October 2, 2024

milkwoodhernehill

Can't Eat Food

24 of the BEST Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

24 of the BEST Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

I’m sharing 24 of the BEST Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes to bless your table this year! From classic Thanksgiving pies to creative and easy cakes, cobblers, cookies, and more. These easy, holiday-worthy desserts are destined to become new family favorites.

A slice of pumpkin pie on a plate topped with whipped cream and a sugar cookie, next to a fork.

Easy Thanksgiving Desserts to Be Thankful For!

Happy (almost) Thanksgiving, friends! My kitchen is officially overwhelmed with Pecan Pie Muffins and pumpkin-themed everything (like my Chewy Pumpkin Cookies). As the big day nears, I’ve been meticulously going through my favorite Thanksgiving dessert recipes.

Along with the ones I’ve already mentioned, I’m sharing with you only the best of the best desserts today. And I think I’ve narrowed it down to a manageable 24! 

Whether you’re hosting an intimate Thanksgiving gathering or your whole extended family, everyone always looks forward to dessert. And these Thanksgiving goodies never disappoint. 

What Makes These Recipes the Best?

  • Easy desserts, but make them festive. With so many things on the go at Thanksgiving, keeping it simple is the name of the game. These desserts keep it festive at the same time!
  • Seasonal ingredients. I’m all about recipes that are bursting with pumpkin, spice, apples, and more seasonal favorites. Your holiday table deserves nothing less!
  • Perfect for a crowd. My best Thanksgiving dessert recipes are family-friendly, easy to scale, and tried-and-tested crowd-pleasers.

24 Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas to Try

I’ve rounded up my favorite recipes below, from holiday pies to festive fall treats. These are the BEST desserts to celebrate Thanksgiving, from my family to yours!

A serving of pumpkin cobbler on a white plate topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.

Pumpkin Cobbler

Awe your Thanksgiving guests with this easy pumpkin cobbler recipe that looks extra indulgent, but comes together with just a few ingredients! Made from tender pumpkin cake baked in silky caramel sauce with a crunchy pecan topping.

A slice of pumpkin pie on a plate topped with whipped cream and a sugar cookie, with a forkful of pie missing.

Homemade Pumpkin Pie

It doesn’t get more classic than a homemade pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. My recipe is so easy, with a rich and flavorful pumpkin filling made from scratch. Make it with your choice of store-bought or homemade pie crust!

A slice is lifted from a Pecan Pie Cheesecake on a wooden platter.

Pecan Pie Cheesecake

Craving pecan pie, but love cheesecake? Why settle for one or the other when you can have BOTH? This pecan pie cheesecake is two Thanksgiving desserts in one, full of creamy texture and delicious pecan crunch!

A slice of Dutch apple pie is lifted from a pie plate.

Dutch Apple Pie Recipe

A homemade apple pie is a must at Thanksgiving. One whiff of this spiced beauty as she comes out of the oven, and I can almost guarantee that this Dutch apple pie will have your guests clamoring for their forks.

Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes on a serving plate unwrapped

Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes

These adorable mini cheesecakes are full of pumpkin flavor and spiced like fall! This is the perfect bite-sized Thanksgiving dessert that’s sure to please your holiday crowd.

A slice of pecan pie on a white plate topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Easy Pecan Pie Recipe

You can really never go wrong with a classic pie recipe. I mean, there’s a reason that the oldies have stood the test of time! This is my go-to, never-fail homemade pecan pie. It has major dessert street cred, thanks to many appearances on our holiday table!

A Piece of Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie on a Plate

Homemade Sweet Potato Pie

Another classic straight from a Southern kitchen, this creamy sweet potato pie is totally destined for Thanksgiving greatness. The filling is simple yet so luxurious!

Stacked Pecan Pie Brownies on parchment paper

Pecan Pie Brownies

Amongst all the (beloved) pumpkin spice at your Thanksgiving dessert table, let these fudgy pecan pie brownies stand out from the crowd! These are exceptionally ooey-gooey, and everything we love about a decadent chocolate brownie and a classic pecan pie.

Candy Corn Scotcheroos decorated with colored candy melts, stacked on top of one another.

Candy Corn Scotcheroos

Friends and family will love this old-timey recipe for Rice Krispie scotcheroos fashioned into candy corn shapes! These are made with a crunchy peanut butter dessert bar topped with colorful melted chocolate.

Three pumpkin blondies stacked on top of one another.

Easy Pumpkin Blondies

If you’re all about pumpkin this Thanksgiving (100% relatable), then you’re gonna want to make these! My pumpkin blondies are jam-packed with pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice. Basically, an explosion of fall flavor.

A Slice of Pumpkin Mousse Pie on a Dessert Spatula

Fluffy Pumpkin Mousse Pie

It’s the gingersnap crust, for me. This insanely fluffy, airy, and melt-in-your-mouth pumpkin mousse pie is the (almost) no-bake dessert of my dreams.

Chocolate Pecan Pie on a plate

Chocolate Pecan Pie

One of Thanksgiving’s finest, my chocolate pecan pie is a game-changing version of everyone’s favorite crunchy, sugary pie. The chocolate flavor is bound to knock your socks off!

Apple Pie Recipe topped with ice cream

Easy Homemade Apple Pie Recipe

If you’re after something timeless, this easy apple pie recipe is the way to go. I’ll come right out and say it: this is the BEST homemade apple pie filling ever. Perfectly spiced and full of caramelized flavor. Try it, you’ll see!

Image of a Perfect Pumpkin Cake with Maple Frosting

Perfect Pumpkin Cake with Maple Frosting

This light and fluffy pumpkin layer cake is nothing short of perfection, frosted with festive maple buttercream, and ready to be drizzled with maple syrup. Fall desserts don’t get much better than this, honestly.

Image of a Pumpkin S'mores cake

Pumpkin S’mores Cake

Get a load of this pumpkin s’mores cake! Bring a little bit of summer to your Thanksgiving Day with this over-the-top layer cake that turns everyone’s favorite campfire treat into a decadent fall dessert!

Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies on a tray topped with browned butter frosting and sprinkles

Pumpkin Spice Pressed Sugar Cookies

This is one of my easiest recipes for pressed sugar cookies, flavored with cozy pumpkin spice for fall! The cookies are soft, buttery, and smothered with brown butter frosting. Everything I love about holiday baking!

Image of Pumpkin Banana Bread cut into slices.

Pumpkin Banana Bread

Banana bread is just the ultimate fall dessert. Especially when it’s fully loaded with pumpkin! My pumpkin banana bread will wrap you up in all kinds of warm fuzzy feels this Thanksgiving.

Pumpkin Dump Cake image with ice cream and caramel sauce

Pumpkin Dump Cake

This pumpkin dump cake recipe starts with a yellow box cake mix and ends in satisfied bellies! Everything about this recipe makes it ideal as a Thanksgiving dessert: the richness, the pumpkin, the ease. I could go on.

Image of Stacked Cream Cheese Pumpkin Praline Bars

Cream Cheese Pumpkin Praline Bars

These irresistible cream cheese pumpkin praline bars are layer upon layer of fall-inspired YUM. The decadent cream cheese filling set between moist pumpkin cake is divine, and don’t even get me started on that buttery praline topping!

Apple Cider Cookies on a cooling rack

Chewy Apple Cider Cookies

These homemade apple cider cookies were made for your Thanksgiving dessert menu! The flavors are so warm, subtly spiced, and the perfect ode to fall. Like an apple cider donut in chewy sugar cookie form!

Pumpkin Cookie broken in half stacked

Pumpkin Cookies

Everything about these chewy homemade pumpkin cookies melts in your mouth, from the rich pumpkin crumb to the buttery brown sugar frosting. A Thanksgiving cookie if there ever was one!

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars stacked on top of one another.

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

You’ll love this recipe for silky apple caramel cheesecake that’s served in crowd-pleasing bars! The flavor is unmatched, with a creamy apple cheesecake filling topped with a buttery oat streusel and lashings of decadent caramel.

Sliced Pumpkin Cheesecake on a platter

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Who could say no to a slice of velvety-smooth pumpkin cheesecake? This recipe keeps it super simple but packs just the right pop of pumpkin flavor.

A stack of Pecan Pie Bars

Pecan Pie Bars

Handheld desserts and Thanksgiving crowds are a match made in holiday heaven! Enjoy all the flavors and layers you love about pecan pie – sugary pecan filling, buttery flaky pie crust – in a convenient to-go dessert bar!