1-Step 1: Preheat and Prep First things first, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). It is important that the oven is fully hot before the pan goes in so the streusel starts cooking immediately. Next, grab a skillet or a medium casserole dish and butter it thoroughly. This prevents the pumpkin layer from sticking and makes cleanup much easier.

2-Step 2: Whisk the Pumpkin Filling In a large bowl, grab your whisk and combine the pumpkin puree, sugar, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, salt, and vanilla extract. Whisk these together until they are well blended. Once they are combined, pour in the heavy cream. Whisk the mixture again until it is completely smooth. You want a uniform consistency here so the filling sets properly. Pour this smooth pumpkin mixture into your prepared buttered dish, spreading it out evenly.

3-Step 3: Create the Cinnamon Streusel In a separate bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt for the topping. Pour the melted unsalted butter right over the dry ingredients. Using a fork, mix the butter into the flour mixture. You want to keep mixing until it looks crumbly and resembles wet sand. This texture is crucial for getting that perfect crunch.

4-Step 4: Assemble and Bake Evenly spread the streusel topping over the pumpkin mixture in the dish. Do not press it down; just sprinkle it loosely. Place the dish in the oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. You are looking for the filling to be set and the topping to be a gorgeous golden brown. If you notice the topping getting too dark before the filling is done, just cover the top lightly with foil for the last few minutes.

5-Step 5: Cool and Serve Once baked, remove the crisp from the oven and let it cool for about 10 minutes. This resting period allows the filling to firm up slightly so it is not too runny when you scoop it. Serve it warm for the best experience. If you have ever tried a peach cobbler recipe fresh out of the oven, you know that warm fruit desserts are unbeatable, and this pumpkin crisp is no exception.