With Thanksgiving coming up, a lot of people already have food on the brain. Trying to plan a big dinner for a lot of people can be stressful and time-consuming. That is why it is good to plan ahead and think about all of the dishes that will take a while — and then consider those that can be prepped and out of the way ahead of time. Dessert is usually one of those things that can be taken care of before the madness starts to kick in. And what is the most iconic, must-have dessert for a Thanksgiving table? Pie, of course! There are tons of yummy store-bought options, but for those who enjoy cooking and baking themselves, they may want to consider a crustless pie this year.
Crustless pies or "impossible pies" first gained popularity from popping up on the back of Bisquick boxes. The reason they are sometimes referred to as "impossible" or "magic" is because they often form their own crust while baking, according to Southern Living. Many people enjoy these dishes because it cuts out the time of preparing a pie crust and it lowers the calories. Many of these are admittedly not a total pie-like texture, though, but more of a custard or a cake.
But they can be made in all of our favorite pie flavors: pumpkin, pecan, sweet potato, apple, cherry, and more. Some of these food bloggers have made theirs gluten-free and sugar-free as well, if that is of concern. Most of these involve ingredients that are likely already in the kitchen, and many don't even need a mixer. They all look so delicious, we definitely want to try some this holiday season. Here are 24 crustless pie recipes that are easy and yummy.
Chocolate Crustless Pie
The food blog Healthy Recipes has a great recipe for an "intense chocolatey" crustless pie. "Since this recipe relies on baking soda as a leavening agent, you should use natural cocoa powder, and not Dutch processed cocoa powder," the blogger explained in her post. Chocolate flavor desserts doesn't have to be reserved only for cakes!
Custard Crustless Pie
Blogger Sheena from Hot Eats and Cool Reads made this delicious crustless pie for custard lovers. It is surprisingly easy to make and uses common ingredients that are likely already in the kitchen! The last thing we want to do for Thanksgiving is try to get a complicated pie recipe done, which makes this one so perfect.
Vegan Pumpkin Crustless Pie
Chocolate Covered Katie blogs about "healthy desserts" — so leave it to her to create a pumpkin pie that is vegan and crustless. "This is a 'one bowl' pumpkin pie that takes literally just minutes to prepare — stir the ingredients together in the bowl, smooth into a round pan, and wait for the magic," she wrote.
Coconut Custard Crustless Pie
A Family Feast created a different take on the crustless custard pie by adding coconut flakes. This is another easy pie idea for Thanksgiving guests to enjoy and adds a gorgeous new flavor to dessert time that's usually dominated by pumpkins or apples. It has a delicious crunch top with a melt-in-your-mouth custard filling.
Buttermilk Crustless Pie
This yummy buttermilk crustless pie was shared by Yummy Chunklet. The blog describes the pie as "Tart yet sweet; smooth and custardy," sort of like a lemon tart. And if that doesn't sound like a dessert that the family needs to try as soon as possible, we're not sure what to tell you. This pie has all the things that make a great pie stand out.
Raspberry Yogurt Crustless Pie
Kalyn's Kitchen shared this two-ingredient, sugar-free raspberry yogurt crustless pie. All that is needed is plain yogurt (she used nonfat Greek yogurt) and raspberry Jell-O mix (she used sugarless), so it can be a simple, last-minute treat. Also, the bright pink color of the pie will steal the show and have guests ask for more.
Caramel Buttermilk Crustless Pie
Rose Bakes shares how just one extra ingredient can give something a new flavor. She added brown sugar to this buttermilk crustless pie to give it a caramel flavor, which is the perfect complement to a full Thanksgiving meal. It's on the sweeter side, which means there aren't going to be many kids who won't find this incredible.
Sweet Potato Crustless Pie
Fans of a classic sweet potato pie will enjoy this slightly healthier alternative. The crustless pie by Alida's Kitchen still packs the delicious flavors of cinnamon, brown sugar, and, of course, the sweet potatoes — it just cuts some calories by not having a crust and shaves off the time needed to put it all together.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Crustless Pie
Peanut butter lovers will definitely want to try this no-bake crustless pie by Glue Sticks & Gumdrops. Her ingredients are sugar-free, but the same steps can be taken for those who prefer a sweeter version. Either way, it's bound to be a favorite for adults and kids, plus one the host won't mind making, either, since it's so simple to make.
Dragon Fruit Crustless Pie
This crustless dragon fruit pie looks incredibly appetizing! Cooking With Carlee topped hers with a blackberry sauce for even more fruity flavor. Simple to make, this pie with the nontraditional use of dragon fruit, is bound to have guests talking about this dessert for years to come. It helps that it brings a gorgeous pop of color, too.
Lemon Crustless Pie
This crustless pie by Love Foodies is filled with lemony goodness. The blog suggests letting it cool in the fridge overnight after baking, so it might be a good idea to plan a little bit ahead for this one, which would probably work out anyway since we can get a head start on all the prep work for the family get-together.
Almond Joy Crustless Pie
This crustless pie by EZ Gluten Free was made to taste just like an Almond Joy candy bar. The main ingredient used to keep everything together for this crustless pie is Bisquick, which is something many of us have worked with in the past, so there's a chance we can whip this up last minute, too.
Lemon, Coconut, & Raspberry Crustless Pie
This crustless pie combines a few different delicious pie flavors into one yummy dish. "Melt, blend and bake your way to a custardy, fruity dessert with a sweet, crisp top and sides," according to I Sing In The Kitchen. It's the combination of different ingredients that gives this dessert some depth which means it's the perfect finish for any dinner.
Strawberry Crustless Pie
On the blog Averie Cooks, there is a fresh strawberry crustless pie that looks divine. "Somewhere in between pie, cake, and blondies is what you get with this FABULOUS recipe," she wrote. "Take advantage of those FRESH strawberries!" The recipe itself is super versatile, too, and can easily be made up ahead of time.
Pecan Crustless Pie
Gluten Free Easily shared this spin on the classic pecan pie. It is crustless and gluten-free but still sweet and nutty which means anyone who loves a classic pecan pie is going to enjoy every bite of this one, even though it has no crust. Bonus points because it is much easier to make without the crust, too.
Honey Ginger Pear Crustless Pie
This crustless pie uses an unusual combination of sweet flavors. Reluctant Entertainer shared that the dish is not too heavy of a dessert and "the flavors of pear, honey, and ginger are tantalizing and so tasty." Pear is an overlooked fruit and we think it deserves to be the star of the Thanksgiving dessert table.
Crustless Banana Cream Pie
This crustless pie by blogger Grain Crazy is sure to hit the spot for banana lovers. This one may be a little bit closer to a pudding than a pie, but either way, it will be a delicious Thanksgiving dessert. For anyone looking to choose desserts that have less sugar, this pie could be an option.
Blueberry Crustless Pie
Averie Cooks shares another recipe, similar to her strawberry crustless pie, except made with fresh blueberries. This one is also super easy and doesn't involve a mixer so it's simpler to make and leaves less to wash, without having to skimp on taste. This could even be made with a mix of berries, if someone wants something a little extra.
Rhubarb Custard Crustless Pie
Another ingredient that can be used to add some flavor to a custard crustless pie is rhubarb. The blog Seasonal Ontario Food wrote: "I always think custard goes really, really well with rhubarb. Cuts the acidity a bit." And they're not wrong about that at all. It's another well-balanced dessert.
Pineapple Crustless Pie
Pineapples are sweet and juicy for dessert — so obviously pineapple crustless pie is bound to be delicious. With A Blast shares a simple recipe that uses pancake mix, pineapples, and a few other common ingredients. It's the perfect pop on the dessert table for people who love sweeter fruits.
Crustless Key Lime Pie
There is something super refreshing about lime and when we add that to a pie with some cream, it's a combination made in heaven. This crustless version from Step Away From the Carbs pairs Key limes wi8th cream cheese, and it's fairly simple to whip all the ingredients together. It's a dessert that can be baked up ahead of time, too.
Crustless Caramel Apple Pie
Green apples are the best choice for a pie because they have the best balance of sweetness and tartness. What we love about Lemons and Basil's recipe is in place of crust, the pie is baked right inside the apple itself. The dish is delicious and pretty to look at, which makes it ideal for Thanksgiving.
Crustless Cranberry Pie
Cranberry is one of those ingredients that scream Thanksgiving. It's really the only time of year that most people eat cranberries, and for anyone who doesn't like it on their turkey — or the opposite is true and the family is cranberry obsessed — this crustless cranberry pie is going to make the celebrations even better.
Crustless Cheesecake
When it comes to cheesecake, people either love it or they can't stand it. For anyone team cheesecake, it's a must at the dessert table for Thanksgiving because it's so versatile. Depending on what will be served at dinner or the other desserts on the table, the topping of the cheesecake can vary. Plus crustless makes it so much easier.
