These easy Thanksgiving desserts are all simple and foolproof to prepare but are also delicious enough to be served for the holidays. From pies and cakes to cookies and bars, there is something for everyone. Your friends and family will certainly be impressed, no matter which recipe you choose.
See my Thanksgiving pies, top 10 Thanksgiving recipes, and what to serve with Thanksgiving turkey.
Jump to:
- 1. Pecan Tartlets
- 2. Pumpkin Dump Cake
- 3. Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars
- 4. No-Bake Pumpkin Pie
- 5. Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
- 6. Peach Crumble Bars
- 7. Chocolate Chess Pie
- 8. Sour Cream Blackberry Pie
- 9. Reese's Pieces Cookies
- 10. Double Chocolate Cookies
- 11. Apple Cranberry Pie
- 12. Sweet Potato Pie
- 13. Butterscotch Brownies
- 14. Cranberry Crumble Bars
- 15. Dutch Apple Pie
- 16. Cherry Clafoutis
- 17. Pumpkin Bars
- 💭 Tips For Choosing Easy Thanksgiving Desserts
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 17+ Best Easy Thanksgiving Desserts: Pecan Tartlets (+More Great Recipes!)
- 💬 Comments & Reviews
We all know that Thanksgiving is a holiday that completely revolves around food. It can easily become overwhelming when trying to plan Thanksgiving appetizers, Thanksgiving side dishes, entrees, and desserts.
This collection of dessert recipes only includes things that are simple to prepare, even for inexperienced bakers. These fuss-free sweet treats will make the perfect last-minute addition to any holiday dinner menu.
Whether you're a pro at hosting Thanksgiving dinner and holiday parties or giving it a try for the first time this year, you're sure to find my ultimate guide to planning Thanksgiving a help! Don't forget to safely thaw your holiday turkey early, too!
1. Pecan Tartlets
These bite-sized tarts taste just like a classic pecan pie but as an easy-to-serve treat. Bring them along to any Thanksgiving celebration, potluck, or Friendsgiving.
Best of all, there's no need to mess with cutting, slicing, or serving pie.
2. Pumpkin Dump Cake
Dump cakes are probably one of the easiest desserts there is. Just as the name implies, you simply dump your ingredients into a baking dish and pop it into the oven.
This dump cake features pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice for a truly fall-inspired treat.
3. Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars
Dessert bar recipes are always a hit when you have a lot of people to feed because they are so easy to slice and serve. These bars combine sweet cream cheese pie crust, tons of chocolate pecan pie filling, and crunchy pecans.
4. No-Bake Pumpkin Pie
No-bake treats taste amazing and are ideal for anyone who doesn't want to put a lot of effort into a delicious dessert. You can prepare this creamy, no-bake pumpkin pie and place it in the fridge to chill overnight so it is ready to go on Thanksgiving Day.
5. Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
Imagine your favorite cinnamon-packed snickerdoodle cookies but with the added element of pumpkin puree and warm fall spices. Of course, there are tons of easy cookie recipes, but these are perfect for Thanksgiving.
>>>See All Of My Tasty Recipes Here!<<<
6. Peach Crumble Bars
If you're in the mood for a simple, fruity-based dessert then these bars are perfect. They combine fresh peaches with a cinnamon oatmeal topping. Serve them as-is or add a scoop of no-churn vanilla ice cream.
7. Chocolate Chess Pie
This crowd-pleasing pie will have every chocolate lover begging you for the recipe. You can choose to make the pie crust from scratch or use one from the store for some added convenience.
8. Sour Cream Blackberry Pie
Pie may be one of the most requested Thanksgiving desserts there is. One of the best things about this sour cream blackberry pie, other than being delicious, is that you can make it ahead of time and freeze it for later.
9. Reese's Pieces Cookies
These tasty cookies feature sweet, bite-sized Reese's Pieces peanut butter candies. As an added bonus, it is such an easy cookie recipe that does not require any chilling, rolling, or cutting.
10. Double Chocolate Cookies
For some truly indulgent cookies, double chocolate cookies are the way to go. They have fudgy chocolate dough and are then loaded with sem-sweet chocolate chips for an extra burst of chocolatey sweetness.
11. Apple Cranberry Pie
Granny Smith apple pie is always a hit, but adding some fresh cranberries really makes this pie feel more festive. If you're a huge cranberry fan, make sure you serve some apple cider cranberry sauce, too.
12. Sweet Potato Pie
There are so many Thanksgiving pie recipes out there, but sweet potato pie is one of the most popular in the South. It's always a safe choice when you aren't exactly sure what your guests want, or if you get tired of pumpkin pie.
13. Butterscotch Brownies
These butterscotch brownies (technically, 'blondies') use brown sugar for a rich and deep flavor, then are packed with butterscotch baking chips. They offer a unique twist on standard brownie recipes that everyone will enjoy.
14. Cranberry Crumble Bars
Cranberries are pretty synonymous with the holiday season, and these easy crumble dessert bars definitely won't disappoint you. And, if you're serving a crowd, one batch of these bars is enough to serve 24 people.
>>>See All Of My Tasty Recipes Here!<<<
15. Dutch Apple Pie
Dutch apple pie is similar to a classic apple pie but without having to deal with the top crust. Whip up some homemade apple pie filling, and then add a wonderfully delicious brown sugar streusel topping to the top in place of a pie crust.
16. Cherry Clafoutis
This French dessert looks pretty sophisticated and elegant but is so simple to make. Add a dusting of powdered sugar, and your family and friends will certainly be impressed.
17. Pumpkin Bars
These sweet, pumpkin-packed bars are like a simpler version of a pumpkin pie in easy-to-slice dessert bar form. Top them with some cream cheese frosting (or any frosting, really) and enjoy.
💭 Tips For Choosing Easy Thanksgiving Desserts
- Fall flavors. Pumpkin pie spice dessert recipes, cranberries, apples, or anything with a little cinnamon sugar have a fall flavor profile perfect for Thanksgiving.
- Time. Keep in mind how much time you have to make dessert. Many desserts can be made a day or two in advance, and some, like pies, can be frozen even further in advance.
- Crowd pleasers. If you have a large gathering, go for dessert recipes that are easy to scale up and serve, like dessert bars or cookies.
- Presentation. Even a simple dessert can look extra special with some focus on the presentation. Add fresh cranberries, a bit of powdered sugar, a scoop of whipped cream, or even a drizzle of caramel for some pizazz.
- Thanksgiving Tablescape Ideas
- Mashed Potato Recipes
- Easy Thanksgiving Breakfasts
- Thanksgiving Turkey Cake Pops
What are your must-have Thanksgiving desserts? Let me know your favorites in the comments.
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
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📖 Recipe Card
17+ Best Easy Thanksgiving Desserts: Pecan Tartlets (+More Great Recipes!)
Ingredients
Sweet Shortcrust Pastry
- ½ cup butter (at room temperature)
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 large egg (beaten)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Pecan Filling
- ⅓ cup light corn syrup
- ¼ cup light brown sugar (packed)
- 1½ tablespoon butter (melted)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup pecans (2 equal portions of ½ cup each - chopped)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
Make the Pastry Dough
- These are condensed instructions, to see the full instructions with process photos, tips, and notes please visit the sweet shortcrust pastry recipe. You can, alternatively, use portions of pre-packaged pie dough.
- In a large mixing bowl beat the ½ cup butter until softened then add the ¼ cup sugar and continue until light and fluffy. Gradually add the beaten 1 large egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract into the creamed butter and sugar.
- Combine the 1½ cups all-purpose flour and ⅛ teaspoon salt in a small bowl, whisking to evenly distribute the salt. Add the flour and salt to the wet ingredients then combine until you have a rough, loose crumbled dough.
- Gather your dough into a ball and place it onto a sheet of cling film. Wrap and flatten into a disc, then refrigerate and chill for 30 minutes to an hour.
- Once the pastry dough is chilled, portion out 6 chunks into the lightly buttered or greased 4-inch tart pans. Use your fingers to press the dough into an even layer on the bottom, then up the sides of the tart pans. Return to the refrigerator to chill while you move on to the next step.
Make the Pecan Filling
- In a medium mixing bowl combine the ⅓ cup light corn syrup, ¼ cup light brown sugar, melted 1½ tablespoon butter, 1 large egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Add the first ½ cup portion of crushed 1 cup pecans and stir to combine. Set aside.
Assemble the Pecan Tartlets
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C/Gas Mark 4).
- Remove the tart pans from the refrigerator and portion the pecan filling out into the 6 pans. Top with additional crushed or whole pecans if desired.
- Bake in the center of your oven's middle rack at 350°F (175°C/Gas Mark 4) for 25 minutes, or until the filling is set (and no longer jiggles if you move the pans).
- Remove from the oven when done and allow to cool in the tart pans on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes before popping out. Allow the tartlets to cool completely before serving.
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