11 Pies You Need on Your Thanksgiving Table This Year

When you think of Thanksgiving dessert, the number one pick is always pie. Here are 11 kinds that would be a welcome addition to any Thanksgiving menu, starting with everyone’s favorite, pumpkin!

1. PUMPKIN PIE

It’s the classic choice and it’s the only time of year you get to eat it. Try our traditional pumpkin pie recipe or live on the edge and try our outrageously rich eggnog pumpkin pie recipe.
Photo: Eggnog Pumpkin Pie / CHOW

2. APPLE PIE

Thanksgiving comes toward the end of apple picking season, so apple pie is a fresh and seasonally appropriate choice with so many different recipes to try out. Give our fresh apple pie recipe a try or get crazy and try our Dutch apple pie with a walnut streusel topping.
Photo: Dutch Apple Pie / CHOW

3. SALTY HONEY PIE

Brooklyn’s Four & Twenty Blackbirds' salty honey pie is one of a kind, but thanks to the shop's recent cookbook the recipe is out and you shouldn’t hesitate to add it to your repertoire. Sweet, salty, and perfectly smooth and creamy, it goes great with coffee and is a lovely end to a big meal.
Photo: Salty Honey Pie / Lottie + Doof

4. PECAN PIE

Whether you’re making a classic pecan pie or adding a Southern touch with a bourbon pecan rendition, this pie is a favorite in the South, with a rich, buttery crust and toasted nuts. Try our recipe for “John Thorne’s Best-Ever Pecan Pie” for a classic take, or experiment with a bourbon pecan pie or even chocolate pecan pie.
Photo: Chocolate Pecan Pie / CHOW

5. SWEET POTATO PIE

A cousin of pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie is packed with holiday spices (allspice, cloves, and cinnamon) and is a beautiful color when it comes out of the oven. Try our recipe and see for yourself.
Photo: Sweet Potato Pie / CHOW

6. CRANBERRY PIE

Make this pie ready for winter with cranberries (fresh or frozen). The berries are a great pairing for vanilla ice cream, and since it’s fruit it’s almost good for you, right?
Photo: Cranberry Pie / Bon Appétit

7. PEAR-ROSEMARY PIE WITH CHEDDAR CRUST

Change up the traditional pie crust with this cheesy substitute. Pears and rosemary are an unusual combination and the sharp cheddar crust is so good you’ll want to eat this pie for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Photo: Pear-Rosemary Pie with Cheddar Crust / The Bitten Word

8. BROWN BUTTERSCOTCH PIE

Our brown butterscotch pie is nutty and sweet, with a smooth custard filling. It’s a great alternative to pumpkin and you can make it again and again throughout the year.
Photo: Brown Butterscotch Pie / CHOW

9. MILE-HIGH CHOCOLATE PIE

Everyone loves chocolate, so why not put it into a pie? This recipe has fresh whipped cream as a topping and is absolutely luscious.
Photo: Mile-High Chocolate Pie / Bon Appétit

10. APPLE TARTE TATIN

With a premade puffed pastry crust, tarte Tatin is a beautiful and impressive dessert that comes together quickly. The syrupy caramel that forms in the skillet goes great with a dollop of crème fraîche.
Photo: Apple Tarte Tatin / Smitten Kitchen

11. BUTTERMILK-LEMON CHESS PIE

Our recipe for this Southern classic doesn’t require blind baking the crust so you don’t need to plan ahead. The egg and buttermilk custard mixed with tangy lemon zest is a refreshing end to a heavy meal.
Photo: Buttermilk-Lemon Chess Pie / CHOW

Caitlin M. O'Shaughnessy is a New York City–based food writer and editor at Penguin who has worked on and recipe-tested several cookbooks. She is currently in search of NYC's best ramen, and is one of the few people who admit to disliking brunch.

Top Image: Pie Party / Libbie Summers