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Best Thanksgiving Pies

What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than with pie? Find a new favorite among BoB’s best Thanksgiving pies!

The Best Thanksgiving Pies bakeorbreak.com

The BEST Thanksgiving Pies

To me, Thanksgiving is a pie holiday. I just love to see a beautiful display of pie deliciousness after the big meal. Of course, I can get behind a lot of other Thanksgiving desserts, too, but let’s focus on pie for now.

I’ve gone through the archives and put together a collection of more than 40 pies, tarts, mini pies, and more pie-like desserts that are perfect for Thanksgiving.

We’ve got pecan pie, chess pie, apple pie, and plenty more great flavors like pears, cranberries, caramel, and chocolate. And if you get overloaded with pumpkin this time of year, you’ll be happy to see that this collection is 100% pumpkin free!

I hope you’ll find just the pie (or pies!) to make your Thanksgiving extra special and delicious!

How Many Pies Do I Need for Thanksgiving?

A good rule is that you need one standard pie for every four to six guests. That size pie is usually cut into 8 to 12 pieces. I tend to land somewhere in the middle with about 10 servings per pie.

Essentially, you want to provide 1 or 2 servings per person. Some guests are samplers and want a little bit of everything, while others may just want a small sliver after a Thanksgiving feast. If you host the same crowd every year, then you’re likely familiar which end of that spectrum you should aim to hit. And don’t forget the appeal of leftover pie!

Tips for Baking Pies for Thanksgiving

Each pie is different, but here are some general tips to help you make your pies their very best!

  • Read the recipe thoroughly. Make sure you know exactly what you’ll need to do and how much time it will take.
  • Gather your ingredients before starting. Avoid the devastation of realizing you’re short an ingredient by getting everything ready beforehand. If any prep work can be done to make the pie-making process easier, then do that, too.
  • Trying a new recipe? Ideally, I recommend making a new dessert sometime before the big day so that you can feel more comfortable making it for a special occasion. There are variations in ingredients, environment, and ovens that alter the outcome of a recipe.
  • Your pan matters. Metal, glass, and ceramic all conduct heat differently and will give you different results when baking a pie. For baked pies, I almost always recommend a light-colored metal pan. For more of my favorite pie tools, see my pie baking essentials at my Amazon Storefront!
  • Bake in advance. If any of your pies can be stored, get ahead of the game by making them before the big day. If you’ve got a lot of baking to do, consider if any of your pies will hold up well in the freezer so you can thaw them in time for Thanksgiving. If you can’t make the entire pie ahead of time, you can always make the traditional pie dough you need and store in the refrigerator (2-3 days) or freezer (up to 3 months).
  • For traditional crust pies, I have lots of helpful tips for you with my All-Butter Pie Crust.
  • For cookie crusts, I’ve got that covered, too, with How to Make a Cookie Crumb Crust.
  • Don’t forget the toppings! Ice cream, sweetened whipped cream, a flavored sauce, or any garnishes.

How to Store Pies

Take into consideration how your pies need to be stored before and after serving. If you have a pie that requires refrigeration, make sure you cover it as the recipe specifies. If your pie can sit at room temperature, then be sure to have the proper cover for it as well.

Custard pies, cream pies, pumpkin pie, and most any pies made with dairy products should be refrigerated. As a general rule, other pies will keep for at least a couple of days at room temperature, but see the specific recipe’s recommendations for storage.

When it’s time to clean up after your Thanksgiving meal, you may have guests who want to take some leftover pie home with them. Plan ahead to have containers that will hold a slice or two.

Bake or Break’s Favorite Thanksgiving Pies

I hope these Thanksgiving pie recipes will inspire you to get baking this holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving!

Best Thanksgiving Pies

These are Bake or Break's very best pies for Thanksgiving. WIth pecan, chess, apple, and more, I think you'll find the perfect pie to end your holiday meal!

Pecan Pies

Let's kick things off with one of my all-time favorite kinds of pie. Most of my family Thanksgivings have featured at least one pecan pie, and I am always happy to indulge. I've got quite a few variations here on BoB, from simple versions to mini size to bar form.

Apple Pies

You've got to have apple pie, right? These recipes feature fall's favorite fruit in myriad ways.

Other Fruit Pies

There's so much more to fruit pies than just apples! Try one of these fruity pies for something a bit off the traditional Thanksgiving pie path.

Chess Pies

You can't beat the simplicity of chess pies. They're pretty versatile, too, so it's not surprising to see more than a few versions here on BoB.

Chocolate Pies

Chocolate is a great choice for any occasion, right? Satisfy the chocolate fans among your guests with these amazing pies.

Other Pies

Maybe you want something a little less traditional on your Thanksgiving dessert table this year. In that case, give one of these favorite pies a try!

Find even more pies in the Recipe Index.

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    20 Comments on “Best Thanksgiving Pies”

  1. They ALL look delicious!

  2. Hey, I just picked up a few more pie tins at the restaurant supply, now I have a reason to use them.

  3. I could never turn down a slice of gorgeous pie!! Wow!

  4. I’d love them all for out Thanksgiving!

  5. What a great roundup of thanksgiving pies.

  6. Your Thanksgiving looks like it’s going to be a delicious one! Forget the turkey – can we have an all-dessert Thanksgiving feast?

  7. I am so excited. Bring on the pie!!

  8. Wow. I love having a pie bar at Thanksgiving because I agree with you, it seems to be the perfect dessert for the holiday. I don’t know how I’d be able to choose just one (or two) from yours though. I have to admit, I did go back and look at the deep dish pecan pie more than once. 🙂

  9. Yuuummm – I’ll take a slice of each — please 😉

  10. Oh I totally agree that Thanksgiving is a pie holiday. All of these look amazing… especially that Mississippi Mud Pie – WOW!

  11. As a Chef I’m always on the lookout for new things and creating new recipes. I love your creativity and look forward to receiving emails of your recipes. I will try them all and share with friends and family to get feedback. I’m always looking for inspiration and I think that your recipes will help keep my creative juices flowing. I’m currently writing my second cookbook and I’m anxious to get it done before the holidays. Thank you so much for sharing your yummy recipes. I’ll be happy to share some of mine if you wish. Keep that oven preheated, you never know when inspiration will strike. Michelle Culton

  12. Seriously drool-worthy! I soooo want to make them all – but alas don’t have the time, plus we’d all be big as a house if we did. I will have to pick my favorites and work my way through them one week at a time!

  13. Ohh every pie looks amaizing!!! I dont know wich one I prefer !! All!!

  14. Are your pie crust recipes only for a bottom crust. I would need to double for a two crust pie?
    All look delicious. I will definitely make some.

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