24 Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas That Aren’t Pumpkin Pie
Some people wait all year to finish off their Turkey Day feast with a slice of pumpkin pie, while others would sooner skip dessert than indulge in the traditional squash-based dish. But if you happen to fall into the latter camp, you don’t have to miss out on all the fun (read: sugar), thanks to these 24 Thanksgiving dessert ideas that aren’t pumpkin pie.
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1. Easy Cranberry-Pecan Sandwich Cookies
The homemade filling might sound like a lot of work, but it’s actually quite simple, and gets bonus points for making your home smell like a holiday wonderland.
2. Cinnamon Sheet Cake with Cider Frosting
With a tender, moist crumb and more than enough apple cider frosting to go around, we’d like to start a petition to get this cake on everyone’s Thanksgiving table, every year.
3. Sticky Toffee Honeycomb Cake
We put a spin on the traditional British holiday pudding and turned it into a glorious cake. Honeycomb and butter melt together in the oven to create a caramel-like topping when you flip the cake—hungry yet?
4. Ginger Cherry Pie
Erin McDowell is the queen of all things pie, so you know her ginger cherry number is going to be worth the effort. It even has gingerbread crust pieces worked into the lattice.
5. Apple Tart with Soft-Pretzel Crust
Sure, you could put together a traditional apple pie that would likely taste delicious. But you could also go the extra mile and make this pretzel-crusted version, and wait for the oohs and ahhs.
6. Rosé Poached Pears with Ginger and Vanilla
We know you still have a lingering bottle of rosé from last season. Put it to good use with this effortless and chic dessert. It’s almost healthy…right?
7. Pumpkin Spice Pecan Rolls
Don’t save these babies for breakfast. They taste like pumpkin bread and pecan pie had a very delicious baby.
8. Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
Pumpkin pie might not be your thing, but have you tried pumpkin cookies? These are stuffed with a cheesecake filling, because why not?
9. Miniature Banoffee Cobblers
You can thank the Brits for this delectable treat, which is like a banana pudding on steroids. Gooey caramel, soft whipped cream and crisp graham cracker crumbs—sign us up.
10. Vegan and Gluten-Free Apple Blackberry Crumble Tart
You don’t eat pumpkin pie, dairy or gluten, so what’s for dessert? Aran Goyoaga’s delightfully easy and delicious tart, is what.
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11. Maple Baked Pears
Does it count as dessert if it takes only 35 minutes to make? Absolutely.
12. Brown-Sugar Pear Puff Pastries
Don’t be upset if your guests think you picked these up at the fancy bakery down the street. It’s a compliment.
13. Gluten-Free Apple Rose Tart
A layer of pastry cream hides beneath those pretty apple roses, which are easier to pull off than they look.
14. Pecan Brittle Bark Cookies
We couldn’t possibly pick between pie and cookies, so we’re making these instead.
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15. Pecan Pie Scones
Need proof that scones aren’t just a breakfast treat? This dough is basically pie crust.
16. Eggnog Snickerdoodles
Best served with a side of eggnog to dunk them in, of course.
17. Mini Carmel Pecan Pies with Cinnamon Roll Pie Crust
You start with a store-bought, refrigerated pie crust and doctor it up. Trust us: No one will suspect a thing.
18. Chai Pumpkin Cake with Maple Browned Butter Frosting
Our motto at Thanksgiving? Go big or go home, hence this jaw-dropping confection.
19. Pumpkin Bundt Cake
Stefani Pollack’s easy bundt cake has a few secret ingredients to set it apart, including rum and maple syrup. And while she recommends her apple butter caramel icing, you could also top it with cream cheese frosting (hint, hint).
20. Pumpkin Cheesecake with Marshmallow Meringue
If you’re looking for a dessert that also doubles as a stunning centerpiece, Gaby Dalkin has you covered. This has the same spicy flavors as a pumpkin pie, minus the mushy filling and inevitably soggy crust.
21. Skillet Caramel Apple Crisp
But if simple is more your style, you can’t go wrong with a skillet dessert. We hope you saved room after all that turkey.
22. Caramelized Butternut Squash Upside-Down Cake
The caramel coats this cake almost like a glaze, so it doesn’t need any accompaniment…but if you wanted to gild the lily, a drizzle of cold heavy cream just before serving would do.
23. Mini Cranberry Potpies
You get a pie, you get a pie! Everybody gets a pie!
24. Pumpkin Angel Food Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze
Not to brag or anything, but that glaze speaks for itself.
