13 Holiday Pie Bars That Feed a Crowd With Way Less Work Than Pie

Love pie but dread rolling crust, crimping edges and cutting messy slices for twenty people? Pie bars are your new best friend. They bake in one pan, slice into neat squares and travel to any party without sliding around. Here are holiday favorites, from pumpkin to cherry to key lime, each with a simple recipe. For the full classic pie lineup, see these Thanksgiving pies that deserve a spot next to Grandma’s pumpkin pie..

Why Pie Bars Are the Holiday Hero

Pie bars give you all the flavor of pie with half the stress. Most start with the same press in shortbread crust, so once you learn it you can make any filling you like. They are easy to share, easy to pack and easy for little hands to hold. Quick question: is your family a pumpkin family, a pecan family or an apple family?

You will need: Basic crust for a 9×13 pan: 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 3/4 cup cold butter cubed.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350F and line the pan with parchment. 2. Pulse flour, sugar and salt with the butter until crumbly. 3. Press firmly into the pan. 4. Bake 15 to 18 minutes until pale golden. 5. Add your filling and bake again as directed.

Pumpkin Pie Bars With Whipped Cream

These taste exactly like pumpkin pie, just easier to serve. The spiced custard bakes on top of a buttery crust and sets into smooth, creamy squares. Top each one with a swirl of whipped cream and a pinch of cinnamon. Of all the pie bars here, this is the one people ask for every Thanksgiving. Whipped cream: A: a little, B: a lot, C: none?

You will need: 1 baked basic crust, 1 can pumpkin puree (15 oz), 1 can evaporated milk, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 3 eggs, 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, whipped cream.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350F. 2. Whisk pumpkin, milk, sugar, eggs, spice and salt. 3. Pour over the warm crust. 4. Bake 30 to 35 minutes until the center is just set. 5. Cool, chill 2 hours, cut and top with whipped cream.

Apple Pie Bars With Crumb Topping

Thin slices of cinnamon apples are tucked between a shortbread base and a buttery crumb topping. No lattice, no fuss. A drizzle of caramel or a scoop of vanilla ice cream makes them pure comfort. These pie bars are just as good warm as they are cold. Which apples do you bake with, tart or sweet?

You will need: 1 baked basic crust, 5 apples peeled and thinly sliced, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 tablespoons flour. Crumb: 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup cold butter.

How to make it: 1. Toss apples with sugar, cinnamon, lemon and flour. 2. Spread over the crust. 3. Rub the crumb ingredients together. 4. Scatter over the apples. 5. Bake at 375F for 40 minutes until golden and bubbly.

Sweet Potato Pie Bars

Sweet potato pie is a Southern holiday treasure, smoother and a little more earthy than pumpkin. Baked as bars, it is easier to share at big family dinners. A hint of nutmeg and vanilla makes the filling taste like a warm hug. Did you grow up with sweet potato pie or pumpkin pie?

You will need: 1 baked basic crust, 2 cups mashed cooked sweet potatoes, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup evaporated milk, 1/4 cup melted butter, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350F. 2. Beat the sweet potatoes until very smooth. 3. Beat in the rest of the filling ingredients. 4. Pour over the crust. 5. Bake 35 minutes, cool and chill before cutting.

Cherry Slab Pie for a Crowd

A slab pie is a pie baked in a sheet pan, and it can feed twenty people. Bright cherry filling peeks through a golden lattice, and it looks gorgeous on a holiday table. Store bought dough makes it doable on a busy day. Would you use sour cherries or sweet ones?

You will need: 2 boxes refrigerated pie dough, 6 cups pitted cherries fresh or frozen, 1 cup sugar, 1/3 cup cornstarch, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 egg for brushing, coarse sugar.

How to make it: 1. Roll one dough into a sheet pan up the sides. 2. Toss cherries with sugar, cornstarch and lemon and spread inside. 3. Cut the second dough into strips and weave a lattice. 4. Brush with egg and sprinkle sugar. 5. Bake at 400F for 40 minutes.

Cranberry Orange Bars

Tart cranberries and fresh orange zest make these bars bright and festive. They are a nice break from all the heavy holiday sweets, and the red berries look like little jewels. Dust with powdered sugar right before serving. Do you love tart desserts or do you like things extra sweet?

You will need: Dough: 2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 3/4 cup melted butter, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, zest of 1 orange. Filling: 2 cups fresh cranberries.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350F and line a 9×13 pan. 2. Mix the dough ingredients into a thick batter. 3. Spread in the pan. 4. Press cranberries into the top. 5. Bake 30 minutes, cool and dust with powdered sugar.

Key Lime Squares

Creamy, tangy and refreshing, key lime squares are like a little vacation in the middle of winter. A graham cracker crust holds a silky lime filling that bakes in just 15 minutes. Garnish with lime slices and whipped cream. Poll time: A: key lime, B: lemon, C: orange, D: give me all the citrus.

You will need: Crust: 1 1/2 cups graham crumbs, 1/3 cup melted butter, 1/4 cup sugar. Filling: 2 cans sweetened condensed milk, 3/4 cup key lime juice, 4 egg yolks, 1 tablespoon lime zest.

How to make it: 1. Press the crust into an 8×8 pan and bake 10 minutes at 350F. 2. Whisk condensed milk, lime juice, yolks and zest. 3. Pour over the crust. 4. Bake 15 minutes until just set. 5. Chill 3 hours and cut into squares.

Chocolate Chess Pie Bars

Chess pie is an old fashioned Southern pie made from pantry staples: butter, sugar, eggs and cocoa. It bakes into a fudgy, brownie like filling with a crackly top. As bars, it is perfect for church suppers and holiday buffets. Have you ever heard of chess pie before today?

You will need: 1 baked basic crust, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1/4 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup melted butter, 3 eggs, 1 small can evaporated milk (5 oz), 1 teaspoon vanilla, pinch of salt.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350F. 2. Whisk sugar and cocoa. 3. Whisk in butter, eggs, milk, vanilla and salt. 4. Pour over the crust. 5. Bake 35 to 40 minutes until set, cool and top with whipped cream.

Lemon Bars With a Shortbread Crust

Classic lemon bars are a holiday cookie tray must. The bright, tangy curd on top of buttery shortbread balances out all the chocolate and spice on the table. A snowy dusting of powdered sugar makes them look festive. Do you like them extra tart or a little sweeter?

You will need: 1 baked basic crust, 4 eggs, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1/4 cup flour, 2/3 cup fresh lemon juice, zest of 2 lemons, powdered sugar.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 325F. 2. Whisk eggs, sugar and flour. 3. Whisk in lemon juice and zest. 4. Pour over the warm crust. 5. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, cool, chill and dust with powdered sugar.

Gooey Butter Cake Squares

This St. Louis favorite has a cakey bottom and a rich, gooey cream cheese top that crackles in the oven. It is impossible to eat just one piece. It takes ten minutes to mix and almost no skill. Have you ever tried gooey butter cake, or is it new to you?

You will need: 1 box yellow cake mix, 1 egg, 1/2 cup melted butter. Topping: 8 oz cream cheese, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 4 cups powdered sugar, 1/4 cup melted butter.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350F and grease a 9×13 pan. 2. Mix cake mix, egg and butter and press into the pan. 3. Beat the topping ingredients until smooth. 4. Pour over the base. 5. Bake 40 to 45 minutes until golden, cool and cut.

Raspberry Crumb Bars

One simple oat crumb mixture becomes both the crust and the topping. In the middle is a thick layer of raspberry jam. These are great for gifting because they hold their shape and keep for days. Would you make them with raspberry, apricot or strawberry jam?

You will need: 2 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups oats, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 cup melted butter, 1 1/4 cups raspberry jam.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350F and line a 9×13 pan. 2. Mix flour, oats, sugar, soda, salt and butter. 3. Press 2/3 of the mixture into the pan. 4. Spread the jam on top. 5. Crumble the rest over and bake 30 minutes.

Blueberry Crumble Squares

Juicy blueberries burst in the oven and soak into a buttery crumble. They taste like summer, but frozen berries make them easy any time of year. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an easy holiday brunch treat. Fresh berries or frozen, which do you keep at home?

You will need: 3 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 cup cold butter, 1 egg. Filling: 4 cups blueberries, 1/2 cup sugar, 4 teaspoons cornstarch, 1 tablespoon lemon juice.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 375F. 2. Rub flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, butter and egg into crumbs. 3. Press half into a 9×13 pan. 4. Toss berries with sugar, cornstarch and lemon and spread over. 5. Top with the rest of the crumbs and bake 45 minutes.

Peach Cobbler Bars

All the cozy flavor of peach cobbler, baked in a pan and cut into squares, or served warm from a skillet with a spoon. Canned peaches work perfectly, so you can make this in the middle of winter. Which of these pie bars are you baking first this holiday season? Tell us below.

You will need: 2 cans sliced peaches drained, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup melted butter.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350F. 2. Pour melted butter into a baking dish. 3. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder and milk and pour over the butter. 4. Toss peaches with brown sugar and cinnamon and spoon on top. 5. Bake 45 minutes until golden.