I admit I’m a pie lover, but I know Thanksgiving pie can be a surprisingly divisive subject. Some people plan their entire holiday dessert menu around pumpkin pie, others insist on apple or pecan, and some would happily skip pie altogether in favor of cake or another sweet treat (I have a few of those folks in my immediate family). Having said that, it’s hard to picture a traditional Thanksgiving table without at least one pie, but I’ve always wondered how pumpkin, apple, and pecan pie became holiday staples in the first place?
Seems none of our favorite Thanksgiving pies actually appeared at the famous 1621 feast. Early colonists lacked ovens, flour, and butter, roasting milk-filled pumpkins over coals instead. Over the next two centuries, European apple baking traditions and Southern pecan harvests gradually built the classic holiday dessert menu we recognize today. Because these traditions have always evolved, swapping in modern plant-based ingredients is just another progression.
When you’re vegan though, there’s an added layer of complexity to holiday pie shopping because so many traditional options contain dairy, eggs or even lard in the crust. To help, I created this guide and have rounded up store-bought options, pie crust shortcuts, dairy-free toppings, and homemade recipes so you can put together a great vegan holiday dessert table.
Check out the galleries below for some options and if you need ingredients or where to find it, a simple web search, using the brand or store’s app/website or Instacart are often helpful. Remember, these are not exhaustive lists of every product available.
Freezer Aisle Pie Options
The freezer section at the grocery store is full of accidentally vegan fruit pies (like apple, cherry, and berry), but when it comes to holiday classics like pumpkin and pecan, options plummet. There are a few frozen vegan pumpkin pies out there, but I’ve never personally seen a frozen vegan pecan pie anywhere. If you want a traditional holiday pie like those, you’re looking at fruit or baking from scratch.
In-Store Bakery Options
If you’re hoping to grab something fresh from a grocery store bakery, I’m afraid to report that options are getting harder to find. Whole Foods previously offered vegan-friendly fruit pies, but they added butter to their recipes, and it remains unknown if their vegan pumpkin pie will return this season. Even if it does, many were disappointed when they changed the recipe and complained it just wasn’t the same.
Warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club carry accidentally vegan lattice apple pies, and select local grocers may stock them as well, you just have to scan those labels carefully for hidden dairy, eggs and other sneaky ingredients. Erewhon has offered a vegan pumpkin pie whole and by the slice in the past, but it’s pricey at $49 for a whole pie and $10.50 for a slice. I cover “Is Erewhon the most expensive grocery store in America?” in my popular blog post here if you’re interested in learning more about this upscale chain.
Store-Bought Crust Options
Buying pre-made pie dough is a great semi-homemade shortcut, but always check the ingredients carefully as lard (rendered pork fat) and butter are hidden in a surprising number of store-bought crusts. My top picks for value and flavor are Aldi’s Belmont deep dish frozen crusts and Marie Callender’s crusts. If you’re looking for gluten-free options, there are some available as well.
Toppings & Non-Dairy Whipped Cream Options
No holiday slice is complete without a towering dollop of whipped topping. While aerosol cans and pre-made tubs are great, finding a plant-based heavy cream to whip up from scratch can be an uphill battle. Thankfully, dairy-free heavy whipping cream alternatives in cartons like Silk, Califia Farms, Violife and Country Crock Plant Cream make it easier to whip your own fresh batch right at home although in some areas, you may have to search harder for them.
My Vegan Pie Recipes
The store-bought selection gets pretty limited once you move beyond fruit pies, so if pumpkin or pecan is what you really want on the table, making your own may be the only option. These are my vegan pie recipes, from traditional holiday favorites to a few less conventional choices.
Holiday Pie Recipes
Nationwide Mail-Order & Delivery Options
If supermarket bakeries fall short and scratch baking isn’t on your schedule, these online platforms can deliver holiday-ready vegan pies straight to your door:
Goldbelly (Direct Bakery Links): Goldbelly ships frozen or vacuum-sealed holiday pies nationwide directly from established vegan and allergen-friendly bakeries:
- Erin McKenna’s Bakery: Famous for 100% vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and kosher 9-inch Pumpkin and Apple Crumble pies.
- Achatz Handmade Pie Co.: Known for traditional double-crust Michigan Northern Spy Apple, Cherry, and 4-Berry pies made with vegetable shortening.
- Two Fat Cats Bakery: Offers scratch-made vegan Maine Blueberry and Cherry pies.
Etsy (Artisan Bakers): Since individual Etsy sellers and seasonal availability change constantly, search Etsy directly for independent bakers shipping fresh, small-batch pies.
- Recommended Search Keywords: “Vegan Pies”, “Vegan Thanksgiving Pies” or “Gluten-Free Vegan pies”.
Make-Ahead & Freezing Timelines
- 3 to 4 Weeks Ahead (Freeze Unbaked Crusts): If making from scratch, prepare and roll your pie dough into pans, wrap tightly in plastic and foil, and freeze.
- 2 Days Ahead: Bake pumpkin and sweet potato pies fully, let them cool completely, cover and store in the refrigerator as they often taste better after the flavors set for 24–48 hours!
- 1 Day Ahead: Bake pecan and double-crust fruit pies the day before. Store at room temperature loosely tented with foil.
- Day-Of (Serve & Reheat): Warm fruit pies in a 350°F oven for 10–15 minutes to crisp up the crust just before serving. Top with non-dairy whipped cream right before plating.
Happy Thanksgiving & Happy Baking!
No matter what ends up on your dessert table this year whether it’s a quick store-bought freezer pie or a homemade centerpiece, I hope your holiday is filled with delicious food and great company. For even more plant-based holiday inspiration and alternatives to pies for dessert, check out my Best Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes for 2026 (Full Holiday Roundup), explore my Vegan Thanksgiving Guide 2026, or read my When to Defrost a Vegan Roast for Thanksgiving for advice. I hope you found something helpful in my guide, and wishing you and yours a very happy, hearty Thanksgiving!
