PETA’s 2021 Top Vegan Pies Will Make You Want to Start With Dessert
From pumpkin to pecan, there’s a vegan pie for every Thanksgiving table. These decadent pies show how easy it is to give everyone—including cows and chickens—something to be thankful for this holiday season. Not only are vegan desserts free of saturated animal fat and cholesterol, they also spare animals immense suffering. For milk and butter, calves are torn away from their mothers shortly after birth, and in the egg industry, parts of chickens’ beaks are cut off with a hot blade when they’re just a few days old.
All the bakeries and restaurants on this list prove how easy and delicious it is for everyone to choose animal-friendly fare. With so many vegan options cropping up everywhere, from Houston to Concord, Massachusetts, and from Indianapolis to Tacoma, Washington, it’s as easy as pie to have a scrumptious dessert for Thanksgiving dinner that no one had to suffer or die for.
Dutch Apple Pie from Mo’Pweeze Bakery
32 Broadway, Denville, NJ 07834
This take on a classic apple pie features a delectable crumble top, which pairs perfectly with a cinnamon-spiced brown sugar apple filling. All the pies at Mo’Pweeze Bakery are vegan, kosher, and free of the top 10 allergens. For Thanksgiving, the bakery also offers blueberry, cherry, pumpkin, and sweet potato pies. It will be taking orders online or by phone for in-store pickup until November 19 for Thanksgiving and from December 1 to 20 for the holiday season.
Key Lime Pie from Sweet Hazel & Co.
167 W. 4500 South (Frontage Road), Murray, UT 84107
Craving a little taste of summer during the chilly months? This Key Lime Pie from Sweet Hazel & Co. will remind you of a tropical vacation. Sweetened condensed coconut milk and zesty key limes give it a perfect balance of sweet and tangy, and it’s topped with the bakery’s house-made vegan whipped cream. Place an online order before November 19 for pickup on November 23 or 24.
Blackberry Raspberry Pie from Stockholm Pie and General Store
N2030 Spring St., Stockholm, WI 54769
This luscious pie combines sweet and tart berries, baked in a flaky vegan double crust. It can be ordered for Thanksgiving until November 21 and picked up at Stockholm Bakery or the Red Wing café on November 24. Order online or call to place your order.
Sweet Potato Pie from Southern Roots Vegan Bakery
6208 S. Flores St., San Antonio, TX 78214
A fall classic, this Sweet Potato Pie is made with fresh sweet potatoes blended with a spice custard and baked in a delicious vegan butter crust. Pies are available for local pickup and nationwide shipping online. If sweet potato isn’t your favorite, other scrumptious pies available from Southern Roots Vegan Bakery include pumpkin and apple.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie from Sinfull Bakery
1714 Webster St., Houston, TX 77003
Sinfull Bakery offers a super-creamy, decadent pumpkin cheesecake made from scratch, with cows and chickens in mind. It has a flaky crust and is topped with adorable pumpkin cut-outs to make it even more festive. Other pies available here in November include classics such as apple, blueberry, and sweet potato as well as a Chocolate Fudge Crust Cheesecake. Order online for pickup on the week of Thanksgiving.
Pecan Pie Tart from Ezra’s Enlightened Café
6516 Ferguson St., Indianapolis, IN 46220
A unique take on a pecan pie, this tart is raw, vegan, and full of rich flavors. It’s made with dates and a sweet and salty pecan walnut crust, with shredded coconut and a dash of cinnamon. Order yours at the café in person or call ahead.
Spiced Pumpkin Pie from Corina Bakery
602 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, WA 98402
This vegan Spiced Pumpkin Pie is a blend of puréed pumpkin, tofu, and soy milk, which gives it a perfectly creamy texture without eggs or cow’s milk. Its flavors shine, thanks to a splash of vanilla and rum and a mixture of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. It’s baked to perfection in a homemade vegan pie crust. Corina Bakery also offers a selection of vegan pies available year-round, including marionberry, strawberry rhubarb, and peach Melba.
Peach Pie with a Crumble Top from Col’s Kitchen
55 S. Main St., Concord, NH 03301
This Peach Pie features a filling of local New Hampshire peaches tossed in sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and a locally made bourbon. It’s all topped with a scrumptious streusel. Enjoy it warmed with a scoop of vegan ice cream from local Sweet Tree Creamery or in one of Col’s famous pie shakes. The restaurant offers five other whole vegan pie options for Thanksgiving, including blueberry, cherry, apple, pumpkin, and pecan.
Sweet Potato Coconut Pie from Clementine Bakery
395 Classon Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11238
Organic sweet potatoes seasoned with cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla beans are combined for autumnal perfection in this Sweet Potato Coconut Pie. Clementine Bakery also offers other pie flavors for the holiday season, including apple, pumpkin, mixed berry crumb, maple pecan, and gluten-free varieties. Purchase your pie online or in store or order for local delivery.
Chocolate Cream Pie from Bonafide Bakeshop & Cafe
1232 W. Williams St., Apex, NC 27502
This rich pie features a combination of dark chocolate and oat milk in a flaky crust, topped with a lightly sweetened whipped cream made with aquafaba (the magic liquid from a can of chickpeas!). Other vegan pie options at Bonafide Bakeshop & Cafe include apple streusel, double crust apple, chocolate cream, pumpkin, and bourbon pecan. Order by November 19 for Thanksgiving pickup.
*****
If you live near any of these bakeries, swing by and pick up one of these pies to share with your family this Thanksgiving. If you don’t live near one of our winners, don’t fret! Many bakeries (and almost all grocery stores) offer tasty vegan options for conscientious customers—and some even ship nationwide. Ask your local bakery to carry some animal-free options if it doesn’t already, or if you prefer to make your own pie at home, try one of our recipes.