To finish the Thanksgiving meal, there’s nothing better than a good pie. We offer you three classic seasonal pies: pumpkin, apple and pecan, along with tips on how to make them.

Apple pie 

The ultimate autumnal pie choice, apple pie definitely has a place on the Thanksgiving table. Here are some tips to make it even better. 

Tip #1: Mixing varieties

For the perfect pie, use a more acidic apple that holds up well like Cortland or Empire, as well as a softer apple that melts when baking, like McIntosh. This mixture of varieties will give an interesting texture to the pie, as you can smell the different types of apples.

Tip #2: Customize spices

The most common spices in apple pie are cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Do not hesitate to use them to your liking. And if you enjoy bigger flavours, you could even add ground cloves, a little allspice, or even lemon zest.

Tip #3: Adjust the sugar

If you make a pie with more acidic apples, put more sugar in the recipe and vice versa.

Pumpkin pie 

This is the season for harvesting squash and pumpkins. Take the opportunity to cook this imposing fresh cucurbit in pie (or buy a canned purée from the store!).

Tip #1: The choice of purée

If you buy canned purée, always choose plain puree. Sweet purée would distort the recipe. If you make homemade purée, make sure it is smooth and neutral. And do not use seasoned purée with salt, for example.

Tip #2: The perfect texture

For a pumpkin pie, we want the filling to be dense, smooth and creamy, and to stand well when cutting. To achieve this, it must contain eggs, cream, sugar and cornstarch. It is important to let the pie cool when it comes out of the oven to get a clean cut.

Tip #3: Spice sparingly

Cinnamon and nutmeg are often found in pumpkin pie, but if you want to add more, it’s best to restrain yourself. As pumpkin is already flavourful you don’t want to overload the pie with overpowering flavours.

Try our recipe: Halloween pumpkin pie from cajou cuisine

Pecan pie

There’s nothing more comforting than a slice of pecan pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream after a turkey dinner.

Tip #1: Caramel taste

What differentiates pecan pie from others is the caramelization that brings out the taste of the pecans. It is a mixture of brown sugar or golden corn syrup that accentuates this caramel flavour.

Tip #2: Customize the filling

To add a little originality to your pie, incorporate hazelnut butter, bourbon, maple sugar or maple syrup, which are within the same flavour profile. 

Tip #3: The cut of the pecans

To get an interesting set of textures in the pie, chop half of the pecans and leave the others intact. Combine them with a mixer so that they are evenly distributed throughout the pie.