Our All-Time Best Thanksgiving Pies from Simply Recipes
All hail the Thanksgiving pie! Here are all of our favorites, from traditional pies like Mile-High Apple Pie and Pecan Pie to Thanksgiving newcomers, like Chiffon Pumpkin and Pear Ginger. Grab a fork and dig in!
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Simply Recipes
Let's be real. We might make a big deal about the amazing golden hue of this year's roast turkey and go back for seconds of Grandma’s famous green bean casserole, but most of us are really just waiting a polite and acceptable period of time until we can hit the dessert table.
We're just here for the pie, thanks.
There's a lot riding on these Thanksgiving pies. Do you stick to tradition, or branch out into something new? Will your brother be upset if you don't make "his" pumpkin pie this year? How many pies do you really need? (Trick question: you need all of them.)
And the flavor of pie or the pie base is not the only thing you need to take into consideration. Let’s take a quick dive into the crust! Depending on what kind of pie you’re making there are so many options. Do you go traditional with an all butter crust, how about a graham cracker crust, or a crust made with sour cream? We’ve also got you covered with crust suggestions for every type of pie you want to make this holiday season:
- Easy Graham Cracker Crust
- All Butter Pie Crust for Pies and Tarts (Pâte Brisée)
- No Fail Sour Cream Pie Crust
- Perfect Pie Crust
Last, but certainly not least, is a detailed guide on how to blind bake a pie crust and how to make a lattice top with your pie crust. And, if this holiday season you just have way too much on your plate (no pun intended), then buying store-bought crust is the way to go. Here’s our review on the best (and worst) store bought pie crust.
Here's my advice—give yourself a break when it comes to Thanksgiving dessert. Make one or two traditional pies, but then make some room for something new on the table. Who knows—one of your guests might just discover a new favorite!
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Chess Pie
Irvin Lin Serve up this Southern classic Chess Pie to friends and family. It’s made with basic pantry ingredients, keeps well after baking, and you can freeze it.
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Old Fashioned Pumpkin Pie
Elise Bauer This is absolutely the BEST homemade pumpkin pie recipe! Make it with canned or fresh pumpkin puree and up to several days ahead. Also freezes well! Thanksgiving pie never looked so good or so easy.
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Sweet Potato Pie with Pecan Topping
Elise Bauer Holiday sweet potato pie with a pecan topping. Dense and sweet filling with sweet potatoes, sweetened condensed milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, vanilla, and bourbon. Topped with candied pecan topping. Delicious!
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Coconut Cream Pie
Marta Rivera Coconut cream pie may not be traditional for a Thanksgiving table, but what can I say? I like to shake things up. This pie does just that! Toasted coconut and a creamy custard make this pie sing and the dollops of whipped cream on top won’t keep you away either.
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Chiffon Pumpkin Pie
Elise Bauer Pumpkin pie lovers, take note! This Pumpkin Chiffon Pie has a gingersnap crust and a light, pudding-like filling. It's a fun and elegant riff on the classic pie, and sure to become a favorite.
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Easy Chocolate Cream Pie
Sally Vargas Chocolate, pudding, and pie—the best of all possible worlds! Make the pie filling in the microwave and pour into a pre-baked crust. This make-ahead chocolate pie sets up in a few hours in the fridge, just in time for dessert.
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Porter Peanut Pie
Lori Rice I know we’re used to pecan pie for Thanksgiving dessert, but why not try your hand at a Porter Peanut Pie loaded with peanuts and beer. Porter beer has hints of rich brown sugar and vanilla and combine that with toasted nuts and you have a match made in pie heaven.
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Dutch Apple Pie
Alison Bickel Thanksgiving pie has never tasted this good with a pie filled to the brim with apples, clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The best part is that you can make this pie ahead of time (freeze it) and then bake it when you’re ready. Holiday dinner just became a breeze.
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Pumpkin Cheesecake
Elise Bauer
We know, we know. This isn't actually a pie, but we won't tell, if you won't. This Thanksgiving, make a pumpkin cheesecake for dessert! This cheesecake has all the best parts of pumpkin pie (pumpkin! cinnamon! nutmeg!) combined with the creaminess of cheesecake. Top it with caramel sauce and whipped cream.
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Homemade Apple Pie
Elise Bauer This is absolutely the best homemade apple pie you'll ever make! It has a flaky, buttery crust and a tender, lightly-spiced apple pie filling. Use a combination of apples for best flavor, and bake until the top is golden and the filling is bubbly!
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Shoofly Pie
Irvin Lin This Shoofly Pie recipe is the perfect pantry pie. Molasses is combined with butter and a warm-spice crumble topping that will leave you going back for seconds, and maybe even thirds.
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Lemon Shaker Pie
Irvin Lin If you’re looking for a no waste dessert, then you’ve found your match. This pie uses the lemon peel, pith, and inner flesh in the filling for a pie with minimum waste and maximum flavor.
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Pecan Pie
Elise Bauer With a homemade crust and a sweet pecan filling, this is THE pecan pie for your Thanksgiving table! Make it a day or two ahead, or freeze it for even longer.
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Mile High Deep Dish Apple Pie
Elise Bauer Deep Dish Apple Pie! This extra thick, mile-high apple pie has a buttery crust double stacked with apples.
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Pear Ginger Maple Pie
Elise Bauer Meet your new favorite pie: Chopped pears are accented with candied ginger and maple syrup and topped off with an insanely delicious streusel topping.
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Lemon Meringue Pie
Elise Bauer This is the BEST lemon meringue pie! The tart and creamy lemon custard filling is topped with mile-high billowy meringue. Make this when you want something impressive.
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Apple Slab Pie
Cindy Rahe; Pie crust photos: Elise Bauer Apple Slab Pie! The perfect dessert for a crowd, plus more flaky crust in every bite. Use a mix of apples for best flavor. Great for apple-picking parties, Thanksgiving, or holiday gatherings.
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Sour Cream Apple Pie
Elise Bauer Absolutely delicious sour cream apple pie with a brown sugar, flour, and butter streusel topping.
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Caramel Nut Tart
Elise Bauer Do you love nuts? This caramel nut tart recipe combines walnuts, pecans, and almonds, in a caramel filling, served in a buttery crust.
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Mint Chocolate Cream Pie
Cindy Rahe I am a huge fan of anything chocolate and this pie is a chocolate dream. It’s like instant chocolate pudding in pie form, but so much more delicious.
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Gluten-Free Apple Tart
Sabrina Modelle Paleo and gluten-free apple tart. So stunning on a Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday table. Easy food-processor pie crust.
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Apple Cranberry Pie
Elise Bauer This apple cranberry pie is one of our favorite pies to make for Thanksgiving or the holidays! Flaky buttery crust, spiced apples mixed with dried cranberries and brandy.
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Walnut Maple Pie
Elise Bauer Walnut Pie! Similar to pecan pie, with fresh chopped walnuts, in a custardy base, sweetened with maple syrup.
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Classic Sweet Potato Pie
Sally Vargas Thanksgiving isn’t complete without sweet potato pie! Trust me. For this recipe, you’ll roast your own sweet potatoes and while that adds an additional step it will reward you in flavor. Get ready for a standout pie this year.
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Chocolate Pecan Tart
Sheryl Julian Upgrade your pecan pie this Thanksgiving! This chocolate pecan tart is like a cross between a nut-filled brownie and chocolate fudge.
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Coconut Banana Cream Pie
Cindy Rahe Coconut Banana Cream Pie! Two great pies, combined in one. Graham cracker crust, creamy coconut custard, ripe bananas, and whipped cream topping.
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Peanut Butter Pie
Cindy Rahe Peanut butter lovers, this one's for you! It's the most decadent and indulgent peanut butter pie EVER, made with extra peanut butter in the filling, peanut butter cups on top, and a drizzle of melted peanut butter and chocolate. We warned you!
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Key Lime Pie
Elise Bauer This Key Lime Pie is an American classic. Ours is made with lime juice and sweetened condensed milk in a graham cracker crust and topped with whipped cream. Use key limes if you have them, otherwise substitute regular limes.
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Apple Cranberry Currant Pie
Elise Bauer Apple lovers rejoice! This is an apple crumble pie with sliced apples, currants, and dried cranberries. Throw in a brown sugar streusel topping and all I can hear is let the holiday festivities begin.
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Banana Cream Pie
Cindy Rahe I have a confession to make. Banana cream pie is a favorite, but it has never crossed my mind to make it for Thanksgiving, until this year. Move over pumpkin pie, we have a new star in town. This Banana Cream Pie made with sliced bananas layered between a super simple homemade pudding. Whipped cream and additional bananas takes this cream pie from ordinary to extraordinary.