The Thanksgiving I Tried to Outbake Betty Crocker

Because sometimes the best ingredient during the Holidays is the laughter that follows the fail.

Family holidays have arrived… and my mind is still trying to grasp how in the world we’re already staring down the last few weeks of 2025. I mean, wasn’t it just summer? Yet here we are, officially entering the stretchy-pants season of the year.

Last Thanksgiving on Unfiltered Faith, I shared the now-famous “Butter Turkey at 5 a.m.” story — where my mom and I were half asleep, laughing our heads off while smacking a turkey with handfuls of butter. It was chaos and comedy all in one, and somehow, it still made it to the table.

But this year, I’ve got another one for you. Let’s rewind to around 2018, when I was still in my 40s (gasp!) and very much convinced that this was the year I would finally master the elusive homemade pie crust.

Now, I can cook. Like, really cook. I can throw down a Thanksgiving meal that’ll make you want to unbutton your jeans and nap for days. But baking? That’s another story. Yes, I can bake cookies, brownies, and fudge — but the science and precision of real baking? It doesn’t fit my creative ‘flow’ personality.

Still, I was determined. My mom is the queen of pie crusts. Or at least, she was… until she started making her “healthy” versions that taste like something you’d find at a vitamin store. Bless her heart. (Mom, if you’re reading this, I love you — but bring back the not-so-healthy crust!)

Anyway, that year my son Jacob and I drove to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with my daughter and son-in-love. It was cold, cozy, and full of all the Holiday movies and Mario Party. I decided this was it — the year I’d bake a pie crust Betty Crocker herself would be proud of.

So I grabbed the flour, butter, and salt, and went to work. It felt right. The dough was smooth and soft and made me feel like I knew what I was doing. I rolled it out, placed it in the pie dish, poured in my perfectly spiced pumpkin filling, and slid it into the oven like a pro.

The house smelled like cinnamon, turkey, and all the good things life is made of. Hours later, bellies full from turkey and ham, we finally made room for dessert. I proudly cut into my beautiful, golden pie, topped it with a swirl of whipped cream, and handed out the plates like I was serving at the state fair.

Then came the moment of truth. Fork in hand, I pressed down gently to get that perfect bite.

Clunk.

Hmm. That’s odd. Tried again.

Clunk.

One more time — because surely I just hit a tough spot.

CLUNK.

I froze, then burst out laughing as realization hit: my pie crust was hard as a rock. Like, construction-grade. Forget flaky — this thing could’ve survived a hurricane. The pumpkin filling? Delicious. The crust? Well, let’s just say I left mine sitting perfectly intact on the plate, like a little pie shell memorial. LOL!!!

And to this day, I have never tried making another one. Thank you, Trader Joe’s, for carrying frozen pie crusts that don’t require a power tool.

Here’s what that hilarious memory showed me, though: we spend so much time trying to make holidays picture-perfect, when what actually makes them beautiful are the moments that go completely off-script and are my favorite kind. The ones we laugh about later — even the ones that flop in the oven.

Because Thanksgiving isn’t about getting everything just right. It’s about slowing down, looking around the table, and realizing in the busyness of life — even with our rock-hard crusts and burned rolls — God has been so, so good.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1 (NLT)

So here’s to the laughter, the leftovers, and the store-bought crusts that save the day. May your heart be full, your pie fork-ready, and your gratitude overflowing because we truly serve an amazing God.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends.