This Store-Bought Pumpkin Pie Is Bakery-Made, But Not Worth Your Money

Pumpkin pie is among the most iconic seasonal desserts in the United States, dominating autumn alongside the ubiquitous pumpkin spice flavor it is often paired with. However, it's fair to describe pumpkin pie as a low-floor, high-ceiling food; the best pumpkin pies are absolutely incredible but the worst ones can be odd-tasting and generally quite disappointing. When it comes to store-bought versions of the dessert, one pumpkin pie that falls short in terms of overall taste is undoubtedly the Jessie Lord Pumpkin Pie sold at a handful of retailers across the country.

We placed the pumpkin pie from Jessie Lord Bakery dead last in our ranking of grocery store pumpkin pies due to its lackluster flavor. The pie's limited sweetness is at no point made up for with a dose of pumpkin spice, nor does it have a particularly impressive texture. While the pie is relatively inexpensive — costing as little as $5.99 at some grocery stores — this affordability simply isn't enough to make up for how bland and underwhelming it is.

Unfortunately, we aren't the only ones who aren't sold on Jessie Lord Bakery's pumpkin pie. In fact, one could argue we're bigger fans of the California-based bakery's pie than most others are. As far as I'm concerned, while the dessert's taste is definitely off, the pie's texture is fairly par for the course. However, people online disagree. One Yelp review of the bakery explained, "The pumpkin pie hasn't the right flavor with spices. Bland flavor with odd texture. Missing pumpkin spice." Others claimed the pies they purchased had a crust that was too tough and that the filling was overly gummy. Reviews of the company's pumpkin pie get even more negative when the no-sugar-added version of it is brought up. An old article in the San Diego Reader described the pie as akin to squash baby food and criticized its poorly integrated flavors.

If you've already purchased the store-bought dessert and don't want it to go to waste, there are a few ways to repurpose pumpkin pie filling. For example, incorporating it into a pumpkin pie milkshake while adding spices and sweeteners to amp up its flavor. Similarly, you can brûlée the pumpkin pie by adding sugar to it and giving it a caramelized finish that is sure to improve its overall taste.