30 Easy Thanksgiving Desserts (Pies, Cakes and More)

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Thanksgiving dinner isn't finished until the pies come out. These 30 easy Thanksgiving desserts are my tried-and-true favorites, from classic pumpkin, pecan and apple pie to sweet potato cake, cobbler and bars for anyone who'd rather skip the pie.

A photo collage of apple cheesecake, apple pie, butter bars and Kentucky butter cake.

I've grouped them so you can plan your whole dessert table in one place: pies, cakes, cheesecake, crisps, cobblers and bars, bite-size treats, and a few homemade extras like pie crust and caramel sauce. There's something for every crowd, from a big family dinner to a small Friendsgiving.

Table of Contents

Why You'll Love These Thanksgiving Desserts

All the classics. Pumpkin, pecan, apple and sweet potato pie are all here.

Plenty besides pie. Cakes, bars, cobbler and cookies for the guests who want something different.

Easy, homestyle baking. These are simple recipes for home cooks, not bakery projects.

Classic Thanksgiving Pies

Buttermilk Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie made with buttermilk for a smooth, creamy filling. It's the dessert everyone expects on Thanksgiving.

Check out this recipe

A slice of buttermilk pumpkin pie with a bute out of it.

Maple Pecan Pie

Classic pecan pie with a little maple and bourbon. It's a grown-up twist on a holiday favorite.

Check out this recipe

Maple pecan pie on a plate with ice cream.

Apple Crumble Pie

Apple pie with a buttery crumble on top instead of a second crust. It's easy to make and always a hit.

Check out this recipe

Close up of a piece of apple crumble pie on a plate.

Sweet Potato Pie with Marshmallow Whipped Cream

A Southern sweet potato pie topped with marshmallow whipped cream. It's a must on a lot of Thanksgiving tables.

Check out this recipe

Possum Pie Recipe

An old-fashioned Southern favorite that always gets people talking about the name. Once they try it, they ask for the recipe.

Check out this recipe

A plate with a slice of possum pie and a fork that's taken one scoop from the front of the slice.

Rich and Creamy Chocolate Cream Pie

A rich chocolate cream pie for the chocolate lovers at the table. It's a nice break from all the pumpkin.

Check out this recipe

Old Fashioned Banana Cream Pie

A classic banana cream pie like Grandma used to make, creamy and comforting.

Check out this recipe

Slic of pie on a small white plate with a fork and red cup of coffee.

Cherry Pie

Homemade cherry pie adds a pop of color to the dessert table, right next to the pumpkin and pecan.

Check out this recipe

A slice of cherry pie on a white plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Thanksgiving Cakes

Sweet Potato Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Sweet potato cake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting. It's one of the most popular recipes on the site and a great pick if you want something besides pie.

Check out this recipe

A piece of sweet potato cake on a place with a bite on a fork.

Pumpkin Roll Cake

A classic pumpkin roll with a creamy filling. It looks impressive on the holiday table and slices up beautifully.

Check out this recipe

Pumpkin roll cake on a cutting board with powdered sugar on top.

Pumpkin Sheet Cake

A big pumpkin sheet cake that's easy to make and perfect for feeding a crowd.

Check out this recipe

A piece of pumpkin sheet cake on a plate.

Pumpkin Pound Cake

A rich, tender pumpkin pound cake that's great for dessert or with coffee the morning after.

Check out this recipe

A loaf of pumpkin loaf cake with several slices cut out of it.

Kentucky Bourbon Butter Cake

A buttery cake with bourbon flavor that's perfect for a holiday dessert spread.

Check out this recipe

A piece of Kentucky butter cake on a plate with a fork.

Old Fashioned Applesauce Cake Recipe

An old-fashioned applesauce cake like Grandma used to make, cozy and full of fall flavor.

Check out this recipe

A slice of applesauce cake on a white plate.

Apple Cake

A simple, homestyle apple cake that's an easy addition to the Thanksgiving dessert table.

Check out this recipe

Apple cake on a plate with a fork taking a bite out.

Classic Carrot Cake

A simple, homestyle apple cake that's an easy addition to the Thanksgiving dessert table.

Check out this recipe

Carrot cake on a platter with a slice removed.

Thanksgiving Cheesecakes

Rich and Creamy New York Cheesecake

A rich, creamy New York cheesecake. Serve it plain or dress it up with caramel sauce.

Check out this recipe

A slice of cheesecake on a white plate with a fork.

Apple Crumb Cheesecake Bars

Creamy cheesecake and apples with a crumb topping. These bars are a little bit apple pie and a little bit cheesecake.

Check out this recipe

Caramel drizzled over the top of a cheesecake bar.

Crisps, Cobblers and Bars

Caramel Skillet Apple Crisp

Warm apples and a crisp topping with caramel. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Check out this recipe

Apple crisp in a cast iron skillet with a spoon.

Apple Pie Bars

All the flavor of apple pie in an easy bar you can cut into squares. They're great for feeding a crowd.

Check out this recipe

Caramel Apple Crumble Bars

Apples, caramel and a crumbly topping in an easy-to-share bar.

Check out this recipe

A metal spatula picking up a square of apple crumble.

Southern Peach Cobbler

Classic Southern peach cobbler, warm and comforting. It's a great change of pace from apple and pumpkin.

Check out this recipe

A serving spoon scooping out some peach cobbler.

Gooey Butter Cake Bars

Rich, gooey butter cake bars that are easy to make and easy to share.

Check out this recipe

Bite-Size Thanksgiving Treats

Pumpkin Pie Bites

All the flavor of pumpkin pie in bite-size form, perfect for a dessert tray.

Check out this recipe

Mini pumpkin pie bites on a platter with cinnamon sticks.

Pecan Pie Cookies

Pecan pie in cookie form, an easy way to get that pecan pie flavor without slicing a pie.

Check out this recipe

Pecan pie cookies on a piece pf parchment paper.

Pumpkin Crinkle Cookies

Soft pumpkin cookies with that classic crinkle top. They're pretty enough for a holiday cookie tray.

Check out this recipe

A spatula picking up a baked pumpkin crinkle cookie.

Chewy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chewy pumpkin cookies loaded with chocolate chips, a kid-friendly pick for the dessert table.

Check out this recipe

pumpkin chocolate chip cookies on a plate.

Homemade Pie Crust and Toppings

Homemade Pie Crust

A homemade pie crust for all your Thanksgiving pies.

Check out this recipe

Homemade pie crust pressed into a pie tin.

Homemade Cool Whip Recipe

Homemade whipped topping for spooning over pie, cobbler and crisp

Check out this recipe

Bourbon Caramel Sauce

A rich bourbon caramel sauce for drizzling over cheesecake, apple crisp or a scoop of ice cream.

Check out this recipe

Spooning bourbon caramel sauce out of a glass container.

Recipe FAQ's

What's a good Thanksgiving dessert besides pie?

Sweet Potato Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting, Pumpkin Roll Cake and Rich and Creamy New York Cheesecake are all great alternatives. For something easy to share, try Apple Pie Bars or Southern Peach Cobbler.

What are some easy Thanksgiving desserts for a crowd?

Pan desserts are the easiest way to feed a lot of people. Pumpkin Sheet Cake, Apple Pie Bars, Gooey Butter Cake Bars and Southern Peach Cobbler are all made in one pan and are easy to serve.

What pies should I make for Thanksgiving?

Pumpkin, pecan and apple are the classics. On a Southern table, sweet potato pie belongs right next to them. Start with Buttermilk Pumpkin Pie, Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie, Apple Crumble Pie and Sweet Potato Pie with Marshmallow Whipped Cream.