29 Thanksgiving Desserts Worth Saving Room For!
A collection of the BEST Thanksgiving desserts! We have everything from the classics like pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple pie, and pumpkin rolls, to other popular desserts like pound cakes, sparkling cranberry cupcakes, pumpkin dump cake, caramel apple cheesecake pie, and more!
Two more weeks until Thanksgiving! Are you ready? Is your menu finalized? (I’ll be sharing mine with you next week!)
When it comes to Thanksgiving desserts, are you 100% traditional? Do you serve pumpkin pie every year? Or do you like to look for something new each year? No matter what your Thanksgiving dessert style is, I have you covered! There are tons and tons of classic recipes, along with new and fresh spins on flavors like pumpkin, cranberry, apple, and pecan. There is definitely something here for everyone, and I hope you enjoy browsing the list!
[You can find ALL of the turkey day recipes that are on the site here >>Â Thanksgiving Recipes.]
[If you are in need of side dish recipes, check out 27 Thanksgiving Side Dishes That Are Better Than the Turkey]
Now, on to the Thanksgiving desserts!
The Best Thanksgiving Desserts
Apple Crisp
This is the absolute BEST apple crisp – super intense apple flavor, a thickened sauce, and an oat streusel topping. Totally deserving of a holiday dessert!
GET THE RECIPE >> Apple Crisp
Apple Pie
A classic! My favorite pie crust packed full of a variety of apples with warm spices. Don’t forget the vanilla ice cream!
GET THE RECIPE >> Apple Pie
Banana Pudding
I didn’t realize how many people made banana pudding for Thanksgiving dessert until I saw the masses flocking to this recipe last year! This classic Southern banana pudding starts with a layer of Nilla wafers, sliced bananas, homemade vanilla pudding, and is topped with piles of meringue. Eat it warm (the Southern way), or after it’s been chilled!
GET THE RECIPE >> Banana Pudding
Carrot Cake
I will ALWAYS choose carrot cake for dessert if it’s presented to me on a dessert menu, so I naturally think it’s a perfect choice for holiday dessert. This one is full of carrots, pineapple, raisins, coconut, and pecans, and layered with cream cheese frosting, of course.
GET THE RECIPE >> Carrot Cake
Chocolate Chess Pie
Another new-to-me Thanksgiving tradition, this pie is part-pudding, part-brownie, and all it needs is a simple dollop of whipped cream on top. I love throwing a chocolate option into the Thanksgiving dessert merry-go-round.
GET THE RECIPE >> Chocolate Chess Pie
Cranberry-Eggnog Cheesecake
Super festive! Creamy cheesecake spiked with eggnog and topped with a fresh cranberry sauce.
GET THE RECIPE >> Cranberry-Eggnog Cheesecake
Cranberry-Ginger Pear Pie
Pears don’t get nearly enough attention when it comes to dessert; apples totally steal their thunder. This pie is bound to make you a pear fan for life – sweet, juicy pears are paired up with tart cranberries and gingery spice, and baked up under a crumble topping.
GET THE RECIPE >> Cranberry-Ginger Pear Pie
Cranberry Ice Cream Pie
The ultimate make-ahead dessert! Start with a graham cracker crust, then stir cranberry sauce into vanilla ice cream and top with whipped cream. A light and fresh option for capping off the Thanksgiving meal.
GET THE RECIPE >> Cranberry Ice Cream Pie
Cranberry Pound Cake with Orange Glaze
This cranberry pound cake is wonderfully dense, moist and loaded with fresh cranberries. Topped with a simple orange glaze, it’s perfect for the holidays.
GET THE RECIPE >> Cranberry Pound Cake
Cranberry Sorbet
I adore the intense color of this brightly flavored, slightly sweet and slightly tart cranberry sorbet. If you don’t like heavy desserts after a big meal, a scoop of this sorbet would be perfect!
GET THE RECIPE >> Cranberry Sorbet
Cranberry Upside-Down Cake
A seasonal riff on the traditional pineapple upside-down cake, a simple vanilla cake is baked on top of fresh cranberries, then turned upside-down after baking.
GET RECIPE >> Cranberry Upside-Down Cake
Italian Walnut Pillow Cookies
Growing up, Thanksgiving was a HUGE holiday. Members of my grandfather’s family from Chicago and Wisconsin would travel here for the holiday, often times for the entire week, or longer. My grandma cooked and baked up a storm, and one of my favorite memories is her stockpiling an insane amount of containers with these cookies. She would sometimes tint the icing different colors to make them more festive, and they were always around in abundance leading up to (and after) Thanksgiving.
GET THE RECIPE >> Italian Walnut Pillow Cookies
Maple Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
The seasonal flavors of pumpkin and maple are combined with the creamy texture of cheesecake in a portable bar dessert – eat it with a fork or grab one to nibble on while you watch football on the couch!
GET THE RECIPE >> Maple Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
Pecan Pie
Another classic! Probably my top two or three favorite pies of all-time, I will always, always, always take a slice of pecan pie over pumpkin. Tons of chopped pecans are stirred into the filling so you can them in every single bite.
GET THE RECIPE >> Pecan Pie
Pumpkin Bread with Chocolate Chips & Pecans
The best pumpkin bread I’ve ever made! A loaf of this sliced pumpkin bread would go so nicely along with your favorite pies. Save the recipe and bake up some mini loaves for Christmas gifts!
GET THE RECIPE >> Pumpkin Bread with Chocolate Chips & Pecans
Pumpkin Cheesecake
One of the ultimate pumpkin desserts! Creamy cheesecake meets pumpkin and fall spices for an incredible Thanksgiving dessert.
GET THE RECIPE >> Pumpkin Cheesecake
Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Super moist, fluffy, and packed with pumpkin and spices, these cupcakes are topped with swirls of cream cheese frosting. You can’t go wrong with these!
GET THE RECIPE >> Pumpkin Cupcakes
Pumpkin-Gingerbread Trifle
I first made this recipe maybe 15 years ago, and everyone loved it! Layers of pumpkin mousse, cubed gingerbread, and whipped cream is a fantastic pumpkin dessert option and feeds an absolute army!
GET THE RECIPE >> Pumpkin-Gingerbread Trifle
Pumpkin Ice Cream
Serve up scoops of this seasonal ice cream after dinner; it would be wonderful with crumbles of gingersnap cookies, or use it to make ice cream sandwiches with your favorite ginger, snickerdoodle, or sugar cookie!
GET THE RECIPE >> Pumpkin Ice Cream
Pumpkin Pie
The ultimate in Thanksgiving desserts… most houses HAVE to serve up at least one pumpkin pie, and this is, by far, the best recipe I have ever found. The texture is super creamy and it is perfectly sweetened with a clean pumpkin flavor.
GET THE RECIPE >> Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting
I remember my aunt bringing a pumpkin roll to my grandma’s nearly every single year for Thanksgiving. I love the pumpkin flavor in cake form and, OF COURSE, cream cheese frosting!
GET THE RECIPE >> Pumpkin Roll
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Maple-Cream Cheese Filling
Whether you call them whoopie pies or gobs, these little pumpkin cookie cakes are sandwiched together with a maple-cream cheese frosting/filling. A massive, massive hit whenever they are served!
GET THE RECIPE >> Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Pumpkin Yummy Dessert
A classic pumpkin dump cake! An easy pumpkin filling is spread in a pan, covered with vanilla cake mix and drizzled with melted butter. An incredibly quick and always popular dessert!
GET THE RECIPE >> Pumpkin Yummy Dessert
Salted Caramel Apple Cheesecake Pie
The best of every single world! Graham cracker crust + homemade salted caramel sauce + cooked apples + pecans + cheesecake + fresh whipped cream = an absolute DREAM.
GET THE RECIPE HERE >> Salted Caramel Apple Cheesecake Pie
Salted Caramel Apple Pie
Traditional apple pie gets a kick of homemade salted caramel sauce – your apple pie will never be the same!
GET THE RECIPE HERE >> Salted Caramel Apple Pie
Sparkling Cranberry White Chocolate Cupcakes
These soft and fluffy vanilla cupcakes are filled with a white chocolate ganache, then topped with a cranberry buttercream frosting and garnished with sugared cranberries. So festive!
GET THE RECIPE HERE >> Sparkling Cranberry White Chocolate Cupcakes
Sweet Potato Pie
Are you team pumpkin pie or team sweet potato pie? I like both, but I think sweet potato pie gets an edge just due to the complex flavors, plus this version has a layer of brown sugar baked right on top of the crust.
GET THE RECIPE HERE >> Sweet Potato Pie
Taffy Apple Salad
A sweet and salty spin on traditional ambrosia – in this version, we have miniature marshmallows, pineapple, fresh apples, vanilla custard, and salted peanuts. The combination of all the flavors is insanely good!
GET THE RECIPE HERE >> Taffy Apple Salad
Turkey Cupcakes
No, we are not making cupcakes with ACTUAL TURKEY. But, how cute are these guys?! If you’re looking for a project to do with kids, this would be perfect! Chocolate cupcakes, frosting, Oreos, peanut butter cups, candy corn and Whoppers are transformed into *gobble gobble* turkeys!
GET THE RECIPE HERE >> Turkey Cupcakes
TELL ME! What are your MUST HAVE Thanksgiving desserts?
I appreciate you letting me know this. It’s fantastic what you’ve written on your blog. You published a blog piece that was both informative and entertaining. hurdle
Everything in this collection sounds delectable and fantastic. drift boss appreciate you sharing…
Such a delicious interesting collection of recipes! I have no idea where to begin. Everything looks fantastic. I’ve also baked a popular poundcake with cranberries. In addition to having a delicious flavor, both have festive hues. I like to always have a few pies, typically pumpkin and apple, as well as spice cookies with pumpkin dip. After that, I like to add a cake. My family and friends enjoy the delicious cranberry eggnog cheesecake that I have prepared.
Thanks for sharing, looks too yummy deserts, I can’t wait, have to test. Really enjoyed it. Thanks again.
Such a delicious collection of recipes! I don’t even know where to start. Everything looks so good. I love a cold slice on Black Friday even more.
Pumpkin pie every year…from costco (it is the best) with as much whipped cream as you can get to stay on it😊 I think one year my sister made a pumpkin dulce de leche cake which was amazing. Definitely a stand out memory.
Pumpkin Pie is an absolute for me.  I love a cold slice on Black Friday even more. I always use the one on your website. It’s the best!  I’m a Pecan Pie fan too, so it’s nice to have a small slice of that too.Â
this all collection are fabulous and everything sounds too delicious….and this thanksgiving desserts menu perfect it… i am makes it..Thanks for sharing….!
I always like to have a couple pies – usually pumpkin and apple – and always spice cookies with pumpkin dip. Â Then I like to add in a cake. Â I’ve made the cranberry eggnog cheesecake and it’s delicious and well loved amongst my family and friends. Â I’ve also made the cranberry poundcake and it’s a hit as well. Â Both have beautiful pops of festive color on top of tasting so good! Â We usually host 25-30 people, so lots of desserts go over well.
I love the variety of desserts you have!!
We’ve been a small group for years and tend to prefer simple, classic desserts. Â One prefers pumpkin pie, another pecan, another apple crisp. Â One doesn’t really care if there are desserts at all, but will eat pumpkin pie. Â I sometimes make Cranberry Ice (https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/cranberry-ice-0), which is similar to your Cranberry Sorbet, but more like a granita. Â Everyone wants to take home leftover turkey and side dishes, but no one wants leftover desserts. Â
Hi Sally, That’s usually what happens here, too! Everyone is so stuffed from dinner that they will take a small piece of dessert, but most will not take leftover dessert.
For years we have been making your chocolate cream cream pie for special occasions and Thanksgiving. The only change we made to it was switching out the Oreo crust for regular pie crust to make it a little lighter. It has quickly become our family favorite as well as several other BEB recipes!
That is such a delicious pie, I love that it’s become a tradition of yours!
Thanksgiving menu is actually non-traditional this year….bacon wrapped dates, steaks, bacon wrapped shrimp, Chrissy Teigen’s mac and cheese, Fig Balsalmic Brussels sprouts, sauteed chard, croissants and salted caramel apple cake. Have a blessed holiday :-)
Oh my gosh, I love your menu! Bacon wrapped dates are always a HUGE hit here!
Such a delicious collection of recipes! I don’t even know where to start ♥♥♥ Everything looks and sounds so good!