The short answer
- One 9-inch pie serves 8. A 10-inch or deep-dish pie serves about 10.
- Plan about 1 pie for every 6 guests when you're serving two or more flavors, since people take a sliver of each.
- Serving one flavor only? One pie for every 7 or 8 guests is enough.
- Want leftovers? Add one extra pie.
Pies by guest count
| Guests | 9-inch pies | A good mix |
|---|---|---|
| 4 to 6 | 1 to 2 | Pumpkin, plus apple if you want leftovers |
| 8 | 2 | Pumpkin and apple |
| 10 to 12 | 2 to 3 | Pumpkin, apple and pecan |
| 14 to 16 | 3 | Pumpkin, apple and pecan |
| 20 | 4 | 2 pumpkin, apple and pecan |
| 24 | 4 to 5 | 2 pumpkin, apple, pecan and one wild card |
| 30 | 5 to 6 | 2 pumpkin, 2 apple, pecan and one more |
Based on 8 slices per 9-inch pie and about 1ΒΌ slices per guest. Count children as full guests for dessert.
Choosing flavors
Pumpkin is the one almost everyone expects, so if you make only one pie, make pumpkin. From there, cover the three families:
- Custard pies: pumpkin, sweet potato, chess, buttermilk.
- Fruit pies: apple, cherry, pear, cranberry.
- Nut pies: pecan, chocolate pecan, maple walnut. They're rich, so slices are small and one pie goes a long way.
If someone at the table has a nut allergy, keep pecan pie off the dessert table entirely, or serve it on a separate plate with its own server.
How far ahead to bake
- Pie dough: make it up to 3 days ahead and refrigerate it, or freeze it for a month or more.
- Fruit pies: bake them 1 to 2 days ahead. They can sit out covered overnight, then go in the refrigerator.
- Pumpkin, sweet potato and pecan pies are made with eggs. Bake them the day before, let them cool, and keep them in the refrigerator. Don't leave them out for more than 2 hours.
- Cream and meringue pies are best made the day of, or the evening before, and always kept cold.
Food-safety guidance for egg and custard pies: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Frequently asked questions
How many pies for 12 people?
Two to three 9-inch pies. Two covers one slice each with a few spare; three lets you offer pumpkin, apple and pecan and still have some left over.
How many slices are in a pie?
A 9-inch pie is usually cut into 8 slices. A 10-inch or deep-dish pie gives about 10. For a rich pie like pecan, you can cut 10 to 12 thinner slices.
Should I refrigerate pumpkin pie?
Yes. Pumpkin pie is a custard made with eggs and milk, so it needs to be refrigerated within 2 hours of baking or serving. It keeps 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.
How much of everything else do I need?
The Thanksgiving dinner calculator works out the turkey, sides, rolls and pies for your guest count in one go.