These Thanksgiving dessert recipes give you room to keep the classics and add something new. Pumpkin pie and apple desserts share the table with pecan treats, cheesecakes, cakes, cobblers, bars, and cookies.
For a smaller dinner, choose two or three desserts with different flavors and serving styles. A pie, a chilled cheesecake, and a bite-size bar or cookie make a flexible spread. See our Thanksgiving Meal Planning Guide for the day-before baking schedule.
Tips for Planning This Course
- Choose contrasting desserts instead of several that taste alike: pumpkin or sweet potato, apple or pear, and chocolate or pecan make a useful starting mix.
- Bake or assemble desserts the day before when the individual recipe allows it. Check chilling and storage instructions, particularly for cheesecakes and cream pies.
- Reserve the oven on Thanksgiving Day for dinner by choosing make-ahead pies or a no-bake cheesecake. Set out smaller slices when offering several choices so guests can sample more than one.
- Bars and cookies are easy to share after dinner or pack for guests to take home. Keep toppings and ice cream ready to add only when serving.
Thanksgiving pies
Pumpkin Pie Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
You’ll never need another Pumpkin Pie recipe after trying this one, thanks to a few special ingredients that make it truly perfect!
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Mini Pumpkin Pies Recipe
Total Time: 40 minutes
Made in a muffin tin, these Mini Pumpkin Pies have a creamy, cinnamon-spiced center and flaky crust that fits perfectly into autumn gatherings and seasonal treat trays.
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Classic Apple Pie Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
Who doesn’t love a slice of warm Classic Apple Pie? This recipe will make everyone rush to the table for a taste of classic, homemade goodness.
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Apple Slab Pie Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Layers of sweet apples and cinnamon wrapped in golden pastry make this Apple Slab Pie a fall favorite, baked on a jelly roll pan for crisp edges and a soft, spiced center.
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Sweet Potato Pie Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Light and luscious, this Sweet Potato Pie reminds me of the Holiday Season. It's a creamy dessert made with mashed sweet potatoes, spices, and a buttery crust everyone will enjoy!
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Gooey Pecan Pie Bars Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours
Gooey Pecan Pie Bars layer buttery shortbread with a sticky, maple-sweet filling and toasted pecans. Each square is soft, chewy, and hits the craving for something rich and nutty.
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Chocolate Silk Pie Recipe
Total Time: 5 hours 40 minutes
Fall head over heels with this Chocolate Silk Pie —smooth, velvety, and utterly irresistible, with rich chocolate filling, flaky crust, and creamy whipped topping.
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Perfect Coconut Cream Pie Recipe
Total Time: 6 hours
Our Perfect Coconut Cream Pie is the ultimate dessert, made from scratch with love, and topped with whipped cream and toasted coconut.
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Chocolate Coconut Cream Pie Recipe
Total Time: 47 minutes
This Chocolate Coconut Cream Pie is a must-try! With its flaky crust, rich chocolate filling, and sweet coconut topping, it's a delightful treat that will leave you craving more.
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No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie Recipe
Total Time: 3 hours
Indulge in this No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie. It’s creamy, nutty, and comes together in only 30 minutes!
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Apple Custard Pie Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 44 minutes
This Apple Custard Pie recipe is certain to be your new favorite dessert. Tender and tangy apple slices and a creamy custard filling packed into every bite!
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Pistachio Pie Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
This Pistachio Pie recipe is creamy, nutty and packed with fresh pistachio flavor that everyone will love!
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Pumpkin desserts
Pumpkin Cobbler Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Quick, easy, and irresistibly tasty, this 15-minute Pumpkin Cobbler is a must-try autumn delight. Perfect for warming hearts and satisfying sweet cravings this fall season!
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Pumpkin Spice Crumb Cake Recipe
Total Time: 45 minutes
A layer of pecan-studded crumbs over soft spiced cake makes Pumpkin Spice Crumb Cake a seasonal favorite that’s as lovely for brunch as it is for dessert.
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Pumpkin Roll Cake Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Perfectly spiced Pumpkin Roll Cake wrapped around a creamy filling makes the ultimate fall treat. Great for Thanksgiving, holiday parties, or as a dessert centerpiece.
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Pumpkin Cake Pops Recipe
Total Time: 50 minutes
These Pumpkin Cake Pops are bite-sized treats made with moist spiced pumpkin cake, coated in sweet candy melts, and decorated for Fall!
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Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes Recipe
Total Time: 55 minutes
Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes are filled with warm fall spices, rich pumpkin flavor, and topped with buttery pecans that add crunch and contrast to the smooth, creamy frosting.
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Pumpkin Bread Pudding Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Fall baking gets a delicious twist with this Pumpkin Bread Pudding recipe. Creamy pumpkin custard and spiced bread are baked into a dessert that’s comforting, flavorful, and impossible to resist.
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Apple, pear and pecan desserts
Apple Cake with Caramel Sauce Recipe
Total Time: 50 minutes
With a tender crumb, shredded apples, and spice, Apple Cake with Caramel Sauce is a dessert that pairs effortlessly with warm caramel and your favorite topping.
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The Best Apple Crisp Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Loaded with spiced apples and topped with a crunchy oat crumble, The Best Apple Crisp is quick, easy, and guaranteed to be the only recipe you’ll ever need!
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Apple Cranberry Crisp Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
A golden, buttery oat topping over warm cinnamon-spiced fruit makes Apple Cranberry Crisp an easy and delicious dessert. The mix of sweet and tart flavors is perfect for fall.
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Browned Butter Pear Crisp Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Our Browned Butter Pear Crisp is the ultimate fall comfort treat, with cinnamon-spiced pears and a warm, buttery topping, everyone will love it.
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Pecan Pie Cobbler Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Indulge in this Pecan Pie Cobbler recipe. Gooey caramelized pecan goodness served as a warm spoonable dessert that everyone will love!
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Pear Crostata Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
A homemade Pear Crostata is an easy way to bake something delicious. The golden crust, soft spiced pears, and a sprinkle of turbinado sugar create the perfect finishing touch.
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Apple Crumble Cheesecake Recipe
Total Time: 7 hours 45 minutes
Dive into this Apple Crumble Cheesecake recipe. It's creamy cheesecake, tender cinnamon apples, and a buttery crumble topping in every bite.
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Cheesecakes
Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust Recipe
Total Time: 7 hours 55 minutes
Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust combines creamy filling with a buttery spiced crust. It tastes like fall, family dinners, and the kind of weekends you want to linger.
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No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Immerse yourself in this No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake. It's quick, easy, and will free up your oven for everything else you're cooking for Thanksgiving.
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Pecan Pie Cheesecake Recipe
Total Time: 8 hours 30 minutes
This Pecan Pie Cheesecake combines the creamy richness of classic cheesecake topped with the irresistible caramel-pecan topping to create the ultimate dessert!
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Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes Recipe
Total Time: 3 hours
Spiced bites with warm fall flavors make these Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes the perfect dessert choice for Thanksgiving or your next holiday celebration.
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Perfect New York Cheesecake Recipe
Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes
Satisfy your sweet tooth with our Perfect New York Cheesecake, so rich and delicious it feels like it's fresh from the bakery.
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Cakes and cupcakes
Easy Spice Cake Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
This Easy Spice Cake brings the cozy vibes of fall right to your kitchen, with its moist texture and tangy cream cheese frosting.
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Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes Recipe
Total Time: 50 minutes
Rich, spiced cupcakes topped with caramel frosting make Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes an easy and flavorful fall dessert great for enjoying with coffee or seasonal gatherings.
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Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Total Time: 33 minutes
A swirl of cream cheese frosting tops soft, spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting. They bake up tender and flavorful, with warm spices and rich pumpkin in every layer.
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Praline Pumpkin Cake Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes
Moist and warmly spiced, this Praline Pumpkin Cake gets its flavor from real pumpkin and a pecan-studded praline topping that melts into the cake while it's still warm.
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Pumpkin Layer Cake Recipe
Total Time: 55 minutes
Between the spices and the maple cream cheese frosting, Pumpkin Layer Cake fits right into fall baking season. It’s great for holidays or just something sweet to keep in the fridge.
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Classic Carrot Cake Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Hop into spring with Classic Carrot Cake—a dessert packed with warm spices, tender grated carrots, and cream cheese frosting that’s simply irresistible.
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Cranberry Orange Pound Cake Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Fresh cranberries and orange zest give this Cranberry Orange Pound Cake a seasonal twist. Light glaze drips down the sides, keeping the loaf moist and adding a citrus finish.
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Bars and cookies
Caramel Apple Blondies Recipe
Total Time: 40 minutes
There’s nothing like Caramel Apple Blondies packed with apple chunks, caramel chips, and warm spices. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate treat!
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Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake Bars Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Creamy layers of ricotta and cream cheese swirl together with spiced pumpkin for Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake Bars, offering a rich, smooth filling over a tender shortbread crust.
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Layered Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Bars Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour
You’ll be obsessed with these Layered Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Bars! A graham cracker base, creamy cheesecake, and pumpkin pie come together in irresistible layers.
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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes
Warm up your autumn days with these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies. They’re soft, thick, and packed with chocolate chips, just like homemade.
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Chewy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 18 minutes
Crispy edges, chewy centers, and a perfect blend of pumpkin and chocolate make these Chewy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies a must-try for fall! They’re irresistible and full of flavor.
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Soft Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes
With a cake-like crumb and rich flavor, these Soft Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies are a delicious way to enjoy pumpkin season with every soft, chocolate-studded bite.
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Pumpkin Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 27 minutes
Fall baking just got better! Pumpkin Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting topped with smooth frosting and a sprinkle of cinnamon are sure to please anyone craving the season’s best flavors.
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Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 57 minutes
Bake a tray of Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies rolled in cinnamon sugar and spiced with rich pumpkin flavor, ideal for cool mornings or sharing during fall baking days.
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Butterscotch Pecan Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours 27 minutes
Why settle for ordinary when you can have extraordinary? Our Butterscotch Pecan Cookies are packed with everything you love. They're sweet, nutty, and oh so satisfying.
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White Chocolate Cranberry Pistachio Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes
These White Chocolate Cranberry Pistachio Cookies are the perfect blend of tart, sweet, and nutty flavors. Ideal for holidays or gifting, they’re guaranteed to spread cheer in every bite.
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Pumpkin Monster Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes
Soft, chewy, and candy-filled, Pumpkin Monster Cookies make a fun Halloween treat with melty chocolate, peanut butter richness, and warm fall spices in every colorful cookie.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many desserts should I serve at Thanksgiving?
Two or three desserts usually give a small gathering variety. Increase the number as the guest list increases.
What Thanksgiving desserts can I make ahead?
Many pies, cheesecakes, bars, and cookies can be prepared ahead. Follow each recipe for cooling, chilling, and storage details.
How do I offer dessert variety without baking all day?
Pair one baked classic with a chilled or no-bake choice and a batch of bars or cookies that can be made earlier.
