Best Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
Everyone knows the best part of Thanksgiving is the dessert table. So round yours out with a few classics, like pumpkin pie, but save room for new favorites, too, like salted caramel bread pudding and apple turnovers.
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Four and Twenty Blackbirds Salted Caramel Apple Pie
This sister-run bakery has cornered the market on pies in certain parts of New York City. This layered apple pie has garnered legendary status and is the stuff of holiday dreams.
Get the Recipe: Four and Twenty Blackbirds Salted Caramel Apple Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Don’t mess with the classics. This traditional pumpkin pie recipe (which is easy, thanks to canned pumpkin) is an absolute showstopper.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Pie
Apple Crisp
Kelsey Nixon's apple crisp is our pick for the classic undone dessert. Her topping of oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and nuts is perfectly sweet, crumbly and crunchy, especially when paired with vanilla ice cream.
Get the Recipe: Apple Crisp
Caramel Apple Cheesecake
The toasted walnut and graham cracker crust on which Bobby Flay builds his vanilla bean cheesecake is just the start of this decadent dessert. An apple brandy-boosted caramel oozes over the top, while a pile of pretty apple slices gives this dessert showstopping status.
Get the Recipe: Caramel Apple Cheesecake
Bacon Bourbon Pecan Pie
Combine three of the ingredients you're most thankful for into one decadent pie: bacon, bourbon and lots of butter. The classic pecan-filled dessert gets tangy flavor from a cream cheese-studded crust and a drizzle of smoky booze on top.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Bourbon Pecan Pie
Sugar-Cranberry Pie
Sure, cranberry sauce might be traditional, but why not change things up and serve this gorgeous sweet and tart pie instead? Its peekaboo window makes this treat extra festive.
Get the Recipe: Sugar-Cranberry Pie
Apple Pie
Michael Symon uses lard to achieve a super flaky crust, and he fills his pie with tart Granny Smith apples and a touch of heavy cream and butter to thicken the mixture.
Get the Recipe: Apple Pie
Maple Pecan Pie
Get the Recipe: Maple Pecan Pie
Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Spicy Caramel Apple Sauce
Build layers of flavor with this decadent bread pudding, starting with fall-spiced pumpkin bread and bourbon-spiked custard. Spicy star anise- and ginger-infused caramel sauce pair perfectly with a sweet vanilla bean creme anglaise.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Spicy Caramel Apple Sauce and Vanilla Bean Creme Anglaise
Classic Pumpkin Pie
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Pie
Pear and Cranberry Crostata
Get the Recipe: Pear and Cranberry Crostata
Lattice Apple Sheet Pie
This double-size pie makes feeding a crowd easy: its press-in dough is more forgiving than the traditional variety, but yields an equally tender-and-flaky result. Just pipe our proprietary lattice dough through a pastry bag for the final effect –– no complicated weaving required.
Get the Recipe: Lattice Apple Sheet Pie
Sweet Potato Pie with Crunchy Cranberry Topping
Tyler's spin on classic sweet potato pie takes a luscious Italian turn, featuring a sweet, crisp topping made with crumbled amaretto cookies, pecans and cranberries.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Pie with Crunchy Cranberry Topping
Pumpkin Pie Icebox Cake
This chilled dessert is perfect for Thanksgiving or any day you're craving seasonal flavors. It comes together quickly, thanks to the use of prepared pumpkin pie puree, which is already sweetened and requires no additional spices. Prepare the pie one day ahead to allow the crust time to become tender.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Icebox Cake
Pumpkin Cheesecake
The earthy sweetness and custard-like texture of pureed pumpkin lends itself beautifully to this silky fall-flavored cheesecake. For a nice contrast, add a candied almond crunch and a dollop of amaretto whipped cream on top.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Cheesecake
Mini Pecan Pumpkin Pies
Sunny's hybrid recipe shrinks the classic pecan-and-pumpkin pies into single snack-sized bites. Crushed pecans are incorporated into the pie dough itself, which holds a vanilla-spiked pumpkin filling.
Get the Recipe: Mini Pecan Pumpkin Pies
Apple Turnover
Get the Recipe: Apple Turnover
Upside-Down Pear Cranberry Tart
This rustic tart gets its origins from the French apple tarte Tatin, and it can be a beautiful alternative to classic American apple pie. You don't even need a pie tin — and if you feel like it, you can just use premade dough.
Get the Recipe: Upside-Down Pear Cranberry Tart
Aida's Pecan Pumpkin Crunch
Get the Recipe: Pecan Pumpkin Crunch
Mile-High Apple Pie
This mega-sized pie isn’t just about looks — it’s packed with fall flavor, thanks to two types of apples and a hidden layer of marzipan filling.
Get the Recipe: Mile-High Apple Pie
Chocolate Apricot Tart
For a dessert that combines the flavors of chocolate pudding and cookies (a guaranteed crowd-pleaser), try this simple tart with a grown-up secret: a smear of brandy-soaked apricots. The press-in crust and quick chocolate filling promise easy prep too.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Apricot Tart
Ginger Snap Pumpkin Pie with Ginger Cream
The addition of gingersnap cookies gives pumpkin a little kick and the just-ripe banana lends extra sweetness. P.S. Don't scrimp on the ginger whipped cream; it brings everything together for a double hit of gingery goodness.
Get the Recipe: Ginger Snap Pumpkin Pie with Ginger Cream
Dutch Apple Cake
Get the Recipe: Dutch Apple Cake
Salted Caramel Bread Pudding with Caramelized Apples
Get the Recipe: Salted Caramel Bread Pudding with Caramelized Apples
Pumpkin Pie in a Sheet Pan
Got a crowd that loves pumpkin pie? This giant dessert in sheet-cake form serves 16. For a fancy flourish, place pie dough rounds around the perimeter to create a fanned crust.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Pie in a Sheet Pan
Apple and Walnut Torta
An Italian torta is a cakelike pie. Giada De Laurentiis fills hers with diced apples, chopped walnuts and orange zest before lacing it with Grand Marnier. The result is an elegant, well-rounded dessert that’s as well suited to a boozy brunch meal as it is to dinner.
Get the Recipe: Apple and Walnut Torta
Down Home Sweet Potato Pie with Maple Syrup Meringue
Although this pie is the perfect addition to any holiday table, it’s just too good to save for only special occasions. Serve it year-round, with the homemade crust or a store-bought one. (Shh! We won’t tell.)
Get the Recipe: Down Home Sweet Potato Pie with Maple Syrup Meringue
Caramel Apple Pie
Amp up apple pie with a crumb topping, chopped pecans and a sweet swirl of caramel sauce.
Get the Recipe: Caramel Apple Pie
Chai Poached Pears
This perfect Thanksgiving dessert can be made days ahead, doesn't require any oven space and is full of flavor, but light enough to follow your Thanksgiving feast. Use homemade chai for the poaching liquid, and be sure to select firm, unripe pears that can take their time soaking up the spicy chai flavor.
Get the Recipe: Chai Poached Pears
Pecan Pie
This classic pie is especially easy because it does not require you to blind bake the crust or precook the filling. The toasty pecans in the sweet, gooey sugar filling taste extra homey when served warm. Enjoy with a dollop of whipped cream!
Get the Recipe: Pecan Pie
Spiced Pumpkin Cake with Creamed Cheese Frosting
This rustic-looking cake may not be the most glamorous dessert on your dinner table, but its ultra-moist texture and rich flavor can't be beat.
Get the Recipe: Cissy's Spiced Pumpkin Cake with Creamed Cheese Frosting
Pear Cobbler with Cranberry Streusel
Baked pears, coated with brown sugar and butter, are a tender, perfectly autumnal dessert. Serve the cobbler warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Get the Recipe: Pear Cobbler with Cranberry Streusel
David Rocco's Torta Di Ricotta
Get the Recipe: Carla's Torta Di Ricotta
Apple Galette
A galette is a French tart (or simply a pie without a plate), so there's no fancy fluting or lattice-top crust to worry about. You can mix and match the apples to suit your mood, and it adds to the drama if some of the juices escape — just be sure to bake on a sided baking sheet.
Get the Recipe: Apple Galette
Pear-Cranberry Crumble
Get the Recipe: Pear-Cranberry Crumble
Salted Caramel Nut Tart
These tiny, elegant treats are simple to make, thanks to a store-bought crust. The recipe calls for a finishing sprinkle of sea salt –– use a small pinch, as its flavor is quite strong.
Get the Recipe: Salted Caramel Nut Tart
Quercyan Apple Cake
Get the Recipe: Quercyan Apple Cake
Tatin Pie
Get the Recipe: Tarte-Tatin: Tatin Pie
Pumpkin Pie Cookies
These one-bite treats pack all of the flavors of fall into a single crisp cookie. Hedy Goldsmith gives her filling a kick by spiking it with bourbon and a bit of sour cream.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Cookies
Chopped Walnut and Coffee Cake
Get the Recipe: Chopped Walnut and Coffee Cake
Apple Crumble with Candied Bacon
Nadia G. gives traditional crumble a salty-sweet update with the addition of crisp candied bacon.
Get the Recipe: McIntosh Maple Crumble with Candied Bacon
Apple Pie Egg Roll
Kelsey breaks the mold –– the pie mold –– with these wonton-wrapped, handheld bites. Don’t forget to dust them with powdered sugar for an extra hit of sweetness.
Get the Recipe: Apple Pie Egg Roll
Honey-Glazed Apple Pear Tart
Apples and pears meld in harmony on top of this sweet and buttery honeyed tart from Kelsey.
Get the Recipe: Honey-Glazed Apple Pear Tart
Pecan Pie Pops
It's just more fun to eat food off a stick. And your guests will appreciate a bite-sized treat (as it will let them do double duty on the dessert table).
Get the Recipe: Pecan Pie Pops
Throwdown Pumpkin Pie
Bobby Flay adds heavy cream and Grade B maple syrup to create a fluffy, rich texture and deeply flavorful filling in his holiday pie. A scraped vanilla bean also adds an extra hint of sweetness.
Get the Recipe: Throwdown Pumpkin Pie
Apple Bread Pudding With Caramel Dessert Sauce
Stale challah bread is the key to Kelsey's indulgent bread pudding — because it's dry, it'll be that much better at soaking up the heavy cream and homemade caramel, resulting in plump, flavor-packed pieces.
Get the Recipe: Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel Dessert Sauce
Pumpkin Chai Pie Lollipops
What could be more festive than a pumpkin pie on a stick? Bake these grab-and-go treats to lend instant holiday cheer to your house (their seasonal spices will waft through your kitchen for hours).
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Chai Pie Lollipops
Pumpkin-Ginger Pie with Golden Marshmallow Topping
Torn between pecan and pumpkin pie? Have the best of both worlds with this pumpkin pie recipe that features a layer of pecan-laced streusel beneath the pumpkin filling.
Fried Apple Hand Pies
The only thing better than a slice of apple pie is a pie you can hold in your hand. These portable treats are fried to create crispier, flakier, completely irresistible dough.
Get the Recipe: Fried Apple Hand Pies
Quick Pear Tart
Sunny Anderson combines the best of both worlds — salty and sweet — to create this super-simple tart studded with pears and cheddar.
Get the Recipe: Quick Pear Tart
Walnut Tart
Get the Recipe: Walnut Tart
Cherry Pie-in-a-Jar
Get the Recipe: Cherry Pie-in-a-Jar
Spiced Heirloom Pumpkin Pie
Get the Recipe: Spiced Heirloom Pumpkin Pie
Spiced Pumpkin Crumb Cake
Get the Recipe: Spiced Pumpkin Crumb Cake
Maple Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie
Sweet potato pie will never be the same: Here, the basic filling gets kicked up with maple syrup, bourbon and a few grinds of black pepper.
Get the Recipe: Maple Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie
Bourbon Banana Puddings
Get the Recipe: Bourbon Banana Puddings
Pumpkin Stracciatella Gelato
"Stracciatella" means "little rags" in Italian, and it refers to the shards of pure chocolate in this amazing gelato. You can make and eat this the same day, but it’s better when chilled overnight.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Stracciatella Gelato
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Whoopie pies aren't just for summer — this autumn version features creamy maple marshmallow filling sandwiched between super-soft pieces of pumpkin cake.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Carrot Cake
Get the Recipe: Carrot Cake
Pumpkin Mousse
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Mousse
Kelsey's Banana Caramel Cream Pie
Get the Recipe: Banana Caramel Cream Pie
Slow-Baked Honey Wine Pears
Get the Recipe: Slow-Baked Honey Wine Pears
Tarte Tatin
Light golden puff pastry, soft juicy fruit and crisp caramel is a great combination. You could serve this with a spoonful of creme fraiche or whipped cream, but cold ice cream provides pleasing temperature contrast.
Get the Recipe: The World-Famous Tarte Tatin
Maple Pear Upside-Down Cake
Get the Recipe: Maple Pear Upside-Down Cake
Cranberry, Vanilla Bean and Orange Gelatina
Add a pop of color to the table with layers of festive gelatin.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry, Vanilla Bean and Orange Gelatina