Indulge your craving for comforting and spicy pumpkin pie recipes during this holiday season and all winter long. Pumpkin pie is the quintessential American dessert having its origins with the early settlers who transformed the lowly cooked pumpkin pulp into treasured treat during those early lean years. Today's pumpkin pie recipes, fragrant, full of spices and sweetness, are much easier to prepare with the advent of canned pumpkin and readily available spices. Although there are many pumpkin pie recipes made with the basic ingredient, many families like to experiement with additions and modifications. Try this pumpkin pie recipe for a scrumptious version of an old favorite.

Walnut Streusel Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients:

1. 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
2. 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
3. 2 egg yolks
4. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
5. 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
6. 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
7. 1/2 teaspoon salt
8. 2 egg whites

1 (9 inch) unbaked pie shell

Streusel Topping

1. 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2. 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
3. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4. 2 tablespoons butter, chilled
5. 1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

In a large bowl, mix together the pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, and egg yolks. Stir in 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. In a large glass or metal bowl, whip egg whites until soft peaks form. Gently fold into pumpkin mixture. Pour filling into pie shell.

Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven. While the pie is baking, prepare the streusel topping: In a small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Blend in the cold butter with a fork or pastry blender until the mixture is crumbly. Mix in the chopped nuts. Sprinkle the topping over the pie.

Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake an additional 40 minutes, or until set.

Top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Of course, there are many other pumpkin pie recipes. For traditional or a new twist to pumpkin pie recipes, visit the "Pumpkin Pie Recipes Resources" section, and surprise your family with an updated pumpkin pie.