Turkey Is Great, But What About Thanksgiving Dessert?

Yeah, yeah, yeah — if you really celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, then you already know this to be true. There are really no other holidays quite like Thanksgiving, especially when it comes to the amount of food preparation that you’ll go through to get ready for the big Thursday. Many of us begin days in advance: cleaning out the refrigerator to make room, buying grocery items from the market early, making daily lists to keep us on track, and then finally: the cooking begins.

And with all the pre-game bananas all focused on the turkey, and the yams, and the stuffing, and the mashed potatoes, it’s way too easy to forget about all of the amazing desserts that are attached to Thanksgiving. And many of them, as luck would have it, are pies! Read on for a list of 15 amazing Thanksgiving Pie recipes and ideas that will make your holiday dessert the hit of the party this year!

1) Pumpkin-Pecan Streusel Pie for Thanksgiving!

For pie lovers, sometimes it’s all about the topping. And Streusel on top of classic pumpkin? You can’t go wrong!

Get the recipe at MyRecipes now.

2) Maple Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie

More like a sweet potato custard than a pie, really, this one will have even the most stalwart pumpkin pie lover wondering where the sweet potato pie’s been all their life.

Get the recipe for this extra sweet potato pie at the Cooking Channel here.

3) Grant’s Pumpkin-Pecan Pie from Rachael Ray

Get the recipe for this extra delicious combo effort from Rachael Ray, here.

4) These Apple Pie Cookies Might Be The Tastiest Part About Thanksgiving This Year

Just like the description implies, everything is just a little bit more interesting when it comes to you in miniature form. And with mini-pies, you’re guaranteed even more crust, so what could be so bad about that?

Make your own mini apple pie cookies this year, with the recipe from Newslinq, here.

5) This Maple-Bacon Pie Makes It Totally OK to Eat Bacon for Dessert

If you’re not a vegetarian, then chances are pretty good you’re a die-hard fanatic about bacon. Who isn’t? And because you’re so very lucky, you get to indulge in a Maple-Bacon pie this Thanksgiving, making you the most grateful person on the planet.

Get the recipe for the Maple Bacon pie here, but be sure you don’t eat everything before your guests arrive!

6) Thanksgiving Pie Cupcakes

Not a super big fan of tradition, but celebrating Thanksgiving anyway? If this is you, then you’ll be happy to rebel it up this year with these tasty little treats: pies in cupcake form!

Get the recipe for these little Thanksgiving pie cupcakes from the Food Network, here.

7) Not Into Pie? Try Some Apple Bourbon Bundt Cake Instead!

Not everyone loves a great pie, and though we find that very hard to understand, there are some delightful Thanksgiving alternatives that still have the chance to make dessert the best part of the meal. Like this Apple Bourbon Bundt Cake. Not bad!

Get the recipe and go cake-style this holiday instead. Click here for recipe details.

8) Heirloom Apple Pie

This recipe celebrates fall apples in style — just plain, old juicy apples with little fanfare. So if you’re a purist when it comes to your pie, this could be the one for you.

Check out “Pies, Cakes and Tarts: The Best Apple Recipes for Fall Baking” on Yahoo for this and other great recipes.

9) Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery: Chocolate Pecan Pie

Sure, you’ll have to go all the way to NYC to get it, but the addition of chocolate chips and a touch of bourbon to this traditional pie makes it just about worth the effort.

Find out more on the Gotham website, where you’ll learn about more amazing NY goodies, here.

10) Jack-O-Lantern Hand Pies

Sometimes it’s just about the packaging, and having a little bit of fun with tradition. Sure, Halloween is over already, but the pumpkins are still festive decor around Thanksgiving time, so why not add to the mix?

Celebrate a little bit extra this fall, and try out the recipe for Jack-O-Lantern Hand Pies today.

11) Amaretto-Almond Crunch Pumpkin Pie from Dede Wilson

The true pie aficionado understands that the best pies are all about the perfect marriage of flavor and texture, and the Amaretto-Almond Crunch Pumpkin Pie is certainly no slouch. You just may not be able to stop once you start.

Get the recipe here, and find 6 more amazing autumn pie recipes here, on Elle Decor.

12) Pumpkin Whoopie Pies With a Whipped Cinnamon Filling

Sometimes you want your pie to look more like a cookie, and you want that bite-sized flavor to fit in your hand. Enter the Whoopie Pie, with an extra special pumpkin version, complete with whipped cinnamon-spiced filling!

Get the recipe now on All Food Recipes, here.

13) Lattice Apple Sheet Pie

Looking for traditional, flaky crust without breaking your wrists in the process? Expecting a TON of people over for Thanksgiving and you want to make sure you have enough pie to go around? The Lattice Apple Sheet Pie is just what the doctor ordered.

Get the recipe from the Cooking Channel, here.

14) Salted Caramel-Chocolate Pecan Pie

Done right, this one might just end up being too pretty to actual cut into and eat, so be careful! If you’re a fan of pecan, what more could you possibly ask for then some caramel and chocolate to go with your pie?

Get the recipe from Southern Living, here.

15) Pear-Rosemary Pie with Cheddar Crust

If your more of a fan of seasonal fruit pies, and you want that extra dash of savory and herb, then you can’t go wrong with this one. A combination of pear, rosemary and just enough salty goodness in the cheddar crust that your heart may stop when you put it in your mouth.

Another great recipe from Southern Living, available here.

[All photos copyright their respective parties, all sourced from the sites/links included above]