35 Thanksgiving Pies and Tarts Sure to Satisfy Every Sweet Tooth Cherished classics and innovative temptations to suit every level of baking expertise. Close Credit: Christopher Testani One of the highlights of the Thanksgiving feast is, of course, the dessert spread. The time-honored practice of crowding the table with multiple choices generally means that there's something for everyone to enjoy. After all, some guests believe that the holiday meal wouldn't be complete without a sliver of that familiar favorite, pumpkin pie, while others turn to classics like apple pie, chess pie, and pecan pie—Thanksgiving tarts that are warmly reminiscent of childhood or family rituals. As much as we adore beloved recipes, we also crave desserts that tweak tradition or introduce fresh taste sensations. Each has the potential to become an instant classic. 20 of Our Most Impressive Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes 01 of 35 Pear Tarte Tatin The classic tarte tatin (an upside-down tart) is always welcome at the holiday table, especially when it's made with caramelized pear wedges. A time-saving shortcut: the buttery crust uses store-bought puff pastry, so the dessert comes together in a snap. View Recipe 02 of 35 Vanilla Pudding Pie Credit: Kate Mathis Sinfully delicious, this knockout dessert pleases both chocolate and vanilla lovers. The crust is made from chocolate wafters while the vanilla bean filling unites cardamom and white chocolate, all embellished with vanilla whipped cream and cocoa powder. View Recipe 03 of 35 Flourless Chocolate-Walnut Torte A flourless chocolate cake is a staple dessert for people who follow a gluten-free diet. This one also happens to be dairy-free since we used coconut oil in place of butter for richness—all without compromising flavor or texture. View Recipe 04 of 35 Cherry-Cheese Strudel Pie Credit: Christopher Testani Puff pastry provides a light and airy frame for a creamy ricotta filling with tart cherries. To serve, cut down the center, then slice into rectangles. View Recipe 05 of 35 Lemon-Cranberry Meringue Pie Credit: Christopher Testani A thin layer of cranberry gelée on top of a smooth lemon filling topped with a cloud of meringue brings a classic pie to new heights. It's guaranteed to put a smile on your guests' faces. View Recipe 06 of 35 Five Spice Pumpkin Pie With Phyllo Crust Credit: Christopher Testani Shake things up this Thanksgiving with a novel take on a classic. A hint of Chinese five-spice powder and an impressive crown of paper-thin pastry made from phyllo dough steer pumpkin pie worlds away from tradition. View Recipe 07 of 35 Double-Chocolate Chess Pie Credit: Mike Krautter For guests who believe that chocolate desserts rise above all else, this sublime spin on the Southern chess pie (made with cocoa powder and dark chocolate chips) will be more than satisfying. The best part is that the whisk-and-pour filling requires just one bowl, coming together in a heartbeat. View Recipe 08 of 35 Poached Pear Frangipane Tart Credit: Johnny Miller Pears are poached in mulled wine here, infusing the fruit with spices and giving the exteriors a deep crimson hue. When sliced and nestled into the rich frangipane filling, the pieces create a glorious ombré effect. View Recipe 09 of 35 Apple Rose Tart Credit: Christopher Testani Granny Smith and Pink Lady apples artfully arranged in delicate layers bring a double dose of flavor and color to this sensational tart. Hands down, it's sure to be the prettiest temptation on the dessert table. View Recipe 10 of 35 Date-Pecan Pie Credit: Johnny Miller Dates replace some of the sugar, stepping up the intense caramel flavor of this pecan pie. The gooey, nutty filling is cradled in a flaky, golden shell made with our favorite buttery pâte brisée recipe, In a word, irresistible. View Recipe 11 of 35 Diamond Apple Pie Credit: Johnny Miller The beautiful diamond pattern sets this Thanksgiving pie apart from other contenders on the dessert table. Spiced with cinnamon and sugar, and bursting with apples, the flavors lean classic. View Recipe 12 of 35 Brown-Sugar Butternut Squash Pie Credit: Will Anderson The delicious, sweet flavor of freshly baked butternut squash fills this show-stopping pie. Break out your cutest cookie cutters for decorating the top, and get ready to impress your guests. View Recipe 13 of 35 Lemon-Basil Custard Pie With Red Berries Credit: Jonathan Lovekin No sweet tooth will be able to resist this cute-as-a-button summery-inspired pie. While berries and lemons may not be in season by the time Thanksgiving comes, you can easily swap them for frozen fruit. View Recipe 14 of 35 Butterscotch Pie With Pecan Shortbread Crust Credit: Christopher Testani This cheerful pie breaks out of the circle—it's baked in a rectangular pie tin, accentuating the patterned pecans on top. It’s also something of a nostalgia trip: The crumbly crust tastes just like Pecan Sandies and encloses a fluffy butterscotch filling reminiscent of eras past. View Recipe 15 of 35 Quince Slab Pie Prepare the filling for this pie by poaching quince in sweet dessert wine with cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla. Use store-bought puff pastry to form the quick and easy crust. View Recipe 16 of 35 Cranberry-Meringue Tart Credit: Pieter Estersohn This Thanksgiving-appropriate tart has an easy press-in crust made with a buttery mixture of crushed saltines, which balances out the pucker-perfect curd filling. The "wreath" meringue on top, although impressive, we guarantee it's not as complex as you'd think! View Recipe 17 of 35 Cinnamon-Swirl Apple Slab Pie Credit: Will Anderson Feeding a crowd? We have you covered. Prepared on a rimmed baking sheet, here magic happens when sweetened cinnamon butter is spread on half of the dough and rolled up like a log. Once chilled, the log is sliced, placed in the pan lined with pie dough, and filled with spiced apples. You'll love the warm, autumn notes all and all! View Recipe 18 of 35 Layered Pecan Pie Credit: Brie Goldman Rich and sweet, this classic pecan pie is always a grand slam. Take the time to arrange the pecan halves decoratively on top for a beautiful presentation on the Thanksgiving table. View Recipe 19 of 35 Pumpkin Pie Credit: Brie Goldman Classics are classics for a reason. To concentrate the flavor of pumpkin pie, the pumpkin flesh is roasted before being pureed. Fresh whipped cream is a cool counterpoint to the filling's ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon. View Recipe 20 of 35 Maple Custard Pie Credit: Yossy Arefi Pure maple syrup is the star of this luscious custard pie made with eggs and cream. A touch of nutmeg and a dash of vanilla add warm spice. View Recipe 21 of 35 Old-Fashioned Apple Pie Credit: Rachel Marek A buttery crust is packed to bursting with Granny Smith apple slices tossed with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. This may be the ultimate recipe for apple pie. View Recipe 22 of 35 Double-Coconut Cream Pie Credit: Johnny Miller Calling all coconut lovers. Shredded coconut is folded into a silky coconut milk custard for the filling of this indulgent pie, while whipped cream and toasted coconut complete the picture. View Recipe 23 of 35 Milk Chocolate-Pistachio Tart Credit: Johnny Miller This rich chocolate tart showcases a triple dose of pistachios: in the chocolate pastry crust, in the bottom layer of pistachio paste, and sprinkled over the milk chocolate top layer. A time-saving step: Make then freeze the dough up to a month before Thanksgiving. View Recipe 24 of 35 Apple-Membrillo Tart Credit: Justin Walker Granny Smith apples are paired with membrillo (Spanish quince paste) for a sweet and tart flavor—the best of both worlds. Serve with blue cheese, grapes, and Marcona almonds for the ultimate dessert platter. View Recipe 25 of 35 Virginia Peanut Pie Credit: Anna Williams Roasted peanuts take center stage in this scrumptious pie. The filling is made with golden syrup and accented with a touch of cayenne pepper to balance out the sweetness. View Recipe 26 of 35 Pumpkin-Cheesecake Pie With Gingersnap Crust Credit: Kate Mathis This mashup is a fun, filling alternative to the traditional Thanksgiving pie. Spicy gingersnaps stand in for the graham crackers in the crust and make an excellent foil for the rich pumpkin-cream cheese filling. A symphony of flavors and textures you can't miss! View Recipe 27 of 35 Milk-Chocolate Pudding Pie Credit: Kate Mathis An easy press-in vanilla wafer crust surrounds a creamy, milk chocolate filling in this winner of a pie. Vanilla-bean whipped cream adds a decadent contrast. View Recipe 28 of 35 Rustic Meyer Lemon Tart Celebrate the beginning of citrus season with this pure and simple tart. The curd filling showcases the brilliant color and sweet flavor of Meyer lemons, while the crust is enlivened with grated zest. View Recipe 29 of 35 Emeril's Pecan-Chocolate Chip Pie A filling of pecans and chocolate chips? Yes, please! A winning flavor combination even little ones will enjoy along with a big serving of vanilla ice cream. View Recipe 30 of 35 Deep-Dish Pumpkin-Meringue Pie Credit: Johnny Miller Twice as nice, that's this take on this deep-dish pie. The crust is traditional, the filling provides endless pumpkin satisfaction, and it's dressed up with a glorious mountain of meringue on top. View Recipe 31 of 35 Lattice-Topped Vanilla Bean-Pineapple Tart Slices of fresh pineapple are poached with rum and vanilla bean to form the exotic filling of this creative dessert. The secret to making the decorative lattice top is to start with very cold dough. View Recipe 32 of 35 Big Almond-Orange-Ginger Cookie Credit: Louise Hagger Is it a pie? Is it a tart? It is a cake? The only sure thing is, that this recipe would please everyone's palate. Cut into pie-like wedges, this citrusy, streusel-topped bar cookie makes an unexpected yet spectacular Thanksgiving dessert. View Recipe 33 of 35 Apple Pie Bread Pudding Credit: Bryan Gardner A comforting pie will always hit the spot after a Thanksgiving feast, especially if it has familiar flavors. Day-old brioche works best for soaking up the custard mixture in this hybrid dessert. View Recipe 34 of 35 Gluten-Free Spiced Pumpkin Pie Credit: Linda Xiao This pie features a rich, rice-cereal crust, perfect for a gluten-free alternative. Canned pumpkin works, but if you're craving something different, try a winter squash puree instead. View Recipe 35 of 35 Rhubarb-Strawberry Tart Credit: Christopher Testani Rhubard is an intrinsic flavor—and one that shouldn't be overlooked. Simply stunning, prep the tart dough in advance for this make-ahead recipe. As both rhubarb and strawberries aren't exactly in peak-season, feel free to swap for frozen versions. View Recipe Explore more: Food & Cooking Recipes Dessert & Treats Recipes