Thanksgiving Day: 5 Delicious Pies You Can Prepare For The Celebration

Thanksgiving is a cherished holiday that brings the family together and this festival is incomplete without savoring a selection of delicious pies. From the classics to creative twists, here are five pies you can prepare on Thanksgiving.

Observed on the fourth Thursday in November every year, Thanksgiving Day is an annual national holiday in the United States. It is the time to celebrate the harvest and other blessings of the past year with a traditional festive meal. However, Thanksgiving is more than just a feast; on this day we express gratitude and come together with our loved ones.

Being celebrated since the year 1621, parades have also become an integral part of this holiday. The celebratory feast of Thanksgiving Day includes turkey, bread stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry and pumpkin pie. Speaking particularly about pumpkin pies, it is the centerpiece of the dessert for the day. However, there are many other types of pies that can become a part of your festive feast.

From pecan to pumpkin, here are five perfect pie recipes you can relish on Thanksgiving Day.

Pecan Pie

This is a craggy and crunchy variety of pies that is staple in the holiday feast menu every year. Pecan pie is flaky, buttery, crunchy and is packed with rich and chewy filling which gives a perfect balance of flavors with every bite.

Ingredients

• 1 cup corn syrup
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 6 ounces coarsely chopped pecans
• 9-inch deep-dish pie crust

Method

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix corn syrup, eggs, sugar, salt, butter and vanilla using a spoon. Stir in pecans.
• Pour the mixture into pie crust.
• Bake in center rack of oven for one hour. Cool on the wire rack for at least 2 hours before serving.

Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie is the classic dish of Thanksgiving without which the festival is incomplete. Commonly relished during harvest time, it is spiced with pumpkin-based custard filling.

Ingredients

• 15 ounce can pumpkin puree
• 14 ounce sweetened condensed milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust

Method

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Combine pumpkin puree, condensed milk, eggs, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt together by whisking in a bowl until smooth.
• Pour into crust. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and continue baking for 35 to 40 minutes.
• Let cool before serving.

Chocolate Pie

Chocolate is an extremely versatile ingredient that can fit into every celebratory occasion. So, why not try some delicious chocolate pies this Thanksgiving. It has a buttery, chocolate-y and flaky crust along with rich and hearty taste.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 3 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 5 ounce evaporated milk
• 1 9-inch pie crust
• Whipped cream, for serving

Method

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a bowl, whisk together the sugar and cocoa powder. Then add in the eggs, butter, and evaporated milk and whisk until completely combined and smooth.
• Pour batter into the pie crust and bake for about 50-55 minutes. Remove from oven and keep aside to let it cool completely.
• Slice and serve with a little whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Enjoy.

Sweet Potato Pie

This is an interesting variation of pies that every dessert-lover must try at least ones in this festive season. Mounds of roasted sweet potatoes when combined with dark brown sugar, vanilla essence and spices, make a perfect pie for Thanksgiving.

Ingredients

One 9-inch pie

• 3medium sweet potatoes, peeled and boiled
• 5 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1¼ teaspoons freshly ground nutmeg
• 1 large egg
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 2¼ teaspoons baking powder
• 3 tablespoons evaporated milk
• Unbaked pie shell, 9 inches

Method

• Mash the potatoes in a bowl. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add butter to hot potatoes, and mash until smooth.
• Add sugar, nutmeg, egg, vanilla and mix well. Combine baking powder with milk and stir. Add mashed potatoes. Whisk mixture until done.
• Mound into pie shell, then spread evenly to edges. Bake the pie for about 55 minutes. Cool to room temperature and enjoy.

Cranberry Apple Pie

This is another delicious variety of pies, it combines the flavor of two yummy fruits, apples and cranberries. The dough of this flaky and buttery pie is prepared from scratch and the filling is rich and juicy. Cranberry apple pie can easily become a showstopper on the dinner table of Thanksgiving.

Ingredients

• Dough for double-crust pie (9 inches)
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
• 4 cups sliced peeled tart apples
• 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
• 2 tablespoons butter

Method

• Preheat oven to 425°. Roll half of dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate (refrigerate while preparing filling).
• In a bowl, combine the sugar and next 6 ingredients. Add apples and cranberries; toss gently. Add the filling into the prepared pie plate and dot with butter. Roll remaining dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle. Place over filling. Trim and seal the edge. Cut slits in top.
• Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350° and bake for 45-50 minutes longer. Enjoy.