Kelli Avila January 23, 2026

Hi friends,

Pie is the celebrated centerpiece of most Thanksgiving dessert tables, but it’s also the part that tends to cause the most stress. Between deciding which kinds to make, figuring out the timing, and tackling the crust, the process can feel equal parts exciting and overwhelming.

After running a pie bakery from my home, I learned a few simple truths about how to bake (too) many pies at once, but without the chaos.

Here are my top tips:

• Pies are one of the easiest desserts to make ahead, and the freezer is your best friend for getting a jump on prep. Pie dough can be made days or even months in advance, and fruit pies can be assembled and frozen before baking. Many no-bake pies can also be fully prepared ahead, then set out just before serving.
• Aside from freezing, most pies actually benefit from being made ahead. Fruit pies need time for the filling to cool and thicken, and custard pies need time to chill and fully set. In other words, skip the Thanksgiving morning bake unless the recipe specifically calls for it and focus instead on choosing pies that hold up beautifully when made in advance.
• Be strategic about which pies you make. Stick with ones that can be baked the day before or even earlier. Thanksgiving Day is no time for last-minute recipes that need your full attention especially if you are hosting. Your oven will be busy enough!
• Skip the decorative crusts. They’re pretty before baking but not worth the stress. A simple double crust or crumble topping delivers all the flavor we want from a pie without the fuss.
• Make stabilized whipped cream. I always recommend serving homemade whipped cream with pie, but instead of plain whipped cream, make a stabilized version. It gives the whipped cream more structure and a subtle tang that balances the sweetness of pie perfectly and can be made ahead of time.

There’s a lot to cover before pie takes center stage in a few weeks, but for now, I want to share a few foundational recipes and tutorials from my site to help you start planning your Thanksgiving pies.

9 Essential Pie Baking Tools ​ Having the right tools is key to setting yourself up for success. ​ read the article

See also: A Guide to the Best Pie Pans​

How to Make Pie Crust Trust me, we're going into this in more depth soon. But if you are new, start here. ​ read the article

See also: How to Make a Crumb Crust​

How to Read a Recipe ​ Don't LOL at me. This one is probably my favorite article on my website. It demystifies common recipe terminology and provides a step-by-step approach to ensure accurate recipe execution every time. No fluff, just really important information. ​ read the article

See also: How (and why) to Use a Kitchen Scale​

Baking Tips for Perfect Pies After making more than a thousand pies over the last 2 decades, I've certainly picked up a few tricks that have worked for me. And, I think they'll work for anyone eager to perfect the art of pie-making. Consider this my pie manifesto. ​ read the article

36+ Thanksgiving Pie Recipes A round-up of the best Thanksgiving pie recipes on my website! ​ see the list!

We're going to get into pie crust next (which I know is the aspect of pies that causes the most stress), but until then, do you have any burning questions for me? Or topics you would like me to touch upon? Talk soon!