Watching 30 men compete for Jillian Harris’ attention on The Bachelorette made life better in 2009. The feisty Peace River native then became the host of Vancouver real estate hit, Love It or List It. Basically, this woman is responsible for teaching us how to use throw pillows effectively, and making Mondays bearable. Is it possible that Harris could give us anything more? YES. PUMPKIN PIE IN A JAR.

PIE. IN A JAR. It’s exciting. Let me explain.

I was invited to meet Jillian Harris for a tête-à-tête about fall entertaining, inspired by the fancy new LG Door-in Door fridge. (See photo below.) We talked charcuterie, pumpkin dip, mini caramel apples, and sparkling seasonal drinks…but it was the pie that caught my eye. For those of you in the market for a fridge, this one’s sexy. For all of you who get excited for Halloween in summer, smush dis pie.

Ingredients

Pumpkin Pie Filling
15 oz can pumpkin puree 5 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice pinch of cloves
2 tbsp heavy cream

Cream Cheese Mousse
3 egg whites
1/2 cup sugar
4 oz cream cheese, softened 1/4 tsp vanilla

2 cups mini marshmallows

Cookie Layer
1 1/2 cups chopped gingersnaps and graham crackers (I used 4 graham crackers, 8 small gingersnaps)

Additional
whipped cream for topping, if desired caramel sauce for drizzling, if desired

Directions

Pumpkin Pie Filling
1. Scoop pumpkin puree into a medium sized bowl.
2. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, cloves and heavy cream and mix well.
3. Set in refrigerator to firm while you make the mousse.

Cream Cheese Mousse
Add egg whites to your mixer bowl (separate from pumpkin pie filling) and beat on medium-high until soft peaks form.
While beating, slowly add sugar, and beat until stiff peaks form again. Mixture will go from being kind of frothy to smooth and will gain volume. When done, set egg white mixture aside.
In another bowl, mix cream cheese and vanilla together until smooth.
Add cream cheese mixture to egg white mixture and combine.
Melt marshmallows in a small bowl in the microwave, about 15-30 seconds.
Add melted marshmallows to egg white and cream cheese mixture and mix until well combined. Refrigerate for an hour or so.

Assembly

Start with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the graham cracker/gingersnap crumbs on the bottom of the jar. Add 2 tablespoons of pumpkin pie filling.
Add 2 tablespoons of cream cheese mousse.
Repeat layers 1-3. You should have 2 of each layer.

At this point, you can put the tops on the jar to keep in the refrigerator. When you are ready to serve them, top with whipped cream and a caramel drizzle, if desired.

Jillian, will you marry me?

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