Bring Thanksgiving to a sweet ending with Pumpkin Pie Mousse

I don’t need to tell you, pumpkin pie is a staple Thanksgiving dessert. Given my affection for pumpkin, you might guess I would be first in line for a slice at the end of this week’s big meal. I won’t. Not because of the calories, although they can be plentiful. I will be skipping pumpkin pie because of the crust.

When it comes to pie I have decided if I am going to splurge on a slice of pie, it must have a stellar crust. I want to hear a crackle as my fork digs in and see razor thin bits of pastry raining down on my dessert plate. I will hold out for a pie crust made with love, care, and butter — or better still, butter and lard. If I am going to give up those calories, and dig into a slice of pie, it had better deliver.

In the absence of such a crust I will just scoop out the filling. If I am only interested in the filling, I thought, why not just make a dessert that delivers the best of pumpkin pie filling to end Thanksgiving on a lighter note? So I did.

This mousse is so simple to make you will be in and out of the kitchen, with the dishes washed in under 20 minutes. It is smooth and creamy but not too heavy. Dress up the mousse with an assortment of toppings that add a bit of crunch and color. In mere minutes, you’ll have a truly festive holiday dessert. Your guests will feel like you have given them something really special.

Set your parfaits out right after the Seahawks win on Thursday evening. You’ll have a guaranteed sweet ending!

Pumpkin Pie Mousse

6 (1/2 cup) servings

Prep time: 10 minutes, Cook time: none

1 cup non-fat vanilla Greek Yogurt

1 cup low fat 1% milk

3/4 cup pumpkin puree

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 (3.4oz) package vanilla instant pudding mix, sugar-free, fat-free

Whisk together the yogurt, milk, pumpkin, and spice. Add the pudding mix and stir just until combined. Spoon the mousse into your serving dish or dishes, cover, and chill for 4 hours or overnight.

Serving suggestion: Top the mousse with crumbled gingersnap cookies, fat-free whipped topping, and a sprinkle of nutmeg. Garnish with a few pomegranate seeds.

Cover any remaining mousse and store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

If you are making this for a crowd, serve the mousse in clear plastic wine tumblers.

Approximate nutrition per serving: 64 calories, .5g fat, 233mg sodium, 9.8g carbohydrates, 1.3g fiber, 4.6g sugar, 7g protein. Weight Watchers Points Plus = 2

UPDATE: There was no doubt in my mind that the question of “real” ingredients would be waiting in the wings when this recipe went live. I am a big fan of whole foods. If you have a little more time to make dessert I love this crustless pie that uses coconut flour to give it some body and has a dusting of pecans around the outside. Whatever is on your holiday table, I hope it is surrounded by people you love. Happy Thanksgiving!

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Sarah Jean Muncey-Gordon puts on some BITCHSTIX lip oil at Bandbox Beauty Supply on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Bandbox Beauty was made for Whidbey Island locals, by an island local

Founder Sarah Muncey-Gordon said Langley is in a renaissance, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

A stroll on Rome's ancient Appian Way is a kind of time travel. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves on the Appian Way, Rome’s ancient superhighway

Twenty-nine highways fanned out from Rome, but this one was the first and remains the most legendary.

Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn, seen here in 2013, will perform April 20 in Edmonds. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

R0ck ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn, frontman of The Byrds, plans a gig in Edmonds in April.

Mother giving in to the manipulation her daughter fake crying for candy
Can children be bribed into good behavior?

Only in the short term. What we want to do is promote good habits over the course of the child’s life.

Speech Bubble Puzzle and Discussion
When conflict flares, keep calm and stand your ground

Most adults don’t like dissension. They avoid it, try to get around it, under it, or over it.

The colorful Nyhavn neighborhood is the place to moor on a sunny day in Copenhagen. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves: Embrace hygge and save cash in Copenhagen

Where else would Hans Christian Andersen, a mermaid statue and lovingly decorated open-face sandwiches be the icons of a major capital?

Last Call is a festured artist at the 2024 DeMiero Jazz Festival: in Edmonds. (Photo provided by DeMiero Jazz Festival)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Jazz ensemble Last Call is one of the featured artists at the DeMiero Jazz Festival on March 7-9 in Edmonds.

Kim Helleren
Local children’s author to read at Edmonds Bookshop

Kim Helleren will read from one of her books for kids at the next monthly Story Time at Edmonds Bookshop on March 29.

Chris Elliott
Lyft surprises traveler with a $150 cleaning charge

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed? And will the charge stick?

Inside Elle Marie Hair Studio in Smokey Point. (Provided by Acacia Delzer)
The best hair salon in Snohomish County

You voted, we tallied. Here are the results.

The 2024 Kia EV9 electric SUV has room for up to six or seven passengers, depending on seat configuration. (Photo provided by Kia)
Kia’s all-new EV9 electric SUV occupies rarified air

Roomy three-row electric SUVs priced below 60 grand are scarce.

2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Premium AWD (Photo provided by Toyota)
2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Premium AWD

The compact SUV electric vehicle offers customers the ultimate flexibility for getting around town in zero emission EV mode or road-tripping in hybrid mode with a range of 440 miles and 42 mile per gallon fuel economy.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.