10+ Dessert Recipes Easy Thanksgiving: Delightful Treats for Your Holiday Feast

Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and of course, delicious food. When it comes to desserts, you want treats that are tasty but also easy to prepare. You can add a sweet touch to your holiday meal without spending all day in the kitchen with simple dessert recipes.

From classic favorites to quick alternatives, there are many options that can satisfy your sweet tooth. You can create mouthwatering treats that your guests will love, making your Thanksgiving celebration even more special.

Pumpkin Pie with Maple Whipped Cream

Pumpkin pie is a classic dessert for Thanksgiving. Its rich, warm flavors capture the essence of fall. Adding maple whipped cream takes this pie to the next level.

You can use either homemade pumpkin puree or canned pumpkin. Just make sure it’s pure pumpkin, not the spiced filling. Combine pumpkin with brown sugar, spices, and eggs for the filling.

For the whipped cream, mix heavy cream with maple syrup. This gives it a sweet flavor that pairs perfectly with the pie.

After baking, let the pie cool before topping it with the maple whipped cream. Enjoy this delightful dessert with your loved ones!

Ingredients

• 1 (9-inch) pie crust
• 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp pumpkin spice
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup maple syrup

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. In a bowl, mix the pumpkin, brown sugar, pumpkin spice, salt, and eggs until smooth.
3. Pour the filling into the pie crust.
4. Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 350°F (175°C) and bake for 40-50 minutes.
5. Let the pie cool.
6. For whipped cream, beat heavy cream and maple syrup until soft peaks form.
7. Top the cooled pie with maple whipped cream before serving.

2) Easy Pecan Bars

Easy pecan bars are a delicious treat perfect for your Thanksgiving dessert table. They offer the sweet taste of pecan pie but in a simpler form.

You’ll love the buttery shortbread crust combined with a crunchy, nutty filling. These bars are made in an 8×8-inch baking pan, making them easy to cut and serve.

To start, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). You can use parchment paper for easy cleanup. This way, the bars come out nicely after baking.

Now, let’s gather your ingredients. You will need:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup corn syrup
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Prepare your baking pan with butter or parchment.
3. Mix the crust ingredients.
4. Pour the filling over the crust.
5. Bake for about 30-35 minutes until set.
6. Allow to cool before cutting into bars.

3) Apple Crisp with Oat Topping

Apple crisp with oat topping is a warm and comforting dessert, perfect for Thanksgiving. The combination of sweet apples, cinnamon, and a crunchy oat topping makes it a favorite for many.

To make this dish, you’ll begin by slicing tart apples. Toss them with sugar and cinnamon for a delicious base.

For the topping, mix old-fashioned oats with brown sugar and melted butter. This creates a crunchy layer that contrasts beautifully with the soft apples below.

Bake the apple crisp at 350°F (175°C) until the topping is golden and the apples are bubbly. The aroma will fill your kitchen and invite everyone to the table.

Serve it warm, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for extra delight.

Ingredients

• 5 cups sliced tart apples
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup melted butter

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a bowl, mix sliced apples with sugar and cinnamon.
3. Place the apple mixture in a baking dish.
4. In another bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, and melted butter.
5. Spread the oat mixture over the apples.
6. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until golden and bubbly.

4) No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake

No-bake pumpkin cheesecake is a delightful treat that’s perfect for Thanksgiving. It’s simple to make and requires no oven time, leaving you more space to prepare other dishes.

Start with a creamy mixture of cream cheese and pumpkin puree. Beat them together until they are fluffy. Then, add in some confectioners’ sugar, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. This gives your cheesecake a rich flavor.

For the crust, you can use crushed graham crackers or gingersnaps. Press the mixture into a springform pan and chill it in the fridge. After a few hours, your cheesecake will be ready to enjoy.

Ingredients

• 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups crushed graham crackers or gingersnaps
• 1/2 cup melted butter

Cooking Instructions

1. Beat cream cheese until fluffy.
2. Mix in pumpkin puree and beat well.
3. Add sugar, spice, vanilla, and salt; mix until smooth.
4. Combine crust ingredients in a bowl.
5. Press crust mixture into the springform pan.
6. Pour pumpkin mixture over the crust.
7. Chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.

5) Classic Sweet Potato Casserole

Classic sweet potato casserole is a favorite at Thanksgiving. Its sweet and creamy texture topped with marshmallows makes it a perfect side dish.

To start, you need to cook sweet potatoes until they are soft. Boil them in water for about 35 to 40 minutes at 350°F (175°C).

Once cooked, mash the sweet potatoes and mix in brown sugar, egg, and spices. This makes it sweet and flavorful.

Now, pour the mixture into a baking dish. Top it with marshmallows for that delicious gooey finish. Bake for another 25 to 30 minutes at 350°F (175°C) until the marshmallows are golden brown.

This dish will add warmth and joy to your holiday meal.

Ingredients

• 4 cups sweet potatoes, mashed
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 cups mini marshmallows

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Boil sweet potatoes until soft, about 35 to 40 minutes.
3. Mash sweet potatoes and mix with brown sugar, egg, and cinnamon.
4. Pour into a baking dish.
5. Top with marshmallows.
6. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until marshmallows are golden.

6) Mini Cranberry Swirl Cheesecakes

Mini cranberry swirl cheesecakes are a delightful treat for Thanksgiving. They combine a creamy filling with tangy cranberry sauce for a perfect balance of flavors.

You’ll love how easy they are to make. Start by preparing a simple graham cracker crust and then mix together your cheesecake filling. The cranberry sauce adds a beautiful swirl that makes these mini desserts festive and appealing.

To make the cranberry sauce, you can cook cranberries with sugar and a bit of water. This will create a fresh and flavorful topping.

These mini cheesecakes can be made ahead and chilled, which makes serving them a breeze. Just place them on a platter and watch your guests enjoy every bite!

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 16 oz cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 ½ cups fresh cranberries
• ½ cup sugar (for cranberry sauce)
• ⅓ cup water
• Zest of 1 lemon

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix graham cracker crumbs and melted butter and press into muffin tin.
3. Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time.
4. In a saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, and water. Cook until boiling.
5. Spoon cream cheese mixture into the crust, then swirl in cranberry sauce.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Let them cool, then chill before serving.

7) Simple Chocolate Fudge

Making simple chocolate fudge is easy and fun. You only need a few ingredients and minimal time. It’s perfect for a sweet treat during Thanksgiving.

To start, gather chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and a bit of butter. You can find recipes that require as little as four ingredients, making it an excellent choice for busy days.

First, line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. This helps with easy removal later. Then, melt chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and cubed butter in a saucepan over low heat.

Once melted and smooth, pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Let it cool at room temperature for about two hours until set. After it’s firm, cut it into squares and enjoy!

Ingredients

• 2 cups chocolate chips
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz / 396 g)
• 1/4 cup butter (about 56 g)

Cooking Instructions

1. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. In a saucepan, melt chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and butter over low heat.
3. Stir until smooth.
4. Pour the mixture into the lined pan.
5. Let it cool at room temperature for about two hours.
6. Cut into squares and serve.

Spiced Pears with Caramel Sauce

Spiced pears with caramel sauce is a simple yet delightful dessert. This recipe highlights juicy pears and a rich caramel sauce, making it perfect for Thanksgiving.

Start with ripe pears. Slice them to show off their beautiful shape. For extra flavor, sprinkle them with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.

Next, prepare a smooth caramel sauce. Melt sugar until it turns golden brown, then add heavy cream and a pinch of salt. Stir continuously for a creamy texture.

Serve the pears warm, drizzled with your homemade caramel sauce. It’s a treat that’ll impress your guests!

Ingredients

• 4 ripe pears
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Slice the pears and place them in a baking dish.
3. In a saucepan, melt sugar over medium heat until it turns golden brown.
4. Stir in heavy cream and salt until the mixture is smooth.
5. Pour the caramel over the pears.
6. Bake for 20 minutes or until the pears are tender.

9) Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding

Cinnamon roll bread pudding is a fun twist on traditional desserts. It is perfect for using up leftover cinnamon rolls that you might have after Thanksgiving.

You will love how easy it is to prepare. Start by cutting your stale cinnamon rolls into small cubes.

In a bowl, mix heavy cream, brown sugar, milk, egg yolks, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt.

Coat the cinnamon roll cubes in this mixture, allowing them to soak for about 30 minutes. This helps the flavors blend.

Then, bake the mixture in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) until golden brown.

This dish is warm, sweet, and comforting. It’s a great way to impress your family and friends during the holidays.

Ingredients

• 4-6 leftover cinnamon rolls
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2/3 cup milk
• 5 egg yolks
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• Pinch of salt

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cut the cinnamon rolls into 1/2-inch cubes.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together cream, sugar, milk, egg yolks, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt.
4. Add the roll cubes to the mixture and toss until coated.
5. Let it stand for 30 minutes.
6. Pour the mixture into a baking dish and bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden.

10) Quick Gingerbread Trifle

This Quick Gingerbread Trifle is an easy and tasty dessert for your Thanksgiving table. It layers gingerbread cake, creamy pudding, and whipped cream for a delightful treat.

To start, crumble some gingerbread cake into the bottom of a trifle dish. You can use store-bought gingerbread or make your own.

Then, mix vanilla pudding with pumpkin puree for extra flavor.

Next, layer the pudding mixture over the gingerbread. Add a layer of whipped cream for a light and fluffy texture.

Repeat these layers until your dish is full.

Your trifle can be made ahead of time and chilled before serving. This not only saves time but also allows the flavors to blend nicely.

Ingredients

• Gingerbread cake
• Vanilla pudding
• Pumpkin puree
• Whipped cream

Cooking Instructions

1. Crumble the gingerbread cake into a trifle dish.

2. Mix vanilla pudding with pumpkin puree until combined.

3. Layer the pudding mixture over the gingerbread.

4. Add a layer of whipped cream.

5. Repeat the layers until the dish is full.

6. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.