• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Dessert Done Light | Desserts for your healthy lifestyle
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • About Me
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • About Me
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Contact
    • About Me
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Pudding, Custard, and Mousse

    Healthy Pumpkin Custard with Maple Roasted Pecans

    Published: Nov 16, 2021 · Modified: Dec 21, 2022 by Crystal Yentzen · This post may contain affiliate links · 15 Comments

    Sharing is caring!

    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe
    healthy pumpkin custard with maple roasted pecans
    healthy pumpkin custard with maple roasted pecans

    If you like pumpkin pie, you will love this healthy pumpkin custard with maple-roasted pecans. It's smooth, creamy, and perfectly spiced. The pecan topping adds a wonderful crunch. Plus, this custard is much better for you than traditional pumpkin pie, and it's gluten-free.

    healthy pumpkin custard with maple roasted pecans

    If you're craving a pumpkin dessert but you don't want a ton of fat and sugar, this is the dessert for you. It's essentially the best part of a pumpkin pie: the smooth and creamy filling that's full of all those wonderful spices but with much less fat and sugar. Now let's talk about that topping!

    The maple roasted pecans give this custard a sweet and nutty crunch- you definitely won't miss the crust! And for all of you on a gluten-free diet, no crust equals gluten-free!

    Plus, this dessert is a cinch to make as long as you understand how to bake using a water bath, which I explain below. Also, the ingredients are super easy to find. Let's talk about what you'll need.

    Jump to:
    • Healthy Pumpkin Custard Ingredients:
    • Instructions
    • Want more healthy dessert recipes?
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Healthy Pumpkin Custard Ingredients:

    For healthy pumpkin custard with maple roasted pecans, you will need the following ingredients:

    For the Pumpkin Custard

    healthy pumpkin custard ingredients
    • Pumpkin Puree- This recipe calls for 15 oz of canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling), but you can use homemade puree if you prefer.
    • Evaporated Milk- I used the 2 percent low-fat evaporated milk in the can, although feel free to use full fat if you prefer.
    • Eggs- You'll need two large, room-temperature eggs. I use organic, pasture-raised eggs.
    • Coconut Sugar- I always like to give options for sweeteners, so if you don't have coconut sugar feel free to substitute brown sugar or regular granulated sugar. Or for a sugar-free version, granulated erythritol and monkfruit sweetener are great options. 
    • Cornstarch- The cornstarch helps to thicken the custard. You can substitute arrowroot if that's what you have on hand.
    • Vanilla Extract- Pure vanilla extract is best, although imitation will work as well.
    • Spices- For the spices, I use cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Of course, the cloves and nutmeg are optional, so feel free to omit one if you prefer.
    • Salt- Don't forget the salt. It helps to bring out the other flavors.

    For the Maple Roasted Pecans

    maple roasted pecans
    • Pecans- You'll need about ½ cup of pecans, roughly chopped.
    • Olive Oil- I love using olive oil for its health benefits, but feel free to substitute any other vegetable oil.
    • Maple Syrup- Pure maple syrup gives the pecans such a wonderful flavor.
    • Coconut Sugar- As I said, I like to give options for sweeteners. So, you can substitute any other granulated sugar for the pecans as well as the custard.
    • Salt- Just a touch of salt for the best flavor.

    Instructions

    This pumpkin custard recipe is super easy, and don't be intimidated if you've never baked using a water bath. It's simple, and I'll explain it here:

    What is a water bath?

    A water bath is simply a pan of hot water that you place in the oven. It's used to bake more delicate desserts such as custards and cheesecakes. It adds moisture to the oven and helps desserts to bake more evenly and prevent cracking.

    You don't need any fancy equipment, just a roasting pan with high sides. You'll be placing your ramekins directly in the pan and filling the pan with about 1 inch of hot water.

    As I said, you don't need anything special. But if you are interested, I love baking my custard recipes using this creme brulee making set that I purchased from Amazon. It's great for baking custard, creme brulee, and mini cheesecakes.

    a water bath for pumpkin custard

    Preparing your healthy custard

    The full printable recipe is available below, but here is a quick overview of the steps that you'll follow.

    1. Gather all your ingredients and baking equipment. Make sure you have a large roasting pan (with high sides) and six ramekins ready. Also, either a kettle or pot to heat water.
    2. Begin heating your water, and then prepare the pumpkin custard. You only need one large bowl where you basically mix all the custard ingredients together. Once mixed, place the ramekins in the roasting pan, and divide the custard between each ramekin. Next, carefully fill the pan with hot water up to an inch, and place the pan in the oven to bake.
    3. While the custard is baking, you can mix the ingredients for the maple-roasted pecans (all in the same bowl) and spread the mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Once the custard is finished, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F and roast the pecans.
    4. You can enjoy the pumpkin custard warm or cold. Be sure to add the pecan topping right before serving.

    healthy pumpkin custard with maple roasted pecans

    Want more healthy dessert recipes?

    Check these out:

    Healthy Sugar Cookies with Cashew Butter Frosting

    Healthy Strawberry Cake (Made with Oats)

    Skinny Lemon Cheesecake Mousse

    Healthy Carrot Cake

    Healthy Blueberry Pie

    Healthy Key Lime Pie

    Please let me know how you like the healthy pumpkin custard with maple-roasted pecans in the comments! I love to hear from you, and your star ratings encourage others to give the recipe a try.

    Enjoy!

    Crystal

    📖 Recipe

    healthy pumpkin custard with maple roasted pecans
    Print Recipe
    4.60 from 15 votes

    Healthy Pumpkin Custard with Maple Roasted Pecans

    If you like pumpkin pie, you will love this healthy pumpkin custard with maple-roasted pecans. It's smooth, creamy, and perfectly spiced. The pecan topping adds a wonderful crunch. Plus, this custard is much better for you than traditional pumpkin pie, and it's gluten-free.
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Keyword: custard, Fall, Pumpkin
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 225kcal
    Author: Crystal Yentzen

    Ingredients

    For the Pumpkin Custard

    • 15 oz pumpkin puree, canned
    • 12 oz evaporated lowfat milk, canned
    • 2 large eggs room temperature
    • ½ cup coconut sugar* or brown sugar, see notes
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 1 and ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves

    For the Maple Roasted Pecans

    • ½ cup pecans roughly chopped
    • ½ tablespoon olive oil
    • ½ tablespoon maple syrup
    • ½ tablespoon coconut sugar* or brown sugar, see notes
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt

    Instructions

    For the Pumpkin Custard

    • Heat the oven to 350°F.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin pureé, evaporated milk, and eggs until smooth. Add in the coconut sugar, cornstarch, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and ground cloves, and whisk together until everything is well incorporated.
    • Bring a small kettle or pot of water to a boil. You’ll need hot water to pour into the baking sheet for the water bath.
    • Place 6- 6 oz ramekins in a large baking pan with deep sides. Divide the custard between each ramekin. Carefully fill the pan with about 1 inch of hot water. The baking pan will be hot, so use an oven mitt to carefully transfer the pan to the oven.
    • Bake for 50-60 minutes or until the centers are just set. The time it takes will depend on the depth of your ramekins.
    • Remove the pan from the oven and, using an oven mitt, remove the ramekins from the pan. Place on a wire rack to cool for at least 1 hour.

    For the Maple Roasted Pecans

    • While the custard is cooling, move on with the maple-roasted pecans. Leave the oven at 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • Mix the pecans, olive oil, maple syrup, coconut sugar, and salt in a medium-sized bowl. Pour the mixture onto the lined baking sheet and spread it out in an even layer.
    • Roast for 8-10 minutes, stirring halfway through baking time. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 -15 minutes. Use as a topping for your healthy pumpkin custard.
    • You can enjoy healthy pumpkin custard warm or cold. Be sure to add the pecan topping right before serving.
    • P.S. Don't forget to let me know what you think of the healthy pumpkin custard with maple roasted pecans in the comments. Your feedback means a lot to me, and your star ratings encourage others to give the recipe a try. 🙂

    Notes

    1. I always like to give options for sweeteners, so if you don't have coconut sugar feel free to substitute brown sugar or regular granulated sugar. Or, for a sugar-free version, granulated erythritol and monk fruit sweetener are great options. 
    2. Store your pumpkin custard covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Store the maple-roasted pecans in a sealed container at room temperature. 
    3. This creme brulee making set works great for making custard, creme brulee, and mini cheesecakes. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 225kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 365mg | Potassium: 212mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 11130IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 2mg

    More Pudding, Custard, and Mousse

    • Silken tofu pudding with whipped cream and raspberries
      Silken Tofu Pudding (Easy)
    • healthy chocolate mousse with collagen
      Chocolate Protein Mousse with Collagen
    • skinny lemon cheesecake mousse
      Skinny Lemon Cheesecake Mousse
    • Low fat vegan peanut butter pudding
      Low Fat Vegan Peanut Butter Pudding

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Hollie says

      November 17, 2021 at 3:34 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for sharing this custard recipe. I'm adding it to my Thanksgiving menu for sure!

      Reply
      • Crystal Yentzen says

        November 17, 2021 at 3:41 pm

        You're welcome! Happy Thanksgiving!

        Reply
    2. Giangi says

      November 17, 2021 at 4:11 pm

      Mouthwatering dessert. Looks amazing and so easy to make. On my list for the holidays.
      Thank you for the link on the making set, genius!

      Reply
    3. Kayla says

      November 17, 2021 at 4:24 pm

      5 stars
      This pumpkin custard is so delicious! I love all the great flavors!

      Reply
      • Crystal Yentzen says

        November 18, 2021 at 12:20 am

        Thanks so much! It's definitely one of my favorites!

        Reply
    4. Natalie says

      November 17, 2021 at 6:40 pm

      5 stars
      Oh wow, this super looks delicious. It's super easy to make too. I'll add this to my Holiday baking list. Thanks!

      Reply
    5. Shilpa says

      November 17, 2021 at 8:43 pm

      5 stars
      This custard looks so delicious. And I am loving the pecan topping.. will try is soon. Thanks for sharing

      Reply
    6. Gina says

      November 18, 2021 at 3:13 am

      5 stars
      I will certainly be trying this recipe. Looks amazing!

      Reply
      • Crystal Yentzen says

        January 01, 2022 at 3:38 pm

        Thanks so much!

        Reply
    7. Audrey says

      July 20, 2022 at 3:09 pm

      5 stars
      I love pumpkin stuff all year round!! This is a new fav of mine.

      Reply
      • Crystal Yentzen says

        July 22, 2022 at 2:45 pm

        Me too! I'm so happy you like it.

        Reply
    8. Stephanie says

      July 20, 2022 at 3:25 pm

      Omg 😱 it looks amazing. I can’t wait to make this 🤤

      Reply
    9. Andrea says

      July 20, 2022 at 8:52 pm

      5 stars
      love how sweet this custard turned out! so good!

      Reply
    10. nancy says

      July 20, 2022 at 8:54 pm

      5 stars
      this custard turned out perfect. Amazing and tasty

      Reply
    11. Katie says

      July 22, 2022 at 1:57 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a lovely recipe! Perfect easy dessert recipe for fall!

      Reply
    4.60 from 15 votes (6 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Crystal! Welcome to Dessert Done Light, where I share healthy dessert, snack, and breakfast recipes. If you're looking for a healthy treat, you're in the right place!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Kiwi cake with light cream cheese frosting
      Kiwi Cake with Light Cream Cheese Frosting
    • Lemon Protein Bars
      Lemon Protein Bars
    • Chocolate banana protein muffins
      Chocolate Banana Protein Muffins
    • strawberry sunflower seed bars
      Strawberry Sunflower Seed Bars

    Trending Recipes

    • healthy lemon cake
      Healthy Lemon Cake
    • Peanut Butter Oat Dog Treats
      Peanut Butter Oat Dog Treats
    • how to make quinoa Flour
      How to Make Quinoa Flour (Quick and Easy)
    • Powdered peanut butter mug cake
      Powdered Peanut Butter Mug Cake (4 Ingredients)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! to receive new recipes directly to your inbox!

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Dessert Done Light

    101 shares

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.