Posted By Kimberly Turner on Nov 12, 2014 in American Food Recipes, Baking, Canadian Food Recipes, Christmas, Cooking Shows, Cooking with Kimberly, Desserts, Ethnic Foods, Holidays & Events, Sweets, Thanksgiving | 0 comments

Holiday Pies are a staple for Thanksgiving & Christmas, and a sweet Twist on the Traditional is always welcome when it’s delicious!

I love the wide variety of pies for the Holidays that are always impressive to look at. So many pies to choose from, so little time…and tummy room left after a huge feast.

Save room for dessert!

Holiday Pie Ideas:

Pies of all varieties are served for Thanksgiving & Christmas – fruit, creamy, decadent, even savory. Here are a few ideas to kick up your repertoire of go-to pie recipes that will satisfy the masses!

Firstly, you’re going to want a flaky, go-to pie crust that you can use for a variety of pies. Here’s Mom’s Classic Pie Crust recipe:

Pumpkin Pies:

We love pumpkin pie and the Holidays just aren’t complete without a couple of pumpkin pies.

The pumpkin pie could easily be substituted with a pumpkin chiffon pie with quartered pecans, chopped, roasted chestnuts, or toasted coconut, and this kicked up version of a regular pumpkin pie is sweet, creamy and gorgeous. Desserts just don’t get better than this.

Why not try a Pumpkin Cheesecake with the same pumpkin puree & pumpkin spices, combined with cream cheese. Maybe try a ginger snap crust instead of a graham cracker crust.

Of course, for any of those options, you’ll need a great Pumpkin Puree recipe:

You could also do something very similar to a pumpkin pie with a sweet potato pie – every bit as tasty & wonderfully festive.

Lemon Meringue Pies:

Beautiful, tall, fluffy lemon meringue pies with a lovely filling of tart lemons, topped with a cloud of white meringue.

How about trying a recipe for Angel Pie, which is the same tangy lemon filling with a meringue crust, instead of pastry.

Fruit Pies:

Try using a seasonal fruit like apple & baking up an apple pie for the Holidays. There are so many options when it comes to apple, as it can combine with so many spices & flavors, they are so versatile!

Check out this absolutely gorgeous recipe for Haskap Apple Pie that you will love – everyone will:

Take out some of the rhubarb from your freezer that you saved from your harvest & make this exquisitely tasty Napa Valley Strawberry Balsamic Rhubarb Pie for a nice change & surprise:

A sweet and tart Mango Meringue Pie could replace a pumpkin pie with one that would look and taste fantastically amazing. The exotic and sweet mango flavor of the filling is heavenly, and the meringue containing little pieces of whole mango just can’t be surpassed. A true triumph!

Cheesecakes:

Aside from the pumpkin cheesecake mentioned above, why not try something festive like a Zesty Orange Cheesecake – a bright, citrus flavor with creamed cheese, decorated beautifully for the Holidays:

Try topping this cheesecake with Candied Orange Peel Slivers & Candied White Pine Needles:

Cream Puffs:

Something really different from a pie would be nice, like giant cream puffs, filled with delicious and creamy pumpkin custard, drizzled with a maple pumpkin caramel sauce, and topped with a large dollop of fluffy whipped cream.

Festive, tasty, elegant and mouth watering, everyone would be asking for seconds of this amazing dessert.

Spice Cakes:

Okay, maybe not a pie, but spiced with pumpkin too…

A big pumpkin spice cake, topped with creamy, buttery icing, garnished with candied carrot slivers and topped with airy whipped cream would be a big hit during the festive season. For those who need a sugar kick, this cake would meet every sweet expectation.

These Holiday twists on pies & desserts will tempt your taste buds, as well as your imagination & creativity.