01 -
First things first, get that oven preheating to 375°F (190°C). Grab a 9x13 inch baking dish; I usually give mine a light spray with cooking oil, just to be safe. Honestly, I've had things stick before, and trying to pry a beautiful dessert out of a dish is not a fun time. Take a moment to gather your ingredients too; it just makes the whole process smoother, you know?
02 -
In a large bowl, whisk together the canned pumpkin purée, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, melted butter (for filling), pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla extract. Whisk it until it's super smooth and everything is combined. This is where the magic happens, and the aroma starts to fill your kitchen. I didn't expect that first time how easily it came together, no lumps, just creamy goodness. Pour this velvety mixture into your prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly. Looks good, right?
03 -
Now for the best part: the crisp! In a separate bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, light brown sugar, old-fashioned rolled oats, chopped pecans, and a little extra pumpkin pie spice. Use your fingers to cut in the cold, cubed butter (for topping) until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. This is a messy step, but it's so satisfying! I love the feel of the butter and oats between my fingers. Sprinkle this glorious topping evenly over the pumpkin filling. Don't worry if it looks a bit chunky; that's exactly what we want!
04 -
Carefully transfer your baking dish to the preheated oven. Bake for about 40-50 minutes. You're looking for the pumpkin filling to be set (a slight jiggle in the center is okay, but it shouldn't be liquidy) and the topping to be golden brown and perfectly crisp. My kitchen always smells incredible at this point, like a warm autumn hug. If the topping starts to get too dark too fast, you can loosely tent it with foil, I've had to do that a few times.
05 -
Once it's done, pull that beautiful crisp out of the oven. Let it cool on a wire rack for at least 15-20 minutes. I know, I know, it's tempting to dig right in, but trust me, giving it a little time to set makes it so much better. The filling needs to firm up a bit. This is where I usually try to sneak a tiny spoonful from the edge, just to check if it's 'ready,' oops!
06 -
Serve warm, ideally with a generous scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream. The contrast between the warm, creamy pumpkin and the cold, sweet topping is just divine. The texture, the smell, the taste—it's everything you want in an autumn dessert. Each bite is a mix of that smooth pumpkin and the crunchy, buttery oats. It's truly a simple pleasure, and honestly, it usually disappears fast in my house!