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Holiday Dessert Favorites
Thanksgiving desserts create the perfect sweet finale to holiday feasts, balancing rich dinners with seasonal flavors everyone loves. These ten classic dessert ideas include must-have pies, crowd-pleasing bars, elegant cheesecakes, and easy no-bake options that satisfy every palate. From traditional pumpkin pie to modern pecan pie brownies, each recipe delivers impressive results with straightforward techniques. Create memorable holiday endings that become family traditions for generations.
Classic Thanksgiving Pies
1. Traditional Pumpkin Pie
Time: 1 Hour 15 MinutesVelvety smooth classic that defines Thanksgiving dessert tradition.
Ingredients (Serves 8):
- 1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust
- 15 oz pumpkin puree
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp cloves
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/4 cups evaporated milk
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Mix pumpkin, sugar, spices, and salt.
- Beat in eggs, then gradually add milk.
- Pour into crust.
- Bake 15 minutes, reduce to 350°F.
- Bake 40-50 minutes until set.
- Cool completely before serving.
2. Classic Pecan Pie
Time: 1 Hour 10 MinutesRich, nutty favorite that creates gooey Thanksgiving magic.
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Ingredients (Serves 8):
- 1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups pecan halves
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Beat eggs, add corn syrup, sugar, butter, vanilla.
- Stir in pecans.
- Pour into crust.
- Bake 50-60 minutes until center set.
- Cool completely.
3. Apple Pie
Time: 1 Hour 20 MinutesFlaky crust with cinnamon-spiced apple filling.
Ingredients (Serves 8):
- 2 pie crusts
- 6-7 apples, peeled and sliced
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 egg for wash
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Toss apples with sugar, flour, cinnamon.
- Fill bottom crust, dot with butter.
- Top with second crust, crimp edges.
- Brush with egg wash, cut vents.
- Bake 45-55 minutes until golden.
Pumpkin Dessert Variations
4. Pumpkin Cheesecake
Time: 1 Hour 30 MinutesCreamy cheesecake meets pumpkin spice tradition.
Ingredients (9-inch springform):
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 15 oz pumpkin puree
- 24 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp vanilla
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Press crumb crust into springform pan.
- Beat cream cheese and sugar smooth.
- Add pumpkin, eggs, spices, vanilla.
- Pour over crust, bake 60 minutes.
- Cool gradually, chill overnight.
5. Pumpkin Roll
Time: 45 Minutes + ChillingSponge cake filled with cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients (Serves 12):
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Beat eggs and sugar 5 minutes.
- Add pumpkin, flour, spices.
- Spread thin on jelly roll pan.
- Bake 12-15 minutes.
- Roll with towel, cool, fill, re-roll.
Fruit & Nut Dessert Ideas
6. Apple Crisp
Time: 50 MinutesWarm cinnamon apples with crunchy oat topping.
Ingredients (Serves 8):
- 6 apples, sliced
- 1 cup oats
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Toss apples with cinnamon and sugar.
- Mix oats, flour, brown sugar, butter.
- Spread apples in dish, top with crumble.
- Bake 35-40 minutes until golden.
- Serve warm with ice cream.
7. Cranberry Orange Bread Pudding
Time: 1 HourTart cranberries balance sweet custard-soaked bread.
Ingredients (Serves 8):
- 6 cups cubed bread
- 2 cups cranberries
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- Zest of 2 oranges
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Whisk eggs, milk, sugar, orange zest.
- Layer bread and cranberries in dish.
- Pour custard over, let soak 15 minutes.
- Bake 45 minutes until set.
- Serve warm.
Modern Thanksgiving Twists
8. Pecan Pie Brownies
Time: 50 MinutesFudgy brownies topped with gooey pecan pie filling.
Ingredients (16 brownies):
- 1 box brownie mix (or homemade)
- 1/2 cup corn syrup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup pecans
- 2 tbsp butter
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Prepare brownie batter, spread in pan.
- Bake 20 minutes.
- Mix pecan filling ingredients.
- Spread over partially baked brownies.
- Bake 25 minutes more.
9. Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
Time: 1 HourEasy square version of elegant holiday cheesecake.
Ingredients (16 bars):
- 1 1/2 cups graham crumbs
- 15 oz pumpkin puree
- 16 oz cream cheese
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp pumpkin spice
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Press crust into 9×13 pan.
- Beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, pumpkin, spice.
- Pour over crust.
- Bake 40-45 minutes.
- Chill and cut into bars.
10. Chocolate Cranberry Trifle
Time: 30 Minutes + ChillingLayered dessert assembles in minutes with big impact.
Ingredients (Serves 12):
- 1 chocolate pound cake, cubed
- 2 cups cranberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Cook cranberries with sugar until thickened.
- Whip cream with powdered sugar and vanilla.
- Layer cake cubes, cranberry sauce, whipped cream.
- Repeat layers.
- Chill 4 hours.
- Serve in parfait glasses.
Thanksgiving Dessert Tips
Pies, cheesecakes, and crisps improve with 24-hour rest. Bars and trifles assemble day-of. Whipped cream toppings stabilize with gelatin for lasting presentation.
Chill dough 30 minutes before rolling. Keep ingredients cold. Blind bake fruit pies 15 minutes before filling prevents soggy bottoms.
Offer pie slices AND alternate desserts. Include gluten-free and nut-free options. Individual servings encourage variety sampling.
Dollop freshly whipped cream. Dust powdered sugar. Add sugared cranberries or rosemary sprigs. Warm pies create irresistible aroma.
