Food

13 Thanksgiving Pies to Make With One Easy Crust

A four-ingredient buttery crust is the shortest route to amazing pie

By SAVEUR Editors

October 18, 2016

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.

cream pie — 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 »Wes Frazer

Rosemary-Caramel Apple Pie, holiday pie recipes — 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 »Matt Taylor-Gross

Indiana Sugar Cream Pie — As Indiana's state pie, this rich, nutmeg-dusted custard pie also goes by the name "Hoosier Pie." Get the recipe for Indiana Sugar Cream Pie »Farideh Sadeghin

Sweet and Spicy Kabocha 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 »Farideh Sadeghin

Summer 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 »Matt Taylor-Gross

Southern Tomato 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 Southern Tomato Pie »Tim Robison

Chocolate Chess Pie with Cornbread Crumble — Chef Scott Crawford of the forthcoming Nash Tavern in Raleigh updates the simple Southern custard Thanksgiving pie by adding cacao nibs to the butter crust and sprinkling a nutty cornbread crumble on top. Get the recipe for Chocolate Chess Pie with Cornbread Crumble »Joseph De Leo

Bouchon's Apple 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 »Eilon Paz

Navy Bean 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 »Andre Baranowski

Martha's Vineyard, Chris Fischer, Entertaining, Berry 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. Get the recipe for Black and Blue Berry Pie »Elizabeth Cecil

Chocolate Pudding Pie — This creamy, chocolate pie is the ultimate sweet comfort for the chocolate lovers at the Thanksgiving table. Get the recipe Chocolate Pudding Pie »Helen Rosner

Blue Ribbon Pecan 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 »James Roper

Peach Pie — Bourbon, cinnamon, and nutmeg add warmth to this bright, peach pie. Get the recipe for Peach Pie »Farideh Sadeghin

Watch Vivian Howard Make Southern Tomato Pie

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