Stir pumpkin and dry ingredients into eggs. Gradually stir in cream. Set each pie shell on a cookie sheet. Divide custard evenly between two pie shells. (I use my big canning ladle for this.)
4 cups pumpkin puree, 3 cups half and half or heavy cream, 2 unbaked pie shells
Carefully move pies to preheated oven. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F; then bake for 40 to 50 minutes more. A knife inserted near the center of the pie should come out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate.
Whipped cream
Notes
This recipe makes enough filling for two pumpkin pies.
Optional: Top with whipped cream before serving. (For some people in my family this is not considered optional. And yet, year after year after year I forget to have whipping cream on hand.)