easy pie recipes

If there's a pumpkin shortage in your area, try one of these delicious deserts for a new holiday tradition.

Pumpkin pie's great, but once you go pecan, you may never go back.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Many Thanksgiving tables feature a spicy, creamy pumpkin pie, but this year, why not try something new? We've got some tasty suggestions from the Rodale Recipe Finder: easy pie recipes that make a great addition to any holiday table. Besides being delicious, these deserts are full of healthy ingredients. You're sure to find a pie or tart that's best for your Thanksgiving feast. (For you die-hard pumpkin pie fans, check out our expert tips for making your own fresh pumpkin puree, and here's a classic pumpkin pie recipe. Pumpkin’s carotenoids help prevent cancer and heart disease, and its beta-carotene can help protect your peepers and keep mucous membranes resistant to infection.)

#1: Sweet Potato Pie with Oat-Pecan Streusel. To keep that harvest-orange color on your table, try this delicious pumpkin pie alternative, made with a graham cracker crust and an oat-nut topping. The health benefits of sweet potatoes include vitamin A, vitamin C, manganese, copper, potassium, iron, fiber, and vitamin B6. B6 can help lower levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that can promote the blockage of blood vessels at unhealthy levels.

#2: Spirited Pecan Tart. A pretty and equally taste alternative to the typical pecan pie, this tart has a flaky crust that supports a rich filling and loads of pecans. Almost 90 percent of the fat in pecans is unsaturated, so these nuts are a good choice for helping to reduce your levels of bad (LDL) cholesterol and raising your good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Increase the odds that your family's chocolate lovers will reach for a slice by baking up this chocolate version.