Give plain pumpkin pie a rest this year. Instead, start a new tradition and try these Thanksgiving desserts that aren't pie.
1/25
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
You’ll normally find pumpkin brownie recipes hiding the pumpkin puree in the batter as an oil replacement. Not here, though. We turn everyone’s favorite ingredient into a pumpkin cakelike filling that gets trailed throughout the brownie batter, making a beautiful orange garland.
2/25
Pumpkin Tiramisu
From the Recipe Creator:
Pumpkin isn’t only for pies. Now you can take the classic fall vegetable and enjoy it in a tiramisu-style dessert. I promise that after one bite, you’ll add this recipe to keeper files. —Pam Peters, Fernie, British Columbia
Tiramisu is having a moment, so it only made sense that we outfit it for fall. We make the pumpkin ladyfingers from scratch, soak them in rum, and layer them with whipped cream cheese and a fluffy pumpkin filling.
3/25
Pecan Pie Cheesecake
From the Recipe Creator:
This incredible dessert perfectly pairs the creaminess of a classic cheesecake base with a rich, cinnamon-y, nutty layer spooned on after baking. Over the top? Yes ... in the best way possible! —Julie Andrews, Rockford, Michigan
This dessert has all the great flavors of pecan pie, without actually making a pie! The brown sugar-cinnamon cheesecake gets finished with a topping similar to the filling of a pecan pie. It takes a little more work than something like brownies, but it certainly is an impressive plated dessert for the holiday.
4/25
Turkey Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Create a simple centerpiece for your Thanksgiving dessert table. The cake comes together fast with the help of a mix, and melted candy coating keeps decorating easy. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
No one will even miss the pie when they see this adorable turkey cake. Psst: It’s a lot easier than it looks. The feathers and face are made out of candy coating, and the cake is from a box mix. You could even buy the best chocolate frosting from the store to make assembly even easier.
5/25
Chocolate Ganache Pumpkin Tart
From the Recipe Creator:
I love the flavor combination of spiced pumpkin and chocolate, which inspired me to create this chocolate pumpkin tart. Sometimes I like to sprinkle chopped crystallized ginger over the chocolate ganache for extra flavor and texture. —Bernice Janowski, Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Would you believe me if I told you that this impressive tart is actually easier to make than a pie? Even with all the layers—chocolate crumb crust, pumpkin pie-like filling, ganache topping and candied ginger garnish—it’s a cinch to put together. Bonus: Every slice plates up beautifully.
6/25
Toffee-Pear Crisp Bread Pudding
From the Recipe Creator:
My son loves pear crisp, but one night I was making bread pudding. He asked if I could make both. I compromised by combining the two desserts into this one dish. It's absolutely fantastic! —Kurt Wait, Redwood City, California
If the fine details of presentation aren’t your forte, opt for this bread pudding that looks decadent even when it’s just spooned into a bowl. With chunks of pear baked with a custardy, caramelly bread pudding, this warming dessert gets only better with the included toffee sauce topping.
7/25
Pumpkin Charlotte
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother-in-law gave me this recipe a while back and I just love it! I make it for my husband and his friends during hunting season and it's a big hit. —Lorelle Edgcomb, Granville, Illinois
There’s no baking required when it comes to this restaurant-worthy pumpkin Charlotte. (Unless you want to bake the ladyfingers from scratch.) You do, however, have to make it a day in advance, so plan ahead.
8/25
Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
This fall treat combines the flavors and textures of perfectly spiced pumpkin cookies and a surprise cheesecake filling. —Sarah Farmer, Waukesha, Wisconsin
These cookies are three desserts in one—no, really! The recipe starts with pumpkin spice cookies stuffed with a cheesecake-like filling. Then, before baking, each cookie dough ball is rolled in a cinnamon-sugar coating, like snickerdoodles. Crackly, tender and soft, these cookies are a masterclass in combining desserts to make one “best of” recipe.
9/25
Heavenly Praline Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
A moist cake and generous frosting are filled with the fabulous flavor of caramel. The candied pecans are almost a dessert by themselves! —Jennifer Rodriguez, Midland, Texas
This cake combines underrated fall flavors—pecans, dark brown sugar and toffee—into a pie-free Thanksgiving dessert that looks impressive on the table. The flavor can be heavy for some, so be sure to offer guests their slices with homemade whipped cream or a scoop of the best vanilla ice cream.
10/25
Pumpkin Ice Cream Roll
From the Recipe Creator:
This wonderfully light dessert is our standby at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The hint of pumpkin and the refreshing ice cream make a most delicious after-dinner treat. —Gayle Lewis, Yucaipa, California
If you’ve never made a cake roll before, be sure to follow our recipe to the letter. It’s a very cool dessert to serve. But there’s a good bit of technique behind it so the cake turns out with a perfect spiral.
11/25
Apple Crisp
From the Recipe Creator:
I live in apple country, and making a delicious apple crisp is one way to use the fruit. This treat doesn’t take a lot of time to assemble. —Gertrude Bartnick, Portage, Wisconsin
An apple crisp is like a deconstructed apple crumb pie, with about a quarter of the work. It’s also easy to make this one gluten-free, if needed. Simply replace the all-purpose flour with one of the best gluten-free flour blends, and be sure to purchase certified gluten-free oats.
12/25
Cranberry-Carrot Layer Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
This moist cake smothered with rich cream cheese frosting makes any dinner festive. Every autumn I go to a cranberry festival in Wisconsin and load up on fresh cranberries to freeze for year-round cooking. —Nellie Runne, Rockford, Illinois
Carrot cake is surprisingly autumnal, but since it’s usually spiced with cinnamon and cloves, it makes total sense. We took the fall flavors a step further by adding cranberries to the cake and sugared cranberries as a pretty garnish.
13/25
Butter Pecan Cheesecake
From the Recipe Creator:
Fall always makes me yearn for this pecan cheesecake, but it’s delicious in any season. You’ll want to put it on your list of favorite holiday desserts. —Laura Sylvester, Mechanicsville, Virginia
Butter pecan is another underrated fall flavor we love but don’t always think of first. After one bite of this butter pecan cheesecake, you won’t forget it again. Brown the butter to bring out its toasty, nutty notes, deepening the flavor.
14/25
Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Cheesecake
From the Recipe Creator:
This Kentucky bourbon pecan cheesecake will wow your guests and your taste buds. Serve in spring during the Kentucky Derby or at any other special occasion throughout the year. —Rashanda Cobbins, Aurora, Colorado
Bourbon is aged in oak barrels, which imparts it with vanilla, spice and its gorgeous caramel color—all of which are perfect for autumn. Baked in a cheesecake with pecans and caramel over a chocolate crust, it’s nothing short of special.
15/25
Pumpkin Spice Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
We sometimes call this pumpkin spice cake Thanksgiving Cake because it's a tasty alternative to pie. But we don't relegate it to just that holiday. I think you'll agree it's delicious any time of the year. —Kathy Rhoads, Circleville, Ohio
I love this cake exactly as-is, but if you want to turn it up a notch for Thanksgiving, decorate it similarly to our layered strawberry Bundt cake. Cut it in half horizontally, fill the middle with a layer of pumpkin butter and a layer of pumpkin mousse (as long as the mousse contains gelatin so it doesn’t ooze out the sides), and place the top back on.
16/25
Pumpkin-Butterscotch Gingerbread Trifle
From the Recipe Creator:
There's more to pumpkin than pie, as this impressive trifle proves. It looks so elegant with alternating layers of gingerbread cake and pumpkin/butterscotch pudding. Try making it ahead of time for a fuss-free dessert when you're planning to entertain guests. —Lyla Lehenbauer, New London, Missouri
The trifle is a powerful dessert. It is super easy to make, feeds a crowd, and gets all the oohs and aahs when presented. Best of all, you have to make it in advance and serve it straight from the fridge, so there’s no fussiness about it. This trifle combines three powerhouse fall flavors—pumpkin, butterscotch and gingerbread—into one.
17/25
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
We took all the hard work out of pecan pie by turning the dessert into bars. The finicky pie crust is replaced with a quick shortbread crust. And all the great flavor of a pecan pie is baked on top, with milk chocolate English toffee pieces to boot.
18/25
Pumpkin Fudge
From the Recipe Creator:
I look forward to the taste of pumpkin every Thanksgiving. This easy pumpkin fudge recipe indulges me and everyone loves it. —Marlene Fudge, Rushville, Indiana
Whenever my mom and I plan the Thanksgiving dessert table, we make sure there is plenty of variety and always include some kind of confection. Sometimes, all people want is just a few little bites of something sweet. This soft, decadent, fall-spiced pumpkin fudge is just the dessert for that.
19/25
Upside-Down German Chocolate Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
This simple recipe yields a delectable German chocolate upside-down cake that folks will flip over. The tempting coconut and pecan frosting bakes under the batter and ends up on top when you turn the cake out of the pan. —Mrs. Harold Sanders, Glouster, Ohio
A typical German chocolate cake is an elaborate, laborious affair. This recipe simplifies it into a type of sheet cake, without losing any of the chocolaty, nutty and buttery flavor we expect. The cake bakes upside-down, so the usual frosting is baked right underneath. Invert the cake from the pan and serve!
20/25
Apple Roses
From the Recipe Creator:
Apple roses are a stunning, yet surprisingly easy dessert to prepare and take to gatherings. You'll impress everyone with the intricate rose design and get rave reviews after their first bites. —Megan Taylor, Greenfield, Wisconsin
To this day, one of the best desserts I have ever brought to Thanksgiving is apple roses. Everyone was so impressed that I turned thinly sliced apples into delicate-looking roses that an entire photoshoot ensued. Little did they know, I put only about 20 minutes of active work into them.
21/25
Gingered Almond Truffle Tart
From the Recipe Creator:
Fresh ginger complements the chocolate truffle filling in this elegant, almost sinful tart. Small servings are best! —Janice Elder, Charlotte, North Carolina
Don’t you just love hearing, “Can you send me the recipe for that?” When a dessert is as delicious and beautifully presented as this tart, have the recipe ready to share.
22/25
Orange Cranberry Cookie Bars
From the Recipe Creator:
You can make Starbucks cranberry bliss bars any time you please with this copycat recipe. It makes an entire pan of bars that taste just like the real deal. —Jennifer Blakely, Visalia, California
For those who want to add a little more flavor variety to their spread without fall spices, pumpkin and apples, I recommend these cookie bars. The cookie base uses alternative fall flavors like cranberries, pecans and orange zest. White chocolate chips and cream cheese frosting add a lovely richness.
23/25
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
This pumpkin mousse does not require turning on the oven or even a burner. It’s made from cream cheese and instant pudding mix, so it creates a stiff yet fluffy mousse. Then, layer it with crushed gingersnaps and a dollop of whipped cream.
24/25
Armagnac Chocolate Almond Tart
From the Recipe Creator:
I am a pecan pie lover, and this is my twist on pecan pie. I use almonds instead of pecans and golden syrup instead of corn syrup. Both chocolate and Armagnac make this tart really special. Don't skip on toasting the almonds, it brings out the nuttiness of the pie. —Phoebe Saad, Framingham, Massachusetts
This tart is like a sophisticated pecan pie, plussed up with toasted almonds, chocolate and special Armagnac for total elevation. I’d definitely make this if there are gourmands coming to Thanksgiving. But be sure to have a less nuanced dessert for kids or those with picky palates.
25/25
Caramel Apple Bar
From the Recipe Creator:
This caramel apple board cuts apples into slices, so you can try a bunch of different topping combinations instead of committing to one or two for a whole apple. —Sarah Fischer, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
This genius caramel apple bar is like a charcuterie board for gourmet caramel apples. It’s such a fun dessert to share, letting everyone try their own caramel apple concoctions with different dips and toppings.
Thanksgiving Desserts That Aren’t Pie FAQs
What is a traditional Thanksgiving dessert other than pie?
Traditional Thanksgiving desserts other than pie include fall-flavored cheesecakes, layered cakes, cookies and confections. These aren’t quite as iconic as pie, but it’s usually expected that the Thanksgiving dessert table is filled out with a few more desserts other than pie. You’ll usually find these types of desserts in the mix.
What are some make-ahead Thanksgiving desserts that aren’t pie?
You can make almost any Thanksgiving dessert that isn’t pie ahead of time. The best types of desserts to prepare in advance would be brownies, cheesecakes (they usually have to chill overnight anyway!), cookies, tiramisu, tarts, cakes and trifles. Desserts to avoid making in advance are anything with puff pastry or mousse.
Are there any no-bake Thanksgiving desserts that aren’t pie?
Yes, there are many no-bake Thanksgiving desserts that aren’t pie. If you still have access to a stovetop, you can whip up a batch of homemade ice cream or pumpkin fudge. For those without a stove, make pumpkin Charlotte, pumpkin mousse or a caramel apple bar for desserts that are truly no-bake and no-cook.
