Pie’s connection to Thanksgiving is rich and warm
It’s much like a slice of spiced pumpkin pie! But if you’re looking for a Pumpkin Pie recipe, you won’t find one in this post. That’s because Pumpkin Pie is almost sacred. Fooling with a long-time family recipe is bound to disappoint both guests and therefore, the pie baker. Instead, we present 10 Pies that are all immensely popular whenever they’re baked. We’ve put together recipes that use everything from cranberries to almonds, berries and jams, lemons and apples, and pine nuts. There’s a Maple Syrup pie that’s an ode to Canada (where they celebrated Thanksgiving in mid-October.) There’s even a recipe for an Apple Crostata that’s perfect for people who fear making an imperfect crust in a pie plate. So take your pick and put a great pie or two on your Thanksgiving table.
Why Pie and Thanksgiving Go Hand-in-Hand
The pie-Thanksgiving love story dates back to the early 1600s when English settlers brought their pie-making skills to the New World. At first, these pies were savory, filled with meats, but new ingredients—especially local fruits and vegetables—gave the settlers a chance to experiment. Though it’s a stretch to say pies were at the very first Thanksgiving, they were certainly part of English harvest celebrations. Pumpkin, native to North America, quickly became a go-to filling. They’d hollow out pumpkins, stuff them with milk, honey, and spices, and bake them over hot coals—a precursor to today’s pumpkin pie. By the 1700s, desserts like apple and mincemeat pies made their appearance, thanks to better crusts using butter and fat. They slowly became the sweet treats we know today.
Pie’s Rise to Fame in America
Thanksgiving became a national holiday in 1863, thanks to Abraham Lincoln, who, in the middle of the Civil War, called for “a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise.”. By then pie was already a beloved part of the Northeast’s holiday table. Pumpkins were plentiful, so the humble pumpkin pie was a no-brainer. By the 19th century, pumpkin pie was a star, celebrated as a symbol of American harvests. Magazines and cookbooks spread the word, making pie a holiday staple. While pumpkin pie takes center stage, regional favorites like pecan pie in the South, sweet potato pie in the Midwest, and classic apple pie are part of the lineup. Pie’s popularity endures because it’s steeped in tradition, nostalgia–the very image of a holiday table crowned by a flaky, golden crust.
Here are Chewing The Fat’s 10 Outstanding Pies…Click on either photo or link and go straight to the recipes:
Cranberry curd tart: Astonishingly, this tart is Gluten Free…
Dorie Greenspan’s Bakewell Tart is an English Classic…
Imagine Dorie Greenspan’s Classic Fruit Tart starring on your Thanksgiving Table…
From the Home of California Cuisine comes Chez Panisse’s Caramel Almond Tart
Fans of all things Italian will love this wonderful Honey-Pignoli Tart
For Lemon Lovers, John Baricelli’s French Lemon Tart is irresistible…
French Lemon Tart from John Barricelli’s "The Seasonal Baker"
Since Monte is Quebecois, Maple Sugar Pie had to make it on our Thanksgiving list…
For the Pie Plate Challenged, Claudia Fleming’s Apple Crostata is ideal...
Andrew will tell you, this is likely the easiest bake on this entire list…
And finally, how could we leave Chocolate Lovers off our list?
