Dessert has always been my favorite part of any Thanksgiving meal. But with so many options to choose from, I’ve compiled a list of my top Thanksgiving dessert recipes so you don’t have to scour the internet to find the right one. I’ve included a wide variety, from pies and cakes to brownies and cookies, as well as vegan and gluten free options.
A quick way to find the dietary restricted recipes, simply hit command + F or ctrl + F on your keyboard and word search “gluten free” or “vegan” on this post. It will take you straight to those recipes! Otherwise, I highly recommend scrolling through this entire list of 30 Thanksgiving dessert recipes until you find a dessert that you’d love to bake.
PIE RECIPES
1. Cinnamon Sugar Apple Butter Pie (GLUTEN FREE)
If you aren’t a fan of pumpkin pie, apple butter pie has that same creamy texture but completely different flavor. This custard-based pie is baked with flavorful apple butter, dusted with a layer of cinnamon sugar, and baked in a flaky and buttery gluten free crust.
2. BEST EVER Apple Pie
If you want your pie to really wow your guests, this apple pie is an absolute show stopper. The crust is sweet and flaky, the filling is packed in with tons of sliced apples and caramel sauce, and each slice turns out tall and stacked. It really is the BEST!
3. Loaded Pecan Pie
Pecan pie is classic, but it just never has enough pecans! This pecan pie has that delicious gooey filling, but with extra whole pecans. Each bite has so much texture, making it a bit more savory than regular pecan pie.
4. Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie
If you still want pecan pie, but are looking for a unique twist, this pecan pie checks both boxes. It’s baked with dark chocolate and a hint of bourbon. It’s the perfect boozy dessert without being too strong or overbearing.
5. Brownie Turtle Pie
This pie is sinfully rich, but is so quick and easy to make. Using a pre-made walnut crust, this pie is prefect to bake the day ahead as it chills in the refrigerator overnight. Serve it up with caramel and cream cheese whip to bring in that chocolate turtle flavor.
6. Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tarts
If you want something a bit non-convectional, but still has that pie feel, these brown sugar cinnamon pop tarts will do the trick. They taste even better than boxed pop tarts, and are ALWAYS a crowd favorite. My friends ask for these all the time!
CAKE
7. Walnut Apple Crumble Cake
This moist spice cake is baked with tender sliced apples and a savory walnut crumble. It’s also very quick and easy to make, so it’s perfect as a last minute dessert option.
8. Butterscotch Pumpkin Bundt Cake
This cake is sure to wow! The batter is baked with a homemade butterscotch sauce, and then it’s also drizzled on top. You still have that moist and bold pumpkin flavor, but with a side of sweet and rich butterscotch sauce.
9. Spice Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
Who doesn’t love a classic spice cake? This recipe is extra moist and slathered in a rich brown butter cream cheese frosting. It’s unlike any other spice cake you’ve had, but still has that classic taste and texture.
10. Fudgy Vegan Chocolate Cake
Who says you can’t have chocolate cake on Thanksgiving? This vegan option is sure to wow everyone, whether they’re vegan or not. It’s easily the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had, with a super tender and moist texture and extra silky chocolate frosting. Trust me, even if you aren’t vegan you definitely need this cake in your life.
11. Apple Cider Bundt Cake (with Gluten Free option)
This cake tastes as good as it looks! It has a moist apple cider cake which is then soaked in butter and apple cider, coated in cinnamon sugar, and topped with an apple cider glaze. It’s just perfection.
12. Flourless Olive Oil Chocolate Cake (Gluten Free)
This quick and easy recipe is a great Thanksgiving dessert because it isn’t too sweet or rich. It has a deep chocolate flavor that pairs perfectly with ice cream and powdered sugar. If you don’t want anything too indulgent after your Thanksgiving feast, this cake is perfect. It’s also naturally gluten free!
COOKIES
13. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
Trust me when I say you NEED this pumpkin cookie cake in your life. It’s rich gooey, and prefect to split with a crowd. It’s great to bake as a last minute dessert, just make sure to allow it to chill and set before serving.
14. Brown Butter Maple Pumpkin Cookies
This is easily my most popular cookie recipe, and for good reason. These chewy cookies are baked with brown butter, pumpkin, warm spices, and maple to give you all the fall feels. Everything always loves these cookies, and they’re a great option if you need a dessert that’s easy to travel with.
15. Brown Butter Oatmeal Cookies
These are another crowd favorite, because who doesn’t love a classic oatmeal cookie? The flavor on these is bumped up with, you guessed it, brown butter and the texture is rich and chewy.
16. Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
These soft pumpkin cookies are baked with a cheesecake filling and topped with a crunchy streusel. They’re the perfect grab and go treat, giving everyone their pumpkin cheesecake fix without having to indulge on a whole slice.
17. Maple Snickerdoodles
This is my go-to when I’m invited to a last minute Thanksgiving and I need to bring something that I know will impress. These maple snickerdoodles are simple but effective, with a tender and doughy center and added flavor of maple. They’re easily one of my favorite cookies EVER.
BARS & BROWNIES
18. Better Than Box Mix Brownies
I know, brownies aren’t a conventional option for Thanksgiving but they’re easy to transport and no one never not wants a brownie. These brownies are one of my top recipes and for good reason. They’re not too cakey, not too fudgy, and have a deep chocolate flavor.
19. Toffee Crunch Brown Butter Rice Krispies (with Gluten Free option)
If you’re REALLY in a pinch and need a dessert ASAP, these rice krispies are perfect. They’re a bit more elevated than a traditional rice krispie treat as they’re made with brown butter and mixed with chocolate toffee bits. It’s also perfect to serve for a small crowd.
10. Almond Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars (Gluten Free & Dairy Free)
This is hands down one of my most underrated recipes on the blog. They’re rich and ooey gooey with a slightly savory flavor from the dark chocolate and almonds. And although they’re baked with almond butter and almond flour, the flavor doesn’t overpower these bars. They’re the perfect option for anyone in your life that’s gluten free.
CHEESECAKE
21. Classic Creamy Cheesecake (use gf graham crackers for Gluten Free option)
If you just need something simple but effective, this classic creamy cheesecake will blow everyone away. It’s extra soft with a thick graham cracker crust. The recipe also includes TONS of tips and step-by-step photos to ensure it turns out perfect. Just make sure to make it a day ahead so it can chill overnight.
22. Cookies & Cream Brownie Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
These have got to be the ultimate pumpkin dessert. The crust layer is made up of a soft brownie, followed by a layer of vanilla cheesecake, then oreos, then pumpkin cheesecake. They’re so dang good and are such a fun option for your Thanksgiving dessert.
23. Salted Caramel Cheesecake (use gf gingersnaps for Gluten Free option)
I made this for Thanksgiving last year and everyone went back for seconds! The cheesecake is baked with caramel inside the batter, and then covered in a layer of more salted caramel. It’s extra creamy and baked with a sweet gingersnap crust.
MISCELLANEOUS
24. BEST EVER Pumpkin Bread
Who doesn’t love pumpkin bread this time of year? My recipe is extra moist and baked with a crunchy streusel topping, and is then coated in a sticky maple glaze. It’s the best pumpkin bread you’ll ever have.
25. Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread
This moist banana bread is baked with a swirl of buttery cinnamon. It has everything a classic banana bread should have, but with the addition or warm spices to make it more fall appropriate.
26. Pecan Pie Babka
This sweet bread is swirled with a sticky pecan filling and baked to perfection. The inside is tender and flavorful with so many delicious textures, and the outside is crunchy and sweet and coated in a sugar glaze.
27. Caramel Apple Muffins
I love these as a grab and go dessert, for when you’re so full and can’t get off the couch but still need something sweet. These moist apple muffins are baked with a crunchy streusel topping and topped with a homemade salted caramel.
28. Pumpkin Muffins (Gluten Free)
These extra moist pumpkin muffins are completely gluten free and coated in sweet cinnamon sugar. They’re so good that no one will even know they’re gluten free!
29. Sweet Potato Muffins (Gluten Free, Vegan, Refined Sugar Free)
If you plan on having a lighter Thanksgiving with a few healthier options, these sweet potato muffins would make for the perfect dessert. They’re moist, flavorful, and topped with a homemade pecan maple butter.
30. Apple Crisp (Gluten Free, Vegan)
You can never go wrong with this classic dish! My version is completely vegan and gluten free, and has a thick but tender filling that isn’t too runny. It’s even made with EXTRA crumble topping, because honestly that’s the best part of any good apple crisp.
Leave a Reply