How Many Pies for Thanksgiving? Chart for 4 to 40 Guests
Plan on a slice and a bit of pie for each guest: a 9 inch pie cuts into 8 slices, so 12 guests need 2 pies and 20 guests need 4 at a standard appetite. Then make sure there is at least one of each kind you want to serve. The numbers come from the Thanksgiving dinner calculator, which works out the turkey and every side as well.
Part of the project planner: Planning the holidays: dinner, tree and lights.
Pies by number of guests
Light suits a table with lots of other desserts, and hearty means second slices and leftovers. Count young children as half a guest. Whipped cream is about 2 tablespoons a slice, at a standard appetite.
| Guests | Light | Standard | Hearty | Whipped cream |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 pints |
| 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1.0 pints |
| 8 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1.0 pints |
| 10 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1.0 pints |
| 12 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1.5 pints |
| 15 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1.5 pints |
| 20 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2.0 pints |
| 25 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 2.5 pints |
| 30 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 3.0 pints |
| 40 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 4.0 pints |
The counts round up to whole pies, so small groups get more than they eat: 2 pies for 8 guests is 16 slices for 8 people. From about 20 guests the rounding matters less, and appetite matters more: a hearty crowd of 20 needs 5 pies against 4 for a standard one.
How many kinds of pie
Most tables want a choice, typically pumpkin plus one or two others such as apple and pecan. Each kind needs at least one whole pie, so for a small group the number of kinds sets the count, not the number of people:
| Standard appetite | 1 kind | 2 kinds | 3 kinds | 4 kinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 guests | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 10 guests | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 15 guests | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 20 guests | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
With three kinds, the headcount only starts adding pies from 20 guests. Below that, a fourth kind adds a fourth pie whether anyone needs it or not, so for a small dinner two or three kinds and a plate of cookies is usually enough.
If children are coming
The calculator counts a child as half a guest. 8 adults and 6 children count as 11 servings and need 2 pies, against 2 for the 8 adults alone. Children often prefer a simpler pie, so if one of your kinds is a sweet apple or chocolate cream pie, put the children's slices against that one.
Bake ahead and store
- Fruit pies such as apple keep at room temperature for a day or two, so they can be baked ahead.
- Pumpkin, pecan and other custard or egg pies should go in the refrigerator once they have cooled.
- Make pastry a few days ahead and keep it chilled, or freeze it and thaw it in the refrigerator.
- Baking on Wednesday frees the oven on Thursday, when the turkey needs it for hours.
For the rest of the dinner, see how much food per person and the chart for 12 people or 20 people, and size the bird with how big a turkey do I need.
Frequently asked questions
How many pies do I need for 20 people?
4 pies of 8 slices at a standard appetite, which is 32 slices. For a hearty crowd who will want seconds and leftovers, 5.
How many pies for 12 people?
2 pies at a standard appetite, or 3 for a hearty crowd. If you want three kinds, make three: the third covers the choice as well as the people.
How many slices are in a pie?
A 9 inch pie is usually cut into 8 slices. A deep-dish pie or a very rich pie such as pecan can be cut into 10 smaller slices, which stretches it further.
How much whipped cream for Thanksgiving pies?
About 2 tablespoons a slice: 1.5 pints of whipping cream for 12 guests and 2.0 for 20.
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