Pie is the greatest reward after enduring the savory side of Thanksgiving. And while you’ll find pie crusts that use any assortment of shortening and lard, we say butter is Thanksgiving pie’s best friend. Nothing beats it on flavor or flaky texture, so take this Thanksgiving pie recipe dough to heart. It’s a mere four ingredients, and all it takes is a food processor, flour, frozen butter, and a slow, steady stream of ice-cold water to make the queen of all doughs. Now you’re ready to put it to use in any of our Thanksgiving pie recipes.
This nearly forgotten recipe comes to us from the beloved Ships Diner in Los Angeles that closed in 1995. The whipped cream filling doesn’t require any cooking—no custard here—while some slices of banana and toasted almond add texture and flavor. A fast, easy-to-make pie from a bygone era that deserves a comeback. Get the recipe for Classic French Banana Cream Pie »
Rosemary adds a subtle, herbal undertone to a gooey caramel sauce that gets stirred into tart apples in this sophisticated yet all-American dessert. Get the recipe for Rosemary-Caramel Apple Pie »
Kabocha, Japanese pumpkin, makes a lighter pie with a vivid orange color. This pie trades in usual expected flavors for a slightly spicy dose of ginger and black pepper. Get the recipe for Sweet and Spicy Kabocha Pie »
If working with extremely ripe and juicy fruit, you might need a bit more cornstarch to adequately thicken the filling of this pie—add up to 2 additional tablespoons. The same recipe and technique can be used with just about any summer fruit. Try a combination of berries, peaches, apricots, or black cherries; you can also add flavorings, such as a teaspoon of almond extract, or liqueur. Get the recipe for Blackberry-Plum Lattice Pie »
As soon as the first tomato blossom turns into a tiny green orb, people start calling Kinston restaurant Chef & the Farmer to find out if tomato pie is on the menu. If you have access to two different colors of tomatoes, combine them here—one for the roasted portion and another for the fresh. It’s a nice visual touch. Get the recipe for Roasted and Fresh Tomato Pie »
Classic apple pie gets an upgrade at Las Vegas’ Bouchon Bakery, where pastry chef Scott Wheatfill tops a flaky sweet crust with housemade apple butter and almond cream. The result is a delicate, refined tart with a creamy interior and a concentrated spicy flavor. Get the recipe for Bouchon’s Apple Pie »
The silky, custardlike base of this autumnal pie is made from sweetened navy bean purée spiced with nutmeg, vanilla, and cinnamon. Get the recipe for Navy Bean Pie »
Inspired by his neighbor Olivia Pattison’s recipe, chef Chris Fischer uses tapioca in the filling of this pie because it thickens the juicy berry mixture without imparting its own flavor or becoming gummy. Minute tapioca pearls are easy to find in grocery stores, but if you like, substitute an equal amount of cornstarch.
My mom, Ellendean, would occasionally surprise me with this creamy chocolate pie when I came home from school, then watch as I devoured a quarter of it while watching “M*A*S*H” reruns. —Keith PandolfiGet the recipe for Chocolate Pudding Pie »
The toffee-like interior and beautiful bronze top layer of halved pecans won Rubyane Surritte first place in the pie contest at Oklahoma’s Drummond Ranch. Get the recipe for Blue Ribbon Pecan Pie »
