15 Gorgeous Pies We Can’t Wait to Try This Thanksgiving

Dearest pie, you’re a dream dessert with your flaky, buttery crust and your myriad of fillings. Apple, pumpkin, pecan, cream, custard, and more work so well baked inside these sweets. With the holidays right around the corner, we decided to take a deeper look into everyone’s favorite dessert, pie, to discover what sorts of flavors are trending this season. Sure, we’ll include some time-tested classics, but we were curious about the newer creations.

We found that pie has become the perfect delivery system for all manner of desserts. People are making cannoli-flavored pie, cheesecake pie, and many other desserts you wouldn’t necessarily associate with a tart but work so well inside. Pie is a surprisingly versatile bake that lends itself well to interpretation and improvisation. So, what are home cooks baking this Thanksgiving and beyond? Here are 15 beautiful pies that we can’t wait to try! If you see something you’d like to get the recipe for, many were shared along with these images. Just click/tap the “Source” link in the photo’s caption for more information.

Pistachio Custard Cream and Raspberry Pie

This certainly looks festive and it would not look like a stranger after a Christmas dinner, we’re sure. This pie has layers which is unique and fun. You’ll find a pistachio custard cream, a raspberry jam, a pistachio frangipane, and another layer of the cream dappled with fresh raspberries and chopped pistachios. This is a dream of a pie!

Chocolate-Pecan Pie

No Thanksgiving feast would be complete without some form of pecan pie. If you’ve not had the pleasure of enjoying one of these sweet, southern pies, you should treat yourself this holiday season. A personal favorite is the pecan and chocolate variety which is a creamy, salty, and sweet delight.

Blueberry Pie with Weaved, Geometric Top

If you want a classic pie flavor this year, consider a traditional filling like blueberry, pictured here. Instead of doing a basic topper for the pie, consider getting weird with it by weaving strips of the crust or creating other designs with it. This blueberry pie looks genius simply because of its very intriguing crust.

Apple Crumble Pie

Kick the apple pie game up a notch by adding a crumble or streusel layer on top. It will bring added texture to an otherwise soft and gooey pie. This gorgeous pie has employed oatmeal to make its crumble and we must say that sounds like a match made in heaven.

Sweet Potato Pie

If you’ve somehow missed having a sweet potato pie through the years, it’s time to change that. They taste similar to pumpkin pies but they’re denser and have a slight earthiness which makes them even more warming and filling. If you’d like to go the extra mile with one of these babies feel free to top with marshmallows and give them a quick torch.

Cannoli Pie with Vanilla Ricotta Filling

Okay, folks, we must admit we somehow missed the cannoli pie craze that’s apparently all the rage. We came across a few while we were researching pies for this list and we’ve included a couple for you because they just sound so wonderful. Up first is this ricotta filled pie that’s spiced with vanilla. It pairs well with the hazelnut and cookie crust! Yum!

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Mousse Pie

If you’ve got some leftover Reese’s pieces candies from Halloween, put those to good use as a colorful topper for a pie. Peanut butter mousse and a smooth chocolate ganache fill this sweet pie. Is chocolate and peanut butter ever a bad thing?

Cranberry Poached Pear Pie

Poach sliced pear in cranberry juice and you’ve created the sweet and slightly acidic flavor bomb for this amazing looking tart. The pears rest on a bed of almond frangipane to balance out the tartness. What a fabulous idea!

Reason for the Season: Pumpkin Pie

Is there anything better than a pumpkin pie? Maybe a really good sweet potato pie, but that’s debatable. This rustic-looking but elegant pumpkin pie is a super smooth, perfect custard. We find detail in the crust that’s been formed by shaping the dough into leaved before the bake. This is fall on a plate.

Cranberry Cheesecake Pie

If a cheesecake has a crust it’s technically a pie, right? We’re going with it because we love just about anything that can be described as cheesecake. This classic one is topped with an unusual fruit, cranberries. The berries have been sweetened and spiced with a kiss of orange and slowly simmered into a marvelous looking jam.

Blood Orange Chess Pie

Chess pie was borne of necessity in south. People wanted wonderful nut-filled or fruit pies but when both were scarce a sugar pie consisting of sugar, eggs, cornmeal, and butter was the alternative. It turns out many folks like it better than it’s more complicated contemporaries. Here, blood orange juice has been added to give it extra zing.

Cannoli Pie Round Two

Here’s another cannoli pie that seems absolutely fabulous. It’s topped with a chocolate ganache and slices of orange to cut the richness of the ricotta filling. This looks like art and we’d venture to guess that it tastes like it too.

Coffee Mousse Milk Tart

A coffee infused mousse fills this magical looking pie. The kicker? It’s a vegan pie. The mousse is made with soy and coconut milk and vegan cream cheese. We’re not vegan but we love coffee-flavored desserts and this would certainly be a pie we’d like a slice of.

Turtle Pie with Cookie Crust

This sticky-looking dream is made with a pecan cookie crust and filled with brown sugar caramel and topped with a smooth layer of chocolate. If you’ve got a real sweet tooth, this pie will probably be heavenly. It’s got the best components of your favorite candy bars so we’re positive it would not disappoint.

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Fig and Chocolat Tart

Drama! This chocolate and fig pie is made with a gluten-free chocolate crust and filled with a vegan chocolate mousse. The star of the show, however, are the gorgeous figs that caramelize while baking. We’d love to give this very moody-looking pie a shot!

There you go! 15 pies that would look wonderful with your holiday spread. No matter what you choose, just choose pie. So, you’ve found the pies you want to bake for Thanksgiving. Now, you need to find something for the kids to do. We have dozens of Thanksgiving-themed activities to keep kids happy and entertained. Check them out!

Discover Festive Thanksgiving Activities for Kids Below:

Classic Turkey Handprint

You likely did this craft when you were a child! All you need is some construction paper and paint. Have kids trace their hands, cut out the shape, and then paint their hands. Then, children should press their painted hand onto the paper to create a unique turkey print.

Paper Plate Turkey Craft

Googly eyes, construction paper, a cheap sponge, a glue stick, and a little paint are all it takes to bring this turkey craft to life. Cut a sponge into thirds and then squeeze out some red, orange, and yellow paint. Give kids a paper plate and let them use the sponges to paint it with the colors of the season. While the paint dries, tell kids to create a turkey face using the eyes and cutting shapes from construction paper. Combine for a cute turkey craft!

Toilet Paper Roll Turkey Craft

Googly eyes, construction paper, a toilet paper roll, and a glue stick are all you will need to facilitate this craft. Have kids trace their hands on various colors of construction paper. You can cut out their hands for them or if you have safety scissors, the kids can do it. The hand shapes become a turkey’s plumage as they are glued to the roll.

I Am Thankful Pumpkin Craft

Safety scissors (or you can cut the paper), construction paper in orange and green, a glue stick, and markers are all your little ones will need to create these cute pumpkins. Ask children to write something they are thankful for on each piece of paper then allow them to assemble their paper pumpkins.

Fruit Turkey Craft

This is one of the Thanksgiving activities for kids that you can do in a number of ways. The main thing you will need is an apple or pear for each child. Give them their piece of fruit, and some toothpicks to create feathers for their turkey. Grapes, olives, raisins, marshmallows, etc. are all appropriate here.

Handprint Wreath

Construction paper, a glue stick, craft paint, and a pair of safety scissors are all that is needed to create fall-themed handprint wreaths. You can use a paper plate with the center cut out to make a perfect circle. If you’ve got some ribbon around, you can use that too but don’t sweat it if you don’t.

Free Themed Coloring Pages You Can Print

Crayola has free, printable, Turkey Day coloring pages for kids. Print out several and let kids choose what they want to color. To find the free coloring pages, click here.

Paper Pie Slices

You can use a paper plate and cut it into slices or just cut triangles from construction paper. Ask the kids to decorate their favorite pie. Provide glue sticks, construction paper, safety scissors, and little cotton balls. Then they can judge how their Thanksgiving slices look.

Beaded Corn on the Cob

You will need point beads and pipe cleaners for this holiday craft. Take three or more pipe cleaners (they can be any color but brown and green are the best) and then, twist them together to create a knot that will not allow the beads to fall off. Ask kids to string the beads onto the pipe cleaners until they have something that resembles an ear of corn. Then, twist the other end of the pipe cleaners together and you’ve got a beaded ear of corn.

Turkey Party Hats

Scissors, glue, construction paper, feathers, a hole punch, and yarn are all that is needed to create these festive turkey party hats. Depending on the kids’ ages, you might need to cut and glue together a cone out of brown construction paper for them. Have them apply their beaks, gobblers, eyes, and feathers. Then, hole punch the cone and string yarn through so that the kids can fasten the hats to their heads.

Thanksgiving Bingo

Giggles Galore offers free, printable bingo cards that are Thanksgiving-themed. A round of bingo is one of the best Thanksgiving activities for kids, but the whole family can also get in on the fun with this one. To find the printable cards, click here.

Paper Turkey Puppets

Here’s another classic Thanksgiving activity for kids. Have the children decorate paper bags like turkeys that they can then use as puppets. The kiddos will have so much fun finding their inner turkey voice!

Edible Turkey Crafts

One of the best Thanksgiving activities for kids to do after the feast is to make edible, sweet turkeys. You can use a variety of candies for this craft so don’t feel you need stroopwafel! You can use oreo cookies and candy corn or Reese’s peanut butter cups and M&M’s. Just grab some store-bought frosting to act as the glue to hold your kids’ creations together.

Turkey Day Scavenger Hunt

My Bored Toddler offers a free, printable, scavenger hunt game. You can print it by clicking here. As you know, scavenger hunts can be played in a variety of ways so get creative by hiding objects like little pumpkins or ears of corn for kids to find.

Turkey Tag

This one is a two-parter. First, have kids color clothespins with markers to make them look like little turkeys. Encourage them to use bright colors and to really get creative with them. Next, it’s time for Turkey tag. Attach a clothespin to the back of the shirts of the players. The object is for kids to get as many clothespins off of the other players as possible. The one with the most at the end of the game is the winner.

Thanksgiving Pictionary

Pictionary is fun for the whole family! You can make it Thanksgiving-themed, by writing Turkey Day-inspired words on pieces of paper for the kids to draw. Think of words like pilgrims, pumpkin pie, feast, etc. You can go as big or small with it as you like. Consider decorating the bucket the words are drawn from.

Turkey Waddle Race

This is a goofy race game that is a ton of fun for kids. Expect to hear tons of laughs. It’s a race that kids use balloons between their legs and try to get to the finish line first. Holding the balloon in between the legs makes everyone look like they’re waddling like a turkey.

Thanksgiving Jokes

We have compiled a list of dozens of Thanksgiving jokes to tell kids to keep them entertained. Making the kids laugh is fun enough but if you’ve got kids who are old enough to read, it can be even more fun. Write jokes down on slips of paper and put them in a hat for kids to draw. They each can take turns telling the group their joke! You can find our jokes by clicking here.

Pin the Feather on the Turkey

This Thanksgiving activity for kids is a variation of the classic pin the tail on the donkey game. Instead of a donkey, a turkey is the one that needs pinning. Kids take turns pinning construction paper shaped like feathers on the turkey.

Would You Rather: Thanksgiving Addition

Would you rather is a game that kids love! You can play it this year for Thanksgiving by making the questions themed. Write out questions and put them in a hat for kids to draw. Think of questions like “Would you rather be covered in mashed potatoes or gravy?” Would you rather eat a raw onion or a raw clove of garlic?” “Would you rather go to school wearing a pumping stem on your head or turkey feathers on your but?”

There you go! We hope you found these Thanksgiving activities for kids useful. Keeping the little ones entertained on Thanksgiving is the name of the game. Any one of these activities will delight children. If you’d like even more Thanksgiving fun, keep reading for the best Thanksgiving jokes for kids.