Thanksgiving kicks off a decadent holiday pie season that starts with pumpkin, sweet potato and pecan pies in November and carries through to Christmas, with apple, chocolate, cranberry, and other varieties stacking up on dessert tables. While you could pick up a giant pumpkin pie from Costco for Thanksgiving, baking pies at home is a worthy labor of love. (Bonus: Homemade pies give your kitchen the lovely aroma of warming spices).