Description

This Thanksgiving dessert roundup is packed with cozy, nostalgic flavors and a few creative surprises to make your holiday spread unforgettable. From classic pumpkin pie with a twist to no-bake cranberry cheesecake parfaits and sweet potato cupcakes with toasted marshmallow, these treats deliver comfort, texture, and elegance without being overly complicated. Whether you’re looking for easy Thanksgiving desserts, crowd-pleasing holiday sweets, or festive baking ideas, this collection covers all the best Thanksgiving dessert recipes to impress your guests and satisfy every craving.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups pumpkin purée

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon cloves

2 large eggs

1 cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 unbaked pie crust

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup cold unsalted butter

1/3 cup additional brown sugar (for streusel)

1 cup pecan halves

1/2 cup chopped dark chocolate

3/4 cup light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 cups chopped apples

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 package pie dough rounds

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon milk

1 cup sweet potato purée

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (for cupcakes)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups flour (for cupcakes)

1 cup marshmallow fluff

2 tablespoons maple syrup

8 ounces cream cheese

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 1/2 cups cranberries

1/2 cup orange juice

1/4 cup sugar (for cranberry sauce)

Instructions

1. Pre-bake the pie crust and let it cool completely.

2. Mix pumpkin purée, eggs, heavy cream, vanilla, brown sugar, and spices until smooth.

3. Pour the pumpkin filling into the crust, top with streusel made from flour, butter, and brown sugar, and bake until the center jiggles slightly.

4. For the chocolate pecan pie, mix eggs, corn syrup, brown sugar, salt, chocolate, and pecans, then pour into a crust and bake until set.

5. Make cranberry sauce by simmering cranberries, orange juice, and sugar until thickened.

6. Whip cream cheese with maple syrup until fluffy, then layer in jars with graham cracker crumbs and cranberry sauce for no-bake parfaits.

7. Cook apples with sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice until tender, then fill dough rounds, seal, and bake until golden for apple hand pies.

8. Whisk sweet potato purée, sugar, oil, vanilla, eggs, and dry ingredients to make cupcake batter, bake until a toothpick comes out clean.

9. Top cooled cupcakes with marshmallow fluff and gently toast with a kitchen torch.

10. Mix powdered sugar and milk to make a glaze for apple hand pies and drizzle over cooled pastries.

Notes

Always let pies cool fully before slicing to help them set properly.

Use room temperature cream cheese to avoid lumps in your parfait filling.

Chill your cupcake batter for 15 minutes before baking for a better dome.

Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 340
Sugar: 29g
Sodium: 160mg
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Unsaturated Fat: 7g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 42g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 4g
Cholesterol: 55mg

Keywords: Thanksgiving desserts, holiday baking, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, easy fall desserts, no-bake desserts, sweet potato cupcakes