These 15 easy Thanksgiving desserts cover every kind of table: classic pumpkin, sweet potato and apple pies, 9×13 dump cakes that serve 15, pie bars, make-ahead cheesecakes and no-bake treats. Each one is a full Pin Desserts recipe, linked below with its servings and timing.
Most of them can be made 1 to 2 days early, and a few skip the oven entirely, so dessert is done before the turkey goes in. Plan on 2 to 3 desserts for 8 to 12 guests: one pie, one pan dessert and one no-bake option.
At a Glance
- 4 pies (serve 8 each), 3 dump cakes and crunch cakes (serve 12 to 15), 3 bar recipes (12 to 16 bars)
- 2 cheesecakes that need an overnight chill, 3 no-bake or stovetop treats
- Fastest: pecan pie dip, 15 minutes on the stovetop
- Best for a crowd: pecan pie dump cake or pumpkin dump cake, 15 servings from one 9×13 pan
- Best make-ahead: pumpkin cheesecake, 1 to 2 days before
Classic Thanksgiving Pies
If you only make one dessert, make it a pie. Each of these bakes in a standard 9-inch dish and serves 8, so plan one pie for every 8 guests.
1. Pumpkin Pie
The classic. A can of pumpkin, 3 eggs and a 14 oz (397 g) can of sweetened condensed milk make a smooth, spiced custard in one 9-inch crust. Prep takes 15 minutes and it bakes in about 55, but it needs 2 hours to cool and set, so bake it the day before. Serves 8. Get the pumpkin pie recipe.
2. Sweet Potato Pie
Baked sweet potatoes, 1 cup (240 ml) of evaporated milk and brown sugar make a denser, earthier custard than pumpkin pie. Bake the sweet potatoes until very soft so the filling purees smooth. It serves 8 and keeps in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Get the sweet potato pie recipe.
3. Apple Pie
A double-crust pie with 6 to 7 sliced apples, a mix of tart and sweet. Two tablespoons of flour thicken the juices so the slices hold. Apple pie is the one pie here that is best at room temperature, so it can sit out on the dessert table all afternoon. Serves 8. Get the apple pie recipe.
4. Pumpkin Chiffon Pie
A lighter pumpkin pie for after a heavy meal. One tablespoon of gelatin and whipped cream set the filling in a pre-baked crust, so it only needs 10 minutes of stovetop cooking and about 4 hours in the fridge. Serves 8. Get the pumpkin chiffon pie recipe.
9×13 Shortcuts for a Crowd
A 9×13 pan feeds 12 to 15 people, nearly twice as many as a pie, and none of these need a rolled crust. They are the easiest way to feed a big table.
5. Pecan Pie Dump Cake
All the gooey pecan pie filling, none of the crust work. Eggs, corn syrup, brown sugar and 2 cups (230 g) of pecans go under a layer of dry yellow cake mix and melted butter. It takes 15 minutes of prep and 50 minutes in the oven, and one 9×13 serves 15. Get the pecan pie dump cake recipe.
6. Pumpkin Dump Cake
Pumpkin pie custard under a crisp, buttery cake mix crust, with no pie dough. Whisk the pumpkin layer in one bowl, top it with dry cake mix and 1 cup (227 g) of melted butter, and bake about 55 minutes. Serves 15, warm with whipped cream or chilled in squares. Get the pumpkin dump cake recipe.
7. Pumpkin Crunch Cake
Three layers: a crushed biscuit crust, a sweetened condensed milk pumpkin custard and a crunchy cake mix and pecan topping. It is a step up from a dump cake with the same easy 9×13 format. Serves 12. Get the pumpkin crunch cake recipe.
Bars You Can Cut Ahead
Bars chill and cut cleanly a day ahead, stack in a container and need no plates. Line the pan with a parchment sling so you can lift the whole slab out to cut.
8. Pumpkin Pie Bars
Pumpkin pie you can eat by hand. A graham cracker crust and a condensed milk pumpkin filling bake in about 40 minutes, then chill and cut into 12 clean bars. They travel well if you are bringing dessert to someone else’s house. Get the pumpkin pie bars recipe.
9. Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars
A shortbread crust, cinnamon apples and a crumble top, finished with caramel and flaky salt. Total time is about 1 hour 10 minutes and the pan makes 16 bars, so it covers a big table. Get the salted caramel apple pie bars recipe.
10. Cranberry Bliss Bars
Brown sugar blondies with white chocolate and dried cranberries under a cream cheese frosting. Not every Thanksgiving dessert has to be pumpkin, and these add color to the table. Makes 16 bars. Get the cranberry bliss bars recipe.
Cheesecakes That Need a Day
Cheesecake has to chill overnight, so it is a dessert you finish before Thanksgiving week gets busy.
11. Pumpkin Cheesecake
Three 8 oz (226 g) blocks of cream cheese, 1 cup (245 g) of pumpkin and warm spices on a graham cracker crust. It needs an overnight chill, which makes it one of the best make-ahead Thanksgiving desserts. Bake it 1 to 2 days early. Serves 12. Get the pumpkin cheesecake recipe.
12. Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes
Pumpkin cheesecake baked in a muffin tin with a gingersnap crust. There is nothing to slice, and the 12 little cheesecakes are easy to set out on a buffet. Get the mini pumpkin cheesecakes recipe.
No-Bake and Kid-Friendly Treats
These skip the oven entirely, which frees it up for the turkey and sides.
13. Pecan Pie Dip
The fastest dessert on this list: 15 minutes on the stovetop with butter, brown sugar, condensed milk and toasted pecans. No oven needed, which matters when the turkey is in it. Serve it warm with graham crackers or apple slices. Get the pecan pie dip recipe.
14. Pumpkin Trifle
A no-bake layered dessert: pumpkin pudding, whipped cream, cubed pumpkin bread and crushed gingersnaps. It takes about 25 minutes to assemble and tastes better after an hour in the fridge. Serves 10. Get the pumpkin trifle recipe.
15. Pilgrim Hat Cookies
A no-bake job for the kids. Fudge-striped cookies, marshmallows dipped in melted chocolate and a yellow candy buckle make 24 hats in about 50 minutes. They double as place-setting decorations. Get the pilgrim hat cookies recipe.
A Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Dessert Plan
- 2 days before: Bake the pumpkin cheesecake or mini cheesecakes and chill them. Make the pie dough if you make your own.
- 1 day before: Bake the custard pies (pumpkin, sweet potato) and any bars. Cool them completely, cover and refrigerate. Assemble the trifle in the evening.
- Thanksgiving morning: Bake the apple pie, which is best the same day, or a dump cake. Mix the pecan pie dip so it only needs warming.
- While the turkey rests: Bake a dump cake in the free oven so it comes out warm. A 9×13 needs 50 to 60 minutes at 350°F (175°C), so put it in when the turkey comes out.
How Many Desserts for Thanksgiving
Plan about 1 1/2 servings of dessert per guest, because most people take a small piece of two things. For 12 guests that is about 18 servings: one 9-inch pie (8 slices) plus one 9×13 pan (12 to 15 servings) is enough, with leftovers.
Mix textures and temperatures: one custard pie, one warm pan dessert and one cold or no-bake option covers most preferences. Add a non-pumpkin choice such as cranberry bliss bars or apple pie for guests who skip pumpkin.
Storing Thanksgiving Desserts Safely
The custard desserts (pumpkin and sweet potato pie, both dump cakes, the crunch cake, the chiffon pie, pumpkin pie bars, cranberry bliss bars and every cheesecake) contain eggs, dairy or cream cheese, so they go in the fridge within 2 hours of baking and keep for 3 to 4 days. Apple pie, salted caramel apple pie bars and pilgrim hat cookies are fine covered at room temperature for 1 to 2 days.
To serve a refrigerated dessert, take it out 30 minutes before so it loses the chill. Rewarm dump cakes under foil at 325°F (165°C) for 15 to 20 minutes.
Thanksgiving Dessert Questions
What is the easiest Thanksgiving dessert?
Pecan pie dip takes 15 minutes on the stovetop. For a baked dessert, a dump cake has about 15 minutes of hands-on time.
What Thanksgiving desserts can I make the day before?
Pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, pumpkin cheesecake, pie bars and trifle all improve after a night in the fridge.
What desserts can I make without an oven on Thanksgiving?
Pecan pie dip, pumpkin trifle and pilgrim hat cookies need no oven.
How far ahead can I bake a pumpkin pie?
Up to 2 days ahead. Keep it covered in the fridge and add whipped cream just before serving.
Save These Thanksgiving Desserts
Pin this list to your Thanksgiving desserts board so the whole menu is in one place when you shop and plan the week.
