Our 12 Best Thanksgiving Pies You’ll Want to Try This Year
Moist turkey is a wonderful centerpiece, and creamy mashed potatoes are a glorious side dish, but let’s be honest, Thanksgiving is all about pie. Here are 12 of our favorites.
By Rabi Abonour, Rabi Abonour is a planner specializing in transportation, but has also been a photojournalist, writer, and editor for several online and print publications.
I tend to avoid Thanksgiving’s most iconic dessert—I’ve been burned by too many lousy supermarket pumpkin pies that have a grainy consistency and taste like nothing. This pie, though, gets plenty of flavor from pumpkin purée (homemade is best) and spices, and it has a luxuriously smooth texture thanks to cream cheese.
This is everything we think of when we hear apple pie—a juicy-yet-firm filling lightly spiced with cinnamon and salt and swathed in a flaky crust. To give the filling the perfect texture, we par-cook the apples in boiling water before baking, activating an enzyme that keeps them from getting mushy.
I have a particular soft spot for rich, butterscotchy pecan pie. This intensely sweet dessert is actually one of the simplest pies around—the filling is made in one bowl with corn syrup, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla. The hardest part is arranging the pecans on top, and even that’s a breeze.
With a lightly sweetened and subtly spiced filling of tender apples and a crisp, flaky crust, this large-format apple pie is sure to be the star of the show. Our secret for avoiding a soggy bottom is baking the pie on a baking stone to ensure even cooking.
Calling an apple pie perfect is pretty bold, and I recognize that our other recipe isn’t going to be everyone’s favorite. Don’t worry, though, because if you prefer your apple pie to have a gooier filling, we have you covered. The trick to baking a pie thick enough to slice cleanly is to cook down the apples to drive out excess moisture, then finish the mixture with a couple of tablespoons of cornstarch.
This recipe is perfect if you’re looking for a simpler take on apple pie—not only is there no par-cooking involved, but you can actually make the filling entirely in a plastic bag. All you have to do is macerate the apples in brown sugar and spices for a few hours, then pour the mixture into a pie crust and bake.
Apple pie can be a little boring, and pecan pie can be punishingly sweet—this recipe stacks the two on top of each other to give you the best of both worlds. The earthiness of the sautéed apples keep the sweet pecan-bourbon-caramel topping from getting into cloying territory.
Our easy pie dough recipe makes homemade crusts relatively simple, but you still have to deal with lots of pressing and crimping once the dough has been made. If that’s more work than you want to put into dessert, you may want to try a free-form pie like this tart-and-sweet apple-cranberry version.
If my choice is between a cream pie and a fruit pie, I’m picking the latter nine times out of ten—unless we’re talking about this intense chocolate pie, which I’ll go for every single time. The beautifully rich filling is made with Dutch cocoa powder, dark chocolate, and just a pinch of espresso powder, and it gets topped with a fluffy meringue.
I never ate sweet potato pie as a kid since I grew up in the Midwest, but the cinnamon and nutmeg-scented dessert has since become one of my favorites. Most recipes start with canned condensed milk, but we prefer to simmer the potatoes in milk and cream until the mixture reduces down to something like a DIY condensed milk. We pair the mixture with our flaky pie dough, which is able to stand up to the custard no problem.
There’s a running debate here at Serious Eats about whether or not a galette counts as a pie, but I’m in charge right now, and I vote yes. Sure, it’s a little flatter than a traditional pie, but you still get the flaky crust and fruity filling—in this case pears flavored with vanilla bean, Chinese five-spice powder, and ground cardamom.
You may not realize that the pumpkin purée that comes out of a can actually isn’t pumpkin, but squash (for the full story on that, you’ll have to check out Stella’s book). With that in mind, Stella set out to make the pumpkin pie to rule them all, and all it takes is some roasted butternut squash purée and homemade sweetened condensed milk. While it’s a bit more effort than a pumpkin pie made with squash out of a can, it’s easy to make a couple of the components ahead of time, and the pie itself keeps very well for a couple days.
Making the perfect pie can be a challenging task, but with a few simple tips, you can ensure that your pie turns out delicious and memorable. Here are some tips to help you make the perfect pie:
- Use a high-quality filling: The filling is the heart of the pie, so it’s essential to use high-quality ingredients. Choose fresh fruits, nuts, and spices to create a delicious and flavorful filling.
- Make a flaky crust: A flaky crust is essential for a perfect pie. To make a flaky crust, use cold ingredients and avoid overmixing the dough.
- Dont overbake: Overbaking can cause the crust to become dry and the filling to become too hot. Keep an eye on the pie while it’s baking and remove it from the oven when the crust is golden brown and the filling is set.
- Use the right pan: Choose a pan that is the right size for your pie. A pan that is too small can cause the filling to overflow, while a pan that is too large can cause the crust to become too thin.
- Let it cool: Let the pie cool completely before serving. This will help the filling to set and the crust to become crispy.
Pie is an essential part of Thanksgiving, and for many people, it’s the highlight of the meal. Here are some reasons why pie is so important in Thanksgiving:
- Pie is a tradition: Pie has been a part of Thanksgiving for centuries, and it’s a tradition that continues to this day. Many families have their own favorite pie recipes that are passed down from generation to generation.
- Pie brings people together: Pie is often served as a dessert, but it’s also a great way to bring people together. Whether it’s a family gathering or a group of friends, pie is always a popular choice.
- Pie is a symbol of gratitude: Pie is often associated with gratitude and thankfulness, which are the core values of Thanksgiving. A delicious pie can be a way to express gratitude to family and friends.
- Pie is a comfort food: Pie is often a comfort food, especially during the holidays. It’s a way to warm up and feel cozy, and it’s often associated with feelings of happiness and contentment.
- Pie is a way to show love: Pie is often made with love, and it’s a way to show love and care to others. A delicious pie can be a way to express love and appreciation to family and friends.
Thanksgiving is a time to come together with family and friends and give thanks for the blessings in our lives. Pie is an essential part of this celebration, and it’s a way to show love and gratitude to those around us. With these 12 delicious pie recipes, you’ll be sure to have a wonderful Thanksgiving feast that will be remembered for years to come.
What are the 12 best Thanksgiving pies mentioned in the article? Extra-Smooth Pumpkin Pie, Perfect Apple Pie, Classic Pecan Pie, Apple Slab Pie, Gooey Apple Pie, Easy, Old-Fashioned Apple Pie, Apple-Pecan Bourbon-Caramel Pie, Rustic Apple-Cranberry Pie, Double-Chocolate Cream Pie, Silky Sweet Potato Pie, Simple Pear Galette With Vanilla, Butternut Squash Pie.
Why is a flaky crust important for a perfect pie? A flaky crust is essential for a perfect pie; using cold ingredients and avoiding overmixing the dough helps achieve this.
What should you consider when selecting a pie pan? Choose a pan that matches the size of your pie to prevent filling overflow or crust thinning.
How does pie play a role in Thanksgiving? Pie is a tradition, brings people together, symbolizes gratitude, is comforting, and is a way to show love.
What are the tips provided for making a perfect pie? Use high-quality filling, make a flaky crust, avoid overbaking, use the right pan, and let the pie cool completely.
