The part of the pumpkin used for pie is the flesh, which is cooked until soft and pureed before being blended with other ingredients. The best type of pumpkin to use for pie is a sugar pumpkin, also known as a pie pumpkin, which is smaller, denser, and sweeter than the larger pumpkins used for carving jack-o-lanterns. To make pumpkin pie straight from a pumpkin, you can cut a round cap out of the top of the pumpkin, scoop out the stringy insides and seeds, and then cut the remaining pumpkin shell into small cubes or slices and boil them over medium heat until theyre soft. Next, mix the cooked pumpkin with milk, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger in a blender. Finally, pour the mixture into a prepared pie shell and bake.