35 Unforgettable Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas & Recipes

My favorite part of Thanksgiving is when its time to dig into the desserts.

I can’t get enough… and I’ve gone a bit crazy over the years.

You’re welcome.

Learn from my mistakes… or don’t :D

The Best Thanksgiving Desserts for a Crowd

There is a special kind of joy that comes from seeing a table full of family and friends on Thanksgiving. There’s also a special kind of panic when you realize you have to make dessert for all of them. Don’t you worry one bit. Feeding a crowd is all about strategy, and I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve.

When you’re baking for a big group, think beyond the traditional round pie. It’s a beautiful classic, but slicing and serving can get a little messy when you’ve got a line of people waiting. My go-to solutions are desserts you can make in a big baking pan and cut into squares. Things like bars, brownies, and sheet cakes are your best friend here.

You get all the flavor and festive spirit, but with much easier portioning. You can make a huge batch all at once, and guests can easily grab a piece without needing a whole production. It’s a simple switch that makes serving so much smoother, which means more time for you to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee with your slice of dessert. These recipes are tried and true crowd pleasers in my house.

• Pumpkin Spice Cookie Bars: All the warm, cozy flavor of pumpkin pie in an easy to eat bar. The texture is just heavenly.
• Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Blondies: A delightful mashup of two classics. They’re chewy, perfectly spiced, and completely irresistible.
• Easy Fudge Swirl Brownies: Because you always need a chocolate option. These are rich, decadent, and the swirl makes them look extra special.
• Congo Bars: These are a Southern staple for a reason. They are loaded with chocolate chips, pecans, and brown sugar goodness. One pan makes plenty to share.
• White Chocolate Blueberry Bars: A lovely, unexpected flavor for the holiday table. The sweet white chocolate and tart berries are a wonderful combination.

Classic Thanksgiving Pie Recipes

Let’s be honest, it just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without pie. I remember my first attempt at a pumpkin pie. I was so proud, until I realized I’d used salt instead of sugar in the filling. We all had a good laugh, and luckily my aunt had brought a backup. It taught me to always taste as you go.

A Thanksgiving pie doesn’t have to be complicated to be delicious. A perfectly flaky crust and a rich, flavorful filling are all you really need. Pumpkin and pecan will always have a place of honor, but I love to add a little something extra to make them my own. A bit of bourbon in the pecan pie filling or a swirl of cream cheese in the pumpkin can elevate a simple pie into something truly memorable.

And don’t forget about the other classics. A beautiful sweet potato pie with a toasted marshmallow topping is pure comfort. A deep-dish apple pie, fragrant with cinnamon, is always a winner. These are the recipes that bring everyone to the table, year after year, for one more slice.

• Unforgettable Apple Pie with Bourbon and Salted Caramel: This is not your average apple pie. The bourbon adds a warmth and complexity that is just incredible.
• Easy Sweet Potato Pie: A Southern classic that is silky, smooth, and perfectly spiced. This recipe is simple and foolproof.
• Brown Butter Sweet Potato Pie: If you want to take your sweet potato pie to the next level, brown butter is the secret. It adds such a wonderful nutty richness.
• Classic Pecan Pie Tart: All the flavor of a pecan pie in a slightly more elegant tart form. The filling is gooey, sweet, and packed with pecans.
• Best Ever Banana Pudding Pie: A true Southern delight. This pie combines creamy banana pudding, vanilla wafers, and a meringue topping for a dessert that always disappears fast.

Showstopping Thanksgiving Cakes

Pies may be the tradition, but sometimes you want to make a statement. A magnificent cake sitting on the dessert buffet is a guaranteed way to get some oohs and aahs from your guests. It feels festive, celebratory, and just a little bit extra, which is what holidays are all about.

I love choosing a cake that incorporates the best flavors of the season. A pumpkin spice layer cake with a rich maple frosting is a perfect alternative to pie. A classic hummingbird cake, with its delightful mix of banana, pineapple, and pecans, feels right at home on a Southern Thanksgiving table. Even a simple, elegant bundt cake drizzled with a warm glaze can be a showstopper.

Cheesecakes are another wonderful option. They have that rich, creamy texture that feels so luxurious after a big meal. A pumpkin cheesecake is the best of both worlds, combining two favorite Thanksgiving desserts into one. Don’t be intimidated by making a big cake. Many of these recipes are surprisingly straightforward, and the payoff is a dessert that everyone will be talking about.

• Pumpkin Spice Cake with Maple Bourbon Frosting: This is the ultimate autumn layer cake. It’s moist, flavorful, and the frosting is absolutely divine.
• Hummingbird Cake Recipe: A Southern classic for a reason. This cake is unbelievably moist and packed with tropical fruit and toasted pecans.
• Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake: Can’t decide between pumpkin pie and cheesecake? You don’t have to. This dessert is pure creamy, spicy perfection.
• Easy Nothing Bundt Cake Copycat: Get that bakery-style perfection at home. This cake is incredibly moist and the cream cheese frosting is just right.
• Chocolate Cabernet Cake: For the chocolate lovers, this cake is a dream. The red wine adds a deep, rich flavor that makes it feel so sophisticated.

Easy No-Bake Thanksgiving Desserts

I will never forget the Thanksgiving our oven decided to go on strike an hour before dinner. The turkey was cooked, thank goodness, but my pies were still raw dough. It was a mad scramble, but we ended up with a spread of no-bake desserts that everyone loved. It was a blessing in disguise, because it taught me the power of an oven-free dessert.

No-bake recipes are the unsung heroes of the holiday kitchen. They save that precious, precious oven space for the turkey and the casseroles. They are often quicker to assemble, and many can be made a day or two ahead of time, which is a huge help when you have a million other things to do.

Think creamy pudding pies, rich fudge, and delightful icebox cakes. A simple banana pudding can be assembled in minutes and is always a crowd-pleaser. A pan of fudge only takes a little time on the stovetop and can be cut into small pieces for easy serving. These recipes prove you don’t need to turn on the oven to create amazing Thanksgiving desserts.

• No Bake Cookie Butter Cream Pie: This pie is dangerously good. A cookie crust filled with a light, fluffy cookie butter mousse. It’s pure indulgence.
• Easy Banana Pudding: A classic for a reason. Layers of pudding, fresh bananas, and vanilla wafers come together for a simple yet perfect dessert.
• Butter Pecan Fudge: All the cozy flavor of butter pecan ice cream in a rich, buttery fudge. It’s perfect for a holiday treat tray.
• Twix Ice Cream Pie: This is such a fun and easy dessert. An Oreo crust, ice cream, and chopped Twix bars. The kids will go wild for this one.
• Best No Bake Pie Recipes: Need more oven-free inspiration? This collection has a fantastic variety of no bake pies that are perfect for the holidays.

Make-Ahead Desserts to Save Holiday Stress

My number one rule for hosting Thanksgiving is to do absolutely everything you can ahead of time. I want to spend the holiday enjoying my family, not locked away in the kitchen in a panic. The dessert table is the easiest place to put this rule into practice. So many wonderful desserts actually taste better when they have a day to sit.

Cheesecakes, for example, need to be made at least a day in advance to chill and set properly. This makes them a perfect make-ahead option. Pies with custard fillings like pumpkin and sweet potato also benefit from a day in the fridge. Their flavors meld and deepen, and they slice much more cleanly when they are completely cold.

Even things like cookie bars and brownies are great to make ahead. You can bake them, let them cool completely, and store them in an airtight container for a couple of days. The same goes for fudge and cookies. Checking dessert off your list on Tuesday or Wednesday is one of the best gifts you can give yourself come Thanksgiving Day.

• Easy Classic Cheesecake: This is a perfect make-ahead dessert. It needs to chill overnight, so it’s designed to be made in advance. It’s a creamy, elegant classic.
• Pumpkin Spice Bars with Bourbon Butter Glaze: These bars are even more moist and flavorful on day two. Just wait to add the glaze until you’re ready to serve.
• Chocolate Peppermint Fudge: Fudge is the ultimate make-ahead treat. It lasts for weeks in the fridge, so you can make it well before the holiday rush begins.
• Easy Fudge Swirl Brownies: Brownies are another great option. Bake them on Wednesday, store them in an airtight container, and they’ll be perfectly fudgy for Thanksgiving.
• Classic Pecan Pie Tart: Pecan pie holds up beautifully when made a day ahead. In fact, I think it’s even better once the filling has had time to fully set.

Festive Pumpkin Desserts (That Aren’t Pie)

I am a firm believer that pumpkin deserves to shine in more than just pie. It’s such a wonderfully versatile ingredient, with a subtle sweetness and earthy flavor that pairs beautifully with warm spices. While I’ll never turn down a slice of classic pumpkin pie, it’s so much fun to explore other ways to enjoy this fall favorite.

Pumpkin bread is a great place to start. A moist, tender loaf of spiced pumpkin bread is perfect for Thanksgiving morning breakfast, or as a lighter dessert option. Pumpkin bars with a rich cream cheese frosting are always a huge hit, and they are much easier to serve to a crowd than a traditional pie.

And let’s not forget about cheesecake. A pumpkin cheesecake is the height of decadence. It’s creamy, rich, and has all the comforting flavor of pumpkin pie in a more luxurious form. From muffins to cookies to cakes, there are so many creative and delicious pumpkin Thanksgiving desserts to try. Giving pumpkin a new role on the dessert table is a great way to surprise and delight your guests.

• Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake: The perfect marriage of two holiday favorites. It’s rich, creamy, and has a wonderful gingersnap crust.
• Pumpkin Pie Cookie Cups: These little bites are so clever. A sugar cookie cup filled with a creamy pumpkin pie filling. They’re adorable and delicious.
• Sour Cream Pumpkin Bread: This is one of the most moist and tender pumpkin breads you will ever make. The sour cream is the secret ingredient.
• Healthier Pumpkin Muffins: A great option for a lighter dessert or a Thanksgiving breakfast. They are packed with flavor, not guilt.
• Butterscotch Pumpkin Muffins: The combination of pumpkin and butterscotch is a match made in heaven. These muffins are a sweet, cozy treat.

Cozy Apple and Cranberry Desserts

When I think of fall flavors, my mind immediately goes to apples and cranberries. The smell of apples and cinnamon baking in the oven is the scent of pure comfort. And the bright, tart flavor of cranberries is the perfect counterpoint to the rich, heavy dishes on the Thanksgiving table. Together, they are an unbeatable combination.

An apple crisp or crumble is one of the easiest and most rewarding desserts you can make. The warm, bubbly fruit under a crunchy, buttery topping is just heavenly, especially with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. And adding a handful of fresh cranberries to your apple filling adds a beautiful color and a delightful tartness.

These flavors also work beautifully in cakes, breads, and muffins. A cranberry streusel coffee cake is a wonderful treat for Thanksgiving morning, and an apple cake is a rustic, homey dessert that everyone loves. These cozy apple and cranberry desserts are like a warm hug on a crisp autumn day, and they bring a wonderful brightness to the holiday spread.

• Easy Dutch Apple Pie: This pie features a mountain of tender, spiced apples topped with a crunchy, buttery crumb topping. It’s simply divine.
• Apple Fritter Cake: This cake has all the flavor of a classic apple fritter, complete with a sweet glaze. It’s incredibly moist and delicious.
• Cranberry Streusel Coffee Cake: The combination of tart cranberries, fragrant orange, and warm cardamom is spectacular. Perfect for a holiday brunch.
• Cranberry Muffins with Rum Pecan Streusel: These are not your average cranberry muffins. The rum and pecan streusel topping takes them over the top.
• Blueberry Peach Coconut Crisp: While this recipe calls for summer fruit, you can easily substitute it with apples and cranberries for a perfect fall dessert. The coconut crisp topping is fantastic.

Thanksgiving Dessert Cocktails

Sometimes the best dessert comes in a glass. Dessert cocktails are the perfect way to extend your celebration after dinner, offering something sophisticated that blurs the line between drink and sweet treat. These cocktails taste like they belong on your dessert menu, with rich, creamy textures and indulgent flavors like brown butter, peppermint, gingerbread, and chocolate.

Serve them alongside your pie and cake, offer them as an elegant after-dinner drink with coffee, or create a dessert cocktail station where guests can choose. Many can be made ahead and batched into a pitcher, making them stress-free to serve. From creamy hazelnut White Russians to gingerbread martinis and peppermint bark shots, these cocktails celebrate the same warm spices and cozy flavors as your favorite Thanksgiving desserts. They’re an easy way to show your guests you’ve thought of every detail.

• Peppermint Bark Shots with a Spicy Kick: Cool peppermint meets warming spices in these festive shot-sized treats that pack maximum flavor.
• Unforgettable Coquito with Toasty Brown Butter: Brown butter elevates this traditional holiday drink into something rich, warm, and utterly luxurious.
• Creamy Hazelnut White Russian: Nutty, smooth, and decadently creamy, this is what drinking dessert actually tastes like.
• Peppermint White Russian with Cardamom-Kissed Foam: A show-stopping festive sipper topped with spiced foam that’s both elegant and fun.
• Sugar Cookie Martini: Taste like fresh-baked sugar cookies in martini form, pure creamy, sweet indulgence.
• The Perfect Gingerbread Martini: Spiced warmth meets creamy sweetness in a cocktail that tastes like holiday comfort.
• Rum Rum Rudolph Gingerbread Cocktail: Festive gingerbread flavors bring playful holiday cheer to every sip.

Tips for Your Thanksgiving Dessert Table

After all the work of cooking the main meal, setting up the dessert table is the fun part. It’s the grand finale, the sweet finish to a wonderful day. I love making it look as special as the desserts themselves. With just a little bit of planning, you can create a dessert spread that looks like it came straight from a magazine.

First, think about variety. It’s always nice to offer a few different options to please every palate. I try to have something with fruit, like an apple pie, something with chocolate, like a rich brownie, and something creamy, like a cheesecake or pudding. This gives your guests a nice range of flavors and textures to choose from.

Next, think about presentation. You eat with your eyes first, after all. Use cake stands and platters of different heights to create visual interest. It makes the table look more abundant and allows guests to see everything that’s available. A simple garnish can also make a big difference. A dollop of freshly whipped cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon, or a few sugared cranberries can make a simple dessert look elegant. Finally, don’t forget to set out small plates, forks, and napkins, and make some little labels for each dessert. It’s a thoughtful touch that your guests will appreciate.

Thanksgiving Desserts FAQ

I ALWAYS get these questions about making dessert for Thanksgiving.

How many Thanksgiving desserts should I make?

This is the age-old question, isn’t it? My rule of thumb is to plan for about 1.5 servings of dessert per person. People love to try a little bit of everything. For a smaller gathering of 8 to 10 people, two or three different desserts is plenty. For a larger crowd of 20 or more, I like to offer four or five options. This gives everyone a good variety to choose from, ensuring there’s something for the pumpkin lovers, the chocolate fanatics, and those who just want a little something fruity. Remember to include different textures, a pie, a cake, and maybe some cookies or bars for easy grabbing.

What are the best make-ahead desserts for Thanksgiving?

Making desserts ahead of time is my secret to a stress-free Thanksgiving. Cheesecakes are perfect for this, as they need at least 24 hours to chill and set. Most custard pies, like pumpkin and sweet potato, can be made a day or two in advance and kept in the refrigerator. Pecan and apple pies also hold up very well. Bar cookies and brownies can be baked two to three days ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Fudge can be made a whole week ahead. This frees up your oven and your time on the big day.

Can I freeze Thanksgiving desserts?

Absolutely! Freezing is a fantastic strategy. Unbaked pie crusts can be frozen for months. You can even assemble a whole fruit pie, like apple, and freeze it unbaked. Just bake it straight from the freezer, adding about 20 minutes to the baking time. Baked cheesecakes freeze beautifully. Let them cool completely, then wrap them well in plastic wrap and foil. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Most cookies and bars also freeze well after baking. Just be sure to wrap everything tightly to prevent freezer burn.

My pie crust cracked while baking! How can I fix it?

Don’t panic, it happens to all of us. A cracked pie crust is not a disaster. If it’s a small crack in a custard pie, it will likely close up a bit as it cools. If it’s a larger crack or a broken edge, your best friend is whipped cream or a pretty garnish. No one will ever know there was a crack under a beautiful mountain of whipped cream or a strategic arrangement of sugared pecans. For a double-crust pie, you can sometimes patch a small hole with a decorative cutout made from extra dough.

What are some good gluten-free Thanksgiving dessert options?

It’s wonderful to have a delicious option for guests with dietary restrictions. A flourless chocolate cake is always a decadent and popular choice. Fruit crisps and crumbles can easily be made gluten-free by using a topping made with gluten-free oats, almond flour, and nuts. Puddings, custards, and mousses are also great naturally gluten-free options. I have a recipe for Flourless Fudgy Brownies that are so rich and delicious, no one would ever guess they are gluten-free.

More Thanksgiving Recipe Collections

I hope you found the perfect sweet treats to finish your holiday meal. If you’re looking for even more inspiration for Thanksgiving and beyond, here are a few more of my favorite dessert collections from the blog. Happy baking, y’all.

• 87 Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas – A complete guide to planning your menu from main course to sides to specialty cocktails!
• 100+ Thanksgiving Side Dish Ideas & Recipes – The exhaustive collection of Thanksgiving sides for every preference!
• 35 Thanksgiving Cocktail Ideas & Recipes – Everything from warm and spiced to fruity and bubbly, with some indulgent dessert cocktails as well!

There’s no such thing as too much dessert!