Desserts may come last, but we can all agree that they are the best part of every meal. These 14 Thanksgiving dessert recipes will make a sweet end to your feast. From classic options like a sweet and nutty pecan pie to vegan cookies, there’s much to present at your Thanksgiving table.
Read on for some of the best crowd-pleasing thanksgiving desserts you need on your menu.
1. Pumpkin Pie
You can never go wrong with a scrumptious slice of Thanksgiving pumpkin pie. Deliciously moist and flavorful, everyone loves a perfectly baked pumpkin pie.
This pumpkin pie is so good and easy to make. It has all the standard ingredients required for a moist and silky pie. But what takes it to the next level is its incredibly tasty caramel pecan topping which gives it a unique nutty taste.
Serve with some whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
2. Classic Apple Pie
This apple pie is perfection on a plate. With a beautiful flaky lattice crust, the inside is filled with chunks of nicely seasoned apples.
With the pie filling coated with a delicious apple caramel sauce, you get an attractive stack of apples in each slice. Granny Smith, Fuji, and honey crisp apples are appropriate for this dessert because they hold the sauce properly.
Be sure to get the right consistency of the sauce because it can make or break your dessert. Serve with a scoop of ice cream, and enjoy!
3. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
These fudgy chocolate crinkle cookies are an excellent alternative to brownies or regular cookies. They are as chewy as standard cookies, moist like brownies, and taste incredible.
Who can resist such a treat? So quick to make and delicious, it’s a perfect Thanksgiving dessert and other festivities. They are rolled in powdered sugar before they are put in the oven. As the cookies spread in the pan, the sugar will crack, which gives them their crinkled look.
You can bake these cookies a day or two before Thanksgiving. They will still look and taste amazing!
4. Ginger-Cherry Pie
Add a spicy twist to your regular cherry pie with some ginger. The tartness of cherries with the spiciness of ginger forms an irresistible flavor. Pair it with a buttery, flaky crust, and you have a winner!
This ginger-cherry pie features tasty ingredients: cinnamon, ginger, butter, allspice, cloves, and sea salt in the flaky pastry crust. It’s woven into a beautiful golden brown lattice that is attractive and unbelievably delicious. The cherry filling has minced ginger, light brown sugar, vanilla, and others for a balanced flavor.
Considering this pie’s scrumptious, feel free when everyone clears their plate.
5. Caramel Apple Cheesecake
When in doubt, make a cheesecake! You can never go wrong with one- it’s soft, moist, fluffy, and insanely delicious. This caramel apple cheesecake has everything you want in a cake!
The natural sweetness of apples and caramel pairs nicely with the tanginess of the delicious cream cheese filling. Cinnamon, brown sugar, and lemon juice also a spicy sweetness to the cake. The streusel topping gives it a delightful crunch; what else do you need? Not to mention, it’s easy to make!
Serve this beautiful cake with a drizzle of maple syrup to the pickiest eaters, and they’ll have zero complaints.
6. Pecan Pie Bark
If you’re tired of the traditional pecan pie, make it into a bark! This pecan pie bark is undoubtedly one of the easiest, tastiest Thanksgiving treats. You need a graham cracker base and some other ingredients.
These handheld goodies are super crunchy and can be made in as little as ten minutes. Melt some butter, pecans, brown sugar, and sauce in a pan. Pour it over your graham crackers base and stick it in the oven, and it’s ready!
It has pecan pies’ sticky, nutty sweetness, so everyone will enjoy it.
7. Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
Nothing compares to the taste of some warm pumpkin cinnamon rolls. They are soft, fluffy, and have incredibly delicious fall flavors. These rolls have pumpkin in the dough and pumpkin spice in the filling.
They are made with rich dough (sorry if you’re watching your carbs intake) and have eggs, butter, and milk in them. You also have cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, and others in the filling. It’s a total comfort snack perfect for dessert.
Serve with a maple cinnamon cream cheese frosting.
8. Fudgy Brownies
You’ll swoon over these sweet, fudgy brownies if you love chocolate. But who wouldn’t? These crumbly brownies are so moist they melt in your mouth. Plus, they are quick to make and irresistibly delicious.
These decadent brownies are so easy; you only need one bowl. Mix all the necessary ingredients, pour on a large baking pan, and bake in the oven. You don’t need baking soda or powder for this recipe because you don’t want them to be similar to cakes.
You get the tastiest brownies ever in a few minutes.
9. Purple Sweet Potato Pie
The impeccable taste of sweet potato pie is undeniably amazing, but it can appear basic. Have you ever considered changing the color? This purple sweet potato pie is just as soft and flavorful as the standard.
But this pie uses purple sweet potatoes ( they’re not sold everywhere, so be free to use any potatoes available). It’s your regular recipe but with a gingerbread crust and pecan streusel. The colored hue does make it seem more festive, but it tastes the same and its homemade pie crust is buttery and tasty.
Serve with or without whipped cream, and it will taste excellent.
10. Maple Pecan Pie Scones
These delicious pecan pie scones are filled with oats and pecans. They are buttery, tender, and hit the right spot.
Unlike different dry scones, these options are specifically made with buttermilk and cream, making them feel moist and delicious. It’s the ultimate fall treat; rest assured, everyone at the table will appreciate it.
Each scone is finished with a sweet maple glaze, which makes it an awesome treat alone. But you can always serve them with hot cocoa for breakfast.
11. Whole Apple Dumplings
Here’s an impressive festive dessert that will capture your attention from across the room. These delicious, whole apple dumplings are sweet, juicy, and fun to eat.
Made with honey-crisp fresh apples, they are covered in rough puff pastry and nicely seasoned with cinnamon, nutmeg, light brown sugar, and other ingredients. They are then placed in the oven to bake, which gives them their beautiful, crisp golden brown color.
These apples are a delightful treat that everyone, including kids, can enjoy. Serve with or without a delicious caramel sauce for the ultimate flavor.
12. Sweet Potato Sugar Cookies
Cookies are always a great alternative when you have limited time. Plus, you can serve them alongside another dessert. These sweet potato sugar cookies are so soft and chewy that you won’t be able to stop eating them.
Flavored with vanilla extract, fine sea salt, and light brown sugar, these cookies have a wonderful sweet and savory flavor. They are made with sweet potato puree and butter, which makes them extra soft and buttery.
Stick them back in the oven with a marshmallow on top. The heat will melt it, ultimately forming a creamy marshmallow topping!
13. Apple Cider Doughnut Holes
These sweet doughnut holes are a classic; they’re soft, pillowy balls of goodness covered in cinnamon sugar. Aside from their wonderful taste, they’re also easy and quick to make!
These yeast doughnuts are made with apple cider, butter, yeast, and an egg. After mixing, allow the dough to rise, then use a cookie cutter to form the shape. Allow it to rise again before frying in oil.
Frying each doughnut hole may seem time-consuming, but they are definitely worth the wait. Then, toss them in a container filled with cinnamon sugar, and your treats are ready!
14. Orange & Cardamom Creme Brulee
Try this creme brulee recipe for a more formal thanksgiving party. The citrusy sweetness of orange combines with the spicy warmth of cardamom to create this delicious dessert.
Even though it looks a bit complex, it’s surprisingly easy to make. This creamy dessert uses the entire orange- juice and rind- to get that bitter-sweet taste for the perfect balance. The flavor might be amazing, but the caramelized top is what sells this gorgeous dessert.
To get this top, you must sprinkle some sugar on the dish and use a blowtorch over it. This will cause the sugar to form a sticky layer that caramelizes to create the topping.
14 thanksgiving dessert recipes
Bring the festivities to a sweet end with these 14 thanksgiving dessert recipes; your taste buds will thank you!
Ingredients
Pumpkin Pie
Classic Apple Pie
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Ginger-Cherry Pie
Caramel Apple Cheesecake
Pecan Pie Bark
Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
Fudgy Brownies
Purple Sweet Potato Pie
Maple Pecan Pie Scones
Whole Apple Dumplings
Sweet Potato Sugar Cookies
Apple Cider Doughnut Holes
Orange & Cardamom Creme Brulee
Directions
- Choose your preferred recipe
- Assemble the necessary tools and ingredients
- Prepare a Thanksgiving dessert in 30 minutes or less!