11 Pies That Are Better Than Birthday Cake (Slideshow)

For those who just don't like cake or prefer other desserts, know that you don't have to suffer every birthday. You can have a beautiful pie instead. In honor of this versatile dessert and Pi(e) Day (March 14), we rounded up 11 of our favorite pie recipes to make the argument that you can celebrate your birthday however you desire, even if it is with a pie.

Cream pies so often neglect adding in fresh fruit — but not this one. A velvety vanilla cream mixes with flavorful ripe bananas for a taste and textural combination that's truly satisfying. If this pie doesn't sound decadent enough, it's topped with homemade whipped cream and luxurious chocolate and caramel sauces.

For the Banana Cream Pie With Caramel Drizzles and Chocolate Sauce recipe, click here.

To the uninitiated, it may sound like a wacky combination, but this pie straight out of David Burke's kitchen is totally worth a shot. Melted Cheddar cheese, with its light saltiness and creaminess, brings out a different flavor profile in your everyday baked apple pie.

For the Cheddar Apple Pie recipe, click here.

Your everyday chocolate cream pie is already filled with rich, creamy deliciousness, but this recipe kicks things up a notch by channeling Nutella and adding in a touch of hazelnut. Frangelico hazelnut liqueur and fresh nuts add a certain sweetness and satisfying texture.

For the Chocolate Hazelnut Pie recipe, click here.

Wonderfully tart and just the right amount of sweet, this official state pie of Florida is the perfect dessert even if you aren't beachside. A ginger cookie crust in this recipe adds an extra bit of zest.

For the Key Lime Pie recipe, click here.

A latticed pie looks intricate and allows for the stunning blueberries to peek through — just don't tell anyone how easy this technique is to pull off. Cinnamon and sugar add just a delicate touch of spice to this classic pie.

For the Lattice-Top Blueberry Pie recipe, click here.

Tender pecans and a rich bourbon-infused brown sugar filling get a new indulgent buddy in this pie: bacon. The meaty breakfast staple cuts through the sweetness of this dessert by adding a light smokiness and a pleasing salty element.

For the Maple Bourbon Bacon Pecan Pie recipe, click here.

If you're not a fan of cake but love every other dessert, this insane dish is both a peanut butter cream pie and a brownie. A layer of chunky chocolate brownies sits on top of a flaky pie crust, and the entire concoction is topped with a fluffy peanut butter filling. Count us in!

For the Mile High Peanut Butter Pie recipe, click here.

If you're pining for the lazy days of summer, this berry pie is packed with fresh fruit flavor. A touch of cinnamon compliments the beautiful natural flavor of raspberries and blueberries, creating a classic dessert that's perfect for a birthday picnic.

For the Mixed Berry Pie recipe, click here.

Any crust that is actually a brownie is OK with us. This two-in-one dessert has a rich chocolate base, topped by a perfectly whipped mocha cream. This pie is perfect for the coffee lover in your life.

For the Mocha Cream Pie recipe, click here.

If you're looking for a pie that isn't quite so common, this salted honey pie will surely do the trick. A luxurious honey cream almost recalls the flavor of caramel, making some beautiful flake sea salt a natural topping for this dessert.

For the Salted Honey Pie recipe, click here.

This fluffy, milky pie is wonderfully light in flavor but rich in creamy texture. A touch of lime zest adds a real pop of flavor, making this homemade confectionary stand out from store bought pies.

For the Toasted Coconut Cream Pie With Lime Whipped Cream recipe, click here.