Who doesn’t love a good slice of pie to finish off a Thanksgiving feast? We all celebrate Thanksgiving differently, but pie is a dish that can bring everyone together. So in the spirit of Thanksgiving and all things food and fun, here are the top five pies you should make this Thanksgiving.
Fifth place: Cranberry pie
This flavor isn’t super popular for pie, but cranberries are an iconic Thanksgiving food. This is a great way to add cranberries to your Thanksgiving table and offers a more creative approach than a can of cranberry sauce. Making the pie sweet enough to overcome the naturally tart flavor of cranberries can be a bit of a challenge, making this a somewhat high-maintenance dessert; in addition, because it is really only enjoyable with lots of sugar, some people might wish to avoid it.
Fourth place: Pear pie
Pear pie is another flavor that may be less common, but it’s fairly easy to prepare and can be a nice change of pace from your typical fruit pies. While delicious, this flavor is similar to apple pie. Between the two of them, pear pie may be less distinctly autumnal and therefore a less obvious choice.
Third place: Pumpkin pie
Nothing says fall like pumpkin. Pumpkin spice is all the rage in drinks, desserts and even candles from September through November. Naturally, pumpkin pie has a rightful place on the Thanksgiving table. This pie is unique in that it is generally prepared with only one layer of crust. While some people may prefer this, I find it a bit disappointing. Nonetheless, pumpkin pie is an autumn classic that friends and family are sure to appreciate.
Second place: Pecan pie
Pecan pie may be one of the most unique flavors on this list. It’s rich and sweet, but also nutty and a bit salty. The pecans bring a nice crunch to the texture of the pie as well. This combination makes it a staple in many fall dessert spreads. It’s also often made with chocolate or caramel, making it appealing to even more dessert lovers. However, just as many people hate to have nuts in their ice cream, many pie connoisseurs draw the line at nuts in pie. It’s also not the most allergy-friendly. Still, pecan pie is unique and tasty enough to be our runner-up.
First place: Apple pie
Maybe it’s basic, but apple pie will always take the cake (or should I say the pie?). It is unfailingly delicious and eternally iconic. No Thanksgiving table is complete without it; something about the cinnamon-apple flavor just screams fall. This pie is highly versatile too, as it is often enjoyed with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, as a crumble, with caramel drizzle or even with cheddar cheese. It’s simple to make and truly never gets old. There’s about a million different variations of recipes for it, so bakers can experiment with the flavor as they wish. So while it’s fun to expand your culinary horizons, make sure you save room on your table for the classic apple pie.