Our 15 favorite fall pies

Signs of fall have arrived: Leaves are turning, flannel is in full force, and the aroma of buttery pie crusts and cinnamon sugar are filling our kitchens. So of course, we’re sharing our favorite fall pies to celebrate the season. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of cinnamon, apple, and pumpkin to go around, but we couldn’t help but sneak in a few unsung fall flavors, too. Why wait for Thanksgiving when you can start perfecting your pies now?

Kristin Teig

1) Secret Ingredient Apple Pie

The secret’s out … it’s boiled cider! A quarter cup of this concentrated syrup will supercharge your apple pie filling. Plus, an extra-long bake time — two hours! — ensures a beautifully golden crust. (No soggy bottoms here.)

Get the recipe: Secret Ingredient Apple Pie 

Shop the recipe: Lattice Pie Crust Set and Pie Filling Enhancer 

Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

2) Candy Bar Pecan Tart

Classic pecan pie meets a candy bar in this sophisticated tart, which features caramel and silky chocolate ganache. Rye flour in the crust adds an extra dimension of nutty flavor. And if you bake it in a rectangular tart pan, each slice can be eaten like a luxurious chocolate candy bar.

Get the recipe: Candy Bar Pecan Tart  

Shop the recipe: Organic Medium Rye Flour and Rectangular Tart Pan

Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

3) Purple Sweet Potato Pie

Break up all the beige and orange on the fall dessert table with this stunning purple sweet potato pie. But this beautiful pie isn’t all looks, either — the filling is also perfumed with cardamom, orange zest, and ginger. While the topping is optional, the torched marshmallow is a fine finish.

Get the recipe: Purple Sweet Potato Pie 

Shop the recipe: Pie Crust Bag

Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne

4) Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie

Why decide between cheesecake or pie when you can have both? Fall flavors are abundant in this two-toned dessert: The crust is made with gingersnap cookies, while seasonal spices flavor the custardy pumpkin filling.

Get the recipe: Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie 

Shop the recipe: Cinnamon and Nutmeg

Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

5) Delicata Squash Galette with Cheese and Herbs

This recipe is what fall dinner party dreams are made of. Goat cheese, za’atar, and rings of delicata squash are nestled in a tender, flaky crust, which gets an extra tablespoon of the za’atar mixed directly into the dough. This step ensures the spice mix’s signature woodsy, herby aroma perfumes each slice.

Get the recipe: Delicata Squash Galette with Cheese and Herbs 

Shop the recipe: Za’atar

Photography and food styling by Liz Neily

6) Cinnamon-and-Sugar Apple Pie

Do we really need another apple pie recipe? If it comes from baking superstar and cookbook author Claire Saffitz, the answer is yes! The difference is in the details: her butter-chopping technique for ultra-flaky pie crust, high-quality Vietnamese cinnamon, and a sneaky dash of orange bitters.

Get the recipe: Cinnamon-and-Sugar Apple Pie 

Shop the recipe: Vietnamese Cinnamon

Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

7) Turkey Dinner Pie

Meet the grand finale of Thanksgiving pies: Turkey Dinner Pie. To make it, layers of leftovers are encased in a hot water pastry — stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, turkey, or whatever else you have on hand. Each slice is like reliving the best parts of your holiday dinner.

Get the recipe: Turkey Dinner Pie 

Shop the recipe: Loaf Pan

Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

8) Maple Cream Pie

The gentle sweetness of maple is front and center in this twist on cream pie. A generous pour of maple syrup flavors the luscious filling, and a quick blast of heat from a baker’s torch gives the top a glassy, almost crème brûlée-like finish.

Get the recipe: Maple Cream Pie 

Shop the recipe: Maple Syrup and Natural Maple Flavor 

Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

9) Chocolate-Bottom Almond Chess Pie

At first glance, you’ll notice this non-traditional custard pie has quite a few flourishes. There's a layer of slivered almonds across the top, which add texture and flavor, and once you start slicing, a fudgy layer of chocolate is revealed right above the crust.

Get the recipe: Chocolate-Bottom Almond Chess Pie 

Shop the recipe: Pastry Blender and Adjustable Pie Crust Shield

Photography and food styling by Liz Neily

10) Vegan Pumpkin Pie

This recipe from Los Angeles baker Nicole Rucker nails the creamy, custardy texture of a classic pumpkin pie, but with all plant-based ingredients. A cornstarch slurry adds structure, while sweetened condensed coconut milk stands in for heavy cream.

Get the recipe: Vegan Pumpkin Pie 

Shop the recipe: Pumpkin Pie Spice and Vanilla Bean Paste

Photography and food styling by Liz Neily

11) Walnut & Oat Slab Pie

This recipe takes the spirit of pecan pie and crosses it with a comforting bowl of oatmeal. Toasted oats and walnuts are bound together by a brown butter custard sweetened with maple syrup. Baked in a 9" x 13" pan, this large-format pie is built for a crowd — and makes baking for big holiday gatherings much easier. 

Get the recipe: Walnut & Oat Slab Pie 

Shop the recipe: Ultimate Pie Chain

Photography by Mark Weinberg; Food Styling by Erin Jeanne McDowell

12) Cranberry-Fudge Pie

The tartness of cranberries can be polarizing, but when you cook them down into a jammy sauce and add chocolate ganache, you’re sure to change some opinions.

Get the recipe: Cranberry-Fudge Pie 

Shop the recipe: Guittard Semisweet Chocolate Wafers

Photography and food styling by Liz Neily

13) Sausage, Apple, and Cheddar Pocket Pies

Think you’ve tried all variations of apple pie? Think again. Flaky, all-butter crust gets a savory upgrade with the addition of cheddar powder, and encases a sweet and savory filling of tart Granny Smiths, onion, grated cheddar, and ground sausage.

Get the recipe: Sausage, Apple, and Cheddar Pocket Pies 

Shop the recipe: Rolling Mat and Better Cheddar Powder

Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Liz Neily

14) Cranberry Chiffon Pie

This airy chiffon pie is as eye-catching as it is delicious. Cranberry curd folded into Swiss meringue supplies the tart flavor and bright color, while a tender rye shortcrust adds a nutty contrast. Garnishing with sugared cranberries provides an extra-special touch.

Get the recipe: Cranberry Chiffon Pie 

Shop the recipe: Organic Medium Rye Flour 

15) Fried Apple Pies

These handheld treats harness all the nostalgia of a steaming hot McDonald’s fried apple pie but are infinitely better, thanks to the triple threat of a homemade flaky pie crust, a fresh apple filling amplified by boiled cider, and a generous coating of cinnamon sugar.

Get the recipe: Fried Apple Pies

Shop the recipe: Boiled Cider and Apple Pie Spice

Ready for pie season? Shop our Pie Must-Haves collection, from essential tools to high-quality ingredients. 

Cover photo (Cinnamon-and-Sugar Apple Pie) and food styling by Liz Neily.