Food 15 Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas Everyone Will Love Put on your stretchy pants, it’s over-indulgence season. By Ariel Klein Ariel Klein Instagram Ariel Klein is a freelance writer specializing in lifestyle, fashion, beauty, technology, home, cooking, and gardening topics. Her work has appeared in Real Simple, Well+Good, Travel+Leisure, Better Homes and Gardens, and Food & Wine magazine. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on October 4, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: ANTONIS ACHILLEOS There are so many things to love about Thanksgiving—it’s a time to prepare delicious dishes, spend quality time with loved ones, and indulge in a cocktail or two. And while some pride themselves on cooking the perfect turkey or baking the best sweet potato casserole, everyone knows that the highlight of the meal is the final act, when dessert is served. It wouldn’t be a holiday gathering unless there was an abundance of food, but let’s be honest, there’s really no such thing as too many sweet treats. If you need some inspiration for dessert for Thanksgiving ideas, we have you covered (in fact, we almost have too many options to choose from.) From decadent pumpkin cheesecakes and irresistible autumn-inspired pies, to a sinful apple pie skillet cake and delicious pecan fudge balls, there’s something to satisfy every sweet tooth. 16 Recipes For Your Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Menu 01 of 15 Sheet Pan Apple Crisp Caitlin Bensel get the recipe We’ve all made easy weeknight sheet pan meals, but baking an apple crisp on a sheet pan? Genius! Sweet and tart apples topped with a buttery; crumbly topping is truly what dreams are made of. And it’s the perfect dessert to feed a crowd. 02 of 15 Chocolate Pecan Fudge Balls Caitlin Bensel get the recipe Don’t underestimate these fudgy, crunchy pecan balls—they’re so good, your guests won’t be able to stop at just one. If you’re bringing dessert to a friend’s house or want to bake with the kids, these are a great option. 03 of 15 Pumpkin Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting JOHN KERNICK get the recipe Cupcakes make for a great single-serve dessert for both kids and adults. And if you’re not a big baker, this foolproof recipe is perfect since it calls for boxed cake mix and just a few additional ingredients. 04 of 15 Creamy Pumpkin Cheesecake get the recipe Here’s a cheesecake that has it all: a smooth and creamy pumpkin filling with a buttery and crunchy crust. If you’re hosting the holiday, you can start prepping ahead of time by making this cheesecake two days in advance. 05 of 15 Maple Pumpkin Pie David Prince get the recipe Who knew you could whip up the perfect holiday pie in just 10 minutes? Thanks to store-bought pie crust and a simple maple pumpkin filling, this is truly a stress-free dessert. 06 of 15 Pumpkin Cream Puffs Max Kelly get the recipe This cream puff recipe is a bit more involved, but the final product is worth it. They’re light and airy, and the perfect final bite to your holiday meal. 07 of 15 Apple Cider Donuts Grace Elkus get the recipe If you’re going to make homemade donuts, they may as well be soft, sugary apple cider donuts. And once your family and friends take one bite, they’ll be begging you to make them every year. 9 Types of Apples Everyone Should Know 08 of 15 No-Bake Pumpkin Pie get the recipe Who doesn’t like a no-bake dessert, especially when the oven is preoccupied with a turkey and side dishes? White chocolate is the secret ingredient in this recipe since it adds a smooth, vanilla flavor and helps to harden the filling once cooled. 09 of 15 Apple Pie Skillet Cake ANTONIS ACHILLEOS get the recipe If you haven’t yet made a skillet cake—well, what are waiting for? All you have to do is get your apple pie mixture together, pop it in the oven, and serve it once it cools down. Just make sure to add a generous scoop (or two) of vanilla ice cream. 10 of 15 Dark Chocolate-Pumpkin Dump Cake Caitlin Bensel get the recipe When you think of pumpkin desserts, they don’t usually contain chocolate, but this dump cake breaks all the rules. It’s sweet, spiced, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. 11 of 15 Honey-Apple Galette With Pistachio Sugar Anna Williams get the recipe Get out your rolling pin and put a little love into this sweet and tart galette. This beautiful, rustic dessert is a cross between a pie and apple crisp, and it’s beyond simple to make. 12 of 15 Apple Coffee Cake Twist With Giant Crumbs Brie Passano get the recipe The bigger the crumbs, the better the coffee cake! This fall-inspired crumbly apple cake is lovely when served with a hot cup of coffee or tea. You could technically have a slice for breakfast the next day too. 13 of 15 Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake Bars Greg DuPree get the recipe If baking a cheesecake feels too overwhelming, these pumpkin and cream cheese bars are a great alternative. They’re rich and decadent, and make 24 servings, so it’s the perfect dessert recipe for a large gathering. 14 of 15 Orange and Clove Basque Cheesecake Jennifer Causey get the recipe Now this is a cheesecake to write home about. The combination of zesty orange and spiced clove will fill your kitchen with the most irresistible scent, it might be difficult to not dig in the moment it comes out of the oven. 12 Delicious Desserts You Won't Believe Are Actually Healthy-ish 15 of 15 Pumpkin Pecan Crisps Max Kelly get the recipe This is another great single-serve dessert that highlights all of the most delicious autumn flavors. Each ramekin is filled with custardy pumpkin-pie filling and then topped with a sweet, crumbly pecan mixture. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit