Christmas dinner gets most of the planning, and dessert often ends up as an afterthought. That is a mistake, because pie is the part people remember the next day. These 18 Christmas pie recipes cover the classics your family expects and a few that will surprise them, from pecan and pumpkin to cranberry, eggnog, and no-bake pies that free up the oven. Pick one or two, bake ahead where you can, and let the pie table do the talking.
A few tips before you bake
Most of the pies below keep well, so plan backwards from dinner. Fruit and nut pies can be baked a day ahead and served at room temperature. Cream and custard pies need fridge time, so make them the night before and add whipped cream or meringue close to serving. If your oven is full, lean on the no-bake options. And if a recipe calls for a store-bought crust, use it without guilt. A good pie is a finished pie.
One honest note before the list: this post is not labelled vegetarian. Most of the pies here are meat-free, but a few need a closer look. The mince pies depend on the mincemeat you buy, one pie contains bourbon, and two no-bake pies use instant pudding mix. Each item below says so plainly where it applies.
1. Classic Pecan Pie
The pie most American tables expect at Christmas. A gooey brown sugar filling packed with pecans under a crisp top, baked in a flaky crust. It slices cleanly once it cools, and it tastes even better the next day, which makes it a safe pick when you want one less thing to do on Christmas Day.
Recipe by Simply Recipes
2. Perfect Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin pie belongs at Christmas just as much as it does at Thanksgiving. This version keeps the filling smooth and gently spiced, with a crisp crust underneath. Serve it chilled with whipped cream, or barely warm if you prefer the spices to come forward.
Recipe by Jenn Segal of Once Upon a Chef
3. Classic Apple Pie
Apple pie never goes out of style, and at Christmas it works as the reliable crowd-pleaser next to the more unusual pies. This one uses a double crust and a straightforward spiced apple filling. A scoop of vanilla ice cream on a warm slice is hard to beat.
Recipe by Natasha Kravchuk of Natasha’s Kitchen
4. Chocolate Pie
For the table that always wants one chocolate dessert, this is it. A rich chocolate filling in a baked crust, firm enough to slice and soft enough to feel indulgent. It is a good choice if you have guests who do not care for fruit pies.
Recipe by Ree Drummond of The Pioneer Woman
5. Cranberry Pie
Cranberries are the Christmas fruit, and this pie lets them take the lead. Fresh or frozen cranberries cook down with orange juice and sugar into a tart, jammy filling under a butter crust. It is the brightest pie on this list, and it cuts through a heavy holiday meal better than anything else here.
Recipe by Becky Hardin of The Cookie Rookie
6. Eggnog Pie
This one turns the holiday drink into dessert. A spiced eggnog custard sets in a graham cracker crust under a cloud of toasted meringue. The filling uses rum extract for flavor, and the recipe notes you can swap in a splash of real rum, bourbon, or brandy if you want it. As written, it contains no alcohol.
Recipe by Allie of Baking a Moment
7. Traditional Mince Pies
Mince pies are the Christmas classic in Britain, and they deserve a place on an American table too. These are small pastry cases filled with spiced dried fruit mincemeat, baked until golden and dusted with sugar. Check the mincemeat label before you buy: some shop-bought mincemeat contains beef suet, so pick a suet-free jar if that matters to your table.
Recipe by Eb Gargano of Easy Peasy Foodie
8. Sweet Potato Pie
Sweet potato pie tastes like pumpkin pie’s richer cousin. Roasted sweet potatoes, evaporated milk, and warm spices bake into a smooth, custardy filling. The recipe offers an optional toasted meringue topping made from egg whites and sugar, which turns a familiar pie into a showpiece.
Recipe by Amy Nash of House of Nash Eats
9. No-Bake Peppermint Pie
When the oven is full, this is the pie to make. A pink peppermint cream cheese filling sets in a chocolate cookie crust, no baking needed. The topping is whipped cream beaten with a spoonful of dry instant white chocolate pudding mix, which helps it hold its shape. If you avoid gelatin, check the pudding box first, since some instant pudding mixes contain it.
Recipe by Jen of Princess Pinky Girl
10. French Silk Pie
French silk pie is chocolate mousse in a crust. The filling is whipped until silky, then chilled under a pile of whipped cream. This version cooks the eggs with the sugar to 160°F first, so there is no raw egg in the filling. Make it the day before and it slices cleanly.
Recipe by Joy Wilson of Joy the Baker
11. Coconut Cream Pie
Coconut cream pie is a lighter note on a table full of dark, spiced desserts. A coconut pastry cream fills a blind-baked crust, topped with whipped cream and toasted coconut. The components can be made a couple of days ahead, so assembly is quick on the day.
Recipe by Baker Bettie
12. No-Bake Gingerbread Pie
Gingerbread is the flavor of Christmas in one bite, and this pie puts it in a speculoos cookie crust with a spiced cream cheese filling. It needs nothing but fridge time, so it is another good answer to a crowded oven. Top it with whipped cream and cookie crumbs right before serving.
Recipe by Carla of Chocolate Moosey
13. Butterscotch Pie
Butterscotch pie tastes like caramel with more depth. A homemade butterscotch pudding fills a spiced Biscoff cookie crust, finished with whipped cream. It needs at least six hours in the fridge to set, so make it the night before and forget about it until dessert.
Recipe by Kathy of Lemon Blossoms
14. Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie
This is the classic pecan pie with the volume turned up: a chocolate crust, a chocolate pecan filling, and a splash of bourbon. The recipe notes that most of the alcohol cooks off in the oven and the bourbon can be left out if you prefer. Keep it in mind for tables with kids or guests who avoid alcohol.
Recipe by Feast + West
15. Apple Cranberry Pie
Apple pie gets a Christmas upgrade here. Tart fresh cranberries burst into jammy pockets among the cinnamon apples, and the ruby filling shows through the vents in the double crust. It is the pie to make if you want the familiar apple pie shape with a sharper, more festive flavor.
Recipe by Jason Decker of This Silly Girl’s Kitchen
16. White Chocolate Cranberry Cheesecake Pie
Part cheesecake, part pie, this one is built for the dessert table. A graham cracker crust holds a no-bake white chocolate cheesecake filling swirled with homemade cranberry sauce. It needs at least six hours in the fridge, preferably overnight, so plan it into the day before.
Recipe by Celebrating Sweets
17. Salted Caramel No-Bake Pie
Three layers, no oven. Cream cheese, salted caramel pudding, and whipped topping stack up in a graham cracker crust and set in the fridge. The recipe uses a box of instant vanilla pudding mix, so if you avoid gelatin, check the box before you buy it. A drizzle of caramel and chopped pecans on top makes it look like far more work than it was.
Recipe by Spaceships and Laser Beams
18. Lemon Meringue Pie
Lemon meringue pie is the palate cleanser of this list. A tart lemon custard in a blind-baked crust, topped with tall toasted meringue. It is best eaten the day it is made, so this is the one to bake on Christmas morning while the no-bake pies wait in the fridge.
Recipe by Katie Workman of The Mom 100
Frequently asked questions
What are the best pies for Christmas?
It depends on your table, but pecan, pumpkin, apple, and cranberry cover the classics, and a chocolate or cream pie rounds out the spread. Pick one fruit pie, one nut or chocolate pie, and one no-bake pie if your oven is busy, and you will have something for everyone.
Can I make Christmas pies ahead of time?
Yes. Fruit and nut pies like pecan, apple, and apple cranberry can be baked a day ahead and kept at room temperature or in the fridge. Cream, custard, and no-bake pies should be made the day before and chilled overnight, with whipped cream or meringue added close to serving.
Which Christmas pies do not need the oven?
The no-bake peppermint pie, the no-bake gingerbread pie, the salted caramel pie, and the white chocolate cranberry cheesecake pie all set in the fridge. They are the best picks when the oven is full of the main course.
How do I keep my pie crust from getting soggy?
Blind-bake the crust for cream and custard pies, and bake fruit pies on the lowest oven rack so the bottom sets fast. Let the pie cool fully before slicing, since the filling keeps setting as it cools. Cutting too soon is the most common reason a slice falls apart.
Can I freeze a Christmas pie?
Most baked fruit and nut pies freeze well for up to three months if wrapped tightly. Cream pies and meringue-topped pies do not freeze well, since the toppings turn watery or weep when they thaw. Freeze the filling and crust separately if you want to get ahead.
What should I serve with Christmas pie?
Vanilla ice cream works with almost everything here, and lightly sweetened whipped cream suits the chocolate and cream pies. Coffee or tea after dinner is enough. If you want more homemade treats on the table, a batch of Christmas fudge sits well next to the pie slices.
Pick your pies and bake ahead
Start with the classics your family asks for every year, then add one pie from this list that you have never tried. Bake the fruit and nut pies a day early, let the no-bake pies set overnight, and save the lemon meringue for Christmas morning. If you want more homemade treats for the table, our Christmas fudge recipes make easy gifts and extras, and our edible Christmas gifts round up more make-ahead ideas that pair well with a pie table.
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