Pie is not enough for Thanksgiving dessert? Jersey Shore spots have some sweet ideas

Sarah Griesemer, Asbury Park Press
·3 min read

Pumpkin, apple, pecan, sweet potato — pie gets a whole lot of love on Thanksgiving.

But there is sure to be at least one pie-hater at your Thanksgiving table, whether they admit it or not. So why not have a different dessert on hand?

Most Shore bakeries are no longer taking orders for holiday desserts, but these spots will have extra sweets on hand for walk-in customers.

Jersey Freeze, Freehold Township and Holmdel

An ice cream pie topped with fudge and and housemade peanut butter sauce from Jersey Freeze, which has locations in Freehold Township and Holmdel.
An ice cream pie topped with fudge and and housemade peanut butter sauce from Jersey Freeze, which has locations in Freehold Township and Holmdel.

Yes, it's a pie — but made of ice cream!

Jersey Freeze is taking orders through Monday evening for its "Katie’s Kreation Ice Cream Pie." The dessert is vanilla soft serve in a graham cracker crust, topped with fudge, housemade peanut butter sauce and chopped peanut butter cups.

If you don't pre-order, both locations will have grab-and-go options as well: Snickerdoodle pumpkin ice cream sandwiches, ice cream cupcakes, sundae quarts, ice cream cakes and ice cream sandwiches.

Go: 120 Manalapan Ave. in Freehold Township, 732-462-3008, and inside Bell Works, 101 Crawfords Corner Road in Holmdel, 732-837-0355; jerseyfreeze1952.com.

Sweet Revenge Custom Chocolate, Point Pleasant Beach

S'mores bars from Sweet Revenge Custom Chocolate in Point Pleasant Beach.
S'mores bars from Sweet Revenge Custom Chocolate in Point Pleasant Beach.

For a twist on Thanksgiving dessert, why not leave a sweet treat at each guest's place setting?

Meg O'Malley, owner of Sweet Revenge Custom Chocolate in Point Pleasant Beach, has just the thing. Her most popular items right now are s'mores, a layered treat of graham crackers and marshmallow fluff coated in milk chocolate; and chocolate pizzas, a dessert of eight wedges of chocolates in flavors like milk chocolate, almond, caramel pretzel, pecan caramel, crispy rice, dark pistachio, dark coconut, and cookies and cream.

She also makes chocolate turkey pops, 1-pound chocolate turkeys, truffles, caramel pretzel bark and much more.

Go: 527 Bay Ave., Point Pleasant Beach; 848-232-1017, sweetrevengechocolate.com.

Confections of a Rockstar, Asbury Park

Macarons from Confections of a Rockstar in Asbury Park.
Macarons from Confections of a Rockstar in Asbury Park.

Kimmee Masi's rock 'n' roll-themed bakery in downtown Asbury Park is not only a fun place to visit, its cases are full of holiday-worthy sweet treats.

The bakery's full menu will be available the day before Thanksgiving. For cupcakes, choose from flavors like "Raspbury Park," a vanilla cupcake with a graham cracker base, fresh raspberries and cream cheese frosting; "Sweet Emotion," a custard-stuffed vanilla cupcake dipped in chocolate ganache and topped with a mini cream puff; and "Rock N Roll," a chocolate cupcake topped with chocolate fudge frosting, chocolate drizzle and piece of chocolate cake.

There's also macarons, crumb cake, cheesecake, brownies and cookies, among other treats.

Go: 550 Cookman Ave. No. 104, Asbury Park; 732-455-3510, confectionsofarockstar.com.

The Baker's Grove, Shrewsbury

Carrot cake and pumpkin cheesecake from The Baker's Grove in Shrewsbury.
Carrot cake and pumpkin cheesecake from The Baker's Grove in Shrewsbury.

Matthew Rosenzweig and his team at The Baker's Grove are busy filling Thanksgiving pie orders, but will stock their case with extra desserts for walk-in customers on Wednesday.

Rosenzweig suggests visiting early — the bakery opens at 8 a.m. — to choose from carrot cake, pumpkin cheesecake, cranberry almond cake, Key lime tarts, tiramisu and a selection of croissants, muffins and brioche.

Go: 524 Broad St., Shrewsbury; 732-243-3249, thebakersgrove.com.

Purple Glaze, Asbury Park

Thanksgiving donuts from Purple Glaze in Asbury Park.
Thanksgiving donuts from Purple Glaze in Asbury Park.

Who could say no to a donut with a turkey on top? Not us!

Asbury Park donut shop Purple Glaze will be open Thanksgiving morning for both walk-ins and customers picking up pre-ordered sweets.

The specialty flavors menu was being finalized as of press time, but past specials include chocolate chai, a coffee-glazed donut with chocolate crumbles, chocolate drizzle and housemade chai sugar; Chocolate Mint Dream, a mint iced donut with chocolate drizzle, whipped cream and crunchies; and Smashing Pumpkins, a vanilla iced donut with bits of Heath bar and pumpkin pie filling.

Prefer the basics? Purple Glaze has cinnamon sugar, plain, glazed, and vanilla and chocolate-frosted donuts, too.

Go: 516 Summerfield Ave., Asbury Park; 732-361-5308; purpleglazedonut.com.

Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com, follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore Thanksgiving desserts include pie, ice cream, donuts