75 Easy Thanksgiving Desserts for the Sweetest Turkey Day Spread
Think beyond (or in addition to!) pumpkin pie.
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It's hard to have a favorite when it comes to the ultimate Thanksgiving spread. For some, it's the turkey. For others, it's all about the Thanksgiving sides like mashed potatoes and stuffing. But there is no denying that most of us look forward to the sweetest part, dessert! After all, when else can you eat multiple kinds of pie in a single sitting? We've rounded up the best Thanksgiving desserts, from Thanksgiving cookies to pumpkin desserts to Thanksgiving cupcakes and more — we have you covered!
These fall desserts make the most of seasonal ingredients and flavors like apples, pumpkins, cranberries, pecans and more. We also have plenty of chocolate desserts, since anything with chocolate is practically guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. Plus, there are plenty of keto-friendly desserts and vegan treats for folks with these dietary restrictions. Whether you're whipping up a Thanksgiving meal for two, two dozen, or even more, you're sure to find dessert inspiration here.
If you're looking to plan the rest of your Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving dinner, be sure you bookmark our collections of Thanksgiving dinner menu ideas, non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner ideas, and easy Thanksgiving appetizers. And don't forget about the Thanksgiving cocktails!
Mini Chocolate Pecan Pies
There will be no fighting this Thanksgiving over who gets the biggest slice of pie if everyone gets their own mini pie, right? These buttery, chocolate-filled treats are sure to be enjoyed by everyone at the table.
Get the Mini Chocolate Pecan Pies recipe.
Pie Spice Roasted Apples
This autumnal dessert couldn't be easier to make, coming together in about 30 minutes (most of that is hands-off time while the apple roasts in the oven). Serve it up with vanilla ice cream, dulce de leche and flaky sea salt for a Thanksgiving dessert the whole crew will rave about.
Get the Pie Spice Roasted Apples recipe.
Bittersweet Chocolate Truffle Tart
Warning: Once you make this decadent chocolate tart for Thanksgiving, everyone will be begging you to make it for all future gatherings. It's that good.
Cinnamon-Scented Icebox Cake
There's no denying that the oven can get a bit crowded come Thanksgiving Day. Luckily, this dreamy dessert comes together in the refrigerator overnight, making it a low-stress and truly delicious dessert for any gathering. You'll need to add chocolate and vanilla puddings, cinnamon graham crackers and heavy cream to your shopping list.
Get the Cinnamon-Scented Icebox Cake recipe.
Baked Applesauce Donuts
These donuts are made with applesauce and coated in a sugar-apple pie spice mixture for a delicious Thanksgiving dessert (or maybe even breakfast). Best of all, they're made in a donut pan so you don't have to deep-fry anything.
Get the Baked Applesauce Donuts recipe.
S'mores Brownies
Fudgy chocolate brownies atop a graham cracker crust, topped off with a homemade meringue are truly what Thanksgiving dreams are made of. Plus, there's no denying that using a kitchen torch to finish off your dessert makes you look and feel like a professional.
Get the S'mores Brownies recipe.
Ricotta-Orange Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting
Ricotta in the batter and the frosting creates a delicious richness that still feels light and fluffy.
Get the Ricotta-Orange Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting recipe.
Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake Bars
Cranberry sauce is a common side dish or condiment for Thanksgiving dinner. Now, it can also be part of the dessert spread, thanks to this cheesecake recipe that brings together cranberries, raspberries and chocolate wafer cookies.
Get the Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake Bars recipe.
RELATED: 19 Cranberry Sauce Recipes That'll Convince You to Ditch the Can Opener
Tiramisu Dip
Who says party dips always have to be savory? This dessert dip is made with mascarpone, bittersweet chocolate, heavy cream and Kahlua. You can serve it in individual parfait cups or family-style with ladyfingers.
Get the Tiramisu Dip recipe.
Apple Pie Cupcakes
Nothing says fall like apple pie. The classic dessert is reimagined with this recipe, which has apples grated into the batter and as part of the compote topping. The homemade whipped cream is a delicious touch.
Get the Apple Pie Cupcakes recipe.
Pecan Pie Bars
No pie tins? No problem. The classic Thanksgiving dessert comes together in a 9- by 13-in baking pan in this recipe. The pecan pie filling is made with honey, dark brown sugar, and a splash of bourbon for extra depth.
Get the Pecan Pie Bars recipe.
Apple and Thyme Galettes
Not up for making a pie? Consider a galette, which requires far less perfection (and tastes just as scrumptious).
Get the Apple and Thyme Galettes recipe.
Apple Pie Sorbet
Made with applesauce, brown sugar and spices, this fall-inspired sorbet will be the surprise hit of the party.
Get the Apple Pie Sorbet recipe.
Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate chip cookies are welcome at any celebration — and our vegan version allows for everyone to indulge.
Get the Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.
Cranberry Hand Pies
Here's an idea to use your cranberry sauce in two ways: as a side dish for turkey and also stuffed into these flaky, glazed pies.
Get the Cranberry Hand Pies recipe.
Chunky Nut Butter Cookies
Some people are team creamy and others are team chunky, but everyone is team cookies. Bonus: They take less than 30 minutes to make.
Get the Chunky Nut Butter Cookies recipe.
Cranberry Curd Tart
Sugar-coated cranberries and pecans, pie crust leaves and piped whipped cream are optional, but will make this tart a real showstopper.
Get the Cranberry Curd Tart recipe.
Spiced Pumpkin Pie
We cracked black pepper into this pie to give it an extra kick.
Get the Spiced Pumpkin Pie recipe.
Flourless Chocolate-Walnut Cookies
These chewy, deeply chocolatey cookies are balanced with a pinch of flaky salt.
Apple-Cranberry Pie
To make this dessert easier, cut out squares of pie dough and arrange on top instead of weaving a lattice crust.
Get the Apple-Cranberry Pie recipe.
Samantha (she/her) is the Senior Editor at Delish, where she edits the most-talked-about food news and features on the internet. In her previous role as Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, she taste-tested hundreds of products and recipes (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.
Jamie Ballard (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor who covers news, lifestyle, and entertainment topics, including sex and relationships, TV, movies, books, health, pets, food and drinks, pop culture, shopping, and personal finance. She regularly contributes to Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, and YouGov, among other publications. When she’s not working, you can find her running, traveling, or scrolling TikTok. Follow her on Twitter.
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