Our All-Time Best Thanksgiving Pies from 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 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!

Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Pies
Apple Pies
Pecan Pie and Other Nut-Filled Pies
Wild Card Thanksgiving Pies
Favorite Pie Crusts (and How to Make Them)

Pumpkin Pie and Sweet Potato Pies
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.
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

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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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.
Apple Pies
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!
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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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.
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

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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Pecan Pie and Other Nut-Filled Pies
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.
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.
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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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.
Wild Card Thanksgiving Pies
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!
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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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.
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

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.
Favorite Pie Crusts (and How to Make Them)

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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.
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)

Elise Bauer

An all butter pie crust recipe for sweet and savory pies. Pâte Brisée recipe.
Easy Graham Cracker Crust

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!

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How to Blind Bake a 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!
How to Make a Lattice Top for a Pie Crust

Elise Bauer

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

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.