Food & Cooking Recipes Dessert & Treats Recipes 42 Thanksgiving Pies and Tarts Sure to Satisfy Every Sweet Tooth An enticing list of cherished classics and innovative temptations to suit every level of baking expertise. By Anna Kovel Anna Kovel Anna is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines and Randi Gollin Randi Gollin Randi is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 30, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Christopher Testani One of the highlights of the Thanksgiving feast is, of course, the dessert spread. The time-honored practice of crowding the table with multiple choices generally means that there's something for everyone to enjoy. After all, some guests believe that the holiday meal wouldn't be complete without a sliver of that familiar favorite, pumpkin pie, while others turn to classics like apple pie, chess pie, and pecan pie—Thanksgiving pies that are warmly reminiscent of childhood, or family rituals. (After a couple of generations, it's likely that no one can remember how they became a holiday custom to begin with.) As much as we adore beloved recipes, we also crave desserts that tweak tradition or introduce fresh taste sensations, like a pumpkin pie updated with phyllo crust, a ricotta pie strewn with bright cherries, and a delectable pear tart reimagined with frangipane filling. Each has the potential to become an instant classic. From Pie to Pandowdy, These Are Our 22 Most Fabulous Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes 01 of 42 Pear Tarte Tatin The classic tarte tatin (an upside-down tart) is always welcome at the holiday table, especially when it's made with caramelized pear wedges. A time-saving shortcut: the buttery crust uses store-bought puff pastry, so the dessert comes together in a snap. View Recipe 02 of 42 Vanilla Pudding Pie Kate Mathis Sinfully delicious, this knockout dessert pleases both chocolate and vanilla lovers. The crust is made from chocolate wafters while the vanilla bean filling unites cardamom and white chocolate, all embellished with vanilla whipped cream and cocoa powder. View Recipe 03 of 42 Chocolate Mousse Tart With Hazelnuts A heavenly combo of chocolate and hazelnuts, this standout dessert features a unique crust made from sugar cones. An added bonus for busy hosts: this Thanksgiving pie can be made up to two days in advance of the holiday. View Recipe 04 of 42 Cherry-Cheese Strudel Pie Christopher Testani Puff pastry provides a light and airy frame for a creamy ricotta filling with tart cherries. To serve, cut down the center, then slice into rectangles. View Recipe 05 of 42 Lemon-Cranberry Meringue Pie Christopher Testani A thin layer of cranberry gelée on top of a smooth lemon filling topped with a cloud of meringue brings a classic pie to new heights. It's guaranteed to put a smile on your guests' faces. View Recipe 06 of 42 Five Spice Pumpkin Pie With Phyllo Crust Christopher Testani Shake things up this Thanksgiving with a novel take on a classic. A hint of Chinese five-spice powder and an impressive crown of paper-thin pastry made from phyllo dough steer pumpkin pie worlds away from tradition. View Recipe 07 of 42 Chocolate Chess Pie Johnny Miller For guests who believe that chocolate desserts rise above all else, this sublime spin on the Southern chess pie (made with cocoa powder and espresso) will more than satisfy. The best part is that the whisk-and-pour filling requires just one bowl, coming together in a heartbeat. View Recipe 08 of 42 Poached Pear Frangipane Tart Johnny Miller Pears are poached in mulled wine here, infusing the fruit with spices and giving the exteriors a deep crimson hue. When sliced and nestled into the rich frangipane filling, the pieces create a glorious ombré effect. View Recipe 09 of 42 Apple Rose Tart Christopher Testani Granny Smith and Pink Lady apples artfully arranged in delicate layers bring a double dose of flavor and color to this sensational tart. Hands down, it's sure to be the prettiest temptation on the dessert table. View Recipe 10 of 42 Date Pecan Pie Johnny Miller Dates replace some of the sugar, stepping up the intense caramel flavor of this pecan pie. The gooey, nutty filling is cradled in a flaky, golden shell made with our favorite buttery pâte brisée recipe, In a word: irresistible. View Recipe 11 of 42 Diamond Apple Pie Johnny Miller The beautiful diamond pattern sets this Thanksgiving pie apart from other contenders on the dessert table. Spiced with cinnamon and sugar, and bursting with apples, the flavors lean classic. View Recipe 12 of 42 Brown Sugar Butternut Squash Pie Will Anderson The delicious, sweet flavor of freshly baked butternut squash fills this show-stopping pie. Break out your cutest cookie cutters for decorating the top, and see our step-by-step guide for cutting and braiding the dough. View Recipe 13 of 42 Apple Crostata With Cheddar Crust Cheddar cheese adds a deliciously savory note to the crust of this rustic apple crostata. It's a brilliant marriage of flavors, all wrapped up in a free-form dough finished with a hint of apricot preserves. View Recipe 14 of 42 Marionberry Pie Marcus Nilsson No sweet tooth will be able to resist this cute-as-a-button polka dot pie. The flaky crust is made with a cream cheese dough and the jammy filling is a nod to Oregon, the only state where marionberries grow. Substitute another fruit preserve if you can't find this unique berry. View Recipe 15 of 42 Butterscotch Pie with Pecan Shortbread Crust Christopher Testani This cheerful pie breaks out of the circle—it's baked in a rectangular pie tin, accentuating the patterned pecans on top. It’s also something of a nostalgia trip: The crumbly crust tastes just like Pecan Sandies and encloses a fluffy butterscotch filling reminiscent of eras past. View Recipe 16 of 42 Sweet Potato Custard Pie Pumpkin pie, the classic dessert of Thanksgiving, evolves to next-level deliciousness. The cinnamon and nutmeg spiced filling features roasted sweet potatoes instead of canned pumpkin, while the halved marshmallows, shingled in circles and toasted with a torch, turn it into an arresting pillow-top confection. View Recipe 17 of 42 Quince Slab Pie Prepare the filling for this pie by poaching quince in sweet dessert wine with cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla. Use store-bought puff pastry to form the quick and easy crust. View Recipe 18 of 42 Panna Cotta Pie With Poached Fruit Yogurt and cream sweetened with honey are set with just enough gelatin to make a cool, creamy filling, a delightful counterpoint to the gingersnap-walnut crust. This recipe uses dried plums for the poached fruit topping, but you could also swap in dried pears, apricots, cherries, cranberries, or peaches. View Recipe 19 of 42 Pear Cranberry Slab Pie Marcus Nilsson Feeding a crowd? We have you covered. Prepared in a rimmed baking sheet, this fruit-filled pie boasts a crunchy oat-pecan crumb topping and a perfect crust-filling-topping ratio in each of its 24 slices. View Recipe 20 of 42 Pecan Pie Rich and sweet, this classic pecan pie is always a grand slam. Take the time to arrange the pecan halves decoratively on top for a beautiful presentation on the Thanksgiving table. View Recipe 21 of 42 Traditional Pumpkin Pie with a Fluted Crust Made with evaporated milk rather than cream, the filling of this classic Thanksgiving pumpkin pie is light with a concentrated pumpkin flavor, while the crust boasts whimsical fluted edges. View Recipe 22 of 42 Mini Cranberry Meringue Pie These mini pies feature a cranberry filling topped with billowy meringue. The recipe calls for the juice and zest of blood oranges, but if unavailable, navel or juice oranges will do the trick. View Recipe 23 of 42 Maple Custard Pie Yossy Arefi Pure maple syrup is the star of this luscious custard pie made with eggs and cream. A touch of nutmeg and a dash of vanilla add warm spice. View Recipe 24 of 42 Old-Fashioned Apple Pie Rachel Marek A buttery crust is packed to bursting with Granny Smith apple slices tossed with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. This may be the ultimate recipe for apple pie. View Recipe 25 of 42 Double-Coconut Cream Pie Johnny Miller Calling all coconut lovers. Shredded coconut is folded into a silky coconut milk custard for the filling of this indulgent pie, while whipped cream and toasted coconut complete the picture. View Recipe 26 of 42 Milk Chocolate-Pistachio Tart Johnny Miller This rich chocolate tart showcases a triple dose of pistachios: in the chocolate pastry crust, in the bottom layer of pistachio paste, and sprinkled over the milk chocolate top layer. A time-saving step: Make then freeze the dough up to a month before Thanksgiving. View Recipe 27 of 42 Citrus Chess Pie Will Anderson Add a ray of sunshine to traditional Southern chess pie with the juice of tart lemons and sweet Cara Cara oranges. Dust the custard pie with powdered sugar before serving. View Recipe 28 of 42 Apple-Pear Pie Finely chopped walnuts replace a portion of the flour in the crust of this apple-pear pie. You can bake it up to one day in advance of Thanksgiving and take one baking task off your checklist. View Recipe 29 of 42 Shaker Lemon Pie Bryan Gardner Thinly sliced lemons are marinated in sugar overnight to start this classic pie. The lemon filling is thickened with six eggs, making it temptingly rich. View Recipe 30 of 42 Virginia Peanut Pie Anna Williams Roasted peanuts take center stage in this scrumptious pie. The filling is made with golden syrup and accented with a touch of cayenne pepper to balance out the sweetness. View Recipe 31 of 42 Pumpkin Chiffon Pies Small in size, and big on flavor, these individual pumpkin pies provide an adorable alternative to the traditional Thanksgiving pie. A silky, no-bake custard filling teams up with a gingersnap crust, garnished with ribbons of candied pumpkin. View Recipe 32 of 42 Milk-Chocolate Pudding Pie Kate Mathis An easy press-in vanilla wafer crust surrounds a creamy, milk chocolate filling in this winner of a pie. Vanilla-bean whipped cream adds a decadent contrast. View Recipe 33 of 42 Apple-Sour Cream Crumb Pie Marcus Nilsson A satisfying study in textures, this pie matches a delicious, rich apple filling with a browned crumb topping that cuts through the sweetness. Give it a long cooling time so the dense filling sets, making it easier to serve. View Recipe 34 of 42 Rustic Meyer Lemon Tart Celebrate the beginning of citrus season with this pure and simple tart. The curd filling showcases the brilliant color and sweet flavor of Meyer lemons, while the crust is enlivened with grated zest. View Recipe 35 of 42 Sorghum-Sweetened Chocolate Pecan Pie Marcus Nilsson A filling of pecans and chocolate sweetened with sorghum syrup and spiked with bourbon? This rich pie is a Southerner at heart. View Recipe 36 of 42 Deep-Dish Pumpkin-Meringue Pie Johnny Miller Twice as nice, that's this take on this deep-dish pie. The crust is traditional, the filling provides endless pumpkin satisfaction, and it's dressed up with a glorious mountain of meringue on top. View Recipe 37 of 42 Chocolate-Sesame Tarte Soleil Will Anderson The dazzling look of this tart belies its simplicity. The sesame frangipane filling is sprinkled with pieces of semisweet chocolate, then topped with a crust that's cut and twisted into "rays” of pastry, forming a beautiful pattern. Follow our step-by-step guide to learn the technique. View Recipe 38 of 42 Lattice-Topped Vanilla Bean-Pineapple Tart Slices of fresh pineapple are poached with rum and vanilla bean to form the exotic filling of this creative dessert. The secret to making the decorative lattice top is to start with very cold dough. View Recipe 39 of 42 Pear Streusel Pie With a pâte brisée crust on the bottom and crumbly oat streusel on top, this pie offers a delicious medley of textures and flavors. Pear wedges and homemade cranberry sauce create a sweet-tart filling that's in perfect harmony. View Recipe 40 of 42 President Tyler's Pudding Pie Marcus Nilsson Serve this pie and show off your knowledge of historical trivia—or at least start some fun conversations. Upping the impressiveness factor, you'll cook the coconut in the oven until it cracks, before splitting it open and grating it yourself. View Recipe 41 of 42 Honey-and-Pine-Nut Tart Two types of honey give this tart a unique nectar-like taste. As the tart bakes, the pine nuts rise to the top and form a crunchy layer. Cut in to reveal the gooey interior. View Recipe 42 of 42 Bird's-Nest Pudding Pie Robin Stein Whole McIntosh apples are stuffed with cranberries and baked in cake batter inside a pie crust. You might consider this stunner the turducken of Thanksgiving dessert pies but we say it's just plain delicious. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit