Target is no stranger to selling products that become instant hits. But does that include the most classic holiday dessert? Following our Trader Joe's pumpkin pie test, now we went shopping to get our own baked Target pumpkin pie to see if it was worth the hype.
Below you'll find our detailed, honest review of the pie and whether or not it's worth battling the Target crowd. From flavor to crust, we will give you all the details to decide if this staple dessert should make it into your shopping cart this season.
Where to purchase
There was a bit of an issue purchasing this pie. Their grocery area is typically pretty small, so at our Target store, they had a seasonal cart located in the middle of the aisle, right before the entrance to the grocery area.
The problem wasn't finding the location of the pie in the store. The problem was that the cart holding the pies was empty. We asked if more pies were coming and if they would be re-stocked soon. They checked in the back and came out holding the one pie that they found that hadn't been put out for purchase yet, which we took as fate.
The pie cost $4.99. This is a seasonal item that states it's only available during pumpkin season. The box also states that it's a new recipe this year.
We're not sure whether it's hard to get because it's popular or because they don't make many for the holiday season, but it's a good idea to check online in your area to see if they are showing any in stock. You can also stop by and see if there are any in store that day. It worked out for us that way, but luck is never a given.
Ingredient list
water, pumpkin, wheat flour (flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), sugar, palm oil, eggs, corn syrup, nonfat milk, food starch-modified, milk solids (nonfat milk, whey solids, lactose), contains less than 2% of salt, dextrose, cinnamon, preserved with sorbic acid and sodium propionate, apple cider vinegar, carrageenan (standardized with sodium chloride, potassium chloride, dextrose), konjac, carob bean gum, cellulose gum, xanthan gum, calcium propionate, agar, corn starch, spices.
The first thing we noticed was the big, bold letters on the label on the back that say "contains a bioengineered food ingredient". The list of ingredients was long, with water as the first and pumpkin as the second, and no butter but palm oil.
There were a lot of preservatives and gum additives in this pie, along with a couple of surprise ingredients like konjac.
The box does say to refrigerate after opening.
Appearance
At first glance, there is nothing wow-worthy about the box or the pie. It's a plain brown cardboard box with the middle cut out, and a clear plastic insert so you can see the pie underneath. The sticker that holds the box flaps closed is orange plaid, which does help the overall look.
The box wasn't sturdy, as it was made of what felt like thick paperstock. The lid lifted open from the bottom, up, and taking the pie out of the box was simple. It was challenging to get the lid shut again, as the back flaps kept turning the wrong way to close.
The pie had a nice, dark color, and the crust had hints of golden brown coloring. One thing that puzzled us about the pie was its wet appearance. The entire top of the pie looked moist, almost as if it had sweated inside the box.
Weighing in at 1 pound 4 ounces, this pie is a bit smaller than others that we've seen and serves only five people. It's also 8 inches in diameter, so smaller than a typical homemade pie.
Cutting and slicing
This pie was easy to cut. The crust was thick and firm, so the serrated knife cut through without any issue. The bottom crust also stayed together well during cutting and lifting out of the pie pan.
After cutting closer to the edge of the pie, the end crust started to crumble. We actually tried to cut two different pieces, and both end crusts crumbled each time.
The thicker filling remained firm and stayed in shape during cutting. The pan is not the sturdiest, but its smaller size actually makes it feel more stable.
The pie had a good weight to it and felt hearty and full. Given the smaller size, five pieces per pie are accurate.
A sniff test is always a must. The pie had a pleasant scent, but the crust smelled processed. It didn't smell homemade at all.
Taste
The first impression was that the pie was extremely thick. We felt like we had to keep chewing to get through it, and then it left a coating on the inside of our mouths that made us feel like we needed to take a drink to wash it down.
A few more bites didn't improve the texture, but by this point, the flavor had kicked in. The pie did not really taste like pumpkin pie. It had much more squash flavor than pumpkin. It was also rather bland and not overly sweet.
There was a hint of cinnamon, but it didn't stand out. We agreed that the crust, while it looked nice, was salty. There was no sweetness to it. All we could taste was salt.
We couldn't shake the chemically processed flavor. Whipped cream being added would be an absolute must.
Texture
The texture of this pumpkin pie was creamy and smooth. The crust on the bottom of the filling held its own, but the crust on the outer edge was crumbly and tasteless.
This pie is sturdy enough to be eaten with a fork or picked up and held while eating.
Would you buy it again
The final verdict is that we wouldn't. The thick texture and lack of flavor in the crust were just too much to overcome. Some people may prefer this pie as a good carrier for mounds of whipped cream or if they prefer more of a savory pie rather than sweet.
We appreciate the price point under $5. Serving five people for $1 per slice makes it hard to deny. There is no way you can purchase all the ingredients for a pie that cheaply.
Even with a great price point, this pie won't be joining our Thanksgiving feast this year.
The takeaway
Expectations were high for Target, but this pie didn’t hit the mark. The brand’s products rarely disappoint. We can't recommend this one for the upcoming holiday season. An apple pie at the same price is available and will be next on the list for Target’s bakery pie taste test.
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