Dessert is always the part of Thanksgiving I look forward to the most. There’s just something about a slice of pie after a big holiday meal that feels extra special.
Between the classics like pumpkin and pecan and the newer ideas that keep things interesting, there are so many Thanksgiving desserts that deserve a spot on the table.
So if you’re interested, keep reading—I’ve rounded up plenty of Thanksgiving dessert ideas that will make your holiday feel even sweeter.
1. Deconstructed Apple Pie Cups
Sometimes the fun of Thanksgiving dessert is taking a classic and breaking it down into something new. These little apple pie cups give you all the warm, cinnamon–apple flavor without the fuss of rolling out crust.
2. Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Turkeys
Tell me these aren’t the cutest thing you’ve seen for Thanksgiving. Strawberries dipped in chocolate and dressed up to look like tiny turkeys—kids go wild for them, but honestly, adults do too.
3. Pecan Pie Brownies
I’ve never met anyone who could resist brownies, and when you top them with a gooey pecan pie layer, they’re even more dangerous. The texture is rich and chewy, with just enough crunch on top.
4. Creamy Pumpkin Flan
If you’re ready to step away from traditional pie for a second, pumpkin flan feels like a surprise hit. It’s silky, custardy, and has that caramel layer that makes every bite feel special.
5. Rice Krispie Turkey Legs
Okay, this one’s pure fun. Pretzels and marshmallow cereal treats get shaped into little turkey legs, and they look so real it makes people laugh before they eat them.
6. Sweet Potato Rice Pudding
If you think rice pudding is plain, wait until you try it with sweet potato. The natural sweetness makes it taste like a cozy fall hug in a bowl. It’s creamy, a little spiced, and it gives you the same comfort as sweet potato casserole but in dessert form.
7. No-Bake Chocolate Cream Pie
There’s always that one dessert you can pull together without turning on the oven, and this is it. Perfect for when the oven’s already packed with turkey and sides.
8. Poached Pear Puff Pastry
If you want something a little more elegant on the table, poached pears wrapped in flaky puff pastry feel fancy without being complicated. The fruit keeps things light, the pastry gives a golden crunch, and it’s the kind of dessert people talk about afterward.
9. Pumpkin Spice Earthquake Cake
This one’s messy in the best way. The cake cracks open as it bakes, with swirls of cream cheese and pumpkin spice running through every bite. It looks rustic, tastes decadent, and feels like the kind of dessert you’ll end up making year after year.
10. Pecan Pie Cheesecake
If you can’t decide between pie and cheesecake, you don’t have to. This dessert layers the nutty sweetness of pecan pie on top of a creamy cheesecake base.
11. Cranberry Chocolate Bites
These little bites are the perfect mix of tart and sweet. They’re also super easy to pass around if you want something bite-sized for the table.
12. Pumpkin Pie with Maple Cream
Pumpkin pie will always have a place at Thanksgiving, but adding a salted maple whipped cream takes it to another level. The maple makes the pumpkin taste deeper, warmer, more festive.
13. Pumpkin Cheesecake
This is the kind of dessert that feels like fall in every bite. If pumpkin pie isn’t your thing, this is the alternative you’ll probably end up loving more.
14. Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake
Apples and caramel just scream fall, and flipping this cake out of the pan is half the fun. The topping turns gooey and glossy, almost like candy.
15. Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream Sandwiches
This one’s playful and unexpected. Pumpkin pie filling tucked between soft cookies or wafers makes a frozen treat that works even if Thanksgiving isn’t super cold where you are. It’s fun, a little messy, and kids especially go crazy for them.
16. Mini Pecan Tarts
You know that moment after dinner when you want “just a little something sweet”? These mini pecan tarts hit that spot perfectly. They’re small enough to feel light, but every bite is loaded with that sticky, nutty flavor that makes pecan pie a Thanksgiving classic.
17. Apple Blondie Cheesecake Bars
I didn’t expect blondies and cheesecake to work so well together, but the apples tie it all in. You get chewy edges, a creamy middle, and that hint of cinnamon apple running through.
18. Apple Crumble Cheesecake Bars
You bite into a soft layer of spiced apple, smooth cheesecake underneath, and a crunchy crumble topping that actually makes a little crackle when you break it with a fork. If you’re the type who always scrapes off the crisp topping first, this dessert was made for you.
19. Pumpkin Churro Cheesecake
This one feels like a celebration on a plate. You’ve got the warmth of pumpkin, the richness of cheesecake, and then—bam—that crunchy cinnamon-sugar coating that makes it taste like the fair came to Thanksgiving dinner.
20. Apple Pecan Pie Cheesecake
Why choose between apple pie, pecan pie, or cheesecake when you can stack them all into one? This dessert doesn’t play it safe—it’s bold, it’s layered, and every bite shifts between fruity, nutty, and creamy.
21. Apple Pie Muffins
You know those mornings after Thanksgiving when you’re still in the holiday mood? These muffins are perfect for that. They taste like mini apple pies baked into a soft, spiced muffin.
22. Mini Pumpkin Pies
There’s something fun about having your own little pie instead of sharing slices. You don’t have to argue over portion sizes, and you still get the buttery crust with that creamy pumpkin filling.
23. Pumpkin Bread with Brown Butter Frosting
The brown butter frosting makes all the difference here. It’s nutty, slightly caramel-like, and turns a simple pumpkin loaf into something unforgettable. I’d bake this just for the smell alone—it makes the whole kitchen feel like Thanksgiving.
24. Nantucket Pie
Not everyone knows this one, but it’s a gem. Tart cranberries and nuts sink into a buttery batter, creating something between a cake and a pie.
25. Pumpkin Oatmeal Cream Pies
Soft, chewy cookies with a creamy filling sandwiched in the middle—it feels nostalgic, but also seasonal. You’ll want to wrap a few up to sneak home later.
26. Easy Pumpkin Pie
Sometimes simple really is the best. If you’ve never baked a pie before, this is the one that will make you feel like you can.
27. Baked Pumpkin Donuts
You’ll smell these before you even see them. Soft, cakey donuts coated in cinnamon sugar—they’re the kind you reach for with coffee the morning after Thanksgiving. Not too heavy, just sweet enough, and impossible to stop at one.
28. Acorn Donut Holes
These little guys are more about the fun than the fuss. Dip donut holes in chocolate, add a pretzel stick, and suddenly they look like tiny acorns. Kids love them, but honestly, adults end up sneaking just as many.
29. Pumpkin Crème Brûlée
Breaking into that caramelized sugar top with a spoon never gets old. Underneath, the pumpkin custard is silky and rich, with just the right amount of spice.
30. Cranberry Tiramisu
It’s not traditional, but that’s what makes it stand out. The tart cranberries cut through the creamy mascarpone, giving the classic tiramisu a fresh holiday spin.
31. Caramel Apple Dump Cake
You don’t need to overthink this one—just layer, bake, and let it do its thing. The apples get soft and juicy, the caramel seeps through, and the cake topping turns golden and crisp.
32. Apple Pie Bread Pudding
Bread pudding always feels a little homier than pie, right? I like that it’s soft, a little rustic, and not fussy at all. You’ll probably want seconds, especially if you drizzle some cream or caramel over the top.
33. Apple Fritter Cake
This is the kind of cake that makes the whole house smell like fall. It’s got that bakery-style apple fritter vibe but baked into a pan you can slice up. I’d serve it warm if I were you—nothing beats that first bite while the glaze is still slightly sticky.
34. Sweet Potato Pecan Cobbler
Here’s a twist that feels really Southern in the best way. Sweet potatoes add this earthy sweetness, and the pecans on top get all toasty in the oven. I like how it blurs the line between casserole and dessert.
35. Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake
Bundt cakes are sneaky—they look impressive without making you work too hard. This one has all the pumpkin spice flavor that just screams Thanksgiving.
36. Pear Tart
Sometimes it’s nice to have a dessert that feels a bit lighter. A pear tart does exactly that—juicy fruit on a crisp crust, not too sweet, just balanced. If you’re trying to break up the parade of pumpkin and pecan, you’ll be glad to have this on the table.
37. Snickerdoodle Cobbler
If snickerdoodles are already your cookie of choice, imagine them baked into a cobbler you can spoon out. The cinnamon-sugar topping turns golden and crackly, and underneath it’s soft and gooey.
38. Cinnamon Pecan Palmiers
These are flaky, crunchy little spirals that look fancier than they are. I’d pile them high on a plate and let people grab as many as they want. You’ll notice they vanish faster than pie, mostly because nobody stops at one.
39. Apple Turnovers with Ice Cream
Turnovers are simple, but when they’re warm and topped with ice cream, they turn into something special. The pastry flakes apart, the apples spill out, and the ice cream melts into a little pool with caramel on top.
That’s the full list of Thanksgiving dessert ideas I wanted to share.
Which one sounds the best to you? And which one do you want to try first?
