Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

Pies, tarts, cakes, and cookie -- any of these easy to make recipes will be a perfect addition o your Thanksgiving dinner. Apples, cinnamon, cloves, and, of course, pumpkin are the stars of our pumpkin spice cupcakes, classic pumpkin pies, pecan pies, traditional apple pies, or creative sweet potato pies. We also have a ton of make-ahead desserts.

Staff Picks

Double-Coconut Cream Pie

Shredded coconut is folded into a silky coconut-milk custard for the filling of this indulgent pie, then the whole thing is finished with whipped cream and toasted coconut.

Coconut Custard Pie

Rating: 3.11 stars
20
We skipped the cream on top to let the tropical custard filling be the star.

Old-Fashioned Apple Pie

Rating: 3.44 stars
38
The words "apple pie" conjure warmth, aroma, taste, and togetherness. This apple pie recipe is filled with Granny Smith apples and is tucked into a buttery pie crust. To make this apple pie recipe even sweeter, serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Apple-Pie Cake

Rating: 3.25 stars
38
A cross between pie and a fruit crisp, this dramatic dessert is made with just six common ingredients.

Apple-Walnut Bundt Cake

Rating: 3.93 stars
5
There is fall flavor in every bite of this seasonal bundt. An apple-cider glaze and caramelized apples in the batter set this spice cake apart.

Cranberry Bread

Rating: 3.2 stars
39
Studded with cranberries, this quick bread is adaptable: Try it at breakfast or as an afternoon snack.

Maple Cake

Rating: 3.35 stars
7
The incomparable flavor of pure maple syrup is reason enough to make this sweet treat; that it is also quick to prepare is an added bonus. Maple syrup is marked and graded by its color, ranging from light to dark -- the darker the color, the more intense the flavor. If you can find grade B, use it here for both the batter and the icing.

Flourless Chocolate-Almond Cake

Made with dark chocolate and almond flour, this special occasion-worthy cake is surprisingly light and airy thanks to the addition of egg whites and just happens to be gluten-free. Serve with whipped creme fraiche and a tumble of fresh raspberries.

Double Crust Apple Pie

Rating: 3.45 stars
2
Like a lot of filling to pastry in your apple pie? Try this fall recipe that's filled with three pounds of apples. We like to use an assortment of different varieties such as Granny Smith, Rome, Fuji, and Jonagold.

Citrus-Glazed Pumpkin-Carrot Cake

This dessert combines the texture of grated carrots and the moistness of pumpkin puree into a great cake. Feel free to substitute your favorite cream cheese frosting for the citrus glaze.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Rating: 3.47 stars
97
We took the pumpkin out of the pie and baked it into a rich and creamy cheesecake; it's an especially memorable ending to a holiday meal.

Meyer-Lemon and Hazelnut Tart

A gluten-free hazelnut crust is teamed with a no-bake lemon curd filling and a toasted meringue topping in this bright, tangy dessert.
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Inspiration and Ideas

40 Sensational Thanksgiving Pies and Tarts

40 Sensational Thanksgiving Pies and Tarts
At Thanksgiving time, dessert is just as important as the turkey perfectly cooked with the help of our downloadable, no-fail guide. Bake these American classics, old and new, for the holiday table.
25 Pumpkin Dessert Recipes, Including Everything from Pies to Cheesecake

25 Pumpkin Dessert Recipes, Including Everything from Pies to Cheesecake
Farmers' markets packed with sugar pumpkins and grocery-store shelves lined with canned pumpkin purée are telltale signs that autumn is here. We have a host of pumpkin recipes, including classic pies, cakes, cheesecakes, cookies, and puddings.
Unexpected Thanksgiving Desserts Your Entire Family Will Love

Unexpected Thanksgiving Desserts Your Entire Family Will Love
21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd

21 Thanksgiving Potluck Recipes That Will Wow Your Crowd
14 of Our Easiest Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

14 of Our Easiest Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
9 Thanksgiving Recipes That Will Impress Your Mother-in-Law

9 Thanksgiving Recipes That Will Impress Your Mother-in-Law

Black-Bottom Pie

The creamy, bittersweet-chocolate "bottom" of this early-twentieth-century icebox pie rests on a graham cracker crust. The pile of ethereal meringue on top includes a hint of rum.

All Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

Cranberry Tartlets

Pair leftover pie dough and cranberry sauce for a tasty post-turkey-sandwich dessert.

Banana-Walnut Loaf

Rating: 3.4 stars
24
You can toast slices of this all-purpose loaf for breakfast, serve it for tea in the afternoon, or top a piece with vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Coconut-Key Lime Pie

Rating: 3.85 stars
16
A classic Key lime pie gets upgraded for the holidays with coconut milk in the filling. The dessert is gilded with toasted shredded coconut sprinkled on top of a billowy whipped cream topping.

Pecan Tassies

Rating: 3.56 stars
8
These tart-like cookies feature the flavors and textures of pecan pie -- tender, buttery crust, crunchy pecans, and brown-sugar filling -- all in one bite. Martha made this recipe on Martha Bakes 409.

Apple Pie

Rating: 3.62 stars
10
Baking a pie from scratch takes a little patience, but watching your friends and family enjoy the results makes it all worthwhile.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Crunch Bites

These squares of Pumpkin Cheesecake Crunch Bites sprinkled with pecan crunch topping are positively addictive.

Martha's Favorite Tarte Tatin

Rating: 2.9 stars
4
This recipe comes from Martha's "Pies & Tarts."

Sweet Potato Pie

Rating: 3.42 stars
5
This family recipe for sweet potato pie comes courtesy of actor Danny Glover.

Apple-Raspberry Pie

Rating: 3.61 stars
7
This familiar fruit-filled dessert is a close cousin to classic apple pie. We started with a standard all-butter piecrust and our favorite cooking apples, then added raspberries to the mix. You should be able to find fresh berries in your local market; if not, frozen ones will do.

Spice-Infused Simple Syrup

Rating: 3.67 stars
1
Celebrate seasonal spices with a simple syrup infused with cinnamon, cloves, star anise, orange peel, and black peppercorns.

Apple Crumble Pie

Rating: 3.4 stars
26
Tart apples, sweet raisins, and a crumb topping make for a blue-ribbon dessert. Pack the apples in tightly to minimize gaps between filling and crust once the pie is baked.

Gabrielle's Honey Pie

Rating: 3.13 stars
3
For this pie's crumbly crust, Gabrielle Langholtz uses lard rendered from farm-raised pork. For a similarly memorable pie, use leaf lard; it comes from the fat around the pig's kidneys and is famed for yielding flaky baked goods. You can order it from your local butcher.

Rustic Meyer Lemon Tart

Rating: 3.45 stars
5
The delicate flavor of Meyer lemons can get lost in the shuffle of most lemon desserts. But this recipe is the perfect reason to seek out the special citrus; the simple curd filling really lets them shine. The dish was inspired by recipes in " Chez Panisse Desserts," by Lindsey Remolif Shere.

Pumpkin-Cheesecake Pie with Gingersnap Crust

Spicy gingersnaps stand in for the more traditional graham crackers in the crust of this Pumpkin-Cheesecake Pie, and make an excellent foil for the rich pumpkin-cream cheese filling. A border of meringue piped into leaves and bruleed with a kitchen torch takes the pie to the next level.

Maple Cheesecake with Roasted Pears

Rating: 3.64 stars
11
Maple syrup not only flavors this luscious cheesecake, but it also is brushed on thinly sliced pears that are broiled to create a very unique decoration atop this festive dessert.

Apple Pecan Pie

This mash-up recipe combines two holiday dessert favorites: apple pie and pecan pie. Delicious on its own, this pie also pairs well with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Virginia Peanut Pie

This pie is inspired by the version served at the Virginia Diner, a landmark restaurant in Wakefield, Virginia, that's renowned for this dessert. Martha made this recipe on Martha Bakes episode 709.

Liz Lorber's Famous Hummingbird Cake

Adapted from Anne Quatrano's "Summerland: Recipes for Celebrating with Southern Hospitality" (Rizzoli). Martha made this recipe on episode 705 of Martha Bakes.

Butterscotch-Pecan Cake

Rating: 3.82 stars
20
This statuesque cake hides a sweet secret underneath its pecan sheath: brown-butter frosting and butterscotch-soaked layers spiked with rum, both of which make familiar flavors seem sophisticated.

Pumpkin Custard

Essentially crustless pumpkin pie, this custard relies on nonfat evaporated milk for its silky texture and rich flavor.

Perfect Pumpkin Pie

Canned pumpkin purée is quick and easy to use. Don't substitute fresh pumpkin purée in this pie; it will be too watery.

Emeril's Pecan-Chocolate Chip Pie

Rating: 3.77 stars
4
For a sure-fire winner this time of year, nothing beats pecan pie. Let your little helpers add the pecans and chocolate chips, then measure and mix the easy filling ingredients.

Press-In Shortbread Pie Crust

Rating: 3 stars
9
Because the dough isn't rolled out, you don't need a rolling pin -- just a mixing bowl and a spoon. The finished crust is crisp, cookielike, and sophisticated. Use this recipe as a crust for our Pumpkin Tart.

Coconut Rum-Raisin Bundt Cake with Rum-Caramel Glaze

Dark rum is lavishly used in a coconut Bundt cake; raisins, plump from soaking in the liquor, are mixed into the batter, and a sweet sticky glaze is drizzled on top.
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