Pie Crust and Filling

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Line a 10-inch deep dish pie plate with the pie crust, making a strong fluted rim that extends up to the very top (even slightly higher if possible) of the dish. (If you are using purchased refrigerated pie crust, you will need to roll it out a bit to make it slightly larger.) Do not prick the bottom of the pastry.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together 1 whole egg and 1 tablespoon water. Brush over bottom of pastry.
4. Using an electric mixer with the whisk attachment, blend together the pumpkin, sugars, salt, molasses, rum, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, egg yolks, cream, and milk just until mixed. Set aside.
5. In another bowl, beat the egg whites until foamy. Add a pinch of salt and continue beating to form soft peaks. With the mixer running, slowly add 1 tablespoon of sugar and continue beating to form stiff, shiny peaks.
6. Stir 1/4 of the egg whites into the pumpkin mixture, then fold in the rest just until mixed. Immediately pour into the pie shell, filling up to 1/2-inch below the top of the of the crust.
7. Bake the pie for 15 minutes. When the rim of the crust just starts to brown, reduce the heat to 375 degrees and continue baking for another 15 minutes – lower the heat if the pastry is browning too much.
8. Lower the heat again to 350 degrees and continue baking for another 15 minutes, or until filling 2 inches from the edge is done (an inserted toothpick will come out clean).
9. Turn off the oven, leave the door open, and let the pie sit in the oven for another 20 to 30 minutes.  You need to watch this pie carefully so that it doesn’t cook too fast – if it does, it will get watery.

Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.

Whipped Cream Topping

1. Once the pie is at room temperature, using an electric mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the cream, sugar, rum, and vanilla until very stiff.
2. Optional: Spoon a few scoops of whipped cream on the pie and spread into a thin layer.
3. Cut the corner off of a ziptop baggie, fit a large star tip into the corner, and fill the bag with the whipped cream. Pipe 1-inch stars on top of the pie, starting on the outside edge, and making circles inside each other. Alternatively, spoon all of the whipped cream on top of the pie and spread into an even layer.
4. Lightly dust the top with ground cinnamon.
5. Cover and refrigerate until ready to eat.