Fantastic Fall Pies

sl-Arkansas Black Apple Pie with Caramel Sauce

Victor Protasio

Fall in love with these irresistible autumn pies, from Pumpkin Streusel to Pecan Cheesecake.

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Pecan-Date Pie

Justin Walker

Pecan-Date Pie Recipe

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Classic Pumpkin Pie

Photo: Jen Causey, Food Styling: Gordon Sawyer and Tina Stamos, Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell

Classic Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Refrigerated pie dough makes this classic pumpkin pie recipe simple to prepare. Bake the pie on a baking sheet in the lower third of the oven to encourage a crisp crust.

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Spiced Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr

Spiced Pumpkin Chiffon Pie Recipe

Celebrate the best of fall flavor with this creamy pumpkin pie. This version of the classic Thanksgiving pie is a fluffier, less dense version of the original, so it's perfect for serving at holiday gatherings when you want a crowd-pleaser.

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Pumpkin-Praline Pie

Jennifer Causey

Pumpkin-Praline Pie Recipe

Can't decide between pumpkin or pecan? This pie has a taste of both.

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Pumpkin Spice Latte Pie with Coffee Liqueur Whipped Cream

Photo: Daniel Agee; Food Styling: Pam Lolley; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Pumpkin Spice Latte Pie with Coffee Liqueur Whipped Cream Recipe

Whether or not you’re a fan of the infamous, seasonal Starbuck’s beverage, we’re willing to bet you won’t have any regrets about swapping your typical pumpkin pie for this caffeinated uptake this Thanksgiving. We were surprised by just how amazing a hint of coffee sets off creamy, spiced pumpkin pie filling, but the depth of rich flavor speaks for itself—this PSL-inspired pie is in a league of it’s own. Served with a coffee liqueur-spiked whipped cream, this fall dessert reaches a level of decadence a basic pumpkin pie could only dream of. Note: If you opt to create a decorative lattice effect as we did here, be very careful when placing your dough strips atop the pie—the pie’s surface will be very hot and not fully set.

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Double-Decker Pecan Cheesecake Pie

Victor Protasio

Double-Decker Pecan Cheesecake Pie Recipe

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Salted Caramel Apple Pie

Jennifer Causey

Salted Caramel Apple Pie Recipe

Grated apple is the secret to a syrupy pie filling--it releases more pectin (a natural thickener) than the sliced apples alone. A quick salted caramel intensifies the apple flavor without making the dessert too sweet.

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Persimmon Pie with Pecan Streusel

Victor Protasio

Persimmon Pie with Pecan Streusel Recipe

If you find fine domesticated persimmons at your local grocery store or farmers' market, they should be easy enough to puree. Hachya and Fuyu are great varieties to make this flavorful pie filling. But don't feel bad if you want to skip the messy work of processing your own persimmon puree and order it frozen online.

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Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie

Video and Photos by Alex Tepper

Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie Recipe

Move over, Cinnabon

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Maple Pumpkin Pie with a Message

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Maple Pumpkin Pie with a Message Recipe

To use up the leftover pumpkin, try adding some to a breakfast smoothie, or stir into pancake batter. Or combine with a splash of half-and-half, season with sage, and toss with pasta.

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Double-Crust Apple Pie

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Mindi Shapiro and Amanda Widis

Double-Crust Apple Pie Recipe
A double crust seals in the apples' natural juices as the pie bakes for full-on apple flavor. Tossing the apples with apple juice keeps them from browning as you peel and slice them, and it adds a boost of apple flavor.

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Pumpkin-Pecan Streusel Pie

Photo: Helen Norman; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Pumpkin-Pecan Streusel Pie Recipe
Create the chunky texture by leaving those extra-big blueberry-size pieces in the streusel mix.

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Hazelnut, Pecan, and Bourbon Pie

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Hazelnut, Pecan, and Bourbon Pie Recipe

For depth of flavor, Kir Jensen roasts the pecans and hazelnuts before adding them to the filling. She likes to roll her cornmeal pastry extra thick, so it's more substantial.

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Warm Apple-Buttermilk Custard Pie

Photography: Becky-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro

Warm Apple-Buttermilk Custard Pie Recipe
This twist on traditional apple pie consistently earns 5-star ratings from our online reviewers. The creamy buttermilk custard makes for truly indulgent apple dessert that's not overly sweet, either. For a flaky piecrust and a crisp streusel, be sure to keep them both chilled until just before baking.

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Pumpkin Streusel Pie

Photo: Leigh Beisch; Styling: Dan Becker

Pumpkin Streusel Pie Recipe
Classic pumpkin pie gets a tasty facelift from a homemade oat-and-walnut streusel topping, while the pastry leaves add great fall flair.

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Sweet-Potato Pecan Pie

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Sweet-Potato Pecan Pie Recipe

We adapted this recipe from Devil's Teeth Baking Company to create a border that shows off the bright filling. To completely cover the pie, just double the topping.

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Pecan Cheesecake Pie

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Pecan Cheesecake Pie Recipe
We think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship: crunchy chopped pecans and tangy cheesecake. This 8-ingredient recipe is not only easy to prepare, but also a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

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Pear, Walnut, and Maple Syrup Pie

BECKY LUIGART-STAYNER

Pear, Walnut, and Maple Syrup Pie Recipe
Sweet pears truly shine in fall desserts, and this pie is no exception. Smooth and mild Comice pears are paired with the deep, nutty flavor of toasted walnuts and sweet maple syrup for a wonderful addition to your holiday dessert table.

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Cheddar-Apple Pie

Photo: Oxmoor House

Cheddar-Apple Pie Recipe
Tart and tangy, sweet and spiced, this intensely flavored homemade apple pie is thickly layered into a sharp cheddar cheese-enhanced crust. It's a gluten-free remake of an American classic!

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Apple Hand Pies

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Amy Stone

Apple Hand Pies Recipe

Use small cookie or pastry cutters to create little steam vents in the tops of these pies for the filling to peek through. You can make these pies as festive or as simple as you want, but however you style them, they're sure to be absolutely delicious.

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Five-Spice Sweet Potato Pie

Photo: Jan Smith

Five-Spice Sweet Potato Pie Recipe
In this pie, humble sweet potatoes are dressed up with five-spice powder, a blend of cinnamon, cloves, fennel seed, star anise, and Szechuan peppercorns. If you can't find five-spice powder, pumpkin pie spice makes a fine substitute.

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Maple-Walnut Cranberry Pie

Photo: Chris Court; Styling: Carla Gonzalez-Hart

Maple-Walnut Cranberry Pie Recipe

While the buttery, maple-scented filling is inspired by classic pecan pie, we swap in toasted walnuts and add chopped fresh cranberries for a beautiful pop of color and tart flavor contrast that cuts the sweetness.

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Butterscotch Pecan Pie from PieLab

Photo: Oxmoor House

Butterscotch Pecan Pie from PieLab Recipe
The butterscotch flavor is subtle, adding an interesting twist without overwhelming this Southern classic. And the experts at PieLab have ensured that the filling fits the piecrust perfectly.

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Lattice-Top Apple Quince Pie

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Lattice-Top Apple Quince Pie Recipe

Portland pasty chef Michelle Vernier cooks the fruit ahead so the pie won't collapse in the oven.

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Pumpkin Pie Bread Pudding with Bourbon-Pecan Hard Sauce

Photo: Christina Holmes

Pumpkin Pie Bread Pudding with Bourbon-Pecan Hard Sauce Recipe

These creamy pumpkin bread puddings are baked in pie dishes so they're like a hybrid dessert; the lattice top is actually made of strips of butternut squash.

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Caramel Apple Pie with Pastry Cutouts

Caramel Apple Pie with Pastry Cutouts Recipe

Zoe Nathan of Santa Monica's Huckleberry Bakery tops her pies with a variety of cutout shapes; for this one, you'll need a 2 1/2-in. apple-shaped cookie cutter*.

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Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever

Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever Recipe

TIP: For a crisp crust (no more soggy bottom!), use a metal pie pan and prebake your crust with pie weights.

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Turtle Pumpkin Pie

Photo: jenbmassey

Turtle Pumpkin Pie Recipe

This is pretty much the same as the Kraft Turtle Pumpkin Pie (or the Publix Turtle Pumpkin Pie, depending on where you look).

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Cranberry-Apple Pie

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Cranberry-Apple Pie Recipe

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Sliced Sweet Potato Pie with Molasses Whipped Cream

Victor Protasio

Sliced Sweet Potato Pie with Molasses Whipped Cream Recipe

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Thai Tea Pie

Aaron Kirk; Food Styling: Ivy Idom; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

Thai Tea Pie Recipe

Warmly spiced Thai tea mix—which you can purchase at an Asian market or online—stars in this show-stopping, no-bake pie. The tea is steeped in sweetened condensed milk which is then used to make a stovetop custard; after straining out the tea leaves (definitely use cheesecloth), you’ll simply pour the vibrantly colored custard into a peanutty, no-oven-necessary crust and refrigerate until set. If you’re looking for a pie that’s sure to impress, trust us, the sweet Thai tea against the salty, toasty flavor of the peanuts is a combo you won’t be able to get enough of.

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Buxton Hall Ultimate Apple Pie

Greg DuPree

Buxton Hall Ultimate Apple Pie Recipe

We found the ultimate apple pie in the most unexpected place. When customers walk through the door of Buxton Hall Barbecue in Asheville, North Carolina, they are greeted not just by the sweet smell of smoke of whole hogs cooking over oak and hickory wood, but also by “the pie table”. Ashley Capps, the pastry chef behind the restaurant’s in-house Buxton Hall Bakery, crowns the long table’s vintage stands with flavors like Caramel Walnut Chess and her sell-out hit Banana Pudding Pie. Capps’ developed the Ultimate Apple Pie to include fresh and dried fruit along with apple butter for a deep flavor and engaging texture. This recipe is perfect for fall, but even better on Thanksgiving. Bake a few different pies this year and set up your own pie table.

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Oxbow Bakery Pecan Pie

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Oxbow Bakery Pecan Pie Recipe

The kitchen at Palestine, Texas’s Oxbow Bakery may be small, but mother-and-son team Becky and David Wolfe make about 400 pies around Thanksgiving alone. David estimates that 60% of their business comes from out of town–and even from outside of Texas. “A lady from Houston just grabbed me and hugged me with tears in her eyes,” says Becky. “She said she hadn’t had pie like this since her mother passed.” This pecan pie is one of their—and our Test Kitchens’—favorites. Whether you're setting up a buffet table of multiple pies this Thanksgiving or looking for the best pecan pie to be the showstopper, this recipe is perfect.

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Cushaw Pie with Vanilla Bean Custard Sauce

Victor Protasio

Cushaw Pie with Vanilla Bean Custard Sauce Recipe

Never had a cushaw? It is a winter squash that originates from Mesoamerica. Now you'll find cushaws around the Lousiana area. If you can’t find a cushaw at the farmers’ market, you can substitute plain canned pumpkin puree for the filling. Top your slice with our Vanilla Bean Custard Sauce and a few candied pecans.

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Apple-Pear Pie with Cookie Butter Caramel

Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Pam Lolley

Apple-Pear Pie with Cookie Butter Caramel Recipe

If you’re looking to go next-level for you next holiday pie, this speculoos infused apple and pear pie is exactly what you’re looking for. Featuring finely ground speculoos cookies (we used Biscoff brand) in the crust, larger crumbles in the pecan streusel topping, and a decadent salted cookie butter caramel sauce both in the filling and drizzled over top, this fruit pie is anything but boring. While it may seem like a hassle, don’t skip giving your fruit the little pre-cook described in step 5. This method of par-cooking the slice apples and pears will help your fruit achieve a delightfully tender, but not-too-mushy texture through the baking process.

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German Chocolate-Pecan Pie

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Kim Phillips

German Chocolate-Pecan Pie Recipe

Surprisingly, pecan pie is a relative latecomer to the Southern table. Recipes for milk-custard-based pecan pies can be found as early as 1886, but it wasn't until the 1930s when promotional recipes for a syrup-based pecan pie appeared on the labels of Karo syrup bottles that its popularity soared. Twenty years later, Marion Brown's landmark Southern cookbook proclaimed it "the South's most popular pie." Our latest twist? A stellar riff on the flavors of German chocolate cake, for which the Lone Star State also claims bragging rights.

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Spiced Carrot Pie

Lia Picard

Spiced Carrot Pie Recipe

Briana Carson from Crave Pie Studio in Duluth, Georgia, was inspired by gajar halwa, an Indian carrot pudding, and wanted to adapt it for a pie. “I just started playing around and kind of decided to go with a spice profile similar to pumpkin pie or sweet potato,” she says. She roasts the carrots to bring out their sweetness and purees them until they are as smooth as possible. Then the pie gets topped with a thick marscapone whipped cream.

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Triple-Apple Pie

Caitlin Bensel

Triple-Apple Pie Recipe

How next-level store-bought crust, smart touches of fat and flavoring, and a trio of apples fit together fabulously.

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Back in the Day Bakery Southern Pumpkin Pie

Greg DuPree

Back in the Day Bakery Southern Pumpkin Pie Recipe

This pumpkin pie from Cheryl Day’s Back in the Day Bakery in Savannah, Georgia won high marks from our Test Kitchen for its richly spiced filling and tender yet crisp crust. Around Thanksgiving, Cheryl and her husband, Griffith, stock their cases with different varieties like Salted Caramel Apple and Cranberry-Orange Crumble. After the pickup rush is done (350 pies later!), she begins cooking her own Turkey Day dinner and returns to the flavors of her childhood: sweet potato (which is an easy swap in her Southern Pumpkin Pie recipe) and lemon meringue. She enjoys sharing these memories of her mother with family, friends, and any “Sugarnauts” (her nickname for bakery employees) in need of a home for the holiday. Cheryl adds a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to her pie crust to make it “just so dang flaky.” Don't shy away from this tastey Southern Pumpkin Pie and serve it up for any special occasion this fall.

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Arkansas Black Apple Pie with Caramel Sauce

Victor Protasio

Arkansas Black Apple Pie with Caramel Sauce Recipe

The heirloom apple that makes this apple pie so tasty hails from Benton County, Arkansas. What makes it so special? The fragrant, tart, and tasty apple ripens to a deep red while still on the tree, but it continues to ripen after it is picked and transforms to a nearly black hue. Keep an eye out for these beautiful apples for your Thanksgiving pie. The Arkansas Black Apple Pie just needs a drizzle of Caramel Sauce and a scoop of ice cream to make your night perfect.

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Fantastic Fall Pies

1 of 41

Pecan-Date Pie

2 of 41

Classic Pumpkin Pie

3 of 41

Spiced Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

4 of 41

Pumpkin-Praline Pie

5 of 41

Pumpkin Spice Latte Pie with Coffee Liqueur Whipped Cream

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Double-Decker Pecan Cheesecake Pie

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Salted Caramel Apple Pie

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Persimmon Pie with Pecan Streusel

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Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie

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Maple Pumpkin Pie with a Message

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Double-Crust Apple Pie

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Pumpkin-Pecan Streusel Pie

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Hazelnut, Pecan, and Bourbon Pie

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Warm Apple-Buttermilk Custard Pie

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Pumpkin Streusel Pie

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Sweet-Potato Pecan Pie

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Pecan Cheesecake Pie

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Pear, Walnut, and Maple Syrup Pie

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Cheddar-Apple Pie

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Apple Hand Pies

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Five-Spice Sweet Potato Pie

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Maple-Walnut Cranberry Pie

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Butterscotch Pecan Pie from PieLab

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Lattice-Top Apple Quince Pie

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Pumpkin Pie Bread Pudding with Bourbon-Pecan Hard Sauce

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Caramel Apple Pie with Pastry Cutouts

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Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever

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Turtle Pumpkin Pie

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Cranberry-Apple Pie

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Sliced Sweet Potato Pie with Molasses Whipped Cream

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Thai Tea Pie

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Buxton Hall Ultimate Apple Pie

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Oxbow Bakery Pecan Pie

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Cushaw Pie with Vanilla Bean Custard Sauce

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Apple-Pear Pie with Cookie Butter Caramel

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German Chocolate-Pecan Pie

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Spiced Carrot Pie

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Triple-Apple Pie

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Back in the Day Bakery Southern Pumpkin Pie