These Are the Thanksgiving Pie Recipes Everyone Actually Wants (2024)

FAQs

What is the most common pie for Thanksgiving? ›

It's no surprise that the vast majority of the country favors pumpkin and apple pie on Thanksgiving. However, when you look at the most unique searches by state, there were some interesting regional favorites that ranked high in certain locations.

If you can, make pie the day before or early in the day you plan to serve. “Most pies are better off if they set up, even if you want it warm,” Bishop said. “Cool it down, and if you want, pop it back into the oven for a few minutes before serving. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is cutting into it too early.”

In general, pie reigns supreme as a Thanksgiving dessert. While some families have their nice selections of pie servings, tradition says apple, pumpkin pie, and a southern pecan pie are the go-tos, typically made with a buttery pastry pie crust.

Apple pie is America's favorite Thanksgiving dessert, but not Alabama's. Published: Nov.

It is also worth noting what was not present at the first Thanksgiving feast. There were no cloudlike heaps of mashed potatoes, since white potatoes had not yet crossed over from South America. There was no gravy either, since the colonists didn't yet have mills to produce flour.

Both the Pilgrims and members of the Wampanoag tribe ate pumpkins and other squashes indigenous to New England—possibly even during the harvest festival—but the fledgling colony lacked the butter and wheat flour necessary for making pie crust.

Pumpkin Pie

Pilgrims liked pumpkins. According to accounts, they used to hollow them out, fill them with milk and honey to make a custard, and then roast the orange orbs in hot ashes. But when it came to making pies, the Pilgrims were essentially out of luck.

Apple. There are five states they prefer apple pie to other flavors. Apples came to the United States with Europeans. Apple pie has English origins, according to Smithsonian magazine, but the dessert is an American classic.

The least popular types of pies were salted caramel, gooseberry, blueberry and peach, all being the most popular in only one state each.

(It's even said that Native Americans fed pumpkin to their horses.) Did you know that the FIRST pumpkin pies were actually WHOLE BAKED PUMPKINS stuffed with assorted spices and apples? Did you know 50 million pumpkin pies are baked every year? The LARGEST PUMPKIN PIE on record was five feet around.

What is the most eaten pie on Thanksgiving? ›

While pumpkin pie reigns supreme in the majority of American households, sweet potato pie is still the quintessential Thanksgiving dessert in the South.

96% of first-time hosts plan to incorporate cranberries in some shape or form this Thanksgiving (in sides, drinks, desserts and more).

The classic Thanksgiving dinner includes old-time favorites that never change: turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, and pie. But the way these dishes are made or added to is everchanging because of food trends and different dietary requirements.

No flour, no sugar—that's right, there was nary a pie. No apple, no pecan, no pumpkin at the first Thanksgiving table. Well, pumpkins were probably present, just most likely stewed with vinegar and currants.

Northeastern Native American tribes grew squash and pumpkins. The Native Americans brought pumpkins as gifts to the first settlers, and taught them the many uses for pumpkin. This led to serving pumpkin pie at the first Thanksgiving in America about 50 years later.

Cornish game hen, goose, duck, ham, beef, salmon, and mushroom recipes make worthy centerpieces for holiday meals.