What’s Thanksgiving without a drool-worthy dessert? It’s the highlight of every holiday dinner. So, lay out all your cards and impress your loved ones with these delectable Thanksgiving dessert recipes guaranteed to hit the bliss point. These outrageously delicious recipes are perfect for any occasion.
What better way to end a time of joyous gratitude with family! Roast turkey, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole have us stuffed to the brim. But everyone has a dessert stomach, no matter how much we gorged. That means there’s ALWAYS room for dessert.
So Happy Happy Thanksgiving!
Traditional Thanksgiving Pies
1. Classic Pumpkin Pie
The traditional pumpkin pie loaded with holiday spices is the most traditional dessert you could enjoy on Thanksgiving. Choose a store-bought crust for ease, or a homemade one for extra specialness.
Pumpkin Pie is a rich and creamy dessert that celebrates fall in style. It's made even more delicious with a homemade pie crust and topped with whipped cream. No fall or winter holiday is complete without this traditional food for the soul.
2. Traditional Sweet Potato Pie
You’ll be surprised how easy it is to throw together this delicious homemade pie. Take homemade to the next level with a warming DIY pumpkin spice blend and a homemade pie crust. Celebrate Thanksgiving in soul-food style.
Creamy, tasty, and insanely delicious for the perfect holiday dessert. This traditional Southern masterpiece made from real sweet potatoes and an indulgent homemade pie crust takes desserts to another level. It is genuinely a crowd-pleasing comfort food you can easily make at home.
3. Condensed Milk Sweet Potato
Take a shortcut for a decadent Thanksgiving pie with condensed milk. Creamy just got creamier, and choose your favorite pastry for the crust—no judgment about taking more shortcuts with store-bought crusts.
Ultra silky and supremely cozy, this sweet potato pie is like a warm hug in every bite. With warming spices, a hint of tangy orange, and the perfect sweetness, this pie will quickly become a family favorite.
4. Sweet Potato Pie With a Graham Cracker Crust
Have you had trouble in the past with regular pastry crusts? Take a deep breath, and make a stress-free graham cracker crust for an Instagram-worthy dessert.
Warm spices infusing creamy sweet potatoes in a perfectly baked graham cracker crust is always a crowd-pleaser. Vary up your sweet potato pie baking with this easy variation on the OG classic.
5. Sweet Potato Pecan Pie
Can’t decide between sweet potato or pecan pie? Now you don’t have to. Make them both at the same time and really wow your guests.
Two amazing desserts wrapped into one! Creamy, decadent sweet potato pie made even better with a crunchy, buttery pecan topping. Out-of-this-world deliciousness is a must-try for your next family occasion.
6. No Syrup Pecan Pie
If you’re opposed to using corn syrup, this recipe will save the day and the holiday dessert. Enjoy the traditional pecan pie decadence with no syrup involved.
Indulge in the sweet, buttery, and nutty goodness of this decadent dessert made with simple ingredients. The crunchy pecans, gooey filling, and flaky crust deliver decadence in every bite, leaving you craving more.
7. Bourbon Pecan Pie
Add that classic bourbon flavor to an already decadent pecan pie! And don’t worry about residual alcohol because it will bake off before serving time.
What's better than a delicious Southern classic pecan pie? Adding a shot of bourbon! The buttery-sweet pecan praline flavor, ramped up with the South's favorite alcohol, will take you to heaven and back.
8. Chocolate Pecan Pie
If you asked me about my favorite pie ever, chocolate pecan pie is definitely on the list! Although the traditional pecan pie is a masterpiece on its own, chocolate chips take this indulgent dessert to a whole new level of deliciousness.
Take your classic Pecan Pie to the next level by adding semi or dark chocolate chips. With just 9 simple ingredients, you'll have one decadent dessert that's perfect for this Easter, winter holidays or when you need an easy sweet fix for your craving. This will easily sweep everyone off their feet!
9. Dutch Apple Pie
The list of classic fall desserts wouldn’t be complete without apple pie. The strusel topping makes it even easier. Making it ahead will relieve a lot of the stress on the day of. A day ahead allows the filling to set up better, and it freezes well if you want to do it a month ahead.
A buttery, flaky crust, juicy sweet-tart apples, and melt-in-your-mouth streusel crumb topping all come together for pure heaven. This super easy apple pie recipe takes very little hands-on time. Just let the oven do most of the work and enjoy the decadence.
10. Apple Pie
I finally understand the expression as American as apple pie. Holiday spices, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice, make it especially comforting. Enjoy it even more with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or caramel sauce on top.
A buttery-flaky pie crust, different kinds of apples for flavor variations, and sweet holiday spices deliver an unforgettable fall celebration! Make it ahead or enjoy it in the moment.
11. Buttermilk Chess Pie
Wonderful flavors from buttermilk, cornmeal, nutmeg, and lemon juice come together and are ready for the table in less than an hour! Topping it with a handful of fresh berries delivers an extra refreshing treat.
This classic Southern pie is simple yet delicious. Pantry staples and less than an hour deliver a decadent dessert with hints of vanilla, butter, and lemon. This buttermilk chess pie recipe is super easy to whip up for special occasions!
12. Egg Custard Pie
As easy as pie with only eight basic ingredients and less than an hour (most of that time is in the oven). So quick and easy to make yet so tasty!
Simple, sweet, and silky smooth EGG CUSTARD PIE gives a superbly dreamy sensation in every slice. A creamy treat that brings a heavenly delight from crust to core made from simple ingredients. No need to worry because baking this delicious pastry is as easy as pie!
13. Buttermilk Pie
Buttermilk gives this fabulous dessert a smooth, silky, and melt-in-your-mouth sensation with a pleasant tang. Chunks of pineapple add texture and flavor to this sweet delight.
This classic Southern pie recipe comes together easily and quickly with just a few pantry staple ingredients. It's light, creamy, and delightfully sweet with just a subtle tang. This pie is great for the holidays, or anytime you want to treat yourself!
Delectable Cakes Perfect for the Holidays
14. Sweet Potato Pound Cake
Pound cakes are popular in the South, and this recipe is amazingly delicious even without frosting. Dump, mix, and bake for a Thanksgiving-inspired dessert, and no need for special tools.
Sweet Potato Pound Cake delivers melt-in-your-mouth decadence for pure comfort on a fork. Perfect for holiday dinners and everyday meals
15. Pumpkin Roll
Pumpkin cake and cream cheese are a match made in heaven. Besides, it’s beautiful when you slice it up for your guests. Not only that, it makes a great gift (that’s how I ended up trying it the first time).
A quintessential fall dessert that is cozy, comforting, and downright delicious. This roll is surprisingly easy to make, looks beautiful, and has all the fall vibes. Kick off fall the right way with one of these tasty beauties.
16. Southern Pound Cake
Plain doesn’t have to be boring. Simplicity at its best presents itself in this buttery pound cake. In fact, any pound cake recipe delivers a stress-free dessert.
Enjoy a decadent, tender, moist, comfort-food cake with the iconic crusty exterior and soft crumb. The best part? Super easy with just 8 simple ingredients makes it ideal to impress family and guests. Everything you'll need is probably already in your pantry.
17. Apple Cobbler
The crumbly biscuit top soaks up the juiciness of the apples for a creamy, bready dessert. Serve it with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the most fantastic dessert ever.
This popular fall dessert made from juicy fresh apples and cozy spices, then baked with a golden brown, crumbly, biscuit-like top, is pure heaven. And nothing beats that sweet cinnamon apple smell wafting through the air on a crisp fall day – except maybe digging into a bowl of warm apple cobbler.
18. Fruit Cake
While most people enjoy this specialty for Christmas, I can’t help but get a head start. Fruit, rum, and almond flour give it a mouthwatering texture. So why not have it for Thanksgiving?
Light Fruit Cake- rich, luscious Madeira cake that's light, fluffy and moist with a wonderful buttery taste studded with dried mixed fruits. It has a delicious and festive blend of flavors that's perfect for this time of the year!
19. Mississippi Mud Cake
How can you say no to a cake with gooey and luscious melted chocolate and marshmallows for toppings? Not to mention its rich and fudgy chocolate sheet cake base. Super easy and perfect for any holiday celebration.
Made from scratch, this Mississippi mud cake is a rich, dense, decadent chocolate cake covered in gooey marshmallows and warm chocolate frosting. This classic cake recipe never disappoints!
20. Chocolate Rum Marble Cake
Experience the best of both worlds with this lovely ensemble of chocolate and vanilla cake. It’s made even more special with its indulgent butter rum syrup poured on top. Then it’s drizzled with alternating vanilla and chocolate glaze for a fantastic finish. Such an amazing Thanksgiving treat!
Chocolate Rum Marble Cake finished off with sweet vanilla and chocolate glaze. Your Holiday table would not be complete without this cake! Made completely from Scratch
21. Texas Sheet Cake
Take the stress out of the holidays with an easy sheet cake ready in less than 30 minutes. It’s not only incredibly fudgy and decadent, but it’s also loaded with pecans and generously topped with an ever-delicious butter cocoa frosting layer.
A marvelous buttery, chocolatey, rich Texas Sheet Cake coated with a butter-cocoa frosting and topped with pecans. SUPER easy, decadent, and irresistible. You won't want to miss it!
22. Caramel Cake
For an elegant dessert, caramel cake ticks all the boxes. Decadent, buttery, sweet, and beautiful. You can even make it a day or two ahead for an easier Thanksgiving celebration.
A buttery, tender, and decadent yellow cake layered with real caramel goodness boasts just the right sweetness. It's so super easy that you don't even need a candy thermometer! The perfect dessert for your next special event.
23. Red Velvet Cake
The secret to this impressive chocolate cake is buttermilk and sour cream. It’s beautifully frosted with a scrumptious cream cheese frosting. Just wow!
Tender, buttery, and topped with fluffy cream cheese frosting, this exquisiteness delights the eyes and taste buds! The hint of chocolate and vanilla pair perfectly with the sweet and tangy frosting. And this cake is nothing if not dramatic: tall, beautiful, and vibrantly red, a total showstopper!
24. Spice Cake
Holiday spices are the star of this Thanksgiving show, with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves taking the main stage. The complex flavors balance the sweetness of this moist cake.
This incredibly moist, dense, and well-flavored two-layered Spice Cake is brimming with cozy fall flavors and frosted with sweet and tangy decadent cream cheese frosting. There's a warm, comforting hug in every bite with its delectable homemade goodness. Indeed, the perfect cake to enjoy during fall's chilly weather.
25. Cinnamon Apple Cake
Is it true that an apple a day keeps the doctor away? Maybe not if it’s in a cake, but, hey, it’s the holidays. So let’s enjoy those spice cake vibes with chopped pecans and apples.
Cinnamon Apple Cake – full of warm cozy flavor moist cake studded with crunchy diced apples and topped with a sweet butter cinnamon coated pecans. Perfect snack dessert or breakfast for this fall season. And you can use any apples you want!
26. Pumpkin Cake
Our Thanksgiving dessert list wouldn’t be complete without pumpkin goodies. Top it with a caramel and cream cheese frosting to fill your heart and soul with sweet pleasures. Enjoy it with a pumpkin spice latte for extra fall spices.
This warm, comforting, perfectly-spiced cake topped with a sweet yet tangy caramel cream cheese frosting is pure heaven. Every bite of this Pumpkin Cake tastes like fall! This gorgeous cake makes an impressive finale for any elegant holiday meal.
27. Pecan Pie Cheesecake
There’s no need to cause yourself a dilemma of having to choose between pecan pie and cheesecake because now you can have them both. Imagine caramelly goodness dripping down the sides of the smooth, dense, and velvety cheesecake. You’ll experience forkfuls of pure happiness in every bite.
Pecan Pie Cheesecake – Enchanting 2-for-1 dessert featuring Pecan Pie and Cheesecake together in one fabulous dessert. Offering a smooth, creamy, and rich decadent cheesecake topped with crunchy pecans in a lavish gooey caramel sauce. The perfect holiday dessert that truly impresses! Guaranteed to satisfy all your cheesecake obsession.
28. Bread Pudding With Rum Sauce
Pudding is ideal for using day-old bread. So if you’re watching your dimes, grab a couple of loaves from the discount section, then turn them into a holiday dessert everyone will love.
Kid-Friendly Thanksgiving Desserts
29. Pecan Pie Bars
The buttery crust, topped with the luscious, gooey filling loaded with crunchy pecans, is simply irresistible. Make the kids happy with this grab-and-go dessert.
30. Red Velvet Cupcakes
Turn the classic red velvet cake into grabbable snacks for the kiddo. They’re also perfect as giveaways.
Every bite of this fluffy and moist red cupcake delivers you to a dreamy wonderland from its cream cheese frosting down to the last crumb. You’ll definitely enjoy the luscious texture of this baked treat. Prepare two batches of this recipe because these sweet babies will be gone before you even know it!
31. Sweet Potato Waffles
Do your kids love waffles? Then this recipe is perfect for a holiday breakfast or dessert. Yes, waffles are a great dessert on Thanksgiving.
Ramp up your morning with a heavenly waffle breakfast. Crispy on the outside, light on the inside, made healthy with sweet potatoes and a hint of cinnamon. You'll love the perfectly sweet, light, and comforting texture in this delightful twist on a classic.
32. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Adding pumpkin to a classic chocolate chip cookie delivers a cake-like cookie that is almost a healthy snack. The kids, and the kids at heart, will love this hand-held dessert.
Soft, chewy, and delectable PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES made with real pumpkin puree and homemade pumpkin spice. It’s so easy to make with ingredients you can easily find or make at home. Get a glass of milk and prepare for a cozy night with these amazing fall snacks!
International Desserts
33. Italian Cream Cake
Light, airy, and loaded with crunchy pecans, this cake enjoys a fancy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for a non-traditional Thanksgiving cake.
An easy, elegant moist layer cake that will leave your guests feeling utterly pampered. Coconut flakes and pecans add a beautiful texture that perfectly compliments generously layered cream cheese frosting. This is one of those cakes that has everyone asking for seconds.
34. Chocoflan
If you’re looking for new Thanksgiving ideas this year, then try a magical Mexican cake. This amazing 2-for-1 dessert will undoubtedly impress the family with moist chocolate cake combined with silky smooth flan. And, of course, don’t forget to drizzle it with caramel sauce or cajeta for added charm.
Moist, decadent chocolate cake layered with a luxurious silky smooth flan and topped with a Mexican cajeta. This is one of the most delicious and magical cakes you'll ever have. With its sweet and creamy vanilla flan topping off a moist chocolate cake, you'll be eating this cake slice after slice!
35. Apple Galette
Apples are always in season during the holidays, so enjoy this French comfort food favorite. Fresh apples, holiday flavors from cinnamon and nutmeg, and the flaky and buttery crust certainly add to the greatness of this sweet treat as well.
Easy, scrumptious, and crusty APPLE GALETTE makes the fall season even cozier with just a few simple ingredients. You’ll definitely FALL in love with the flaky crust filled with REAL APPLES! This fancy centerpiece is a total head-turner, especially when served with a caramel sauce or tasty vanilla ice cream.
Here are a couple more dessert recipes to enjoy!
36. Tiramisu
This Italian-style no-bake cake here is exceptionally creamy and indulgent with a beautiful medley of flavors from coffee, cocoa powder, and mascarpone cheese. You’ll love it with or without the rum. Plus, it comes in two versions! One with eggs, and the other one with whipped cream. So take your pick!
A creamy, flavorful no-bake dessert recipe that comes with two versions—the traditional recipe with eggs AND a quick 20-minute version. If you love coffee desserts, it's the best dessert you can make!
37. Chocolate Malva Pudding
Go for African flavors with this easy pudding cake. Apricot jam and lemon zest add a refreshing fruitiness, which perfectly complements the chocolate sauce. Not a fan of chocolate? Worry not, because you can make regular malva pudding instead.
A decadent traditional South African dessert you just have to try! Rich, moist, chocolatey, and oh-so-easy!
