Find inspiration in this list of 30 Thanksgiving desserts, offering fresh ideas that go beyond the classic pumpkin or apple pie.
Let's be honest, we all love Turkey but Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete without lots of desserts to choose from. This post includes Thanksgiving dessert recipe ideas that go beyond your usual classic pumpkin or apple pie. Of course this post includes pies, but sometimes we just need a little more variety than 5 pies on the Thanksgiving dessert table.
Need Thanksgiving side ideas? Check out this list of 35 Thanksgiving Side Recipes!
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Choosing Thanksgiving Desserts
If you're not sure what to make, a classic pie is usually a good choice as a starting point. Cookies or bars are easy to serve to a crowd and they're good for a group that might just want to snack on something small. If you're serving multiple desserts, try to go with things that have some variety but also go together. Here are some suggestions for dessert combinations:
Classics/Variety Pack: Brown Butter & Bourbon Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pie Cookies, Cranberry Crumble Bars, and Brown Butter Cinnamon Roll Cookies
Pumpkin Lovers: Pumpkin Crème Brûlée, Pumpkin Pie Dump Cake, Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow Frosting, and Pumpkin Spice Trifle
Pecan & Caramel: Brown Butter & Bourbon Pecan Pie, Pecan Pie Brownies, Caramel Pecan Cheesecake, and Chocolate Caramel Tart
Easy for a crowd: Pumpkin Pie Dump Cake, Pecan Pie Dump Cake, Cranberry Cheesecake, and Cranberry and Orange Tiramisu
How Many Thanksgiving Desserts to Make
For a small gathering, one or two desserts should be plenty. A good rule of thumb is one dessert for every 4 to 6 people. However, even when I have a very small Thanksgiving with only 4 to 6 people I will usually make two desserts so I can offer variety (unless I am certain it's a group I know well and know what they will like).
Creme Brulee, Panna Cotta, and Pudding
Pumpkin Creme Brulee
This silky pumpkin creme brulee with warm spices and a crisp caramelized sugar topping combines fall flavors with a classic French dessert.
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Recipe from: Hilda's Kitchen Blog
Pumpkin Panna Cotta
Pumpkin panna cotta is rich, creamy, and delicious! An Italian dessert similar to a custard, it’s made with real pumpkin, spices, and cream.
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Recipe from: Little Nonni
Sweet Potato Pudding with Meringue Topping
This Sweet Potato Pudding swoops in with creamy coconut milk, nutty tahini, and a cloud of toasted meringue. Definitely a unique Thanksgiving dessert!
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Recipe from: FoodnService
Brownies and Bar Cookies
Pecan Pie Brownies
Enjoy the best of both worlds with these rich, gooey Pecan Pie Brownies! A layer of fudgy brownies topped with a buttery, caramelized pecan pie filling- making these the ultimate treat for any sweet tooth!
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Recipe from: The Cookin' Chicks
Cranberry Crumble Bars
These easy cranberry crumble bars are bursting with bright, fresh cranberry flavor and buttery crumbs.
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Recipe from: On My Kid's Plate
Pecan Shortbread Bars
These Chocolate Maple Pecan Shortbread Bars are like pecan pie in bar form! They're sweetened with maple syrup, which adds tasty hints of caramel and vanilla, and the cocoa powder adds a rich, chocolatey component. Also easy to make!
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Recipe from: Heavenly Spiced
Cookies
Brown Butter Cinnamon Roll Cookies
Brown Butter Cinnamon Roll Cookies bring the comfort of a cinnamon roll into cookie format. Fresh orange zest adds a subtle citrus flavor that pairs perfectly with the cinnamon and nutty brown butter flavors balanced by cream cheese icing.
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Pumpkin Pie Cookies
These Pumpkin Pie Cookies combine buttery spiced cookie dough with creamy pumpkin filling for a handheld twist on a classic dessert.
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Recipe from: Maria's Mixing Bowl
Pecan Pie Cheesecake Cookies
These pecan pie cheesecake cookies are a combination of pecan pie cheesecake and cookies! They are stuffed with a cheesecake filling and topped with pecan pie filling.
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Recipe from: The Cookie Dough Diaries
Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookie Cups
Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookie Cups are made with no bake cheesecake filling in a sugar cookie crust are bite sized and perfect for an easy Thanksgiving dessert!
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Recipe from: Meat and Melodrama
Cheesecake and Cheesecake Bars
Cranberry Cheesecake (No Bake)
This festive no bake cranberry cheesecake combines a classic no bake cheesecake with a tangy cranberry sauce that’s perfect for the holidays.
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Recipe from: Keep Calm and Eat Ice Cream
Caramel Pecan Cheesecake (No Bake)
This no bake caramel pecan cheesecake is made with creamy vanilla cheesecake filling topped with roasted pecans and luscious caramel topping.
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Recipe from: Keep Calm and Eat Ice Cream
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
Caramel apple cheesecake bars include cheesecake topped with delicious baked apples, sweet cinnamon sugar, a buttery crumble and sweet caramel drizzled on top.
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Recipe from: On My Kid's Plate
Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars
Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars are the perfect blend of your two favorites desserts! This recipe is easy to make with only 20 minutes of prep.
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Recipe from: The Slow Roasted Italian
Tiramisu (No-Bake)
Cranberry and Orange Tiramisu
Celebrate the festive season with this charming Cranberry and Orange Tiramisu featuring cranberry mascarpone, orange-soaked ladyfingers and a silky cranberry sauce topping.
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Recipe from: Sims Home Kitchen
Baileys Tiramisu
This Baileys tiramisu recipe is a luscious no-bake dessert with espresso-soaked ladyfingers, creamy mascarpone, and smooth Irish cream.
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Recipe from: The Recipe Nest
Pies and Tarts
Brown Butter & Bourbon Pecan Pie
The ultimate homemade pecan pie that’s perfect for Thanksgiving! There’s a flaky pie crust, a rich brown butter, and bourbon custardy filling with plenty of toasted pecans.
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Recipe from: Salt. Butter. Smoke.
Chocolate Caramel Tart
Silky chocolate, rich caramel, and a crisp crust make this chocolate caramel tart an elegant yet easy dessert.
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Recipe from: The Recipe Nest
Salted Caramel Apple Tart
This gorgeous caramel apple tart is a must have dessert for all of your fall gatherings. Serve it on Thanksgiving for a sweet, salty, and perfectly spiced treat.
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Recipe from: Neighbor Food
Crumbles and Cobblers
Persimmon Crumble
This persimmon crumble recipe with warming spices is the perfect comforting dessert for fall! You’ll only need a handful of pantry ingredients, plus fresh Fuyu persimmons − or any variety that's firm and sweet.
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Recipe from: jellojoy
Apple and Blackberry Crumble
Apple and Blackberry Crumble is a simple, delicious dessert that’s perfect for fall, or anytime of year. This recipe takes the classic apple crisp and makes it even better with the addition of fresh blackberries.
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Recipe from: The Food Blog
Slow Cooker Cranberry Cobbler
Fresh cranberries and a homemade biscuit topping make this a perfect holiday dessert! Great with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream!
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Recipe from: Flavorful Eats
Easy Sweet Potato Cobbler
This Easy Sweet Potato Cobbler is a classic southern dish full of tender sweet potatoes mixed with a gooey filling and held in with a cinnamon sugary crust.
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Recipe from: Baked Broiled and Basted
Cake and Cupcakes
Pumpkin sheet cake
Enjoy the flavors of fall with this easy pumpkin sheet cake recipe. This moist, spiced cake is perfect for any occasion, especially a crowd.
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Recipe from: Recipes From a Pantry
Nantucket Cranberry Pie
Nantucket cranberry pie is not really a pie. It’s more like an upside down cranberry cake, and it’s one of the fastest desserts you can make. With no crust to roll, you can assemble it in five minutes!
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Recipe from: What a Girl Eats
Pecan Pie Dump Cake
This easy Pecan Pie Dump Cake is sweet, buttery and full of pecans. It tastes just like pecan pie but with half the effort and is perfect for serving a crowd.
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Recipe from: Baked Broiled and Basted
Pumpkin Pie Dump Cake
Pumpkin Pie Dump Cake is a cross between a cake and a pumpkin pie. If you’re crazy about pumpkin spice and cream cheese frosting, this delicious dessert is for you!
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Recipe from: Quiche My Grits
Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow Frosting
This moist Sweet Potato Cupcake recipe with fluffy marshmallow frosting is heavenly. This recipe includes two pro tips for keeping cupcakes soft and tender.
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Recipe from: Foodess
Spice Cupcakes with Apple Pie Filling
Dress up cupcakes from a boxed spice cake mix with homemade apple pie filling and a cinnamon buttercream. This is a perfect dessert for fall or Thanksgiving!
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Pumpkin Spice Trifle
With layers of spice cake, pumpkin cream cheese filling, and all things pumpkin spice, it will be hard to resist a taste of this trifle.
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Recipe from: Simply Made Dish
