Recipes Featured in this Article
- Apple Crumb Cake
- Patti LaBelle's Sweet Potato Pie
- Caramel Apple Cheesecake
- Apple Cobbler
- Sweet Potato and Plantain Pie
- Apple Pie Bars
- Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Sugar Cream Pie
- Caramel Pumpkin Layer Cake
- Pear and Hazelnut Upside Down Cake
- Classic Chess Pie
- Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Mascarpone and Gingersnap Crumble
- Pear Upside Down Cake
- Crème Brûlée
- Pumpkin Spice Latte Bundt Cake
- The Cherpumple
- Perfect Apple Pie
- Homemade Pumpkin Pie
- Pecan Pie Cheesecake
- Apple Cobbler
- Elizabeth Heiskell's Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie
- Creamy Pumpkin Pie
- No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake
- 'Buttamilk' Caramel Pie
- Heartwarming Apple Crumble
- Mini Pumpkin Ginger Cheesecakes with Pecan Brittle and Maple Cream
- Cranberry, Apple and Spiced Oat Crumble
- Oatmeal Cake with Cinnamon-Pecan Crumble
- Skillet Apple Crisp
- Coffee Cake with Pumpkin-White Chocolate Glaze
- Sheet-Pan Sweet Potato, Pecan and Pumpkin Pie
- Martha Stewart's Apple-Bourbon Potpies
- Pecan Pie
- Al Roker's Apple Crisp
- Pumpkin Marshmallow Sheet Cake
- Classic Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Spiralized Apple Pie
- Pecan Bundt Cake
- Apple Cider Cookies
- Quick Pumpkin Cake
- Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars
- Warm Mini Apple Pie Empanadas
- Pumpkin Bars
- Carrot Cake Cheesecake Bars
- Unfussy Apple Pie
- Vegan and Gluten-Free Pecan Bars
- Apple Crumble Cake with Caramel and Apple Icing
- Spiced Apple Coffee Cake
- Carrot Halwa Bars
- Roasted Pears with Pecan Crumble
- Apple Butter Thumbprint Cookies
- Rosemary-Lemon Pecan Bars
- German Chocolate Cake
- Apple Loaf Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting
- Coffee Cake Babka
- Caramel Apple Dapple Cake
- Apple Slab Pie
- Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Tassies
- Pecan and Pear Roll-Ups with Chocolate-Hazelnut Dip
- German Chocolate Pecan Pie
- Brown Butter Apple Crostata
- Pecan Paht Pie
- Dulce de Leche Apple Pie
- Mini S'mores Pies
- Gluten-Free Apple Pie
- Ina Garten's Pecan Shortbread
- Maple-Pecan Pie
- Crunchy Apple Crisp
- Donut Loaf
- Apple, Brown Butter and Sage Pie with Winnimere Cheese
- Classic Scotcheroos
- Butter Brickle Semifreddo
- Maple-Apple Tarte Tatin
- Pumpkin Rolls
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
There’s no doubt that Thanksgiving is all about the big feast, but it’s also very much about dessert too! Even after indulging in turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and ladlefuls of gravy, there’s a mysterious phenomenon that happens. Call it holiday magic, because no matter how stuffed to the brim you may be from the savory stuff, there’s always room for something sweet.
Whether you’re the person in charge of baking pies year after year, or you delegate the treats to your guests, dessert is an essential part of the holiday spread. Expect to see usual suspects such as apple, pecan and pumpkin pie. (If your family is big on tradition, chances are high that there will be at least one of each.) Without these classic favorites, is it even Thanksgiving?
But don’t get too set in your ways! Prepare to be amazed by elevated wildcards like German chocolate cake, homemade babka and apple tarte tatin. And, of course, make sure to leave room for new twists on old favorites like pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, carrot cake cheesecake bars and apple pie empanadas, which capture the flavors of the season in fun and creative ways.
In this collection of 75 Thanksgiving dessert recipes, you’ll learn how to make the perfect pie crust, how to level up the classics with surprising new flavor combinations and most importantly, how to bring a dessert that’ll get you invited back to year after year!
This moist and subtly spiced crumb cake is studded with Honeycrisp apples. A combination of butter, coconut oil and buttermilk prevent the cake from drying out.
Patti LaBelle’s sweet potato pie is almost as iconic as the soul singer’s remarkable career. The ultra-creamy filling is made with a combination of sweet potatoes, butter, eggs and half-and-half.
This two-in-one Thanksgiving dessert will appeal to everyone at the table. Use tart green apples, which are a delicious contrast to the rich cheesecake filling and sweet caramel topping.
A fruit cobbler is defined by its signature biscuit topping, which covers a jammy fruit filling. This version features apples tossed with sugar, lemon and assorted warming spices.
Pro baker Maya-Camille Broussard makes use of two seasonal staples — sweet potatoes and plantains — in this not-too-sweet pie recipe. The creamy filling is all thanks to a combination of eggs and evaporated milk.
Don’t feel like making a fussy apple pie for Thanksgiving? We get it. Instead, make these crowd-friendly bars, which are so much easier. The crust and topping is made with a double duty streusel.
Spice up your dessert spread with this pumpkin cheesecake, which features a Biscoff cookie crust and rich pumpkin filling. It’s the perfect make-ahead dessert, saving you prep time on Thanksgiving Day.
This old-fashioned pie dates back to the 19th century. It’s made with a lightly spiced custard-like filling but rather than eggs, it relies on cornstarch to thicken it.
There’s no doubt that you’ll wow a crowd with this over-the-top seasonal cake, which features a spiced pumpkin batter, cream cheese frosting and salted caramel glaze. An abundance of fresh blackberries, figs and pomegranate seeds are piled on top to finish.
Hazelnut flavor contributes a natural nutty flavor and fine texture to this fruit cake that’s perfect for fall gatherings. It’s best served warm with vanilla ice cream.
Our take on the classic southern pie features an all-butter pie crust and tangy filling that gets its flavor from a duo of lemon juice and vinegar. You can make the dough up to two days in advance, which will save you time leading up to Thanksgiving.
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Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Mascarpone and Gingersnap Crumble
On first glance, this looks like an ordinary pumpkin pie. But one bite will tell you that it’s anything but ordinary. The filling is made with roasted fresh pumpkins (no canned stuff here!) and is topped with a homemade gingersnap cookie crumble.
Think of this dessert as the autumnal answer to old-fashioned pineapple upside down cake. “I make this cake every year during the holidays when pears are at their peak,” says recipe developer Riley Wofford.
No one will be upset if this classic French dessert makes an appearance on their Thanksgiving table. If you don't own a blow torch, you can pop the crème brulée under the broiler until the sugar is caramelized.
Transform basic boxed cake mix into a moist and flavorful dessert with this easy recipe. The batter calls for boxed instant vanilla pudding and canned pumpkin, which gives each slice a sweeter flavor.
Can’t decide which dessert to bake for Thanksgiving? This one should cover all the bases — and then some. The cherpumple combines cherry, pumpkin and apple pie, along with three different flavors of cake.
If you’ve waited all year for a slice of apple pie on Thanksgiving day, this is the recipe to make. Whether you have freshly picked apples from an orchard or just made a trip to the grocery store produce section, put your haul to good use with this classic preparation. Plus, you’ll learn how to make the perfect flaky dough step by step, so you’ll feel like a true baker.
Don’t be intimidated by making homemade pumpkin pie from scratch. Chef Curtis Stone will walk you through it. Don’t forget to follow this key step: Place the pie on the lowest rack of the oven to ensure that the bottom of the dough cooks through. And of course, top with fresh whipped cream and extra warming spices like cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.
For a wow-factor holiday dessert, top creamy cheesecake with gooey pecan pie topping. Not only does the sticky, pecan-studded caramel sauce cover any cracks on the cheesecake’s surface, but it also balances the tangy flavor of the cream cheese-based filling.
What makes a fruit cobbler different from a crisp? The answer is that instead of an oat streusel topping, a cobbler is topped with biscuit dough. Once baked, the dough puffs up and rests atop the stewy, spiced apples creating a heavenly bite. If you don’t use apples, the same formula works for any stone fruit.
Traditional pecan pie is out of this world, but this chocolate bourbon pecan pie is in another galaxy. To make it, top store-bought pie crusts with pecans and chocolate chips, then cover with a filling made with dark corn syrup, sugar, bourbon, eggs, butter, cornmeal and vanilla. It’s an even richer, more decadent take on the Thanksgiving staple.
Are you team pumpkin or apple pie? For those in the former, try this recipe for creamy pumpkin pie. If you’re willing to go the extra mile, use fresh pumpkin, which you can roast and purée in advance, then store in the freezer until you’re ready to bake.
This no-bake pumpkin cheesecake is practically effortless. Unlike traditional cheesecake, it doesn’t call for any eggs, which means that you don’t need to bake it in a fussy water bath . Make this easy option ahead and refrigerate overnight for a hassle-free dessert.
Chances are that if you make Jennifer Lyle’s (owner of Detroit’s Lush Yummies Pie Company) sweet and creamy ‘Buttamilk’ Caramel Pie, it’ll become your new favorite dessert. The custard filling is topped with a four-ingredient caramel sauce that will have you wanting seconds.
Let your kids handle Thanksgiving dessert this year. Not only do you probably already have all the ingredients you need to make it at home, but it’s also super simple to prepare. Plus, both the filling and the topping can be made ahead of time and stored in the freezer before baking and serving.
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Mini Pumpkin Ginger Cheesecakes with Pecan Brittle and Maple Cream
With pumpkin, ginger, pecans, maple and cheesecake, this might be the ultimate holiday dessert recipe mash-up. Whip up personal creamy cheesecakes atop a zingy gingersnap crust and top with homemade pecan and pumpkin seed brittle (plus maple whipped cream, of course).
For a no-fuss dessert recipe that’s deceptively impressive, try this seasonal cranberry apple crumble. Combine apples, cranberries, sugar, brown sugar, lemon, warming spices, vanilla, cornstarch and salt for the filling. Then whip together a crumbly oat topping. Whether you’re hosting or bringing dessert, make it ahead, cover and reheat when it’s time for dessert. Just don’t forget the vanilla ice cream.
Rolled oats are the star of the show in this dessert by Kelsey Nixon: oatmeal cake topped with a cinnamon pecan crumble. The oatmeal cake is moist thanks to apple sauce, eggs and butter, and gets a welcome crunch thanks to the nutty, toasted topping spiced with cinnamon and brown sugar.
For a no-fuss crisp, whip out two skillets: one for the apples and one for the topping. (You’ll cut the cook time in half!) Plus, you can save even more time by leaving the skin on the apples.
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Coffee Cake with Pumpkin-White Chocolate Glaze
The limit does not exist when it comes to pumpkin desserts on Thanksgiving. This easy pumpkin coffee cake gets a double dose of seasonal flavor, thanks to the white chocolate glaze made with canned pumpkin purée that’s slathered on top.
Why choose between your favorite classic desserts when you can have all three? This sheet-pan dessert created by Jocelyn Delk Adams is a genius solution and features the holiday trifecta of sweet potato, pecan and pumpkin. Plus, she encourages the use of shortcut ingredients like canned sweet potatoes, canned pumpkin and store-bought pie crust to make this project a cinch.
Delight your Thanksgiving guests by whipping out individual apple-bourbon potpies for dessert. If the boozy apple filling isn’t enough, the presentation alone will make everyone’s jaws drop. Would Martha Stewart ever steer you wrong?
Classic pecan pie is synonymous with the holiday season. This recipe by B.J. Chester-Tamayo walks you through how to make a perfectly flaky crust — but if you need a shortcut, store-bought will do just fine.
Use Chinese five-spice powder to make Al Roker’s famous apple crisp! It’s made with a blend of cinnamon, cloves, fennel, star anise and hot Sichuan peppercorns. Up your serving game by dividing the apple filling into individual ramekins so everyone at your table has their own personal dessert.
If you like s’mores, you’ll love this pumpkin marshmallow sheet cake. The cake couldn’t be easier to prepare. Pile it high with marshmallow frosting and broil it (keeping a close eye to ensure it doesn’t burn!) for that signature s’mores toastiness.
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Classic Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Choose your own adventure with this carrot cake recipe: load it with coconut, raisins, nuts and pineapple or keep it simple with just shredded carrots and cream cheese frosting. The choice is up to you!
Put a new spin on this classic dessert. By spiralizing instead of chopping your apples, you’ll save time and end up with beautiful curled fruit ribbons that add an artful element to your final presentation. For another beautiful touch, try your hand at the lattice crust.
This pecan Bundt cake recipe is straight out of the pages of Vallery Lomas’ cookbook, “Life is What You Bake It.” If you already have a Bundt pan at home, this easy cake made with chopped pecans, crushed pineapple and golden raisins practically bakes itself.
To make these apple cider cookies, combine an apple cider reduction with cinnamon and brown sugar. Drizzle with homemade vanilla icing and enjoy these cookies around the table as you serve your guests coffee and tea after the big feast.
We love a recipe name that has the word “quick” in it! The speedy ingredients in this pumpkin cake? Boxed yellow cake mix and a can of pumpkin. Whip up a quick glaze with powdered sugar and heavy cream and you’ve got yourself a dessert that looks like it took a lot more time and effort to put together than it actually did.
These chocolate pecan pie bars are reminiscent of Kentucky Derby pie in the best way. Thanks to the chocolate- bourbon pecan pie filling with graham cracker crust, your guests will be reaching for square after square come dessert time.
Reimagine apple pie this year with this fun take: apple pie empanadas! Use store-bought dough to make mini, individual hand pies loaded with apple pie filling. Don’t forget to dunk into warm caramel or butterscotch sauce.
Are you noticing a theme here? Cutting your dessert into portable bites is a delightful way to enjoy dessert on the go. Just cross your fingers that there are some leftovers. These pumpkin bars, topped with cream cheese frosting and walnuts, double as a great breakfast the morning after the big feast.
Torn between carrot cake and cheesecake? Enjoy both in one bite with these easy carrot cake cheesecake bars. Practice your swirling skills by dolloping cake batter on top of the cheesecake layer. Let melt in the oven slightly, then gently swirl together with the tip of a sharp knife.
What makes this apple pie “unfussy? There’s no lattice, no crimping — you don’t even need a pie dish. Just roll out store-bought dough onto a baking sheet, top with spiced filling, then fold the edges over into a rustic galette. And here’s a handy party trick for you: Slice it with a pizza cutter for easy serving.
Say hello to these vegan and gluten-free pecan pie bars that don’t require baking! This no-bake recipe tops a sticky date and pecan crust and with a filling made from applesauce, pecan butter, coconut sugar, almond milk, coconut oil and cinnamon.
Elevate the more rustic apple crumble by turning it into a cake! To assemble, put one cake layer on a serving plate then spread with icing. Scatter with caramelized apples and the crumble topping, then repeat with the second cake layer and the rest of the frosting and crumble topping.
If you’re a fan of chai-flavored anything, you’ll definitely want to make this apple coffee cake that’s infused with ground cardamom, cinnamon, allspice and cloves. Full of fall flavors, this bundt has large chunks of fresh apple throughout and is topped with a streusel crunch.
In Indian culture, halwa is made by simmering veggies, fruits or flours with ghee, sugar and milk. This version is made with carrots and paired with carrot cake with creamy cashew frosting. The result is a no-bake treat that will delight the senses!
Sure, you may have had an apple or berry crumble, but have you ever made one with stone fruit? Give this recipe for roasted pears with pecan crumble a go. Instead of dicing the fruit, use halved pears as the base for the gluten-free streusel topping made of toasted pecans and oats. And don’t forget a scoop (or two) of vanilla ice cream.
Classic thumbprint cookies have stood the test of time. This version swaps apple butter for more typical jam. To make it even more interesting, the dough has a blend of buckwheat flour, sugar and ground walnuts for added sweetness and texture.
Rosemary isn’t just for savory recipes! The fragrant herb is a key ingredient in these lemon bars, which balances out the sweetness with a welcome earthiness. If you’re not a fan of rosemary, swap it for thyme or sage.
To make German chocolate cake, take sweetened condensed milk, toasted pecans and shredded coconut, along with a homemade sweet and rich frosting. To prevent it from being too sweet (because there is such a thing!), balance it out with unsweetened dark chocolate in the cake batter.
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Apple Loaf Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting
Make this apple loaf cake well in advance of the big feast and stow it away in your freezer. When it’s time to enjoy, let it thaw and whip up a homemade cream cheese frosting to top the spiced apple cake.
Celebrate the beautiful marriage of coffee cake and babka with this stunning treat. The babka base is made with sour cream, which balances the cinnamon, butter and sugar throughout. Top with cinnamon streusel for everyone’s favorite part: picking off the topping.
Old school apple dapple cake is packed with so many apple chunks that the surface of this supremely moist cake has a rippled effect. And that’s a good thing! This way, the ridges in this cake can soak up puddles of powdered sugar icing, which complements the coffee in the batter.
To make this apple slab pie, layer thinly sliced apples spiced with brown sugar and cinnamon on a simple pastry dough. Top with additional circles of pastry dough cut into fun shapes like festive leaves or pumpkins. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
It doesn’t get more nostalgic than homemade pecan tassies. The crust is simple: combine butter, cream cheese and flour. Then fill with a pecan pie-style filling spiked with bourbon, vanilla, chopped toasted pecans and chocolate chips.
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Pecan and Pear Roll-Ups with Chocolate-Hazelnut Dip
Reminiscent of baklava or strudel, these flaky phyllo roll-ups stuffed with spiced pear and pecans are a delight. Make sure to make the chocolate-hazelnut dip, which adds even more of a wow-factor to this dessert.
According to recipe developer Maya-Camille Broussard, this pie “is an absolute dream.” And I can’t imagine that a pecan pie with a rich chocolate filling and sweetened coconut filling could be described any other way. If you have a tree nut allergy, try making this recipe with unsalted peanuts.
If you’re in the mood for a multi-step baking project, try celebrity chef Anne Burrel’s recipe for brown butter apple crostata. While the recipe has a lot of steps, the end result is super impressive and, dare I say, a masterpiece.
This Korean take on pecan pie, excerpted from The Korean Vegan Cookbook: Reflections and Recipes From Omma's Kitchen, uses paht: a red bean paste that tamps down the sweetness compared to more customary pecan pie filling. The vegan-friendly filling is also made with pecans, cinnamon, ginger and sesame seeds.
Just when you thought you’ve seen every variation of apple pie, enter: Dulce de Leche Apple Pie. If you can’t get your hands on a can of dulce de leche, it’s surprisingly easy to make your own using a can of sweetened condensed milk. If you’d rather go a different route, store-bought butterscotch or caramel sauce make great swaps, too.
For a s’mores experience without having to sit around a fire, try these mini pies. In individual ramekins, top the graham cracker crust base with a light and fluffy chocolatey filling. Top with a mountain of mini marshmallows, of course. Bonus: These treats only take less than 10 minutes to bake.
Have gluten-free guests this year? Rest assured that the dessert options don’t have to be any less delicious! This gluten-free apple pie recipe has a buttery crumb topping and a delicious crunch from toasted chopped walnuts.
Excerpted from Ina Garten’s The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, this shortbread cookie recipe is inspired by NYC establishment Zabar’s. She gives the shortbread a festive twist with pecans, which she roasts first for added flavor. (A great tip to remember when baking with any type of nut!)
For an added depth of flavor, add maple syrup to this classic southern pie recipe. Combine melted butter, brown sugar, salt, maple syrup, corn syrup, vanilla and eggs. Strain, add orange zest, then pour over the pecan-studded crust. Bake until the filling has set and then wait for your guests to ask for the secret ingredient.
Let’s say the worst case scenario happens: No one shows up with dessert. Don’t worry, you probably have all the ingredients you need to make this crunchy apple crisp. Raid your pantry and spice cabinet for rolled oats, flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, and slice the apples hanging out in your fruit bowl. This crisp might be low on effort, but it’s big on flavor.
True to its name, this cake tastes exactly like a giant powdered sugar donut. The secret ingredient is nutmeg, which really drives home the donut flavor in this pound-cake style cake dusted with confectioner’s sugar.
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Apple, Brown Butter and Sage Pie with Winnimere Cheese
Yes, you read that right: this apple pie contains cheese. And it’s absolutely delicious. This savory spin on classic apple pie combines sweet apples with nutty brown butter, earthy sage and creamy Winnimere cheese. Definitely don’t knock this until you try it.
Midwestern folks might recognize this sweet treat with an equally sweet name. To make these scotcheroos, melt creamy peanut butter in a pot with corn syrup, brown sugar, butter vanilla and salt, then stir in crispy rice cereal. Spread in a baking dish and cover with melted chocolate and butterscotch chips. Let the mixture set, cut into bars and store in an airtight container until you’re ready to enjoy.
Mix up your dessert table with a light, airy and creamy semifreddo, which means “half frozen.” You can make the base up to a week in advance and store in the freezer. For this version, top with Butter Brickle which is a fun name for toffee bits.
Feeling ambitious? Make this classic French dessert your friends and family will flip over. The apples soak up the maple syrup which makes for a stunning dark golden hue. Each bite of flaky crust, tender apples and maple whipped cream will have you wanting more.
Impress your friends and family with an elegant roulade-style pumpkin cake. While it’s still warm, roll this cake into a stunning spiral. Once cut, each ginger cream cheese-frosted slice reveals a pretty pinwheel.
It’s not Thanksgiving unless everything is pumpkin flavored — including chocolate chip cookies! The pumpkin purée makes these cookies extremely soft and moist, and creamy almond butter adds a subtle nuttiness. I bet you didn’t guess these were gluten-free and vegan either!
