is a holiday favorite, a classic flavor that has plenty of history. That history traces all the way back to the first Thanksgiving. It had a much different form then, but it has remained a dish that brings people to the table after all these years.

Early American settlers of southern New England made their pumpkin pie using a hollowed out, stewed pumpkin filled with milk, honey, and spices. Then it was baked in hot ashes. This version could be considered more a pie inside of a pumpkin, but nevertheless it quickly became a favorite for the settlers.

The educational series How Does It Grow provides an excellent summary of the early pumpkin pie: