The best way to end a feast is with a sweet treat, and these easy Thanksgiving desserts, from cookies to decadent pies, make the last course the simplest.
1/30
Cranberry Tart
From the Recipe Creator:
While everyone is enjoying a bountiful meal, this eye-catching tart can be baking to perfection in the oven. The pretty holiday dessert calls for very few ingredients, and it's a snap to assemble. —Jackie Zack, Riverside, Connecticut
For a slice of cake with plenty of tart flavor, look no further. This cranberry tart only requires 15 minutes of prep time and a short list of ingredients. Fresh or frozen cranberries add vibrant color and flavor, and a touch of almond extract rounds things out. Serve the impressive tart with a dusting of confectioners’ sugar.
2/30
Pumpkin Chiffon Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
For a tasty treat during the fall, try this special dessert. The vanilla pudding makes it extra creamy.—Karen Grimes, Stephens City, Virginia
This easy pie layers tangy cream cheese and airy, spiced pumpkin in a crunchy graham cracker crust. Pudding mix and whipped topping keep the prep work light, while also adding sweet, creamy flavor.
3/30
Easy Apple Crisp
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's an easy apple crisp! This is a delicious dessert perfect for young cooks to prepare. It's super simple to make since there's no crust—just a crumbly topping. Plus, with apples and oats, it's a wholesome treat. —Sheri Hatten, Devil's Lake, North Dakota
Bring a taste of fall to the table with an apple crisp that’s as easy as can be. Use tart apples (aka, the best apples for baking) for the best flavor, and top them with plenty of crisp oat topping. Don’t forget the vanilla ice cream!
4/30
Pumpkin Bars
From the Recipe Creator:
Pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting are the ultimate fall treat. But my family likes them so much, they ask me to make them all year long! —Brenda Keller, Andalusia, Alabama
Looking for a new favorite pumpkin dessert? These cake-like bars are the ideal solution, and this recipe dishes up plenty of servings for a crowd. A simple batter is prepped and baked in a sheet pan. Once cooled, slather the top with cream cheese icing before slicing and serving.
5/30
Pecan Pie Bars
From the Recipe Creator:
These bars are decadently rich—just like pecan pie! They’re sure to disappear from the dessert table at your next gathering, so you might want to save one for later before putting them out. —Carolyn Custer, Clifton Park, New York
Make pecan pie that much simpler with this pecan pie bar recipe. Just press the crust into a baking dish, spread the filling over the top, and bake! The recipe makes three dozen bars, so you can bake plenty of servings ahead of the big meal.
6/30
Jewish Apple Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
A friend from New Hampshire gave me this Jewish apple cake recipe, which took a blue ribbon at the county fair. —Jennie Wilburn, Long Creek, Oregon
While this apple cake is often served during Rosh Hashanah, it makes a great dessert for other celebrations like Thanksgiving. A simple batter is layered with sliced apples, then baked for a cinnamon-sugar-filled treat.
7/30
Fudgy Brownie Recipe
From the Recipe Creator:
Coffee granules enhance the chocolate flavor in these amazingly fudgy brownies. Add chocolate chips to the batter and you’ve got some seriously irresistible treats. —Sarah Farmer, Waukesha, Wisconsin
If it’s a decadent chocolate dessert you’re looking for, consider your search officially over! These chewy, delicious fudgy brownies are easy to make and jam-packed with chocolate.
8/30
Pumpkin Mousse
From the Recipe Creator:
If you've had your fill of pumpkin pie, this cool and creamy pumpkin mousse is perfect for you. Its light and fluffy texture won't make you feel 'stuffed' after your favorite turkey dinner. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
You won’t need precious oven space to put together this treat. No-bake pumpkin mousse comes together with cream cheese, canned pumpkin, instant vanilla pudding mix and whipped topping. Mixed with sugar and spice, the result is a creamy, dreamy dessert layered with gingersnap cookies for a hint of crunch.
9/30
Pumpkin Bundt Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
This pumpkin bundt cake recipe is perfect for fall. As it bakes, the aroma fills the house with a spicy scent. —Virginia Loew, Leesburg, Florida
Prefer cake over pie? Make a pumpkin Bundt cake to satisfy those fall flavor cravings. The simple batter comes together in minutes with canned pumpkin and warm spices as the star of the show. Once it’s baked, dust the cake with confectioners’ sugar or drizzle it with a salted caramel sauce for an extra special touch.
10/30
German Plum Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
I love this stunning cake in autumn with apples and pears, but each year I secretly can't wait for summer to roll back around so I can make plum kuchen. —Anna Daley, Montague, Prince Edward Island
Juicy plums are a wonderful fruit to enjoy during autumn. Plum slices are arranged in the pan with cake batter, and the treat is baked until golden. Slice it up with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for a light, fruity bite.
11/30
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe caught my eye and was extremely popular at the annual Christmas party sponsored by our Extension Homemakers. It's a great dessert for fall. — Agnes Jasa, Malabar, Florida
Can’t decide between pumpkin pie and cheesecake? You don’t have to with this make-ahead dessert! These bars are layered with a buttery crust and creamy pumpkin cheesecake filling. Serve them cold on their own or add a dollop of whipped cream on top.
12/30
White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These white chocolate cranberry oatmeal cookies that I adapted from another recipe call to mind ones my mother used to bake. Instead of stirring in raisins like she did, though, I add bright red cranberries for festive flair. —Marjorie Goertzen, Chase, Kansas
These cookies pair sweet chocolate with tart cranberry in one soft bite. Bake the drop cookies as-is or try them with a bit of orange zest if you’re a cranberry-orange fan. Either way, guests will love their hearty texture and bright bursts of flavor.
13/30
Pumpkin Spice Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These big, soft spice cookies created by our staff have a sweet frosting that makes them an extra-special treat. Enjoy! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Pumpkin cookies are a classic fall dessert, and our recipe makes plenty to feed a crowd. These soft cake-like cookies make great use of the best yellow cake mix and canned pumpkin. Once baked and cooled, top them with a lovely orange frosting or swap it for homemade cream cheese frosting.
14/30
Pumpkin Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
This pumpkin cake is packed with a warm, seasonal taste from ground cinnamon and pumpkin, bits of crunchy pecans and a rich cream cheese frosting. The flavors combine for a cozy, sweet treat you'll want to have year-round. —Leon Dellinger, Elwood, Indiana
Move over pumpkin pie, we’re making pumpkin cake for dessert! The simple cake batter with chopped pecans is baked in a 13×9-inch pan, cooled, and topped with cream cheese frosting right in the pan for easy serving. This is a great option to make up to two days ahead of time and store in the refrigerator until it’s time to slice and serve on Thanksgiving day.
15/30
Turkey Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
Every Thanksgiving, my cousin makes these fudge-striped turkey cookies out of prepared cookies and candies. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Turkey is often the star of the Thanksgiving show. Why not continue the theme to dessert with an easy no-bake dessert? These adorable treats use store-bought ingredients like fudge-striped cookies to pull together something festive and fun. Make them ahead of time or bring out all the necessary ingredients to make turkey cookies together for a family activity.
16/30
Baked Cranberry Pudding
From the Recipe Creator:
This is an old-fashioned pudding that's a cranberry lover's delight. Serve warm topped with whipped cream for an elegant look, or in bowls with rich cream poured over for a homey touch. —Lucy Meyring, Walden, Colorado
This showstopping treat may look complicated, but it’s very easy to make in just a few steps. You’ll end up with a vibrant cake-like cranberry dessert with wonderful seasonal flavor. Garnish with plenty of orange zest, and serve each slice with whipped cream.
17/30
Caramel Apple Crisp
From the Recipe Creator:
When my kids and I make apple crisp, we use all sorts of apples to boost the flavor and texture. Add melted caramels, and you’ve got something scrumptious. —Michelle Brooks, Clarkston, Michigan
Our caramel apple crisp recipe draws inspiration from caramel apples for the most flavorful dessert. Even better, it can be prepped in just 20 minutes. Layer apples with an oat topping and store-bought caramels for easy assembly. This is a great make-ahead dessert to store in the refrigerator and warm up again for serving.
18/30
Pumpkin Ice Cream Recipe
From the Recipe Creator:
Folks who favor the flavor of pumpkin really need to try this spiced ice cream. But be prepared to make more! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
You can make your own pumpkin ice cream with fewer than 10 ingredients. Heavy whipping cream, canned pumpkin, sugar and spices are mixed together and processed in an ice cream maker for the ultimate creamy treat. Serve it on its own or paired with a slice of pie or apple crisp.
19/30
Steamed Carrot Pudding
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe, passed down from my Canadian grandmother, has been in my family for at least three generations. It's been a favorite wintertime dessert for us and is always served for Easter and other holiday meals. —Ann Searcey, Kettering, Ohio
This hearty pudding incorporates plenty of vegetables for a taste of fall. It’s an old-fashioned dessert that’s steamed to produce a light and airy texture. Drizzle the vanilla sauce on top for the perfect special touch.
20/30
Pumpkin Fudge
From the Recipe Creator:
I look forward to the taste of pumpkin every Thanksgiving. This easy pumpkin fudge recipe lets me do that and everyone loves it.—Marlene Fudge, Rushville, Indiana
While classic chocolate fudge is always delicious, this recipe puts a seasonal spin on things. A can of pumpkin and well-balanced spices produce exceptional flavor for this dreamy fudge. You can even make it up to two weeks ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator to have ready for Thanksgiving day.
21/30
Soft Gingersnap Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
Soft gingersnaps embody the tastes and smells of the Christmas season, but they are perfect for any fall or winter gathering. I enjoy the blend of cloves, ginger and cinnamon in this delicious cookie. —Lara Pennell, Mauldin, South Carolina
These chewy cookies are packed with molasses and ginger flavor and feature a coarse sugar topping to dress them up. You’ll end up with three dozen cookies to serve to a crowd or freeze the rest for another occasion.
22/30
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars
From the Recipe Creator:
This dessert is super easy to pull together, and the flavorful results will win you nothing but rave reviews. —Aimee Ransom, Hoschton, Georgia
Pumpkin and chocolate are a wonderful match. Spice cake mix, canned pumpkin and chocolate chips are stirred together and baked for the ultimate easy treat. Once cooled, you’ll have a whole pan of bars to enjoy as-is, drizzle with chocolate, top with cream cheese frosting or serve with pumpkin ice cream.
23/30
Sweet Potato Cheesecake Brownies
From the Recipe Creator:
If you're looking for something other than pumpkin, these sweet potato bars are a yummy alternative. Make them ahead—they're even better refrigerated overnight. —Debbie Glasscock, Conway, Arkansas
While sweet potato casserole steals the show when it comes to Thanksgiving sides, these sweet potato cheesecake bars will be the highlight of the dessert spread. Mashed sweet potatoes are mixed with sugar, spices and eggs to form the filling, which is layered with a cream cheese mixture.
24/30
Best Bread Pudding
From the Recipe Creator:
The secret to incredible bread pudding with a soft middle and crisp edges starts with leftover dinner rolls. I picked up the rich brown sugar sauce recipe from my friend Kathryn Gartmann. A big drizzle of it takes this dessert over the top and really makes it the best bread pudding ever. —Maria Petrella, Taste of Home Prep Cook
Bread pudding recipes are a classic dessert, no matter the occasion. Dish up this classic for Thanksgiving with an easy-to-doctor recipe. Mix the custard filling and bread cubes, pour it into a baking dish and bake. Add mix-ins such as cranberries, walnuts or chunks of apple to make it your own. Top each serving with vanilla ice cream and salted caramel sauce.
25/30
Cookie Butter Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
I tasted Biscoff cookie butter at a grocery store one day, and it was so delicious that I decided to create a no-bake pie with it. You can make it your own by using peanut butter or another kind of spread and matching toppings instead. —Katrina Adams, Mount Olive, Alabama
No-bake pies help you save time and space in the oven on Thanksgiving day. This pie makes use of Biscoff cookie spread with warm cinnamon flavor paired with cream cheese and whipped topping in a graham cracker crust. It’ll only take a few minutes to assemble, and then you can leave the pie in the freezer to firm up before dinner time.
26/30
Pecan Pie Recipe
From the Recipe Creator:
Pecan pie is a Thanksgiving tradition in my house, and I was on a quest to create the ultimate version. This might be it! —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Next to pumpkin pie, pecan is a top Thanksgiving pie recipe for many, and making your own from scratch is easier than you might think. Start with a pie crust, whisk together the filling and bake the pie for 55 to 60 minutes. You’ll want to leave plenty of time for this pie to cool.
27/30
Pumpkin Brownies
From the Recipe Creator:
Chocolate and pumpkin pair up to make a family-favorite fall dessert. These pumpkin brownies are fantastic for parties and picnics. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Pair the wonderful combo of pumpkin and chocolate in the ultimate bar. Cocoa powder and canned pumpkin are the stars of the show with the batter swirled together. Serve these bars with a classy Thanksgiving cocktail.
28/30
Mincemeat Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
As a cold and tasty finishing touch, my husband and I usually put a scoop of ice cream on top of our mincemeat pie slices. The recipe comes from my mother. Each year, I make it for Christmas and for my sister-in-law's New Year's party. —Laverne Kamp, Kutztown, Pennsylvania
Mincemeat is made up of chopped dried fruits and nuts with sugar and spices. It serves as the perfect pie filling once combined with eggs and melted butter. Bake it all in your favorite homemade or store-bought pie crust for a flaky, flavorful treat.
29/30
3-Ingredient No-Bake Cheesecake
From the Recipe Creator:
If you’re craving a luscious treat but don't have the time to make something elaborate, this easy cheesecake recipe will truly change how you make dessert! With only three ingredients and no baking required, it's a handy recipe that tastes just like the real thing. —Molly Allen, Hood River, Oregon
For a simple, no-bake dessert, look to mini cheesecakes. These little treats only require three ingredients and 15 minutes of prep time. Plus, they’re a great, easy overnight dessert to keep on hand in the fridge. Assemble them as-is, or add canned pumpkin to transform them for the fall holiday.
30/30
Pecan Pie Brownies
From the Recipe Creator:
Chopped pecans top these chewy, chocolaty brownies for an irresistible dessert. The nutty pie topping has a gooey texture that ties this treat together. —Molly Allen, Hood River, Oregon
There’s no need to choose between pecan pie and classic brownies. You get both here! Even with a from-scratch brownie batter, the prep time is just 10 minutes. Make it even faster with a boxed brownie mix.
Easy Thanksgiving Desserts FAQ
What is the most popular dessert at Thanksgiving?
Dishing up Thanksgiving pies is typical for most Turkey Day sweets. Pumpkin pie tops the list, thanks to its warm fall flavors and creamy texture. However, many people will choose to enjoy apple or pecan pie instead or offer multiple types of pie to share around the table.
How many Thanksgiving desserts do I need?
If you’re hosting a smaller dinner, one to two desserts would be great. For a larger Thanksgiving gathering, three or four options have enough variety so everyone gets a bite of something they love. Aim for two servings per guest to ensure there’s plenty to go around.
What are the best easy Thanksgiving desserts for a crowd?
The best desserts for a crowd are easy to make in large quantities. Try a big dish of apple crisp or a double-batch of pecan pie brownies, pumpkin bars or cranberry cookies. These options make a lot of servings without much more work and still deliver plenty of seasonal flavor.
What are some make-ahead Thanksgiving desserts?
Make-ahead Thanksgiving desserts, such as cookie butter pie, no-bake cheesecakes and pumpkin bars, are amazing time-saving recipes during a busy holiday. Many can be chilled in the refrigerator or frozen until it’s time to serve. Others can be assembled in advance and baked just before dinner, freeing up oven space and easing the workload on the big day.
