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A Thanksgiving meal isn’t complete without dessert! Pie is always the popular option, but this collection contains an entire assortment of pies, cakes, bars, and other Thanksgiving desserts.

More Collections: Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas, Thanksgiving Appetizers, Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Collage of Thanksgiving dessert recipes.

Gotta Love Sweets!

Besides turkey, Thanksgiving is synonymous with pie. From pumpkin to coconut cream, pie is a perfect dessert for this holiday, but it is not the only dessert worthy of finishing off a Thanksgiving feast.

We have you covered:

  • Variety. From pies to cheesecakes, we are sharing all of the best Thanksgiving desserts with you!
  • Favorites. We have so many favorites, but Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Delight top the list!
  • Make Ahead. Many of these can be made in advance so you don’t have to occupy an oven on Turkey Day or have more work to do on Thanksgiving.
Pecan Pie served on a white plate.

The Famous Thanksgiving Pie

In the early 1800’s, Sarah Josepha Hale, a widow with five children, went to work as a writer and magazine editor to support her family. A fan of Thanksgiving, she wrote every year (for 17 years) to the president and Congress asking them to proclaim it a national holiday.

Finally, in 1863 Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November a national day of Thanksgiving. Hale excitedly promoted the idea by publishing recipes for Turkey, Stuffing — and of course Pumpkin Pie

A slice of pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream on a white plate.

Tips for Easy Thanksgiving Desserts

Here are a handful of TIPS that come in handy with Thanksgiving dessert ideas:

  • Plan ahead. Make as many desserts ahead of time as possible. Most desserts store well, and still taste delicious the next day.
  • Dessert table. Have a separate Thanksgiving dessert table. Place small saucers, utensils, and napkins next to the dessert display.
  • Display. Using tiered trays is a beautiful way to present desserts, as well as save space.
  • Adding a label to each dessert gives a nice finish to the display. Include important allergy information on the labels like dairy-free, nut-free, or gluten-free.
  • Leftover desserts can be boxed up and sent home with guests. Many desserts can also be stored on the counter or freezer to be enjoyed at a later date. See the individual recipes for storage information.

Best Thanksgiving Desserts

We love including a variety of flavors and types of Thanksgiving dessert recipes, and we’ve gathered up our top must-makes!

56 Homemade Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Dessert Homemade Pumpkin Pie Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Recipe Video

4.77 from 17 votes
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57 Pecan Pie Bars Recipe

Dessert Pecan Pie Bars Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour

Recipe Video

5 from 155 votes
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58 Pumpkin Delight Recipe

Dessert Pumpkin Delight Recipe
Total Time: 3 hours 35 minutes

Recipe Video

4.98 from 695 votes
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59 Apple Pie Recipe

Dessert Apple Pie Recipe
Total Time: 3 hours 45 minutes

Recipe Video

4.99 from 81 votes
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60 Pumpkin Dump Cake Recipe

Dessert Pumpkin Dump Cake Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Recipe Video

4.98 from 1039 votes
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61 Thanksgiving Sugar Cookie Recipe

Dessert Thanksgiving Sugar Cookie Recipe
Total Time: 40 minutes
5 from 16 votes
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62 Pumpkin Brownie Recipe

Dessert Pumpkin Brownie Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 3 minutes

Recipe Video

4.98 from 481 votes
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63 Pumpkin Lasagna Recipe

Dessert Pumpkin Lasagna Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Recipe Video

4.96 from 50 votes
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64 Pumpkin Roll Recipe

Dessert Pumpkin Roll Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours 35 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 2 votes
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65 Pecan Pie Recipe

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Dessert Pecan Pie Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Recipe Video

4.81 from 21 votes
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Easy Thanksgiving Desserts

Believe it or not, our family probably has more cakes and bars than pies during the holidays. We just love how simple they are, and that they feed a lot.

They are delicious, and can usually be served with Homemade Whipped Cream or Ice Cream.

66 Pumpkin Crunch Cake Recipe

Dessert Pumpkin Crunch Cake Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 12 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 302 votes
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67 Pumpkin Magic Cake

Dessert Pumpkin Magic Cake
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Recipe Video

4.98 from 89 votes
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68 Pumpkin Cupcake Recipe

Dessert Pumpkin Cupcake Recipe
Total Time: 27 minutes

Recipe Video

4.98 from 98 votes
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69 Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Dessert Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes

Recipe Video

4.99 from 65 votes
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70 Peach Cobbler

Dessert Peach Cobbler
Total Time: 35 minutes

Recipe Video

4.99 from 955 votes
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71 White Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles

Dessert White Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles
Total Time: 15 minutes

72 Oreo Turkeys Recipe

Dessert Oreo Turkeys Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
5 from 3 votes
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73 Pumpkin Cobbler Recipe

Dessert Pumpkin Cobbler Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
5 from 21 votes
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74 Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Dessert Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Total Time: 40 minutes
4.95 from 20 votes
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75 Apple Dump Cake Recipe

Dessert Apple Dump Cake Recipe
Total Time: 55 minutes
5 from 21 votes
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76 No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

Dessert No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes
4.95 from 17 votes
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77 Crock Pot Apple Crisp Recipe

Dessert Crock Pot Apple Crisp Recipe
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
5 from 14 votes
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78 Pumpkin Bars Recipe

Dessert Pumpkin Bars Recipe
Total Time: 45 minutes
5 from 10 votes
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79 Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

Dessert Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 29 minutes
5 from 17 votes
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80 Iced Pumpkin Cookie Recipe

Dessert Iced Pumpkin Cookie Recipe
4.91 from 11 votes
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Thanksgiving Pies

Pumpkin pie may be the favorite, but there are so many other great pies that can be made. Here are some of the most popular pies on the site, perfect for your upcoming Turkey Day celebrations.

And don’t forget to use our Homemade Pie Crust Recipe for these!

81 No Bake Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Dessert No Bake Pumpkin Pie Recipe
Total Time: 3 hours 17 minutes
5 from 3 votes
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82 Crustless Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Dessert Crustless Pumpkin Pie Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 52 votes
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83 Buttermilk Pie Recipe

Dessert Buttermilk Pie Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour

Recipe Video

5 from 568 votes
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84 Berry Pie

Dessert Berry Pie
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
4.96 from 66 votes
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85 Oatmeal Pie Recipe

Dessert Oatmeal Pie Recipe
Total Time: 5 hours

Recipe Video

5 from 11 votes
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86 Apple Crumble Pie Recipe

Dessert Apple Crumble Pie Recipe
Total Time: 55 minutes
4.50 from 2 votes
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87 Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe

Dessert Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe
Total Time: 4 hours 45 minutes
5 from 18 votes
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88 Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

Dessert Sweet Potato Pie Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 31 votes
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89 Sugar Cream Pie Recipe

Dessert Sugar Cream Pie Recipe
Total Time: 3 hours 40 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 21 votes
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90 Chocolate Pecan Pie Recipe

Dessert Chocolate Pecan Pie Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
5 from 20 votes
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91 Mini Pecan Pies

Dessert Mini Pecan Pies
Total Time: 23 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 41 votes
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92 Mini Pumpkin Pies

Dessert Mini Pumpkin Pies
Total Time: 43 minutes

Recipe Video

4.95 from 34 votes
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93 Coconut Cream Pie Recipe

Dessert Coconut Cream Pie Recipe
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes

Recipe Video

4.92 from 34 votes
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94 Lemon Meringue Pie Recipe

Dessert Lemon Meringue Pie Recipe
Total Time: 45 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 2 votes
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95 Pecan Pie Cheesecake Recipe

Dessert Pecan Pie Cheesecake Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes

Recipe Video

4.96 from 151 votes
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Classic Desserts That Work Too!

Still need more ideas? No worries, we’ve got some classics that never disappoint! Now you just need to narrow you’re list down-or don’t. 😉

96 Chocolate Sheet Cake Recipe

Dessert Chocolate Sheet Cake Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 38 votes
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97 Cream Puff Cake Recipe

Dessert Cream Puff Cake Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 142 votes
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98 Gooey Butter Cake Recipe

Dessert Gooey Butter Cake Recipe
Total Time: 47 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 475 votes
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99 Bread Pudding Recipe

Dessert Bread Pudding Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Recipe Video

4.99 from 76 votes
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100 Homemade Brownies Recipe

Dessert Homemade Brownies Recipe
Total Time: 45 minutes

Recipe Video

4.98 from 169 votes
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101 German Chocolate Cake Recipe

Dessert German Chocolate Cake Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour

Recipe Video

5 from 106 votes
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102 Easy Chocolate Cake Recipe

Dessert Easy Chocolate Cake Recipe
Total Time: 50 minutes

Recipe Video

4.97 from 262 votes
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103 Vanilla Cake Recipe

Dessert Vanilla Cake Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 15 votes
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104 Cherry Bars Recipe

Dessert Cherry Bars Recipe
Total Time: 43 minutes

Recipe Video

4.98 from 46 votes
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105 Cookie Bars Recipe

Dessert Cookie Bars Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes

Recipe Video

4.93 from 89 votes
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106 Dirt Cake Recipe

Dessert Dirt Cake Recipe
Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes

Recipe Video

4.99 from 166 votes
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107 Blondie Recipe

Dessert Blondie Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes

Recipe Video

4.88 from 16 votes
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108 Rice Krispie Treat Recipe

Dessert Rice Krispie Treat Recipe
Total Time: 10 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 34 votes
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109 Scotcheroos Recipe

Dessert Scotcheroos Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes

Recipe Video

4.97 from 406 votes
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110 Mini Fruit Tarts Recipe

Dessert Mini Fruit Tarts Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes
5 from 13 votes
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A Cake To Be Thankful For!

We sure love Thanksgiving desserts and love that there are so many options to choose from.

We always love quick and easy desserts, and one of our favorites is Pumpkin Crunch Cake so it only made sense to put a Thanksgiving twist on it. Introducing Thanksgiving cake! It is quick, simple and everyone loves it!

Here is the recipe:

5 from 16 votes

50+ Thanksgiving Desserts – Thanksgiving Cake Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
A pumpkin pie-ish dessert that is full of fall flavor and topped with crunchy pecans and a dollop of whipped cream.
Servings: 18
Prep: 12 minutes
Cook: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 12 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 1 15 oz. can pumpkin puree
  • 1 12 oz. can evaporated milk
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • 1 cup pecans chopped
  • 1 cup unsalted butter melted
  • 1 8 oz. container whipped topping frozen

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Combine pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, pumpkin spice, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Mix until combined – it will be runny.
  • Pour batter into a greased 9×13 pan. Sprinkle cake mix on top of the batter. Gently pat the cake mix down completely covering the batter.
  • Spread the chopped pecans over the cake mix layer in an even layer, then drizzle it with melted butter.
  • Bake for 60-80 minutes or until done. Allow the Thanksgiving cake to stand for 5-10 minutes before serving. Top with whipped cream or ice cream. 

Nutrition

Calories: 292kcal, Carbohydrates: 36g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 64mg, Sodium: 289mg, Potassium: 53mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 24g, Vitamin A: 380IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 74mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Making this recipe? Tag us!
Share it with us on Instagram using the hashtag #lilluna, so we can see what you’re creating in the kitchen!

Thanksgiving Sweets

You will definitely want to save room for dessert on Thanksgiving with so many great recipes to choose from – which ones are you planning to make?

More Collections: Fall Dessert Recipes, Pumpkin Recipes, Best Pie Recipes

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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19 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Such a great variety of yummy desserts! I especially love the bite-sized desserts like the mini pies. They make it easy for people to try a little bit of everything.

  2. 5 stars
    The Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies are our favorite!! They are amazing! Such a great list of desserts for Thanksgiving. Can’t wait to try some new ones too.