14 Thanksgiving dessert ideas for a crowd

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Hosting Thanksgiving for a big group? Don’t stress — these 14 Thanksgiving dessert ideas for a crowd are simple, delicious, and easy to make in large batches.

From classic pies to tray bakes and trifles, these desserts will keep everyone happy without spending hours in the kitchen.

1. Sheet Pan Pumpkin Pie

Get all the flavor of traditional pumpkin pie but in a large, easy-to-slice version that serves 12–16 guests.

Ingredients:

  • 2 refrigerated pie crusts

  • 2 cans (15 oz each) pumpkin puree

  • 1 ½ cups sugar

  • 4 eggs

  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

  • 2 cups evaporated milk

Instructions:

  1. Line a baking sheet with pie crusts, sealing edges.

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

  3. Pour over crust and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 45 minutes.

2. Apple Slab Pie

A large-format pie filled with cinnamon apples — perfect for a crowd and easy to cut into squares.

Ingredients:

  • 2 pie crusts

  • 6 cups sliced apples

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 2 tbsp flour

  • 2 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

  1. Roll out crusts to fit a rectangular pan.

  2. Mix apples, sugar, flour, and cinnamon.

  3. Fill and top with crust; bake 45 minutes at 375°F (190°C).

3. Pecan Pie Squares

Sweet, sticky, and buttery — these bars serve a big group and taste like classic pecan pie.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour

  • 1 cup butter

  • ½ cup sugar

  • 3 eggs

  • 1 ½ cups corn syrup

  • 2 cups chopped pecans

Instructions:

  1. Make crust with flour, butter, and sugar; bake 15 minutes.

  2. Combine remaining ingredients; pour over crust.

  3. Bake 25–30 minutes more, cool, and cut into bars.

4. Pumpkin Sheet Cake

Fluffy, moist pumpkin cake topped with cream cheese frosting — easy to make and serve for 20+.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • 1 can pumpkin puree

  • ½ cup oil

  • 2 eggs

  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

  1. Mix wet and dry ingredients separately.

  2. Combine and pour into greased sheet pan.

  3. Bake 30–35 minutes at 350°F, cool, and frost.

5. Cranberry Bread Pudding

A comforting, make-ahead dessert that serves many — sweet, tart, and creamy.

Ingredients:

  • 1 loaf bread (cubed)

  • 2 cups milk

  • 1 cup cream

  • 4 eggs

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 cup cranberries

Instructions:

  1. Whisk eggs, milk, cream, and sugar.

  2. Add bread cubes and cranberries.

  3. Pour into a casserole dish and bake 40 minutes.

6. Caramel Apple Trifle

Beautiful layers of apples, caramel, and whipped cream — easy to serve from a large bowl.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cans apple pie filling

  • 1 box vanilla pudding

  • 2 cups whipped cream

  • ½ cup caramel sauce

  • Crumbled pound cake

Instructions:

  1. Layer cake, pudding, apples, and whipped cream.

  2. Drizzle caramel and chill for 2 hours before serving.

Also Check: 14 Thanksgiving dessert ideas gluten free

7. Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

Creamy cheesecake meets pumpkin pie flavor — makes 16–20 squares.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups graham cracker crumbs

  • ½ cup butter

  • 16 oz cream cheese

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 cup pumpkin puree

  • 2 eggs

Instructions:

  1. Mix crumbs with butter for crust; bake 10 minutes.

  2. Beat cream cheese, sugar, pumpkin, and eggs.

  3. Pour over crust, bake 35 minutes, chill, then slice.

8. Chocolate Sheet Cake

Moist, rich, and covered in silky frosting — great for feeding a large family gathering.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour

  • 2 cups sugar

  • 1 cup butter

  • ½ cup cocoa powder

  • 1 cup water

  • 2 eggs

  • ½ cup buttermilk

Instructions:

  1. Combine dry ingredients.

  2. Boil butter, cocoa, and water; pour over flour mix.

  3. Add eggs and buttermilk; bake 25 minutes at 350°F.

9. Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans

A sweet side or dessert that doubles as a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups mashed sweet potatoes

  • ½ cup sugar

  • 2 eggs

  • ½ cup butter

  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions:

  1. Mix potatoes, sugar, eggs, and butter.

  2. Top with pecans and bake 40 minutes at 350°F.

10. Pumpkin Pie Trifle Cups

Serve these in clear cups for individual portions that are easy for a crowd.

Ingredients:

  • Pumpkin pudding

  • Whipped cream

  • Crumbled ginger cookies

Instructions:

  1. Layer cookie crumbs, pudding, and whipped cream.

  2. Chill before serving.

11. Apple Cider Donut Holes

Bite-sized treats perfect for a dessert buffet.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour

  • ½ cup sugar

  • 1 tsp cinnamon

  • ¾ cup apple cider

  • 1 egg

Instructions:

  1. Mix ingredients into a thick batter.

  2. Drop small scoops into hot oil and fry until golden.

  3. Roll in cinnamon sugar.

12. Pumpkin Bread Loaves

Bake multiple loaves to slice and share — perfect for gifting too.

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cups flour

  • ½ cup sugar

  • 1 cup pumpkin puree

  • 2 eggs

  • ½ cup oil

Instructions:

  1. Mix dry and wet ingredients.

  2. Pour into loaf pans and bake 45 minutes.

13. Maple Pecan Bread Bars

Sweet, nutty bars that hold well for parties or potlucks.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour

  • 1 cup brown sugar

  • ½ cup maple syrup

  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions:

  1. Mix ingredients and press into a baking dish.

  2. Bake 25–30 minutes and let cool before cutting.

14. Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Easy, fluffy cupcakes that are perfect for passing around after dinner.

Ingredients:

  • 1 box spice cake mix

  • 1 cup pumpkin puree

  • 3 eggs

  • ½ cup oil

Instructions:

  1. Mix all ingredients until smooth.

  2. Pour into liners and bake 18 minutes at 350°F.

  3. Frost with cream cheese icing.

These 14 Thanksgiving dessert ideas for a crowd make it easy to serve delicious sweets without spending hours baking multiple dishes.

Whether you go with slab pies, sheet cakes, or trifles, each dessert is designed to please everyone at your holiday table — and still leave you time to enjoy the celebration.

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