This no-bake pumpkin pie recipe will free up space in your oven during the holidays

Pumpkin pie doesn’t technically rank as the most popular pie for Thanksgiving dinner — that honor goes to apple pie. But pumpkin pie is still a seasonal staple in many homes across America, and some people can’t imagine Thanksgiving without it.

Baking a pie from scratch is time-consuming, though. (That’s probably why so many people have created easy recipes for apple pie dump cake.) And it can also get extra complicated if you are using your oven to cook the bird, roast veggies and make other side dishes, too. Luckily, there are many creative no-bake pumpkin pie recipes that will free up room in your oven. Best of all, since heat isn’t required, this is a dessert recipe that kids can help you prepare, from start to finish.

Though if you enlist the kids for some help, it might not keep them entertained for long. For example, this no-bake pumpkin pie recipe from Crazy for Crust only requires a handful of ingredients and takes a mere 10 minutes to whip together.

The best part of these recipes is that they work really well with a pre-made crust. You can opt for a graham cracker crust or a traditional pie crust. Of course, you can certainly make your own pie crust. But if you go pre-made, you won’t have to heat the oven to cook the pie crust, and you won’t have to wait for the pie to cool down to add the filling.

There are many different variations for no-bake pumpkin pie recipes, and many tricks for getting the pie to set well. Kraft recommends that you use Knox Unflavored Gelatine to help firm up the pie. But not everyone likes to use gelatin in their recipes — it’s made with animal collagen, so it isn’t vegetarian, but there are vegetarian and vegan alternatives.

A recipe at Spaceships and Laserbeams calls for a box of instant vanilla pudding and cream cheese to make a no-bake pumpkin pie.

If you have a little bit more time (though this still sounds pretty quick), you can make a layered pumpkin pie, such as this Triple Layer Pumpkin Pie from Art and the Kitchen. The bottom of this decadent treat is cheesecake, topped with a pumpkin layer and then whipped cream. Silky, sweet and so perfect for the season!

While these pie recipes do not need to be cooked, they do need time to set in the fridge. Keep this in mind while planning your Thanksgiving feast … unless you’re going for Thanksgiving in a box this year.

Will you be baking a pie for Thanksgiving?