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!

By
Emma Christensen
Emma Christensen headshot
Emma Christensen
Emma Christensen is the Editor in Chief of Simply Recipes, the author of three books on home brewing and a graduate from The Cambridge School for Culinary Arts. 
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published October 30, 2018
Emma Christensen headshot
Pecan Pie

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 Dola'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.)

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 -- your picky brother might just discover a new favorite!

Featured Video

  • Old Fashioned Pumpkin Pie

    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.

  • Sweet Potato Pie with Pecan Topping

    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!

  • Chiffon Pumpkin Pie

    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.

  • Pumpkin Cheesecake

    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.

    Continue to 5 of 26 below.

  • Homemade Apple Pie

    How to make 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!

  • Mile High Deep Dish Apple Pie

    mile high apple pie on serving plate
    Elise Bauer

    Deep Dish Apple Pie! This extra thick, mile-high apple pie has a buttery crust double stacked with apples.

  • Apple Slab Pie

    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.

  • Sour Cream Apple Pie

    Elise Bauer

    Absolutely delicious sour cream apple pie with a brown sugar, flour, and butter streusel topping.

    Continue to 9 of 26 below.

  • Gluten-Free Apple Tart

    Paleo and 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.

  • Apple Cranberry Pie

    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.

  • Pecan Pie

    Close up of baked pecan pie filling.
    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.

  • Caramel Nut Tart

    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.

    Continue to 13 of 26 below.

  • Walnut Maple Pie

    Walnut Maple Pie
    Elise Bauer

    Walnut Pie! Similar to pecan pie, with fresh chopped walnuts, in a custardy base, sweetened with maple syrup.

  • Chocolate Pecan Tart

    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.

  • Peanut Butter Pie

    Chocolate penaut butter pie topped with whipped cream and peanut butter cups.
    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!

  • Coconut Banana Cream Pie

    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.

    Continue to 17 of 26 below.

  • Easy Chocolate Cream Pie

    A whole chocolate pie topped with shaved chocolate.
    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.

  • Lemon Meringue Pie

    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.

  • Key Lime Pie

    Overhead shot of a homemade keylime pie, covered with whipped cream and with a linen beside
    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.

  • Perfect Pie Crust

    Perfect Pie Crust
    Elise Bauer

    Several pie crust recipes—an all butter pie crust, or pate brisee, an all butter crust with almonds, combining butter and shortening crust, and how to pre-bake or blind-bake a pie crust.

    Continue to 21 of 26 below.

  • No Fail, Sour Cream Pie Crust

    No Fail Sour Cream Pie Crust
    Elise Bauer

    Easiest, flakiest homemade pie crust EVER! No machine required. This buttery pie and pastry crust is our favorite, anyone can make!

  • All Butter Pie Crust for Pies and Tarts (Pâte Brisée)

    Pate Brisee
    Elise Bauer

    An all butter pie crust recipe for sweet and savory pies. Pâte Brisée recipe.

  • Easy Graham Cracker Crust

    Graham Cracker Crust recipe
    Sally Vargas

    Putting together a graham cracker crust is not hard at all—and it comes together quickly. Use this recipe to make cream pies, key lime pie, cheesecake, or any other pie that could use a graham cracker crust!

  • How to Blind Bake a Pie Crust

    How to Blind Bake Pie Crust
    Elise Bauer

    Does your pie recipe call for pre-baking or blind baking the crust? Here's a guide with tips for blind baking success!

    Continue to 25 of 26 below.

  • How to Make a Lattice Top for a Pie Crust

    Overhead view of a lattice top pie.
    Sally Vargas

    A how-to guide on making a lattice top for your homemade pies. Step-by-step instructions with photographs.

  • Review of the Best (And Worst) Store-Bought Pie Crusts

    Pie Crust Reviews
    Elise Bauer

    Wonder which frozen or pre-made, store-bought pie crust you should buy? Here's our ultimate Simply Recipes guide to the best and the worst of the bunch.