Pumpkin Pie Decorations

Learn how to make the prettiest pumpkin pie with these ideas for pumpkin pie decorations. 

Pumpkin pie is the most classic of Thanksgiving desserts but isn’t always the prettiest. There are ways to make it much more interesting, however! 

From pastry leaves to sugared cranberries to nuts and more, here are some of the top ideas for pumpkin pie decorations. 

1. Pastry Leaves

This beautifully decorated pumpkin pie from Lemon Blossoms is topped with perfect fall pastry leaves. 

Pastry leaves made out of pie crust are is my go-to pumpkin pie decoration year after year. They are simple to make and look so pretty. You can also see them on my Vegan Pumpkin Pie, though they don’t puff up as nicely with almond flour pie crust. 

2. Turkey Decorated Pumpkin Pie 

Take the fall leaf pumpkin pie decoration idea a step further and make a turkey! This Turkey Crust Pumpkin Pie from Kudos Kitchen is just too cute! 

3. Sugared Cranberries 

Sugared cranberries are one of the most festive holiday treats. They are tasty and beautiful and a wonderful pumpkin pie decoration. We used them on our Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake, pictured above, along with some pomegranate arils and fresh mint leaves. 

4. Nuts & Seeds 

For a natural aesthetic, you can’t beat nuts and seeds. Toasted pecans and pepitas are a natural fit for pumpkin pie decoration. Candied pecans or almond brittle broken up into little pieces is tasty too. 

5. Chocolate

Chocolate is surprisingly tasty with pumpkin. We’ve shared Chocolate Swirled Pumpkin Pies here, but this is another lovely Double Chocolate Pumpkin Pie from Family Spice. 

Alternatively, but also with chocolate, dark chocolate shavings could be piled up in the center of a pumpkin pie or over freshly whipped cream. 

6. Edible Flowers/Leaves 

Loria Stern uses edible hibiscus leaves on her Maple Fall Cookies. To use this idea for pumpkin pie decorations, top your baked pie with a few of these cookies, or top the pie with pressed edible hibiscus leaves. 

7. Make it Mini

Mini Pumpkin Pies are always adorable. These little pies are great for parties. 

8. Piped Whipped Cream and Coffee 

Addicted to Dates topped this lovely vegan pumpkin custard pie with whipped coconut cream sweetened with maple syrup with instant coffee. Cocao powder or cinnamon would work well for dusting too. 

9. Freshly Whipped Cream 

Pile pillowy freshly whipped cream (or coconut cream for dairy-free) on top of your pie for a beautiful contrast in color. This lovely Pumpkin Pie From Scratch is from Flavor the Moments. 

How to Make Fall Leaf Pumpkin Pie Decorations 

The trick to making beautiful pastry leaf pumpkin pie decorations is to use cutters that are made for this purpose. You can find them at cooking stores such as Williams-Sonoma, or get them delivered quickly with Amazon Prime. 

Simply roll your pie crust out as usual, then use the cutter to cut out your fall shapes. Brush lightly with an egg wash and sprinkle with sugar if desired. 

Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment and bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes until golden. Top your pie with the pastry leaves after it has baked and cooled, or serve them separately to place on whipped cream. Learn How to Store Pumpkin Pie first.