A thanksgiving meal isn’t complete without dessert! Of course, pie is always the popular option, but this collection contains an entire assortment of pies, cakes, bars, and other recipes that work great for Thanksgiving Desserts.
From pies to cheesecakes, we are sharing all of the best Thanksgiving desserts for you! We have so many favorites but Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Delight top the list!
MORE COLLECTIONS: Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas, Thanksgiving Appetizers, Thanksgiving Side Dishes, Pumpkin Recipes
Tips for easy Thanksgiving desserts
Besides turkey, Thanksgiving is synonymous with Pie. From Pumpkin to Coconut Cream, pie is definitely a perfect desert for this holiday, but it is not the only dessert worthy to finish off a Thanksgiving feast. I’ve collected a few of our favorite dessert recipes that I know your family and friends will love.
Before I share recipes, here are a handful of TIPS that come in handy with Thanksgiving Desserts:
- Make as many desserts ahead of time as possible. Most desserts store well and still taste delicious the next day.
- Plan for people to have 2 desserts. A few guests won’t want to have dessert while others will only want 1 or 2 servings. Some, with a sweet tooth, will desire more. Planning 2 desserts per person will ensure everyone gets their fill.
- Have a separate serving area for desserts. Place small saucers, utensils and napkins next to the dessert 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. You can even include important allergy information on the labels.
- 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.
thanksgiving Pies
Pumpkin pie may be the favorite, but there are so many other great ones that can be made. Here are some of the most popular pies on the site perfect for you upcoming Turkey day celebrations.
And don’t forget to use our Homemade Pie Crust Recipe for these!
Pumpkin Pie – Made From Canned Pumpkin, Seasonal Spices, And Evaporated Milk, This Pie Is A Must Have Dessert During The Holidays.
Apple Pie – This Recipe For Homemade Apple Pie Has Proven To Be The BEST Apple Pie Recipe Around. With A Flaky, Buttery Crust Made From Scratch, And A Gooey, Sweet Apple Filling, This Pie Will Not Disappoint!
Pecan Pie – Buttery, Nutty, Ooey Gooey Pecan Pie Is SO Easy To Make And Only Requires A Handful Of Ingredients.
Buttermilk Pie – Scrumptious Buttermilk Pie Has A Flaky Pastry Crust And Creamy, Custard Like Filling That Comes Together In 5 Minutes!
Chocolate Pecan Pie – Decadent Chocolate Pecan Pie Is Made With A Homemade Pie Crust And Is Filled With Chocolate-Y Goodness And Crunchy Pecans.
Coconut Cream Pie – A classic pie recipe, filled with coconut pudding and topped with whipped cream and toasted coconut shreds.
Banana Cream Pie – Banana Cream Pie is filled with layers of banana encased in a rich, creamy, vanilla custard a top a flay pie crust. It is an old-fashioned style pie that has pleased for generations!
Triple Berry Pie – Fresh And Fruity Triple Berry Pie Is Easy And Delicious With Only 30 Minutes Prep Time. It’s Perfect All Year Long!
Chocolate Cream Pie – This Chocolate Cream Pie Has Two Types Of Chocolate In A Creamy Pudding, Topped With Whipped Cream And Chocolate Curls!!
Cherry Pie – his Recipe For Cherry Pie Is Simple And Elegant, But It Tastes Amazing.
Sweet Potato Pie – It Has A Silky Smooth Texture, The Perfect Hint Of Spice, And A Crisp Crust. Top It With A Little Whipped Cream, And It’s Totally Irresistible!
Thanksgiving dessert Bars
We love to also make dessert bars because you can usually feed quite a few people with them. These ones all work well for Thanksgiving.
Pumpkin Brownies – Pumpkin, chocolate, and spices unite to make one pan of deliciousness that will sure to satisfy anyone’s pumpkin addiction.
Pumpkin Bars – Fluffy And Moist Pumpkin Bars That Are Oozing With Autumn Charm. They’re Topped With The Most Delicious Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting, Making Them Sweet And Irresistible!
Sugar Cookie Bars – One Of Everyone’s Favorite Cookies In Bar Form! These Soft Sugar Cookie Bars Are Simple And Are Topped With A Delicious Buttercream Frosting!
Millionaire Bars – These Millionaire Bars Have A Perfectly Crumbly Crust, An Ooey Gooey Caramel Middle, And A Thin Layer Of Delicious Semi-Sweet Chocolate On Top.
Pecan Pie Bars – With A Buttery Shortbread Crust And Caramelized Pecan Filling, It’s Impossible Not To Love These Sweet And Nutty Pecan Pie Bars!!
M&M Chocolate Oat Bars – These M&M Chocolate Oat Bars Have Layers Of Oats, A Sweetened Condensed Milk And Chocolate Center Topped With More Oats And M&Ms.
Thanksgiving Cake ideas + Cheesecakes
Believe it or not, but our family probably has more pumpkin cakes than pies during the holidays. We just love how simple they are and that they feed a lot, are delicious and can usually be served with homemade whipped cream or ice cream.
Pumpkin Crunch Cake – Pumpkin crunch cake is a must-make during the fall season. It entails all of the smooth pumpkin flavors, topped with crunchy pecans and a dollop of whipped cream.
Magic Pumpkin Cake – It’s Made Up Of A Creamy Pumpkin Puree Layer, A Layer Of Yellow Cake, And Lastly A White Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Frosting Topped With White Chocolate Shavings!!
Pumpkin Roll – Libby’s Pumpkin Roll Is A Classic Fall Favorite! Nothing Beats A Pumpkin Cake Full Of Cinnamon, Nutmeg, And Ginger All Rolled Up With A Delicious Cream Cheese Filling.
Pumpkin Dump Cake – This Delicious Pumpkin Dump Cake Recipe Is Complete With All The Fall Flavors, Pumpkin, Pecan, And Cinnamon Spice. With How Easy It Is, You’ll Be Making This Cake All Fall Long!
No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake – Individual No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecakes Are Easy And Perfect For The Holidays!! Crushed Gingersnaps Fill The Bottom Of Each Jar, Layered With A Mixed Pumpkin Puree, And Topped With Whipped Cream And Caramel!
Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Bars – These Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars Have So Many Delicious Layers! It Includes A Graham Cracker Crust, Cheesecake Layer And Pumpkin Layer. They’re Full Of Fall Spices And Are Sure To Impress At Any Holiday Gathering.
Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Cake – A Buttery, Cinnamon Cake With Cinnamon, Brown Sugar And Pumpkin Puree Swirls, Topped With A Sweet Pumpkin Spice Glaze.
Pecan Pie Cheesecake – Pecan Pie Cheesecake Has A Wafers Crust, Pecan Pie Filling, Cheesecake Layer And Buttery, Caramel-Pecan Topping.
Pumpkin Delight – Tasty 4 layer pumpkin delight dessert starts with a crunchy pecan crust topped with creamy pumpkin, cream cheese, and whipped cream layers!
Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake – If You Like Oreos, Cheesecake, And Pumpkin, You Will LOVE This Cheesecake Recipe! Oreo Crust, Two Layers Of Cheesecake (One Plain And One Pumpkin), Whipped Cream, And Chocolate Ganache!
Pumpkin Cobbler – Recipe Includes Yellow Cake Mix, Pumpkin, Pumpkin Pie Spice, And Some Seasonings, Topped With Your Favorite Nut!
Chocolate Thanksgiving Desserts
Not a fan of pumpkin? No worries!! Most love chocolate, so we wanted to share some of our most popular chocolate Thanksgiving desserts.
Chocolate Sheet Cake – Our Favorite Chocolate Sheet Cake Recipe. It’s Simple, Moist, Delicious And Serves A Lot Making It Our Go-To Party Dessert – Perfect With Ice Cream.
German Chocolate Cake – Two Layers Of Tender Chocolate Cake Topped With A Decadent Coconut Pecan Frosting.
Flourless Chocolate Cake – This Simple, Smooth And Fudgy Cake Is Sure To Get Rave Reviews And Is A Great Cake To Add To Your Favorite Go-To Desserts.
Chocolate Mousse – Chocolate Mousse Is A Sophisticated, Smooth And Creamy Dessert!
Chocolate Cupcakes – Look No Further—This Is The Best Chocolate Cupcake Recipe You Will Ever Make! Soft Chocolate Cake With Creamy Chocolate Buttercream Frosting On Top!
Easy Chocolate Cake – Delicious Two Layer Chocolate Cake With Homemade Chocolate Frosting. This Cake Is Simple, Perfectly Moist And The Homemade Chocolate Frosting Is Simply Divine!
Cookie Delight – A Delicious And Cool Layered Dessert With A Cookie Base, Cream Cheese Layer, And Pudding Layer, All Topped Off With Whipped Cream And Mini Chocolate Chips. Everyone Loves Cookie Delight!
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake – This Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake Is Everything You Love About A Chocolate Chip Cookie, But In Cake Form!
Brownie Delight – Brownie Delight is a delicious 4-layer dessert that is cool, creamy and chocolate-y.
Scotcheroos – Chewy, Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars Topped With A Rich, Chocolate And Butterscotch Frosting.
Homemade Brownies – Is There Anything Better Than A Chocolate Ooey Gooey Brownie Fresh Out Of The Oven?
Thanksgiving Desserts for Kids
Kids LOVE dessert!! With that in mind, we wanted to compile some great ideas for the kiddos to serve as treats on Thanksgiving. These are all so simple, they can even help make them.
Oreo Turkeys – These Adorable Oreo Turkeys Are Chocolate Dipped Oreos With Candy Melts As Feathers, Candy Eyes And A Butterscotch Chip Beak.
Pumpkin Cupcakes – With Pumpkin Puree And A Dash Of Pumpkin Pie Spice, These Pumpkin Cupcakes Are So Soft, Moist, And Flavorful!
Easy Pumpkin Parfaits – These Pumpkin Pudding Parfaits Are Made Up Of A Ginger Snap Base, Cream Cheese Layer, Pumpkin Pudding Layer And Are Topped With Whipped Cream, Crumbs And White Chocolate Curls!
Pumpkin Lasagna – A Pumpkin Oreo Crust, Cream Cheese Layer, Pumpkin Pudding Layer, And Topped With Cream And Chocolate Curls.
Caramel Apple Nachos – Caramel apple nachos taste just like a caramel apple, but simpler to make! They are an easy treat perfect for movie nights and get togethers.
Dessert Kabobs – Dessert Kabobs are a simple and delicious way to serve several “mini” treats at once. They are perfect for parties, BBQs and every day!
Dirt Cake Parfaits – Dirt Cake Parfaits are just like a classic dirt cake, but in single servings made from alternating layers of crushed Oreos and a light cream filling.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies – Filled With Pumpkin Flavor, Seasonal Spices, And Chocolate Chips, These Are A Fav.
Pumpkin Snickerdoodles – The Flavor Combination Of Pumpkin And Cinnamon, And The Addition Of White Chocolate Chips Makes These Pumpkin Snickerdoodles Utterly Irresistible!
Mini Thanksgiving Desserts
Everything’s cuter when it’s mini!! Sometimes it’s nice to have smaller desserts so you can have more than one. We’ve compiled some of our favorite mini desserts to enjoy on Thanksgiving.
Mini Pecan Pies – Everyone’s favorite pecan pie in mini form! Perfect for parties and snacking with your hands! Sweet, bite sized, crunchy, and delicious – these mini pies are great for holidays.
Mini Cinnamon Rolls – A breakfast and brunch favorite in bite-size form is definitely a favorite for the whole family.
Tiny Pumpkin Pies – Mini pumpkin pies are everything you love about a smooth and creamy homemade pumpkin pie, in a cute & tasty bite sized portion!!
Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies – Bite-Size Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies Are Made With Stevia Making Them A Delicious “Skinny” Version.
Mini Fruit Tarts – Cute Cream-Filled Mini Fruit Tarts Are A Delicious And Simple Summer Dessert! These Mini Treats Are Perfect For Any Get Together.
Mini Glazed Pumpkin Donut Muffins – A Donut Muffin Filled With Pumpkin And Cinnamon Flavors, Topped With A Spiced White Chocolate Glaze. These Mini Glazed Pumpkin Donut Muffins Are Totally Irresistible!!
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 this Thanksgiving cake. It is quick, simple and everyone loves it!
50+ Thanksgiving Desserts – Thanksgiving Cake Recipe
Ingredients
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.
So many great desserts to choose from – which ones are you planning to make?
MORE COLLECTIONS: Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas, Thanksgiving Appetizers, Thanksgiving Side Dishes, Pumpkin Recipes
These tips are so helpful, kristyn! I especially love the ones about how to store leftovers, and setting up the display with labels (will be so helpful for guests with allergies too!). Happy thanksgiving!
Glad you find them helpful! Thank you for letting me know. Happy Thanksgiving!
The best part of Thanksgiving is dessert! My family loves all your pumpkin recipes. They are on the menu!
Another array of cant go wrong with any of these desserts! All so good and perfect for any occasion.
WOW! Not just some amazingly delicious dessert ideas, but other helpful tips. Saved me some research time. Thanks for sharing it all in one place.
Dessert is the favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner. We make your pumpkin delight every year! I have some others I want to add to the menu for this year. They all look so good!
Dessert is my favorite part of Thanksgiving! So many yummy ideas!
Why can’t I get the recipe for the pumpkin delight
This should hopefully work for you: https://lilluna.com/pumpkin-delight-dessert/
Can this be frozen.
You know, I haven’t tried freezing this recipe before… it usually gets eaten too quickly! 🙂 But, I imagine you probably could. Just make sure the cake has completely cooled and then thaw completely in the fridge before eating again. You’ll have to let us know how it turns out if you do decide to freeze it. You can also make it ahead of time and leave in the fridge overnight until ready to bake. The finished cake will last stored in an air-tight container in the fridge for a few days.