This Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie Hack Mashes Up Two Desserts & We’re Here For It

This Thanksgiving, it feels like there’s a theme in the air…and that theme is combination. It’s not your typical theme, sure, but it’s hard to ignore that it keeps coming up. From hacks that combine turkey and stuffing into one easy dish, to grocery items that do the same thing (like the comeback of Trader Joe’s Turkey & Stuffing En Croute), bringing things together to save time and effort while also putting something different on the table is on the brain. 

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Not just for entrées, either. A pumpkin pie hack recently came across my desk (by which I mean, I was served it by YouTube’s algorithm) that combines two classic desserts, and I thought it was worth discussing. Not least because it sounds delicious. 

S’Mores Pumpkin Pie Hack

This hack comes courtesy of Jocelyn Delk Adams, in a video posted on Food Network’s YouTube channel – and while it may be a couple of years old now, its reappearance speaks to all things combining, time-saving, and elevating. She starts with a store-bought pumpkin pie, and then tops it with a chocolate ganache made with melted chocolate chips and heavy cream. Then, she studs large marshmallows into the ganache before placing it into the oven and broiling it until the muffins are browned and softened. 

And there you go: S’mores pumpkin pie. Delk Adams calls this hack “perfect for your outdoor Thanksgiving celebration,” and the thought of dishing up slices while the night draws in and maybe, just maybe, someone starts up the fire pit and hands out some blankets is cozy beyond compare. That said, you could just eat it inside. Or, y’know, wherever you want.

A Canvas Worth Painting On

Your enjoyment of this hack will, of course, depend entirely on how much you like the flavors of s’mores and pumpkin together. If you don’t gel with it, it’s probably not for you. But that doesn’t mean you can’t shake up your pumpkin pie game in other ways. If you’re making it from scratch, try caramelizing your pumpkin pie to unlock more flavor and create a deeper, nuttier, richer experience. Or you could use literal caramel, drizzling a layer in your crust before adding the pie filling, which will give the pie a burst of extra sweetness (although if you find it sugary enough, avoid this one — it’ll put your teeth on edge). The standard pie is just the starting point. Everything else is down to your creativity.