Showstopping Holiday Pies

 

 

The Holiday season is upon us and many of us are in the throes of planning all of the aspects of our special celebration dinner. I know in the UK, they don't celebrated Thanksgiving at all, and in Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated in October, so you might be wondering why I am celebrating it in November.

A few years ago, I discovered that several of my Ancestors came over on the Mayflower to Plymouth Rock and ever since then I have had a desire to celebrate Thanksgiving in November. I also think that Thanksgiving in November helps to usher in the whole Holiday season like nothing else does!

All month I will be posting recipes that are Holiday and Celebration inclined, even if your celebratory meal is just Sunday dinner.  There are a multitude of special occasions coming up and I want to be able to help you with all of them as much as I can, and why not start with dessert.

For many of us our favorite pie to celebrate the holidays with is Pumpkin Pie, and there is nothing wrong with that. A rich, silky pumpkin pie can tick all of our boxes, but sometimes we also want to try something different, or maybe we are having people for dinner that don't enjoy pumpkin pie.

Today I am sharing my top ten favorite pies for your enjoyment. All of these are delicious. All of these can be easily made ahead of time. All of these are guaranteed to please your guests and family. Enjoy, and Happy Holidays! 

EASY PUMPKIN PIE - Homemade pumpkin pies are really delicious and this one is such an easy one to make. If you can whisk things together, you can make this pie! One thing I love about this recipe is that it makes a very manageable (size wise) pie. I also tell you how to make your own pumpkin puree should you be so inclined.

MAPLE WALNUT VINEGAR PIE - Maple Walnut Vinegar Pie is a Canadian twist on the American Pecan Pie.  Maple and walnuts are naturally a brilliant flavor combination, and one that my family just loves! You can either chill this and serve it cold from the refrigerator, or you can serve it at room temperature. Either way it is totally scrumptious, especially with a dollop of whipped cream on top!

MOM'S BEST APPLE PIE - Everyone always thinks their mom makes the best apple pie.  This is a very good pie, with a beautiful flaky crust and an abundant filling. You can also make this delicious pie ahead and freeze it, ready to pull out and reheat on the day. Perfect served warm with a scoop of ice cream and a nice wedge of cheddar cheese! 

APPLE BUTTER PIE - A most delicious alternative to pumpkin pie with plenty of apple flavor and a rich silky indulgent texture. You can use purchased spiced apple butter to make this or make your own apple butter from scratch. (Very simply done.) Either way it is one very delicious pie!  Beautiful served with a dollop of whipped cream on top!

BEST BUTTERSCOTCH PIE - My ex-mother-in-law's recipe for one of the best from-scratch butterscotch pies you could ever want to eat! Simple to make and oh so delicious, this is a pie I have been making for my family for over 40 years now. It was always my ex-husband's choice for his birthday dessert, rather than a cake!  And who could blame him? Its fabulously tasty! 

DUTCH APPLE PIE - A delicious pie from my Big Blue Binder, with a rich apple filling, topped with a beautiful buttery sweet crumble topping. Fabulously tasty served, cut into thick wedges along with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top or a nice dollop of freshly whipped cream. If you are in the UK you might even enjoy it with a dollop of clotted cream! 

CREAM & CRUMB SCHNITZ PIE - A delicious apple pie which hails from Mennonite country. With a rich sour cream and apple crumb filling, and a sweet buttery crumb topping. This is my all-time favorite apple pie. So delicious you will want to lick your plate after.  Of course, it is delicious just as is but a dollop of cream on top is a welcome addition!

RAISIN & SOUR CREAM MERINGUE PIE - Crisp pastry crust filled with a lush creamy sour cream filling, dappled with sweet plump raisins.  Topped with a pile of sweet fluffy meringue. Its best to let it chill and set up prior to cutting into wedges to serve. I simply could not wait. Its fabulously delicious! 

QUEBECOISE SUGAR CREAM PIE - It's an old family tradition. Rich almost caramel like filling sandwiched between two flaky crusts, baked to perfection. So rich and sweet you only want a small sliver of this one to enjoy and enjoy it you will. This is a pie you will find yourself getting up in the middle of the night to enjoy!

 

CLASSIC LEMON MERINGUE PIE - With its crisp crust and quivering mouth-puckering tart lemon filling, not to mention its sweet meringue topping, this is everyone's favorite pie. Of all the pies, this is the one I would choose over all of the others.  I don't think I am alone in that! This is the perfect Lemon pie!

So, there you have it, my top ten, and by no means all of my favorites. I am a pie lover from way back and there are a multitude of pie recipes on here.  If you are not seeing something that you like, or if there is something else you are looking for, why not shoot me a message below and I will do my best to dig it up for you! 

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