The Best Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
If you're looking for a show-stopping Thanksgiving dessert, look no further! This list has over 29 mouthwatering pies and other unique dessert ideas for the most delicious Thanksgiving ever. Even after all the cooking, carving and second helpings, it's still essential to end the night with something sweet!
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Whether you're team pumpkin, team apple, or just here for anything sweet, Thanksgiving is the perfect excuse to bake a few extra treats and share them with the people you love.
These recipes are cozy, seasonal and simple enough to pull off during the busiest cooking week of the year. Thanksgiving isn't complete without something sweet and you'll find something on this list to please every palate!
Why These Recipes Work
- Most recipes can be made ahead, so you can relax on the big day.
- A mix of classics and fun twists, so there's something for everyone.
- The recipes range from simple to impressive suit all skill levels.
- Every recipe keeps with the flavors of the season, so nothing feels out of place.
- They have a wide variety of serving sizes to suit different groups.
The Best Thanksgiving Pie Recipes
For me, Thanksgiving starts and ends with pie! I grew up with morning pie and coffee before the feast and a second slice after dinner, which might be the best holiday tradition of all. These pies range from time-honored classics to unique show stopping works of art!
Cranberry Pie with Gingersnap Crust
A bright cranberry curd filling sets in a buttery gingersnap crust for a tart, creamy pie that looks gorgeous on a holiday table. It is best made a day ahead, which frees you up on Thursday.
Grandma's Apple Pie
Buttery crust and tender apples make this the timeless Thanksgiving dessert everyone expects to see. It's simple, yet so delicious, and one of the most special recipes on my website. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel.
Grandma's Custard Pie
My grandma's old fashioned custard pie includes a silky, lightly spiced custard that's baked in a classic crust. It's simple, nostalgic and my Thanksgiving table wouldn't be complete without it. Serve cool with whipped cream for an easy finish to the meal.
Peach Pie
Bring something a little unexpected to the pie table this year. Sweet peaches tucked into a flaky crust bring a welcome fruit-forward option to the table. Frozen peaches work well out of season, so you can offer something bright alongside the fall flavors.
Cranberry Tart with Almond Frangipane
Tart cranberries bake into a creamy almond filling in a shortbread crust for a striking, make-ahead dessert. It's elegant, impressive and brings a nice pop of color to the table.
Apple Crostata
A free-form tart with flaky pastry and spiced apples that's more relaxed than a lattice pie yet just as satisfying. It bakes up beautifully and looks right at home on a Thanksgiving dessert table.
Italian Ricotta Pie
Light, gently sweet ricotta custard in a tender crust brings an Italian touch to the dessert spread. It' is 's great for guests who want something less rich than traditional cheesecake. It's super easy to make at home with just a few simple ingredients!
Meyer Lemon Tart
This Meyer lemon tart is a delicious twist on a classic lemon tart. It has a silky lemon curd made with Meyer lemons and a touch of cardamom inside of a buttery tart shell that's impossible to resist.
Blueberry Pie
This old fashioned blueberry pie recipe comes from my grandma and is a staple in our house. It's simple and pure, just like my grandma made it, and really lets the blueberries shine! This is a great option to use frozen blueberries for Thanksgiving!
Halloween Candy Ice Cream Pie
This is a delicious and unique dessert to serve on Thanksgiving if you have any leftover candy still lingering around from Halloween. It works best with chocolate candy which gets chopped up, mixed into vanilla ice cream and then frozen into a buttery Oreo cookie crust. The best part is that you can make it up to a month in advance since it stays fresh in the freezer util you're ready to slice.
Pie Crust Recipes
Sure, you can use a store bought crust, but it really does taste so much better when you make your crust from scratch! Plus, you can make it months ahead of time and keep it in the freezer wrapped tightly. It's an easy way to get ahead on Thanksgiving prep so you're not scrambling at the last minute.
Foolproof Flaky Pie Crust
This simple recipe for foolproof flaky pie dough will result in a perfect pie every single time thanks to a mix of butter and shortening. It comes together easily without a food processor or any fancy equipment and can be made up to 3 months in advance! Making a great pie crust from scratch is nothing to be afraid of and this recipe will prove it.
Buttermilk Pie Crust
This buttermilk pie crust recipe makes a rich, buttery, and ultra-flaky crust that's perfect for any pie. The buttermilk adds a subtle tang and enhances the buttery flavor, while the dough bakes up tender with lots of flaky layers. With a few simple tips, you'll master this homemade pie crust and never go back to store-bought again!
Grandma's Crisco Pie Crust Recipe
Whether you're a fan of sweet or savory pies, this Crisco pie crust recipe is sure to be a hit. Thanks to my Grandma's famous recipe, it's easy and quick to put together, and you can fill it with whatever your heart desires. Get ready to whip up the flakiest, tastiest Crisco pie crust that'll have your friends and family asking for the recipe!
Pasta Frolla: Italian Sweet Shortcrust Pastry
Pasta Frolla is the Italian version of sweet shortcrust pastry, which is a staple Italian pastry dough made simply with flour, butter, eggs, and sugar. This versatile dough can be used to make a variety of delicious baked goods, such as tarts, cookies, tartlets, and more. It has a lovely crumbly, buttery texture that is great with either fruit or cream fillings.
Festive Fall Desserts for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is the time to celebrate everything fall has to offer, and dessert is where those flavors really shine. Think pumpkin, apples, pears, warm spices, and buttery crusts that fill your kitchen with the best kind of baking smells. These desserts are rich in seasonal flavor but still feel light enough to enjoy after the big meal. Many can be made ahead, served family-style, or brought along to a gathering.
Pumpkin Cannoli
A playful twist on a classic, these cannoli are filled with smooth pumpkin ricotta mascarpone cream and stay light enough to enjoy after a full plate. Make minis for a dessert spread so guests can sample a little of everything.
Brown Butter Apple Crisp
Brown butter deepens the flavor of tender baked apples under a crisp, oatty topping. It comes to the table warm and pairs naturally with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
No Bake Pumpkin Tiramisu
Layers of pumpkin mascarpone and coffee-soaked ladyfingers make this an oven-free dessert that chills while you cook the rest of the meal. The flavors are familiar for fall and the texture stays light.
Ricotta Cake with Pears
Tender ricotta cake studded with pears and a hint of citrus feels elegant but never heavy. It is a great make-ahead dessert option that's simple, seasonal, and has the best texture.
Apple Custard Bars
Silky custard baked with apples gives you pie-adjacent flavor in neat, shareable bars. The recipe is so simple and you can prep them ahead. They're a great alternative to heavier Thanksgiving desserts.
Brown Butter Pear Pandowdy
Caramelized pears and a shingled pastry top bake together in one pan for an effortless, rustic dessert that loves a scoop of ice cream. It serves beautifully warm, which makes it perfect right after dinner.
Apple Shortbread Bars
Buttery shortbread meets tender apple and almond for easy-to-serve bar cookies that stack well on a platter. They're great for guests who prefer a smaller dessert bite with coffee.
Pumpkin Cashew Cheesecake
This dairy-free cheesecake gets its creamy texture from cashews and maple, so everyone at the table can enjoy a holiday slice. It sets up in advance and brings classic pumpkin spice to the dessert tray. It's much easier than a traditional cheesecake, but just as delicious.
Thanksgiving Desserts that aren't Pie
Pie might be the star of most Thanksgiving dessert tables, but it doesn't have to be the only option. A mix of cookies, cakes, and creamy spoon desserts adds variety and makes it easy for guests to try more than one sweet. These recipes bring color and texture to your spread. They're also great for making ahead, so you can focus on dinner and still have something beautiful and homemade waiting for dessert time.
Crustless Ricotta Cheesecake
This silky-smooth, crustless ricotta cheesecake is light and creamy with delicate sweetness, that feels festive without being heavy. Serve plain or with a simple fruit topping.
Torta Caprese
Every dessert table needs a touch of chocolate, and this Italian flourless chocolate almond cake is a chocolate lovers dream! Surprisingly easy to make (only 6 ingredients!), it's rich and elegant in thin slices. It's naturally gluten free and pairs nicely with whipped cream.
Affogato
Creamy gelato melted by a shot of hot espresso creates a dessert that is rich, smooth, and incredibly easy. Serve it after Thanksgiving dinner when everyone wants something sweet but not too heavy.
Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Soft, spiced, light, cakey, and baked instead of fried, these apple cider donuts bring all the fall flavor without the mess. They're perfect as a simple dessert that everyone can grab by hand, and especially good with vanilla ice cream.
4 Ingredient Flourless Chocolate Soufflé Cakes
This easy recipe for flourless chocolate soufflé cakes has only 4 ingredients and is made in less than an hour. They're rich, decadent individual servings and just happen to be gluten free.
Chocolate Hazelnut Panna Cotta
Silky panna cotta with chocolate and hazelnut brings a spoonable, make-ahead option to your lineup. Chill it in small cups for easy serving after a big meal.
Chai Spiced Snickerdoodles
Classic snickerdoodles meet chai spices for a fragrant cookie that fits right in with fall flavors. They travel well and make a fun take-home treat for your guests.
Chocolate Caramel Ice Cream Cake
This homemade ice cream cake recipe will absolutely blow everyone away! Made with store bought ice cream to be super easy, but homemade caramel and ganache to be extra delicious!
Brown Butter Ginger Molasses Cookies
Chewy cookies with warm spice and brown butter belong on every holiday cookie plate, and make a great small bite dessert. These cookies are chewy in the middle and crispy on the outside with a mild spice and intense buttery flavor.
Thanksgiving Dessert Toppings and Extras
The best Thanksgiving desserts are often about the little details that take them from good to unforgettable. A drizzle of caramel, a dollop of whipped cream, or a sprinkle of spiced nuts can tie everything on the table together. These toppings and extras are simple to prepare, but they bring big flavor and polish to any dessert. Keep a few ready to go, and you'll have everything you need to make your pies, tarts, and crisps feel bakery-level special.
Sugared Cranberries
Sparkly, sweet-tart cranberries make any dessert look festive and add a bright bite to rich slices. They also double as a snack or pretty garnish for drinks.
Mascarpone Whipped Cream
Softer and richer than standard whipped cream, this easy to make mascarpone whipped cream holds up well on pies and tarts, and tastes especially good with citrus and chocolate.
Homemade Ricotta
A bit unexpected in a dessert lineup, but this ricotta can be served with a drizzle of honey, citrus zest, or toasted nuts for a light dessert board addition. It's also a great topping for seasonal fruit, especially when you whip it extra smooth.
Rosemary Maple Roasted Pecans
Sweet-salty roasted pecans with rosemary bring crunch to pies and crisps and make a great little snack between courses, and throughout the holiday weekend.
Meyer Lemon Marmalade
A spoonful of this bright, bittersweet marmalade cuts through creamy desserts and adds shine to simple cakes or shortbread. It's great to have on hand to add a little something extra to dessert trays.
Salted Caramel Sauce
A quick drizzle of this buttery, rich salted caramel sauce over pie, ice cream, or cheesecake adds an irresistible sweet-salty contrast for next level desserts.
Homemade Vanilla Extract
While not a dessert in itself, a bottle of homemade vanilla brings warmth and depth to desserts and extras like whipped cream, custards, and baked goods. It is a simple upgrade that shows up in every spoonful.
Thanksgiving Dessert FAQ's
Try tarts, cookies, or creamy desserts like panna cotta or cheesecake. They're just as satisfying and often easier to prepare.
Yes! Most pies, tarts, and cheesecakes can be made a day or two in advance. And pie crusts freeze really well for up to 3 months. Cookies and crisps can also be prepped early, and no-bake desserts are great for saving oven space.
Bars, cookies, and crisps are great for traveling. Anything baked in a dish, like cheesecake or tiramisu, also holds up well in the car.
Let them cool completely, then cover loosely with foil or plastic wrap. Store at room temperature for a day or in the refrigerator if they contain dairy or eggs.
