14 Thanksgiving dessert ideas easy

Thanksgiving is all about delicious food, cozy gatherings, and sweet endings to the meal.

If you’re looking for easy dessert ideas that don’t require hours in the kitchen, these 14 simple recipes are perfect.

From pies and bars to cookies and puddings, each dessert adds a touch of warmth to your Thanksgiving table.

1. Easy Pumpkin Pie

A classic Thanksgiving dessert made simple with canned pumpkin and ready-made pie crust.

Ingredients:

• 1 (9-inch) pie crust

• 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree

• 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk

• ¾ cup sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp nutmeg, ¼ tsp ginger

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).

2. In a bowl, mix pumpkin, sugar, spices, and eggs.

3. Stir in evaporated milk until smooth.

4. Pour into crust and bake for 15 minutes.

5. Reduce heat to 350°F (175°C) and bake 40 minutes or until set.

2. Apple Crisp

Warm baked apples topped with a crispy oat crumble — a perfect cozy dessert.

Ingredients:

• 5 apples, sliced

• ½ cup brown sugar

• ½ cup oats

• ½ cup flour

• ½ cup butter

• 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Toss apples with half the sugar and cinnamon.

3. Mix oats, flour, remaining sugar, and butter to form crumbs.

4. Spread apples in a baking dish, top with crumble, and bake for 40 minutes.

3. No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake

Creamy, spiced pumpkin cheesecake made without turning on the oven.

Ingredients:

• 1 pre-made graham cracker crust

• 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese

• 1 cup pumpkin puree

• ½ cup sugar

• 1 tsp pumpkin spice

• 1 cup whipped topping

Instructions:

1. Beat cream cheese, pumpkin, sugar, and spice until smooth.

2. Fold in whipped topping.

3. Spoon mixture into crust and refrigerate for 3–4 hours.

4. Pecan Pie Bars

All the flavor of pecan pie in bite-sized, easy-to-serve bars.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour

• ¼ cup sugar

• ½ cup butter

• 1 cup chopped pecans

• ¾ cup brown sugar

• 2 eggs

• ½ cup corn syrup

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Mix flour, butter, and sugar; press into a baking pan and bake 10 minutes.

3. Mix pecans, brown sugar, eggs, and corn syrup; pour over crust.

4. Bake 25 minutes, cool, and cut into bars.

5. Cranberry Orange Bread

A sweet and tangy quick bread bursting with fresh cranberry flavor.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 tbsp orange zest

• 1 ½ cups cranberries

• 1 egg

• 1 cup milk

• ½ cup butter

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Combine wet ingredients, then stir in dry ones.

3. Fold in cranberries and zest.

4. Pour into loaf pan and bake for 50–55 minutes.

6. Pumpkin Roll Cake

A light pumpkin sponge cake rolled with sweet cream cheese filling.

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup flour

• 1 tsp baking soda

• ½ tsp cinnamon

• 3 eggs

• 1 cup sugar

• ⅔ cup pumpkin puree

• Filling: 8 oz cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions:

1. Beat eggs, sugar, and pumpkin. Mix in dry ingredients.

2. Spread on a lined sheet pan, bake 15 minutes at 375°F.

3. Roll in towel to cool. Spread filling, re-roll, and chill.

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7. Mini Pecan Tarts

Bite-sized versions of pecan pie that look as good as they taste.

Ingredients:

• 1 pack mini tart shells

• 1 cup chopped pecans

• ½ cup brown sugar

• 2 tbsp butter

• 1 egg

• ½ tsp vanilla

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Mix pecans, sugar, butter, egg, and vanilla.

3. Fill tart shells and bake for 20 minutes.

8. Caramel Apple Dip

A creamy caramel dessert dip perfect for sliced apples or crackers.

Ingredients:

• 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese

• ¼ cup brown sugar

• ½ cup caramel sauce

• ½ cup crushed nuts (optional)

Instructions:

1. Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.

2. Spread in a dish and top with caramel and nuts.

3. Chill and serve with sliced apples.

9. Chocolate Pumpkin Brownies

Rich, chocolatey brownies swirled with spiced pumpkin.

Ingredients:

• 1 box brownie mix

• ½ cup pumpkin puree

• 1 tsp pumpkin spice

• ¼ cup chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Prepare brownie batter as per box.

2. Mix pumpkin and spice separately.

3. Swirl pumpkin mix into brownie batter and bake as directed.

10. Sweet Potato Pie

A Southern favorite that’s creamy, smooth, and full of sweet potato flavor.

Ingredients:

• 1 pie crust

• 2 cups mashed sweet potatoes

• 1 cup sugar

• ½ cup milk

• 2 eggs

• ½ tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Mix all ingredients until smooth.

2. Pour into crust and bake 45–50 minutes at 350°F.

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11. Pumpkin Bread Pudding

Soft bread cubes soaked in a pumpkin-spiced custard and baked to perfection.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups cubed bread

• 1 ½ cups milk

• 1 cup pumpkin puree

• ½ cup sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 tsp pumpkin spice

Instructions:

1. Mix milk, pumpkin, sugar, eggs, and spice.

2. Pour over bread cubes and let soak 10 minutes.

3. Bake 40 minutes at 350°F until set.

12. Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes

Quick, no-fry donut bites coated in sweet cinnamon sugar.

Ingredients:

• 1 can biscuit dough

• ¼ cup sugar

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 3 tbsp melted butter

Instructions:

1. Cut biscuit dough into pieces and bake 10 minutes at 375°F.

2. Brush with butter, roll in cinnamon sugar, and serve warm.

13. Pumpkin Spice Trifle

A layered dessert of pumpkin pudding, whipped cream, and cake cubes.

Ingredients:

• 1 box vanilla pudding mix

• 1 cup pumpkin puree

• 1 tsp pumpkin spice

• 2 cups whipped topping

• 2 cups pound cake cubes

Instructions:

1. Mix pudding, pumpkin, and spice.

2. In a glass bowl, layer cake cubes, pumpkin mix, and whipped topping.

3. Repeat layers and chill.

14. Maple Pecan Cookies

Soft cookies flavored with maple syrup and crunchy pecans.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour

• ½ cup butter

• ½ cup sugar

• ¼ cup maple syrup

• ½ cup chopped pecans

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Cream butter, sugar, and syrup.

3. Stir in flour and pecans.

4. Drop spoonfuls on a baking sheet and bake 12 minutes.

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These 14 easy Thanksgiving dessert ideas are quick, delicious, and festive.

Whether you prefer classic pies or simple no-bake treats, each dessert will make your holiday celebration sweeter without stress.