Easy Thanksgiving Recipes | Life, Love and Sugar https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/holidays/thanksgiving/ Life's Better With Cake Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:09:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Easy Thanksgiving Recipes | Life, Love and Sugar https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/holidays/thanksgiving/ 32 32 Coconut Cream Pie https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/coconut-cream-pie/ https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/coconut-cream-pie/#respond Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:08:39 +0000 https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/?p=30156 This easy homemade coconut cream pie has a thick, creamy coconut custard filling topped with fluffy whipped cream, all set in a flakey homemade pie crust. It’s easy to make with a blind baked crust and a filling that’s cooked on the stove. The flavor and texture are amazing!

Coconut cream pie with a slice taken out of it.

Lovers of banana cream pie, I have a feeling you’ll love this coconut cream pie! It has a super smooth and creamy texture, and the flavor is just right. Why, you ask? While this pie filling could be made with just whole milk and coconut milk, the sweetened condensed milk takes it to another level. The additional flavor and creaminess it adds are truly on point. You get less egg flavor, more sweetness, and more creaminess. 

I also chose to use just egg yolks, rather than just whole eggs. After doing a side-by-side comparison, it was clear that the yolks gave the pie a smoother texture and richer flavor. Whole eggs made the filling a bit more gelatinous. Between the sweetened condensed milk and egg yolks, this pie is a winner!

Lindsay, author of Life Love and Sugar, holding a plate of cupcakes and smiling.

Why This Coconut Cream Pie Is On Repeat

  • Texture delight. The custard filling for this pie is luxuriously creamy, and while it’s plenty thick, there is still a lightness to it. I love the added texture of the sweetened flaked coconut that gets stirred in at the end.
  • Layers of bliss. On top of that flakey crust and silky coconut cream filling, you get a light and fluffy homemade whipped cream topping. Finish it off with a generous sprinkle of shredded (or toasted) coconut if you really want to take this pie over the top.
  • Easy as pie. The filling for this pie is wonderfully easy to make, taking about 10 minutes on the stovetop. The pie does need to chill in the fridge, but that just makes it a great dessert to make ahead!
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Butterscotch Pie https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/butterscotch-pie/ https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/butterscotch-pie/#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2025 13:37:52 +0000 https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/?p=159151 This Butterscotch Pie has a silky, custard-like filling with a deep butterscotch flavor that pairs perfectly with the buttery, flaky crust and whipped cream on top. It’s also perfect for prepping ahead, because it needs to set in the fridge. The perfect pie for Thanksgiving!

Butterscotch pie with a slice taken from it.

Getting this butterscotch pie just right was no easy feat. It took countless tests, a lot of trial and error, and even a break before I came back determined to perfect it. All of the pre-existing recipes I tried were lacking in that bold, rich butterscotch flavor I was looking for. I thought about making a filling like the one in my turtle pie (which is amazing BTW), but that has more of a candy texture. I wanted a lusciously smooth, custard-like filling for this one. After a lot of experimenting, I finally cracked the code, and let me tell you, it was worth every minute.

This pie is everything a butterscotch pie should be. It’s packed with deep, real butterscotch flavor folded into a silky, custard-like filling that’s a dream to bite into. It all comes together perfectly with a buttery, flaky crust – an ideal, simple base for the rich filling. So, if you’ve been searching for the butterscotch pie to make, this is it.

Lindsay, author of Life Love and Sugar, holding a plate of cupcakes and smiling.

The Butterscotch Pie You’ll Want to Eat Straight from the Fridge

This butterscotch pie is one for the books. Here’s what makes it so special:

  • Real-deal butterscotch flavor. True butterscotch is made with brown sugar, which is what you’ll find in this pie. And it’s not light on flavor – it’s butterscotch all the way.
  • Dreamy, smooth texture. Through SO much testing with cornstarch, egg yolks, and gelatin, I got the filling just right. It’s got this super creamy, lusciously custard-like consistency that sets beautifully for the ideal spoon-through texture.
  • Perfect contrast of textures. Speaking of silky smooth fillings, I can’t get enough of the way this one pairs with its crisp, flaky, buttery crust for the ultimate balance of crunch and creaminess, bite after bite.
A slice of butterscotch pie on a plate.
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Chocolate Chess Pie https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/chocolate-chess-pie/ https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/chocolate-chess-pie/#comments Thu, 06 Nov 2025 10:51:16 +0000 https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/?p=157502 This chocolate chess pie, with its unforgettable fudgy filling and flaky, buttery crust, is a classic Southern comfort that will transport you straight to dessert heaven, bite after bite. And it couldn’t be easier to make!

A slice of chocolate chess pie with whipped cream on top.

I feel like chocolate pies don’t get enough attention. I’m here to change that. If you’ve tried my Chocolate Cream Pie and this French Silk Pie, you know that chocolate and pie belong together. And this chess pie proves it again. It’s a rich, buttery, cocoa-infused dream that delivers bold, unforgettable chocolate flavor with every bite. And the texture? Imagine the gooey, melt-in-your-mouth, perfectly [just barely] underbaked center of a pan of brownies…that’s this entire pie! And don’t even get me started on the buttery, flaky crust. It’s the BEST complement to all that rich, chocolaty goodness.

This classic Southern pie has been a staple for generations, and once you have your first bite, you’ll understand why. It’s a top-notch comforting, old-school dessert that instantly evokes nostalgia.

Chocolate Chess Pie Is a Southern Classic Worth Baking

Wondering why this chocolate chess pie deserves your attention? Here are just a few reasons:

  • Rich chocolate indulgence. This dessert is a true winner for any chocolate lover. The filling is ALL fudgy, buttery, cocoa-infused goodness. No frills. Just pure and simple chocolate perfection.
  • Gooey, fudgy texture. Picture the perfect brownie with that irresistible gooey, melt-in-your-mouth center. Now imagine an entire pie whose filling is JUST that. And yes, it’s all nestled in a beautifully buttery, flaky crust. Pure dessert heaven!
  • A hug of nostalgia. This isn’t just any pie. It’s a timeless Southern classic that brings back all the good feels. Every slice is a comforting taste of tradition…the kind of old-school charm that makes you feel instantly at home. You know what I mean?
A spatula removing a slice of chocolate chess pie from the pie pan.
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Sheet Pan Pumpkin Pie https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/sheet-pan-pumpkin-pie/ https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/sheet-pan-pumpkin-pie/#respond Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:03:27 +0000 https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/?p=158858 Looking for ways to simplify your holiday baking? This sheet pan pumpkin pie delivers all the classic flavors you love (rich, creamy pumpkin pie filling in a buttery, flaky crust), but doubles the servings. What a dream!

A slice of slab pumpkin pie on a plate.

I’ve become a big fan of sheet pan pies. Recently, I posted an apple pie slab pie, so of course I had to follow it with another classic, and pumpkin pie was a no-brainer. Sheet pan pies (aka “slab pies”) are incredibly practical. They’re easy to cut and serve, they yield more servings, and they’re super easy to transport. So, they’re ideal for larger gatherings and a total lifesaver during the holiday season.

Built on my classic pumpkin pie recipe, this pie’s got everything you love about the classic just bigger. Made with pumpkin puree and warming spices, the filling is wonderfully rich and creamy without being too heavy. Set in a perfectly flaky, buttery crust, it’s sure to be a hit with anyone who tries it.

Lindsay, author of Life Love and Sugar, holding a plate of cupcakes and smiling.

Why This Sheet Pan Pumpkin Pie Is a Holiday Game Changer

I am telling you, you have to give this recipe a whirl. Here’s why it’s about to change the way you think about holiday baking:

  • All the flavors you love. This recipe uses pumpkin puree and a classic blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves to create that nostalgic pumpkin pie flavor you know and love. It’s just bigger this time.
  • The best texture. Just like in my traditional recipe, I used heavy cream and just a splash of milk for a perfectly creamy and rich (but not too heavy) filling. Next to the flaky, buttery crust, it’s hard to stop at one slice.
  • Perfectly sharable. You know how the holidays go. So many people in and out of the house and at your table. This pie is perfect because it serves about twice as many people as a traditional, round pumpkin pie, and it’s easier to slice and serve.
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Caramel Apple Pie https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/caramel-apple-pie/ https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/caramel-apple-pie/#comments Mon, 03 Nov 2025 14:35:16 +0000 https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/?p=158504 This caramel apple pie recipe takes a classic dessert to the next level with a gooey caramel sauce and perfectly tender apples. With its flaky crust, sweet-tart flavor profile, and make-ahead convenience, it’s sure to be a favorite.

A large slice of caramel apple pie on a plate.

This caramel apple pie is a delicious twist on my classic apple pie, swapping out traditional cinnamon for a rich, sticky caramel sauce. The combination of sweet, slightly salty caramel and tart apples, all nestled inside a buttery, flaky crust, creates a dynamic flavor profile that’s simply incredible. It was important to me when making this pie recipe that the caramel doesn’t melt and disappear during baking. So, I added a little flour to the caramel sauce, which keeps it from melting as the pie bakes and sinking to the bottom of the crust. Now every single bite is loaded with gooey, golden goodness.

And I promise the apple filling comes out perfect every time (pre-cooking the apples on the stovetop really allows you to control the texture), and this pie was made to be prepped ahead of time. So, it’s a lifesaver during the busy holiday season. You can stop fretting over what you’re going to make for your next fall-time gathering. This is it!

Lindsay, author of Life Love and Sugar, holding a plate of cupcakes and smiling.

This Caramel Apple Pie Is All About the Sticky, Golden Goodness

Of all the apple pies out there, why this one? I’ve got a few excellent reasons for you:

  • Dynamic flavor duo. This recipe is a beautiful celebration of a classic flavor combo: apples and caramel. You get both flavors is every bite with the caramel that’s layered into this pie.
  • Perfectly cooked apples. You have complete control over the texture of the apples here. By pre-cooking them on the stove, you can get them just to your desired softness. They won’t soften more in the oven, so no mushy apples here!
  • Make-ahead magic. This pie is designed to be prepared in advance, making it the perfect stress-free dessert for the busy holiday season and/or special occasions. Have a read through the section below titled “Can I Make This Pie Ahead of Time?” to learn how it’s done.
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