Old-fashioned carrot pie is a delightful fall pie. It is very similar to pumpkin pie – but a little lighter and sweeter.
Here’s the original hundred-year-old recipe:
Two medium, “grocery-store” style, long, slender carrots are not nearly large enough to make 1 – 1 1/4 cups pureed carrot. The recipe must be calling for the large, thick relatively short carrots that home gardeners often raise. When I made the recipe, I used a 1-pound bag of carrots, and ended up with about the right amount of pureed carrot.
Here’s the recipe updated for modern cooks:
Carrot Pie
1 pound carrots
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 – 9-inch pie pastry
Peel and slice carrots. Put carrot slices in a saucepan and just barely cover with water. Using high heat bring to a boil, then reduce heat, and simmer until carrots are tender (approximately 20 – 25 minutes). Remove from heat and drain; then press through a sieve or puree (I used a Foley mill.) Measure the pureed carrot. There should be approximately 1 – 1 1/4 cups.
Preheat oven to 425° F. Combine all ingredients (except pie shell) in a mixing bowl; beat until smooth. Pour into pie crust. Bake 15 minutes; then reduce heat to 350°. Continue baking (about 50-60 minutes) until a knife inserted in the center of the pie comes out clean.
A Hundred Years Ago 
Never heard tell of carrot pie, but veggies with cinnamon and ginger is surely worth a try.
It’s a tasty pie. If I didn’t know it was a Carrot Pie, I would just think it was a very good pumpkin pie.
I’ve never heard of carrot pie, but why not? It would be interesting to give it a try, just to compare the flavor with pumpkin pie, which I adore.
If you like pumpkin pie, you’d like this pie. They are very similar in taste and texture.
I’ve never heard of it either.
I’m tempted, as I like pumpkin pie, but I really dislike carrot cake, so I’m torn.
Sounds like a great alternative to pumpkin pie! I am going to give it a try.
I think that you’ll like it.
This is honestly one of the best pies I’ve ever had, very similar to pumpkin pie. Absolutely delicious!
It’s wonderful to hear that you like this recipe. Some recipes stand the test of time. 🙂
How cool is that!
It’s yummy.
I thought it a typo at first about using crums, and lo and behold, in 1919 and earlier, crums were used in a lot of recipes. The pie looks beautiful, and similar to a sweet potato pie. Carrot cake is delicious, so it stands to reason carrot pie would be also.
Similarly to what you found, I’ve noticed that bread crumbs were sometimes used to thicken sauces and other liquids in old recipes.
I collect vintage cookbooks and Carrot Pie is often featured in them. It is absolutely delightful and provides a nice switch from Pumpkin and Sweet Potato.
Also, before carrots usurped their place in history, PARSNIPS were “Da Bomb” in regards to being the ubiquitous vegetable for savory AND sweet foods. I’ve made a pureed Parsnip and Maple Syrup Pie in a Pecan Crust that is to die for! I never reveal WHAT the mystery ingredient is until AFTER my friends taste it, otherwise, it’s the same old “Ewwwww! Parsnips!”
I agree – the Carrot Pie was a nice switch from Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Pies. Your Parsnip and Maple Syrup Pie sounds divine. I hope that parsnips make a comeback. (Maybe it’s my imagination, but I think that I’m seeing them a bit more in the last year or two.)
And rutabagas! One of my favorite recipes was with rutabagas, parsnips, and sweet potatoes along with olive oil and spices.
mmm. . . this sounds good, too.
I doubt I will make a carrot pie, but my husband might. He likes sweet; need carrots.
One of the things I liked about this recipe was that it only called for 1/2 cup of sugar; much of the sweetness came from the carrots.
I noticed that too!
This has been a family favourite for years. I often make it to use up the old store bought carrots once new ones are available in the garden. In fact, I submitted it to several community cookbooks over the years but no one has ever made it to my knowledge.
I notice though, that yours did not have the mandatory whip cream. LOL
Carrot Pie is definitely under-appreciated (with or without the whipped cream). I can’t figure out why it isn’t more popular.
I’ve never had the pleasure of enjoying a slice of carrot pie. It looks and sounds delicious. 😀
It’s really good and a nice change from pumpkin pie.
Oh I know I like this! I have made a plenty of carrot pies! We can grow carrots here in the winter, makes it handy when other veggies are pretty much over with .
I also like Carrot Pie – and you’re absolutely right. This is a good pie to make in the winter when other fresh pie fillings aren’t readily available.
Never heard of a carrot pie but I like carrot cakes, so why not a pie? And healthy…right?
It’s tasty – and has got to be chock-full of nutrients. Carrots have lots of beta carotene which our bodies convert to vitamin A, as well as other nutrients.
I love carrot cake, Sheryl. I have not heard about carrot pie. I can see how it would be similar to pumpkin pie. Healthy, too. Yay:)
It’s very tasty, and healthy, too. In my opinion, Carrot Pie is an old-fashioned pie that is due for a comeback.
I’ve never heard of a carrot pie, but I know my husband would eat the whole thing in one sitting. I take it it’s kind of like pumpkin or sweet potato pie? Doesn’t matter, it sounds delicious.
Yes, it’s similar to a pumpkin or sweet potato pie. If your husband likes those pies, he’d definitely like Carrot Pie.
Goodness, I’ve never heard of carrot pie, sounds wonderful though.xxx
It’s yummy. I’m not sure why it isn’t more popular.
I told my Granny about this pie and now she wants me to make it so she can have something for Thanksgiving besides pumpkin pie, which she does not like. (She likes sweet potato pie, so I think the carrot will be okay.)
I have never made a pie in my life. Do you think once I cook the carrots I can puree them in the blender? I don’t have anything else to mash them up. It’s a good blender.
I just now saw your comment. I’m a little behind on responding. A blender would work fine. It’s a very tasty pie. I think that she’d like it.
I never heard of a carrot pie! How interesting! 🍽
I was very pleasantly surprised when I made it. It is very tasty.
Hello, thanks for sharing these recipes. I have never heard of Carrot Pie! Everything sounds delicious. Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your day!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I appreciate your site so much as I am writing curating our family history into a book and trying to include recipes mentioned in the stories. Some we were able to find, but this was one of them and I was thrilled to find it here! Amazing!
Thanks for taking a moment to write your kind note. It’s wonderful to hear that you enjoy this blog and that you found a recipe that you were looking for here. Best wishes as you compile the book with yur family history.