The Pumpkin Pie

• Heat the oven to 350ºF.
• Make the crust: Combine the gingersnaps, brown sugar, and ginger in a food processor. Process until the cookies are fine crumbs. Drizzle the butter into the crumb mixture. Pulse 8 to 10 times to combine.
• Press the gingersnap mixture into the bottom, up the sides, and just over the lip of a 9-inch glass pie dish. Place on a half-sheet pan and bake until lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool the crust at least 10 minutes before filling.
• Bring the pumpkin puree to a simmer over medium heat in a 2-quart saucepan. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Add the half-and-half, nutmeg, and salt. Stir and return the mixture to a simmer. Remove from the heat and cool for 10 minutes.
• Whisk the brown sugar, eggs, and egg yolk in a large bowl until smooth. Add the pumpkin mixture and whisk until thoroughly combined. Pour the filling into the warm pie crust and bake on the same half-sheet pan until the center jiggles slightly but the sides of the filling are set, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool on a cooling rack for at least 2 hours before slicing. The pie can be made and refrigerated up to 2 days in advance — it's best the day after it is made.

For individual mini pies:

• Evenly divide the crust mixture among 5 (5-inch) pie tins and bake on a half-sheet pan for 5 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes.
• Divide the filling evenly among the pans. Bake on the same half-sheet pan until the center juggles slightly but the sides of the filling are set, about 25 minutes. Cool on a cooling rack for 2 hours.
• Spread 1 teaspoon of the brown sugar on the top of each pie. Melt the sugar using a blowtorch to form a crisp top. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.