Classic Holiday Pie Recipes

There are many different dessert recipes out there but nothing compares to the taste and smell of holiday pies. Warm memories and feelings are evoked when one of these pies is baking and the house is filled with the sweet odors.

These classic pies are a huge crowd pleaser at family gatherings, holiday parties, gift for co-workers and as a special treat on a cold and snowy day.

• 2 cups cooked or canned pumpkin
• 1 cup white sugar
• ½ cup milk
• 5 ounces evaporated milk (2/3 cup)
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3 eggs
• 1 deep dish pie shell

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl
3. Pour pie mixture in pie crust
4. Cover crust edges with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes
5. Carefully remove the aluminum foil and continue to bake for an additional 30 minutes
6. Allow the pie to cool on a wire rack for 1-2 hours or refrigerate uncovered overnight before serving

Whipped cream and ice cream are both delicious toppings for this wonderful pie!

• 2 cups mashed sweet potatoes
• ½ cup softened butter (1 stick)
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• ¼ cup white sugar
• .5 ounces evaporated milk
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 deep dish pie shell

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl
3. Pour into pie shell and bake in the center of the oven for 35-40 minutes or until the pie is firm
4. Allow the pie to cool on a wire rack for 1-2 hours or refrigerate uncovered overnight before serving

Homemade pie shells and store bought ones work equally well

Mashed sweet potatoes:

• Place 2 medium sweet potatoes in the microwave and cook for 12-14 minutes or until a fork can easily pierce through the potato
• Allow them to cool for 10 minutes before handling
• Remove the skin and place in a mixing bowl. The skin should slide off or pull off easily
• Mash the cooked sweet potatoes with a potato masher or electric mixer

• 1 ½ cups roasted pecan halves
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 3 slightly beaten eggs
• 1 deep dish single pie crust

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a large mixing bowl, blend light corn syrup, packed brown sugar, melted butter and vanilla extract until thoroughly mixed
3. Add the slightly beaten eggs to the mixture and continue to blend until thoroughly combined
4. Pour pie mix into the deep dish pie shell
5. Add any broken pecan pieces to the pie first, these will sink into the pie so it will taste amazing but will not affect the look on the top of the pie
6. Place the intact pecan halves around the perimeter of the pie filling and continue inward until the whole pie is covered with pecans. *See picture
7. Cover the pie crust with aluminum foil strips and bake for 30 minutes
8. Carefully remove the aluminum foil from the crust edges (the pie filling will be extremely hot and runny at this point)
9. Continue to bake for an additional 30-35 minutes or until pie is browed and bubbly
10. Allow to cool for 2+ hours on a wire rack then, refrigerate

Roasting pecans:

• Spread the pecan halves in a single layer on a microwavable plate and cook in microwave oven for 1 minute
• Turn pecan’s over once and cook for an additional 1 minute

• 6 Granny Smith apples
• 1 cup white sugar
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ ground nutmeg
• 1 deep dish pie shell

Ingredients for Crumble Topping

• ¾ cup flour
• ¾ cup packed brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons softened butter
• Combine brown sugar and flour in a medium bowl, cut in softened butter with a butter knife
• Continue until thoroughly mixed and crumbly

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees
2. In a medium bowl, combine white sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg
3. Peel apples and cut them into small cubes, adding them to the mixture in the bowl as you go
4. Stir to ensure that all the apple pieces are coated completely
5. Pour apple mixture into pie shell
6. Top the pie mixture with the crumble topping
7. Place a piece of aluminum foil loosely over the entire pie and bake for 25 minutes
8. Remove the top foil and cook the pie for an additional 30 minutes
9. Place the pie on a wire rack and allow it to cool some before serving

This pie is wonderful warm or cold. Add some ice cream or whipped topping and it is irresistible!

Homemade pie shells and store bought ones work equally well