Thanksgiving

30+ Delicious Thanksgiving Desserts (That Aren’t Pumpkin Pie!)

written by THE EVERYMOM EDITORS
Source: Brown Sugar & Peas & Crayons
Source: Brown Sugar & Peas & Crayons

Get your stretchy pants and table settings ready because the holiday of giving thanks, eating food, and enjoying delicious Thanksgiving desserts is quickly approaching! Whether you’re hovering over the stuffing and mashed potatoes or watching the football game, Thanksgiving is filled with much-needed quality time with loved ones and also gives us the perfect reason to try new recipes.

Whether you’re celebrating with just your immediate nearest and dearest this year or hosting a bigger family gathering, we know one way to make this year’s get-together extra special: delicious Thanksgiving desserts! To help you decide which winning desserts you’ll whip up this November, we’ve rounded up our favorite desserts—that aren’t pumpkin pie. Check out the list of 30+ Thanksgiving desserts below.

1. Pumpkin Butter Rugelach Cookies

I know these flaky, buttery cookies will be calling my name long after all of the leaves have fallen off the trees this year.

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Half Baked Harvest

2. “Turkey” Decorated Muffins

How cute are these festive muffins? You and your little ones will gobble them up right away.

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Chelsea’s Messy Apron

3. Carrot Cake Mini Doughnuts

Turning a signature fall treat like carrot cake into doughnut form may be the most genius idea we’ve seen all year.

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Jar of Lemons

4. Apple Crisp

‘Tis the season of the apple, and everyone at the dinner table will be ready to loosen a button and reach for a scoop of this.

thanksgiving desserts
Source: What’s Gaby Cooking

5. Five-Ingredient Graham Cracker Toffee

This simple but delicious treat will leave everyone extra satisfied after filling up on turkey and stuffing.

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Gimme Some Oven

6. Pumpkin Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

It’s not Thanksgiving without a pumpkin treat or two. Combine the earthy pumpkin with a cream cheese frosting and you’ve got a match made in heaven.

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Swanky Recipes

7. Mini Pecan Butter Apple Rose Tarts

Not only are these tarts a delightful aesthetic addition to your table, they’re also refreshing and delicious.

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Half Baked Harvest

8. Samoa Cheesecake

My favorite Girl Scout cookie in cheesecake form? I’m sold!

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Gimme Some Oven

9. Pecan Pie Bars

When you’re all pie’d out but can’t imagine a holiday without pecan pie, try making these bars this year instead!

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Jar of Lemons

10. Mini Strawberry Swirl Cheesecakes

These mini strawberry swirl cheesecakes are the perfect addition to the holiday meal. We know everyone will be reaching for them again and again.

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Gimme Delicious

11. Mini Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Just when I though I was helpless in finding a combination more perfect than pumpkin and cream cheese, this recipe came along and told me to add cinnamon to the mix.

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Peas and Crayons

12. Pumpkin Creme Brûlée

Our favorite fancy treat takes on an autumnal twist in this recipe and we couldn’t be happier about it!

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Brown Sugar

13. Pecan Pie Milkshake

This recipe speaks for itself. Whip up a pecan pie milkshake to share with your guests and you will leave them speechless.

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Show Me the Yummy

14. Vegan Oatmeal Cream Pies

Channel your inner ‘Little Debbie’ by making this healthier version of her classic oatmeal cream pies.

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Making Thyme for Health

15. Chocolate Icebox Cake with Caramel Drizzle

I can just imagine this cake melting in my mouth and I know it’s just what I need to perfect my holiday events.

thanksgiving desserts
Source: What’s Gaby Cooking

16. Baked Apples Stuffed with Cinnamon Oat Crisp

I know I can’t be the only apple lover in the bunch. Get creative with the fruit of the season by making this delicious dessert.

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Jessica in the Kitchen

17. Shortbread Star Cookies

Not only do these look delicious, they also would be a fun activity for the whole family to make together. You don’t have to wait for Christmas to decorate some cookies!

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Love & Lemons

18. Ricotta Nutella Cookie Pie

There are few foods in the world that are more appealing to me than ricotta. Mixing this with Nutella in a cookie pie sounds simply heavenly.

thanksgiving desserts
Source: I Will Not Eat Oysters

19. Gluten-Free Pumpkin Roll

Put this roll out on your Thanksgiving dessert table and just see how fast you run out—we know it will be a new personal record.

thanksgiving desserts
Source: The Toasted Pine Nut

20. Sweet Potato Pie

It seems like it would be a crime to make this recipe without throwing on some Alabama to jam out to.

sweet potato pie
Source: Basil & Bubbly

21. Homemade Apple Cobbler

As we dive into cozy season, it’s only right to have a treat to accompany us. This cobbler recipe is just the ticket.

homemade apple cobbler
Source: Kristine’s Kitchen

22. Apple Cider Donut Cake

One of my favorite fall treats is the apple cider donuts you always find at pumpkin patch or apple orchard. This recipe takes this delicious idea and makes it even better by putting it in cake form.

apple cider donut cake
Source: Grandbaby Cakes

23. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Footballs

Whether you have a team you cheer for every year or couldn’t care less about the sport, these egg-less cookie dough footballs are festive and fun. We know they won’t last until halftime.

eggless cookie dough footballs
Source: Life, Love & Sugar

24. Apple Pie Cookies

We’re sure these buttery, flaky cookies will be a new family favorite to bring out year after year.

apple pie cookies
Source: Show Me the Yummy

25. Spiced Pear Cake with Brown Butter Buttercream and Chai Salted Caramel

Apples are usually the star of the show during autumn, but let’s not forget that pears are a tasty part of the season, too! They come to life in this lovely and fragrant cake of fresh pear and spices, caramel chai sauce, and homemade frosting. The star anise poached pears on top are a festive touch worth adding if you have the time!

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Spices In My DNA

26. Chocolate Covered Snickers Stuffed Dates

You might not get a lot of takers willing to pop a plain date into their mouth–especially if they have the option of choosing a Snickers bar instead. But, if the date is hidden in an abundance of fresh chocolate and stuffed with fresh peanut butter and crushed peanuts, it might become too enticing to pass up! Especially since it’s much less processed and full of added sugars.

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Eating Bird Food

27. Apple Butter Cheesecake Bars

A gooey, yummy vegan cheesecake bar. It’s filled with a creamy coconut, cashew, and maple syrup that’s swirled with apple butter, and topped off with a cinnamon sweet crumble. If you have any leftover apples from apple picking, this is their time to shine if you opt to use her homemade apple butter recipe!

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Minimalist Baker

28. Salted Peanut Butter Cookies with Chai Spices

What’s better than biting into a freshly made soft and chewy cookie? These peanut butter cookies spread seasonal cheer with the homemade chai spice seasoning that’s added to the batter. If you really want to go all out, you can turn these into cookie sandwiches filled with frosting, or ice creams like vanilla, chocolate, or pumpkin!

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Dash of Jazz

29. Real Deal Southern Caramel Cake

Covering apples in caramel is one thing, but covering a homemade cake with it sends this fall activity to a whole new wonderful dimension. This recipe proves that you don’t need to go to fancy and elaborate lengths to achieve a dessert with mouthwatering flavor and decadence. 

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Grandbaby Cakes

30. Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls

Bring the cinnamon-laced goodness of the season in the form of these fluffy cinnamon rolls, whose red velvety appearance makes for an eye-catching treat. With a buttery cinnamon and brown sugar filling, and vanilla bean cream cheese frosting, what’s not to love?

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Butter Be Ready

31. Pumpkin Lasagna

If your Thanksgiving table won’t feel complete without some semblance of pumpkin pie, this pumpkin lasagna should do just the trick. Made of three layers with complementary flavors–a gingersnap cookie crust, a fluffy cheesecake middle, and a whipped pumpkin pudding topping—this is definitely pumpkin pie’s more enticing counterpart!

thanksgiving desserts
Source: Buns in My Oven
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