23 Thanksgiving Desserts That Aren’t Pie
While pumpkin and apple pies have their place on the Thanksgiving table, sometimes you want to shake things up with something fresh and exciting. These 25 desserts capture all those beloved fall flavors – think warm spices, caramel, maple, and seasonal fruits – but in completely new forms. From make-ahead options that’ll save you stress on the big day to impressive showstoppers that’ll have everyone talking, these treats prove there’s life beyond pie.
1. Pumpkin Cheesecake
This velvety smooth cheesecake brings all the cozy flavors of pumpkin pie but with that rich, tangy cream cheese twist everyone loves. The texture is incredibly creamy and dense, with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg dancing on your tongue. It’s actually easier to make than traditional pie since there’s no rolling dough involved, and it can be made days ahead. The best part? It feeds a crowd and looks absolutely stunning on your dessert table.
Get the recipe here.
2. Apple Crisp
Tender, cinnamon-spiced apples topped with a golden, buttery oat crumble that’s pure comfort in every bite. This dessert is wonderfully rustic and homestyle, perfect for when you want something that tastes like a warm hug. It’s incredibly forgiving to make – no precise measurements needed – and fills your whole house with the most amazing aroma while baking. Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream, and watch it disappear faster than you can say “seconds please.”
Get the recipe here.
3. Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
This beloved side dish moonlights as dessert with its naturally sweet, creamy base topped with golden, gooey marshmallows. The sweet potatoes become silky smooth with hints of vanilla and warm spices, while those marshmallows on top get perfectly caramelized and crispy. It’s surprisingly easy to whip up and can be assembled the night before, then just popped in the oven before dinner. Kids and adults alike can’t resist this nostalgic treat.
Get the recipe here.
4. Maple Pecan Bread Pudding
Transform day-old bread into pure magic with this custard-soaked dessert that tastes like French toast and pecan pie had a baby. The maple syrup adds deep, caramel-like sweetness while toasted pecans provide the perfect crunch. It’s one of those desserts that looks fancy but is actually super simple to make. The texture is incredibly comforting – soft and custardy inside with slightly crispy edges that everyone fights over.
Get the recipe here.
5. Cranberry Apple Cobbler
Tart cranberries and sweet apples create the perfect flavor balance under a tender, biscuit-like topping that’s like a cross between cake and scone. The fruit filling bubbles up around the edges, creating those coveted crispy bits that make cobbler so irresistible. This dessert practically makes itself – just toss the fruit with sugar and spices, drop spoonfuls of batter on top, and let the oven do the work. It’s rustic, beautiful, and tastes even better the next day.
Get the recipe here.
6. Pumpkin Roll
This impressive-looking dessert features spiced pumpkin cake rolled around sweet cream cheese filling, creating beautiful spirals when sliced. Despite its fancy appearance, it’s surprisingly straightforward to make once you get the rolling technique down. The cake stays incredibly moist thanks to the pumpkin, and the tangy cream cheese perfectly balances the warm spices. Make it a day ahead for easier slicing, and watch guests marvel at your apparent baking prowess.
Get the recipe here.
7. Caramel Apple Trifle
Layers of spiced cake, cinnamon apples, caramel sauce, and fluffy whipped cream create a dessert that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. Each spoonful gives you different textures and flavors that work together perfectly. The best part about trifles is how forgiving they are – if one layer doesn’t look perfect, just add another layer on top. It’s also completely make-ahead friendly, actually getting better as the flavors meld together overnight in the fridge.
Get the recipe here.
8. Spiced Pear Galette
This rustic French-style tart showcases tender, wine-poached pears wrapped in flaky, buttery pastry that’s much easier than pie crust. The pears become meltingly soft with hints of cinnamon and vanilla, while the free-form crust gets gorgeously golden and crispy. Galettes are perfect for nervous bakers because the imperfect, rustic look is exactly what you’re going for. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an elegant finale to your meal.
Get the recipe here.
9. Maple Walnut Fudge
Rich, creamy fudge infused with pure maple syrup and studded with toasted walnuts creates bite-sized pieces of heaven. The maple flavor is deep and complex, not artificial like pancake syrup, and the walnuts add a lovely bitter note that balances the sweetness. While fudge might seem intimidating, this version is surprisingly foolproof using the microwave method. Cut into small squares since it’s incredibly rich, and package extras as holiday gifts that’ll make you everyone’s favorite person.
Get the recipe here.
10. Cinnamon Apple Cake
This moist, tender cake is loaded with chunks of fresh apples and warming cinnamon spice that makes your kitchen smell incredible while baking. The texture is somewhere between a coffee cake and pound cake – dense but not heavy, with pockets of soft, sweet apples throughout. It’s the kind of cake that’s perfect with morning coffee or as an after-dinner treat. One-bowl mixing makes cleanup a breeze, and it stays moist for days covered on the counter.
Get the recipe here.
11. Pumpkin Tiramisu
A creative twist on the classic Italian dessert, featuring layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers and pumpkin-spiced mascarpone cream. The coffee adds a sophisticated bitter note that perfectly complements the sweet pumpkin spices, creating a grown-up dessert that’s not too heavy after a big meal. Like traditional tiramisu, this needs to chill overnight, making it perfect for advance preparation. The flavors meld beautifully, and each bite is silky, creamy perfection with just enough coffee kick.
Get the recipe here.
12. Cranberry Orange Scones
These tender, buttery scones are studded with tart dried cranberries and brightened with fresh orange zest for a perfect balance of flavors. They’re not overly sweet, making them versatile enough for breakfast or dessert, especially when drizzled with a simple orange glaze. Scones might seem fancy, but they come together quickly with just a bowl and your hands – no mixer required. Serve them warm from the oven when the cranberries are still slightly soft and the orange zest is most fragrant.
Get the recipe here.
13. Apple Cider Donuts
These cake-style donuts capture the essence of fall in every bite, with apple cider reduced down to concentrate the flavor and warm spices throughout. They’re baked, not fried, making them slightly less guilty while still being incredibly tender and moist. Rolling them in cinnamon sugar while still warm creates a delightful coating that adds sweetness and crunch. They’re best eaten the day they’re made, but honestly, that’s never a problem because they disappear so quickly.
Get the recipe here.
14. Pecan Praline Cheesecake
This decadent cheesecake combines the richness of New York-style cheesecake with the caramelized sweetness of Southern pralines. The praline topping adds wonderful texture contrast with its crunchy, buttery pecans against the silky smooth filling. While cheesecake requires some planning ahead for proper chilling time, the actual hands-on work is minimal. The praline topping can be made separately and added just before serving, making this an excellent make-ahead dessert that feeds a crowd.
Get the recipe here.
15. Pumpkin Spice Cookies
Soft, pillowy cookies that taste like fall in cookie form, with warm spices and just enough pumpkin to keep them incredibly moist. They’re somewhere between a sugar cookie and cake in texture – tender and almost cake-like but still holdable. The dough is very easy to work with and doesn’t require chilling, so you can have fresh cookies in under an hour. A simple cream cheese glaze takes them from good to irresistible, but they’re perfectly delicious plain too.
Get the recipe here.
16. Apple Butter Cookies
These cookies have deep, concentrated apple flavor thanks to apple butter, which acts like fruit jam but with more complex, caramelized notes. They’re soft and chewy with warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg that make them taste like liquid autumn. Apple butter is often available at farmers markets or grocery stores, but you can easily make your own in a slow cooker. The cookies stay soft for days and are perfect for packing in lunches or gift boxes.
Get the recipe here.
17. Chai Spiced Rice Pudding
Creamy rice pudding infused with warming chai spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger creates a cozy dessert that’s perfect for cool weather. The rice becomes incredibly tender and creamy, while the spices add complexity and warmth without being overwhelming. It’s surprisingly easy to make on the stovetop and can be served warm or chilled. The pudding actually improves overnight as the spices blend together, making it another excellent make-ahead option that’s both comforting and elegant.
Get the recipe here.
18. Cranberry White Chocolate Bars
These bars feature tart dried cranberries and creamy white chocolate chips in a tender, shortbread-like base that’s incredibly easy to make. The cranberries provide bursts of tartness that balance the sweet white chocolate perfectly, creating addictive flavor combinations in every bite. They’re made in one bowl and pressed into a pan, making them much simpler than individual cookies. Cut them into small squares since they’re quite rich, and watch them disappear at any gathering.
Get the recipe here.
19. Spiced Apple Turnovers
Flaky puff pastry wrapped around cinnamon-spiced apples creates handheld pies that are crispy outside and tender inside. Using store-bought puff pastry makes these surprisingly quick to assemble, and they can be shaped ahead and frozen until ready to bake. The apples become jammy and sweet while maintaining some texture, and the pastry puffs up golden and buttery. A simple powdered sugar glaze adds sweetness and makes them look bakery-professional.
Get the recipe here.
20. Pumpkin Mousse
Light, airy, and incredibly smooth, this mousse captures all the flavors of pumpkin pie in a more elegant, spoonable form. The texture is silky and almost cloud-like, with warm spices that don’t overpower the delicate pumpkin flavor. It’s surprisingly easy to make and can be prepared up to two days ahead, actually improving in flavor as it chills. Serve it in pretty glasses topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon for a sophisticated dessert that’s lighter than traditional fall treats.
Get the recipe here.
21. Caramel Pecan Brownies
Fudgy chocolate brownies get elevated with swirls of homemade caramel and crunchy toasted pecans for the ultimate indulgent treat. The brownies are rich and dense with that perfect slightly underbaked center, while the caramel adds sweetness and the pecans provide textural contrast. You can use store-bought caramel sauce to save time, but homemade really makes them special. Cut them small since they’re incredibly rich, and be prepared for them to disappear quickly.
Get the recipe here.
22. Apple Spice Cupcakes
These moist, tender cupcakes are loaded with fresh apple pieces and warm spices, topped with cinnamon cream cheese frosting that’s absolutely divine. The apples keep the cupcakes incredibly moist and add little pockets of sweetness throughout. They’re easy to make using the standard cupcake method, and the frosting pipes beautifully for an elegant presentation. Make them a day ahead for even better flavor, and store covered at room temperature so the frosting stays perfectly spreadable.
Get the recipe here.
23. Sweet Potato Pie Bars
All the flavors of sweet potato pie in convenient bar form, with a buttery shortbread crust and creamy sweet potato filling. The bars are much easier than making individual pies and feed a crowd beautifully. The sweet potato filling is smooth and spiced perfectly, with that characteristic orange color that’s so appealing. They slice cleanly when completely cooled and can be served at room temperature or slightly chilled. A dollop of whipped cream makes them extra special.
Get the recipe here.
24. Maple Cream Panna Cotta
This elegant Italian dessert gets a fall makeover with pure maple syrup and cream, creating silky, jiggly custards that are surprisingly easy to make. The maple flavor is sophisticated and not overly sweet, with just enough cream to make each spoonful luxurious. Panna cotta can be made up to three days ahead, making it perfect for dinner parties. Serve them in pretty glasses or unmold onto plates, and garnish with a drizzle of additional maple syrup or toasted nuts.
Get the recipe here.