Even if you think you've had enough, no Thanksgiving dinner is complete without dessert. Buttery pies and creamy cheesecakes, the sweet treats at the end, are as important as the turkey. Here, we'll look at some of the best desserts from traditional recipes, creative twists, and great options for different dietary requirements.
| Dessert | Difficulty | Prep Time | Cook/Chill Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pumpkin Pie | Medium | 20 mins | 50–60 mins |
| Apple Pie | Medium | 30 mins | 45–50 mins |
| Pecan Pie | Easy | 15 mins | 55–60 mins |
| Sweet Potato Pie | Medium | 20 mins | 50 mins |
| Cranberry Cake | Easy | 15 mins | 35–40 mins |
| Classic Cheesecake | Medium-Hard | 25 mins | 50–60 mins + chill |
| Pecan Pie Bars | Easy | 20 mins | 40 mins |
| No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake | Easy | 20 mins | 4 hrs (chill) |
| Caramel Apple Trifle | Easy | 20 mins | No bake |
| Chocolate Pumpkin Roll | Hard | 30 mins | 12 + cooling |
| Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes | Easy | 20 mins | 18–20 mins |
| Cranberry Tart | Medium | 25 mins | 35–40 mins |
| Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie | Medium | 20 mins | 50 mins |
| Vegan Apple Crisp | Easy | 15 mins | 35 mins |
| Dairy-Free Chocolate Tart | Easy | 15 mins | 2 hrs (chill) |
| Coconut Cream Pie | Medium | 20 mins | 4 hrs (chill) |
Traditional Thanksgiving Desserts
Pies and cakes are among the most common desserts at Thanksgiving. Here are recipes for some of our favourites. These are the traditional desserts that won't look out of place at most dinner tables and some that you can even make for different holidays.
Pumpkin Pie
A pumpkin pie is an iconic Thanksgiving dessert. With a silky spiced filling and flaky crust, it's unbeatable. Flavours of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves make it many people's favourite.
Ingredients
- 1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust
- 1 can (425 g) pumpkin puree
- 2 eggs + 1 yolk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp nutmeg, ¼ tsp cloves, pinch salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Whisk pumpkin, eggs, cream, sugar, and spices until smooth.
- Pour into crust; bake for 50–60 minutes until set.
Apple Pie
Another classic Thanksgiving dessert idea. Use tender apples in a buttery pastry and you can't go wrong. Mix tart and sweet apples for balance. A timeless and comforting recipe that's great at Christmas, too!
🍏 Crisp
🍎 Classic
🥧 Comforting
Ingredients
- 2 pie crusts (top + bottom)
- 6 apples, sliced
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp nutmeg
- 1 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Mix apples with sugar, flour, and spices. Fill crust; dot with butter.
- Cover with top crust, crimp edges, cut vents. Bake for 45–50 minutes.
For flaky crusts, keep your butter and water as cold as possible. Chill the dough before rolling, and don't overwork it. This keeps the pastry tender. A light egg wash before baking adds a golden shine.
Pecan Pie
With its caramel-like filling, many love pecan pie. It's rich, sweet, and full of crunch. If you really have a sweet tooth, consider this recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust
- 1 cup corn syrup
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- 1½ cups pecan halves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Whisk syrup, sugar, eggs, and butter. Stir in pecans.
- Pour into crust; bake for 55–60 minutes until set.
Sweet Potato Pie
A rival to pumpkin pie in many Southern homes, this is a great choice anywhere in the country. It's smooth and naturally sweet with hints of vanilla and spice. With cream on top, this recipe may even win over those who expect a traditional pumpkin pie.
Ingredients
- 1 unbaked pie crust
- 2 cups mashed cooked sweet potato
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla, ½ tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Mix potatoes, eggs, butter, sugar, milk, and spices until smooth.
- Pour into crust; bake for 50 minutes.
Cranberry Cake
Cranberry cake can bring colour and a tart flavour to Thanksgiving. A lighter alternative to heavier pies. It's a fresh twist on traditional holiday recipes.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 tsp baking powder, pinch salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cream butter and sugar; add eggs. Fold in dry ingredients, then cranberries.
- Bake for 35–40 minutes in a greased pan.
Need more ideas? Try these.
Classic Cheesecake
While this isn't most families' first-choice dessert for Thanksgiving, it could be. Rich and creamy, cheesecake goes well with seasonal toppings like cranberry sauce. This is a versatile Thanksgiving dessert.
Ingredients
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 3 and 1/2 cups cream cheese
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Mix crumbs + butter, press into springform pan.
- Beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Pour over crust.
- Bake for 50–60 minutes until just set.
Twists on Classic Thanksgiving Desserts
Are you getting bored with the same old Thanksgiving desserts? Looking to mix things up or add an option for those looking for a change? Here are some twists on classic recipes that will have guests coming back for more (or at least won't upset too many traditionalists).
Pecan Pie Bars
Think pecan pie, but portable. Pecan pie bars have a buttery crust and a gooey nut filling. They're easy to slice and share, and a more practical dessert for Thanksgiving. They're also much easier to take outside if you'd like.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour, ½ cup sugar, 1 cup butter (crust)
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup corn syrup
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 cups pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Mix crust ingredients; press into pan, bake 15 minutes.
- Whisk eggs, syrup, sugar, pecans; pour over crust. Bake for 25 minutes.
Or you could try these pecan cookies, too.
No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake
When your oven is likely to be mainly in use for hours at a time, any no-bake recipe is welcome. This no-bake pumpkin cheesecake is the answer. An easy Thanksgiving dessert that tastes great and comes complete with holiday-appropriate flavours.
Ingredients
- 2 cups graham crumbs, ½ cup butter
- 1 and 1/2 cups cream cheese
- 1 can pumpkin puree
- ½ cup sugar, 1 tsp pumpkin spice
- 1 cup whipped cream
Instructions
- Mix crumbs + butter, press into pie dish.
- Beat cream cheese, pumpkin, sugar, and spice.
- Fold in whipped cream; chill 4 hrs.
Caramel Apple Trifle
Layers of cake, cream, apples, and caramel sauce. This show-stopper requires minimal effort. Serve it in a big bowl or mini cups as a fun alternative to pie.
Ingredients
- 1 pound cake, cubed
- 4 apples, sautéed with butter, sugar, and cinnamon
- 2 cups whipped cream
- ½ cup caramel sauce
Instructions
- In a trifle bowl, layer cake, apples, cream, and caramel.
- Repeat until bowl is full.
Chocolate Pumpkin Roll
Two holiday favourites in a single dessert. What more could you want? Cocoa sponge filled with pumpkin cream and rolled into a swirl. Festive, eye-catching, and light.
🍫 Decadent
🎃 Festive
✨ Elegant
Ingredients
- ¾ cup flour, ¼ cup cocoa, 1 tsp baking powder
- 3 eggs, ¾ cup sugar
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp pumpkin spice
- 1 cup whipped cream cheese frosting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Beat eggs and sugar until fluffy; fold in flour, cocoa, and pumpkin. Spread in sheet pan; bake for 12 min.
- Roll warm cake in towel; cool, fill with frosting, reroll.
Thanksgiving can be a busy time, so plan ahead. Pies and cheesecakes can be baked a day or two in advance, while no-bake desserts can chill overnight. This saves time and ensures your desserts are appropriately set.
Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Pumpkin spice cupcakes are a great alternative to pumpkin pie. Moist, spiced cake topped with cream cheese frosting is always a popular choice. These tiny cakes are the perfect desserts for some variety. You could even decorate these as spooky Halloween desserts, too!
Ingredients
- 1½ cups flour, 1 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp nutmeg
- 2 eggs, 1 cup sugar, ½ cup pumpkin puree
- ½ cup butter, melted
- Cream cheese frosting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Mix dry ingredients; whisk wet ingredients separately. Combine and fill cupcake liners. Bake for 18–20 minutes.
- Frost when cool.
Cranberry Tart with Almond Crust
This cranberry tart has an almond crust, which makes it tangy, nutty, and bright. It also just looks great on the holiday table. A modern, stylish take on traditional Thanksgiving desserts.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups almond flour, ½ cup butter, ¼ cup sugar (crust)
- 2 cups cranberries, ½ cup sugar, ½ cup orange juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Mix crust ingredients; press into tart pan; bake for 10 minutes.
- Simmer cranberries, sugar, and juice until the mixture is thick. Pour into crust; cool.
Allergy-Friendly Thanksgiving Desserts
Dessert at Thanksgiving can be a nightmare for those who don't eat butter, flour, or cream. They shouldn't have to miss out, though! Here are some easy Thanksgiving desserts with dietary needs in mind.
Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie
An accessible version of the pumpkin pie for those who can't have gluten. Using an almond-flour crust, you can still enjoy the creamy, spiced filling. Gluten-free doesn't mean you have to completely change your menu.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups almond flour
- 3 tbsp butter, melted
- 1 can pumpkin puree
- 2 eggs, 1 cup cream, ¾ cup sugar
- Spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves
Instructions
- Mix almond flour and butter; press into pie dish.
- Prepare pumpkin filling as usual; pour in crust.
- Bake for 50 minutes at 350°F.
Vegan Apple Crisp
By skipping butter, you can enjoy the flavour while making something suitable for vegans. Baked apples on a golden oat topping are delicious. This is a great dish when adapting to dietary requirements.
Ingredients
- 6 apples, sliced
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 1 cup oats, ½ cup almond flour
- ½ cup coconut oil
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Toss apples with maple syrup and cinnamon.
- Mix oats, almond flour, and oil for topping. Sprinkle over apples; bake for 35 minutes.
Dairy-Free Chocolate Tart
By replacing cream with coconut milk, this recipe is dairy-free. This tart is silky, rich, and chocolately. It won't last long, that's for sure. This is also great for Easter dessert, when chocolate is regularly on the menu.
Ingredients
- 1 prebaked tart shell
- 2 and 1/3 cups dark chocolate
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
Instructions
- Heat coconut milk; pour over chopped chocolate and syrup. Stir smooth.
- Pour into tart shell; chill until set.
Flourless Pecan Cake
Without flour, you get a dense, nutty, and naturally gluten-free pecan cake. Using eggs to hold it together, this is a simple yet elegant option. Looking for something unique? This is a good option.
Ingredients
- 2 cups ground pecans
- 4 eggs
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Beat eggs and sugar; fold in pecans, butter, and vanilla.
- Pour into greased pan; bake for 30–35 minutes.
Coconut Cream Pie (Dairy-Free)
Add a bit of tropical flair to the holiday table with this dairy-free coconut cream pie. Coconut milk topped with toasted flakes makes this light and tasty. This is a refreshing dessert for Thanksgiving and one that works with plenty of different diets.
Ingredients
- 1 prebaked pie crust
- 2 cups coconut milk
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Toasted coconut flakes
Instructions
- Heat coconut milk, sugar, and cornstarch until thick.
- Pour into crust; chill 4 hours.
- Top with whipped coconut cream and flakes.
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