15 Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas
Updated: Mar 1, 2022
Turkey has traditionally been the star of Thanksgiving, but it's time to ruffle up some feathers by shining the spotlight on the scrumptious, mouth-watering desserts featured in this post.
The recipes listed below include traditional fall flavors such as apple, pumpkin and sweet potato to name a few, though they incorporate creative twists that‘ll have your Thanksgiving crowd buzzing about for seconds and likely thirds. Remember, calories don't count on holidays…lol. There’s a few kid friendly recipes also included in this post to delight the kiddos as they get to bake, decorate and gobble up their very own sweet creations.
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Bake up a dozen bite-sized pumpkin pies and make clean up a breeze using Wilton's non-stick mini tart pan. At 100 calories per serving, this decadent treat will leave you satiated without the guilt.
No time to bake sugar cookies from scratch? Try this short cut and use store bought sugar cookie dough. Follow the package directions from your selected cookie dough and bake to golden chewy perfection with crispy edges using this high quality baking sheet and cooling rack by Nordic Ware. Keep the kiddies entertained by setting out a decorating station including candy corn, M&Ms plain candies, orange cookie icing and black icing gel.
Apple Spiced Layer Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting
Dazzle your guests at Thanksgiving dinner with this showstopping triple layer cake. Bake consistently moist and even cake layers using Fat Daddios Pro Series 9-inch round cake pans. Add a simple yet elegant garnish of candied pecans to the frosted cake top or finely chop the pecans and create a border along the bottom frosted edge of the cake.
Flourless Chocolate Torte with Pumpkin Spice Caramel Sauce
The drizzle of pumpkin spice caramel glaze perfectly complements this rich, deep chocolate torte both for aesthetics and flavor. Wilton's 9-inch springform pan will yield a seamless edge and easy release once this torte is fully baked. You can also use this pan for cheesecakes and deep dish pizza pies.
Easy and quick to prepare as this make from scratch recipe is put together in 15 minutes and yields almost forty servings; enough for a large crowd and a mini secret stash for yourself. Fat Daddios quarter sheet baking pan is another wonderful multi-use bakeware kitchen essential that is designed for sweets such as: Sheet cakes, brownies, blondies, pastries, bar-type cookies and savory items including: Casseroles, lasagnas and roasts.
Pumpkin and chocolate make a dynamic luscious duo for this bundt cake recipe, and with over five thousand reviews at five stars, Nordic Ware's Platinum Collection Anniversary Bundt Pan produces an impressive, yet classically elegant cake for the holiday season.
Here's another fun, kid-friendly dessert idea. Use yellow cake mix, a couple of containers of chocolate frosting and set out cake decorating items such as: Candy corn, white and brown decorating gel and chocolate sprinkles and let the kids release their inner pastry chef.
Your guests will think you spent hours whipping up these scrumptious cupcakes. The secret for this recipe calls for using Ghirardelli's Caramel Turtle Brownie Mix and by the time your oven is preheated your cupcake batter will have been mixed and spooned into the muffin pan.
If the idea of making a pie from scratch seems too daunting, this made from scratch recipe is as easy as they come. This 9 inch ceramic pie plate by Rose Levy Beranbaum (baking legend) has been specially designed to support substantial pies such as this one and can also be used for baking savory items such as quiches or serving vegetables and other items.
Warm spiced apples combined with sweet oatmeal raisin crumbles, paired with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream makes for this delectable treat. Serve each portion in these chic martini glasses & remember to shake up some actual martinis for an after dessert cocktail, like this pumpkin spice martini.
Yet another delicious Thanksgiving classic dessert, this sweet potato pie has it all, aromatic spices of cinnamon and nutmeg and a flaky buttery pie crust (use store bought to save on time).
Caramel Apple Rice Krispies Treats
Meet candy apple's kind of sort of twin as we included this one for the kiddos. This dessert idea can serve for keeping the kids occupied as they sculpt each hand made treat, insert these cute lollipop straws and (with adult supervision) pour the caramel sauce over the treats.
The hardest part about this ooey-gooey brownie recipe is allowing the batch to cool for approximately three hours before they're completely set and ready to slice into. The wait is definitely worth it.
Brûléed Bourbon-Maple Pumpkin Pie
This is not your traditional pumpkin pie and is purposely placed toward the bottom of the post as a best for (almost) last as the brûléed topping makes this dessert one that sets it apart from all of the other desserts we've featured here. The spiced pumpkin filling balances out the rich chocolate pie crust for what will be considered a spectacularly memorable Thanksgiving day dessert.
That's right, we had to close this post with these adorably festive turkey themed cake pops. This dessert recipe makes for a fun family activity as the first part involves the baking portion, which is as simple as following the quick instructions for your favorite flavored cake mix. Once your cake is baked and has cooled, set out your decorating station to include: Any flavor canned frosting, melted chocolate candy coating, candy eye sprinkles, candy corn, heart and ball sprinkles.
Enjoyed this post? Do you have a favorite? Let me know in the comments below.
But if you don't see anything in this post that you like and you live in the Philadelphia area, feel free to take a look at our menu for the perfect treat delivered right to your door.