Thanksgiving may be all about the turkey, but everyone knows the second most important thing is the dessert. These seasonal desserts will help you end your meal on the perfect note. These Thanksgiving dessert recipes will give you all the inspiration you need to make your Thanksgiving meal a hit!
31 Seasonal Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
Dessert is a must when it comes to Thanksgiving. Not sure what to end your meal with? We’ve got you covered with these seasonal sweet treats. From pumpkin pie and apple cobbler, you won’t fall short when it comes to impressing your guests.
Apple and pumpkin desserts are staples when it comes to Thanksgiving desserts. The two ingredients can be added to so many different desserts making it hard to choose which one to make. Each one is better than the next, so there are really no wrong options.
The Best Thanksgiving Desserts for a Crowd
Thanksgiving is great because it is a holiday all about food. Sure, the turkey and side dishes may be good, but we know the real star is the dessert table. There is no shortage of treats, and each one is better than the next. No matter which dessert you choose to add to this list, you will complete your meal in the best way possible.
1. No-Bake Pumpkin Pie
We all know how busy it can get in the kitchen on Thanksgiving. Give yourself a leg up and leave some space free in the oven thanks to this no-bake pumpkin pie.
The hardest part about making this no-bake pie is letting it set. The wait may take a while, but it will definitely be worth it.
For a delicious bite, top the pie with a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.
2. Apple Cider Donut Cake
If you love eating apple cider donuts in the fall, you will fall in love with this apple cider donut cake.
The cake takes everything you love about an apple cider donut and supersizes it into cake form, making it perfect for serving for a group celebration.
Don’t skimp out on the cinnamon and sugar when topping the cake — the more fall, the better!
3. Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake
Everything on Thanksgiving is so delicious it will be hard to save room for dessert.
This pumpkin gooey butter cake, however, is worth skipping that second helping of mashed potatoes to make sure you have room for dessert.
The cake is gooey in the best way possible and crawling with pumpkin flavor.
4. Butter Pecan Bundt Cake
For when you cannot decide if you should make a pecan pie or a cake on Thanksgiving, combine the treats and make this butter pecan bundt cake instead.
The cake has the same flavor as a pecan pie but is light and fluffy, just like your favorite bundt cake.
Do yourself a favor and freeze a slice of this cake for a treat down the road. It will be the best surprise when you are craving a Thanksgiving treat.
5. Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Give everyone their own personal dessert this Thanksgiving and add a few pumpkin whoopie pies to the spread
These pumpkin whoopie pies take classic whoopie pies and adds in pumpkin, making them the ultimate Thanksgiving dessert.
The pumpkin, combined with the creamy filling, is truly irresistible.
6. Baked Pumpkin Spice Donuts
Forget about apple cider donuts! These pumpkin spice donuts will make you forget that they ever existed.
The donuts are packed with the best warming spices of the season to make for a true fall party in your mouth.
Do yourself a favor and double the batch for these donuts. They are so tasty and addicting that everyone will want to take a few home.
7. Apple Bundt Cake
If pumpkin isn’t your thing when it comes to Thanksgiving dessert, go the apple route with this apple bundt cake.
Not only does this cake taste out of this world, but it also looks amazing too.
The mold from the bundt cake pan makes it the perfect centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table.
8. No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake
Keep the oven space for the turkey and make this no bake pumpkin cheesecake this Thanksgiving.
If you are a cheesecake lover and a big fan of pumpkin, there is no doubt that you’ll love this pumpkin cheesecake.
The pumpkin combines with the cheesecake to make a super smooth and creamy bite.
9. Sweet Potato Cake with Marshmallow Frosting
Since there is a vegetable in this cake, that means it’s healthy, right?
While that may not be the case with this sweet potato cake topped with marshmallow frosting, it will be worth eating each and every bite.
The sweet potatoes give the cake a superb texture and keep it light and moist, all at the same time.
The marshmallow frosting is the icing on the cake. Literally, it is so good and makes the cake stand out from the crowd.
10. Oreo Pie
Oreos always have a place at the table.
Add the classic sandwich cookie to your Thanksgiving meal with this classic Oreo pie.
It’s sweet, crunchy, smooth, and luscious.
It will be hard to eat just one slice of this pie.
11. Super Easy Apple Crumble
For when you are looking for a quick and easy dessert to put on your Thanksgiving table, look no further than this apple crumble.
The crumble ditches the complicated pie crust and still gives you that apple pie flavor that you know and love.
Plus, the whole thing comes together in about an hour, including baking.
12. Caramel Apple Tart
This caramel apple tart is messy in the best way possible.
It’s basically a mash-up of a caramel apple and an apple pie. What is not to love?
The dessert won’t last too long as leftovers, so you might as well eat it all up on Thanksgiving.
13. Carrot Cake Bars
For when you’ve hit your quota on apple and pumpkin desserts, but still want that fall feeling on your Thanksgiving table, go with these carrot cake bars.
The bars take everything you love about a carrot cake and make them into individual servings.
The spices from the carrot cake will give you all the warming spices you’d get from any other fall dessert, too.
14. Peanut Butter Pie
Peanut butter may seem like an outcast ingredient to add to a Thanksgiving dessert menu, but after one bite of this peanut butter pie, you’ll be glad you made the addition.
The creamy peanut butter pie is rich, but in the best way possible.
It breaks up all of the classic fall desserts and wakes up your tastebuds to a super tasty treat.
15. No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Cups
Let your little ones get in on the action in the kitchen for Thanksgiving and set them up to make these no-bake pumpkin cheesecake cups.
The cups are great to set out on a Thanksgiving dessert buffet spread due to their portability.
Plus, they pack up perfectly with a lid if there are extras or any leftovers.
16. Pumpkin Dump Cake
There is a dump cake for all occasions. For Thanksgiving, this pumpkin dump cake takes the spot for representing the season.
The dump cake is great to make if you are not looking to get complicated in the kitchen but still want to end your meal on a high note.
17. Iced Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
You’ve heard of oatmeal cookies, but have you heard of pumpkin oatmeal cookies?
After one bite, you’ll see why this mashup was made. The cookie takes the classic flavor of oatmeal cookies and loads up with pumpkin flavor to create the best fall dessert.
The cookies then get topped with a smooth, simple icing. Good luck eating just one of these cookies!
18. Shoofly Pie
There is no shortage of rich flavors when it comes to Thanksgiving desserts. Case in point: this shoofly pie.
If you’ve never had shoofly pie, get ready to take your tastebuds on a ride.
The pie has a rich molasses, brown sugar filling, and a spiced brown sugar crumb coats the top.
It’s a true flavor bomb of goodness.
19. Dutch Apple Pie
Would it really be Thanksgiving if there wasn’t a slice of apple pie on the table?
Fiful your Thanksgiving duties and add this dutch apple pie to your Thanksgiving dessert menu.
Set up toppings for the apple pie, like ice cream, whipped cream, or even caramel, to make the pie even better.
20. Pumpkin S’mores Cookie Bars
Bring the flavors of the summer into the fall season with these pumpkin s’mores bars.
The pumpkin s’mores bars take s’mores and add in the pumpkin to make them a tasty seasonal treat.
Go ahead and double this recipe, as everyone will be coming back for seconds and even thirds.
21. Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
A cookie is always a great addition to a Thanksgiving dessert menu. Keep the options simple and seasonal with these oatmeal cranberry cookies.
The cookies are simple in flavor but will be just what you need to end the meal on a high note.
If you want to up the ante on the cookies, turn them into ice cream sandwiches and stuff some of your favorite flavor of ice cream in between the cookies.
22. Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes
Pumpkin spice is basically the mascot of the Thanksgiving season.
It tastes better in pretty much everything, including these pumpkin spice cupcakes.
These cupcakes go all in with these fall flavors. The warming spices will be just what you want to top off your Thanksgiving celebration.
23. Chocolate Cream Pie
A chocolate cream pie is always a hit on the dessert table, especially when it comes to Thanksgiving.
This recipe uses a premade pie crust, instant chocolate pudding, and whipped cream. It’s no-bake and super simple to make.
Make sure you act fast to get a slice when this pie hits the dessert table, as it will go fast!
24. Buttermilk Pie
If you’ve never had buttermilk pie, get ready to fall in love with these bold yet simple flavors.
Buttermilk pie is a classic southern recipe that is super simple to make.
The pie doesn’t hold back when it comes to sugar but is sweet in the best way possible.
25. Coconut Cream Pie
Give your Thanksgiving a tropical vibe with this coconut cream pie.
This tasty no bake pie comes together in just a few minutes and truly couldn’t be easier to make. It’s a great one for the whole family involved in this one.
The hardest part about making this cake is letting it chill in the fridge before it hits the dessert table. The wait will be worth it once you take one bite.
26. French Silk Pie
End your Thanksgiving meal on a high note with this French silk pie.
This French silk pie takes the traditional Thanksgiving pie to an entirely new level.
It’s rich, full of chocolate, and topped with a silky layer of cream and chocolate curls. Truly what could be better?
27. Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
You may be thinking that cinnamon rolls may be for dessert, but when it comes to Thanksgiving, all the rules are off the table.
Switch up the tradition and add cinnamon rolls to your dessert menu with these tasty pumpkin cinnamon rolls.
If you have any leftovers, save them for the morning after Thanksgiving for the perfect leftover breakfast.
28. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
Every Thanksgiving needs a hearty bread to go with the meal, so why not make it chocolate chip and pumpkin flavor?
Switch up the course and add dessert bread to your menu with this chocolate chip and pumpkin bread.
The bread is super moist and loaded with chocolate chips. There won’t be a bite that is lacking in chocolate.
29. Cranberry Orange Bundt Cake
Cranberries can be a controversial food. Some people love them, and others can’t stand to see them on their plates. Turn the haters around and serve them up a piece of this cranberry orange bundt cake to quickly change their minds.
The cranberries explode into the cake and pair perfectly with the subtle orange flavor.
It’s one of those recipes that you are going to make way after Thanksgiving is over.
30. Pumpkin Toffee Crunch Cake
This pumpkin cake isn’t afraid to become the star of your plate for Thanksgiving dessert.
The cake is loaded with the best fall ingredients possible. It has tons of pumpkin flavor, buttery toffee pieces, and heaps of cinnamon cream cheese frosting.
After one bite, you’ll see why it will be the hit of the meal.
31. Apple Crumb Cake
End your Thanksgiving celebration on a high note by serving up this apple crumb cake for dessert.
There is no shortage of apples when it comes to this apple crumb cake.
Chunky pieces are mixed into the batter, making sure you get a piece of apple in each bite.
