Sweeten your holidays with these easy Thanksgiving desserts and sweet treats!
Thanksgiving is the perfect time of the year to celebrate of the fall flavors like pumpkin, cinnamon, caramel, butterscotch, chocolate, and fresh apples.
Here I am sharing the timeless classics like creamy Pumpkin Pie, showstopping cheesecakes, or fun bites like Chocolate Covered Strawberry Turkeys.
I’ve made sure to include a few gluten-free options, no-bake gems such as Oreo Mousse Cake, and quick treats like Peanut Brittle you can make in a microwave. These recipes are perfect for family sharing and every sweet tooth!
Butterscotch Cake
Homemade butterscotch sheet cake recipe makes a moist single-layer Thanksgiving dessert. For extra flavor, I love to top it with rich butterscotch frosting.
Get the recipe: Butterscotch Cake
Apple Cobbler Cake
Part cobbler, part coffee cake, this recipe layers spiced apples under a soft, buttery cake top that’s sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. It comes together with pantry staples and a boxed cake mix and bakes in about 40 minutes. A go-to for brunch or dessert to share with family.
Get the recipe: Apple Cobbler Cake
Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies
These chewy cookies mix buttery dough with semi-sweet chocolate chips and crunchy pecans for a rich, nutty bite. This is a classic homemade cookie recipe that is perfect to make ahead, as it requires chilling.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies
Iced Oatmeal Cookies
Homemade iced oatmeal cookies are perfect sweet treats for Thanksgiving: chewy oats, warm cinnamon and buttery vanilla icing in a no-chill, 25-minute recipe.
Get the recipe: Iced Oatmeal Cookies
Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
Pumpkin-flavored pillowy cookies with rich pumpkin flavor, brown sugar sweetness, and a crackled cinnamon top. Simple ingredients, quick recipe, and you get a tender treat perfect for snacking and Thanksgiving.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
Pumpkin Pie with Sweetened Condensed Milk
Thanksgiving-ready Pumpkin Pie with Sweetened Condensed Milk is creamy, perfectly spiced, rich and velvety, with the buttery crust. It’s a cozy, comforting dessert – a timeless classic for holidays.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Pie with Sweetened Condensed Milk
Pumpkin Cake Cheesecake
Pumpkin Cake Cheesecake is a dreamy balance of textures and flavors—moist, tender cake layers wrapped around a creamy cheesecake center, combining cozy fall spices with smooth tang in every bite. A showstopping pumpkin dessert for birthdays, fall parties, or Thanksgiving.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Cake Cheesecake
Oreo Mousse Cake
Layers of crushed Oreos and creamy mousse create a no-bake dessert that’s both elegant and easy. A slice of this heavenly cake will look great on any Mother’s Day table.
Get the recipe: Oreo Mousse Cake
Pumpkin Cheesecake – Cheesecake Factory Copycat
Cheesecake Factory-inspired pumpkin cheesecake with a graham cracker crust and a rich, spiced filling made with cream cheese and pumpkin puree. It bakes low and slow for that dense, creamy texture cheesecake fans love. A fall go-to for anyone serious about their pumpkin desserts.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Cheesecake – Cheesecake Factory Copycat
Caramel Apple Cake
This moist sheet cake is loaded with fresh, crisp apples and drizzled in rich caramel glaze for a sweet, buttery finish. It is made completely from scratch and bakes in about an hour. Great for cozy fall weekends or Thanksgiving.
Get the recipe: Caramel Apple Cake
Pumpkin Donuts
These cute pumpkin-shaped donuts are baked, not fried, and coated in cinnamon sugar for that perfect fall bite. They’re decorated with a cinnamon stick and will be a great sweet treat for Halloween!
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Donuts
Caramel Cookies
Soft and chewy homemade cookies with caramel bits, chocolate chips, and sweet vanilla flavor. Easy sweet treat for Thanksgiving snacking.
Get the recipe: Caramel Cookies
Caramel Pecan Pie
If you want a dessert that will disappear in seconds and everyone will ask for a recipe – make this caramel pecan pie. It is so delicious, creamy, sweet, and rich!
Get the recipe: Caramel Pecan Pie
Lace Cookies
Thin, crispy, rich in caramel goodness cookies that will definitely surprise your guests! Made with almond flour and pantry staples, these lace caramel cookies take 30 minutes to make.
Get the recipe: Lace Cookies
Cranberry Bliss Bars Starbucks Copycat
If you’re obsessed with Starbucks’ sweet treats, you can make them at home in one pan! Buttery bars with zesty notes, white chocolate chips, warm spices, and tart cranberries.
Get the recipe: Cranberry Bliss Bars Starbucks
Chocolate Orange Cake
Beautiful layered cake for a family gathering with rich, decadent chocolate, bright citrus flavor, and perfect texture. Made completely from scratch, this cake, topped with buttercream and ganache, takes not so much time to make (but it requires chilling).
Get the recipe: Chocolate Orange Cake
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Turkeys
Make 20-minute Chocolate Covered Strawberry Turkeys for Thanksgiving with fresh strawberries and mini marshmallow-pretzel legs. Dipped into melted milk chocolate, these sweet berries are an irresistible treat for the holidays.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Covered Strawberry Turkeys
Apple Pie Cookies
These adorable mini cookies are technically mini pies – they have a flaky crust, spiced apple filling, and a drizzle of cinnamon icing. They use refrigerated pie dough and come together in under an hour. Great for lunchbox treats or holiday desserts.
Get the recipe: Apple Pie Cookies
Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake
Cinnamon cheesecake is a stunning, fall-flavored dessert combining two crowd favorites: fluffy, chewy cinnamon rolls and velvety homemade cheesecake.
Get the recipe: Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake
Biscoff Cheesecake Bites
I love Biscoff flavor! And there is no better way to highlight its spiced notes than a rich, luscious cheesecake base. And for a party, this muffin tin recipe to make individual cheesecakes for every guest.
Get the recipe: Biscoff Cheesecake
Southern Chocolate Gravy
If you love Southern recipes, this chocolate gravy will be your new favorite dessert sauce! Perfect for Thanksgiving breakfast, biscuits, or fruits.
Get the recipe: Southern Chocolate Gravy
Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting
Satisfy your guests’ sweet tooth with these rich peanut butter cupcakes topped with creamy peanut butter frosting. Their nutty flavor is a hit among dessert lovers.
Get the recipe: Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting
Raspberry Pretzel Salad
Festive, sweet and super light delight dessert for any occasion. Raspberry pretzel salad is a delicious blend of crunchy salty pretzels, creamy cheesecake layer, and fruity topping. A Midwestern classic!
Get the recipe: Raspberry Pretzel Salad
Buckeye Cookies
These Buckey cookies bake up soft and chewy with a chocolate base and a sweet peanut butter center. Holiday favorites, they are actually super easy to make in just 30 minutes and will stay fresh for a week!
Get the recipe: Buckeye Cookies
Snickerdoodle Cake
A whole, three-layer cake infused with signature Snickerdoodle flavors for comforting, homemade dessert you can share with friends and family this Thanksgiving.
Get the recipe: Snickerdoodle Cake
Turkey Cupcakes
Kids rave about these cute Thanksgiving cupcakes every year and rush to help with decoration. An absolute must for dessert trays and potlucks, these turkey cupcakes are my favorite holiday sweet treats to make. Don’t worry, they are easier to make than they look.
Get the recipe: Turkey Cupcakes
Microwave Peanut Brittle
No time to bake cookies, cheesecakes, or cakes? You still can have a delicious Thanksgiving sweet treat without even heating up the oven. This recipe makes candy with peanuts and vanilla flavors.
Get the recipe: Microwave Peanut Brittle
Caramel Apple Pretzel Bites
This 5-ingredient snack stacks pretzels, chewy caramel, apple slices, and a chocolate drizzle for a salty-sweet bite-sized treat. Assembly takes minimal effort, to be honest. Ideal as party snacks or kid-friendly after-school bites.
Get the recipe: Caramel Apple Pretzel Bites
Honey Bun Cake
I love how easy sheet pan cakes are! Especially if you use a box of yellow cake mix as a shortcut. Moist and soft cake with warm spices, brown sugar filling, and sweet vanilla glaze.
Get the recipe: Honey Bun Cake
Pumpkin Pudding Shots
I have desserts for grown-ups, too! Half alcoholic shot, half dessert, this recipe makes sweet and boozy pudding shots with pumpkin and cheesecake flavors. They’re chilled, creamy, and totally party-ready.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Pudding Shots
Candy Corn Rice Krispie Treats
If you want something light, not overly sweet, but still festive enough for Halloween, make some Krispies. I make candy corn-colored layers and add some real candy corn on top – that’s it. There is one secret ingredient, though!
Get the recipe: Candy Corn Rice Krispie Treats
Easy Sweet Potato Pie
Creamy and spiced just right, this Southern staple offers a smooth filling in a flaky crust, topped with whipped cream or marshmallows if you’re feeling fancy. It’s simple to make and a perfect alternative to pumpkin pie for hthe oliday table.
Get the recipe: Sweet Potato Pie
Gluten-Free Applesauce Cake
Made with applesauce, cinnamon, and brown sugar, this super-moist gluten-free sheet cake bakes up in under 40 minutes and gets topped with lush buttercream frosting. A classic pick for easy fall apple recipes that feel homemade and nostalgic.
Get the recipe: Applesauce Cake
Caramel Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting
These moist cupcakes infused with caramel flavor are topped with smooth caramel frosting and caramel popcorn for an extra touch. Their sweet, buttery flavor makes them so good for brunch and dessert boxes!
Get the recipe: Caramel Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting
Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars
Bars are a kitchen hack for beginners – they are so much easier to make than cookies but just as delicious and beautiful. For Thanksgiving desserts, I chose these peanut butter bars with chocolate chips and brown sugar.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars
Butterscotch Bread
This year, it is time to learn how to make butterscotch pudding bread from scratch – it is super easy! Delicious quick bread full of caramelized butterscotch flavors.
Get the recipe: Butterscotch Bread
Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce
Comforting and nostalgic, this Bread Pudding recipe has sweet vanilla sauce, chewy sweet raisins, and warm spices. Very simple, homemade dessert for after dinner or breakfast.
Get the recipe: Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce
Caramel Apples Recipe
My fav childhood recipe in the fall! Crisp apples get dunked in homemade caramel made from scratch with sugar, butter, and cream—no store-bought wraps here. The caramel sets firm but chewy, and I dip them again in chocolate and roll in peanuts! A fantastic recipe for fall holidays.
Get the recipe: Caramel Apples Recipe
Apple Tart Using Puff Pastry
If you want something light and fruity, this easy tart layers sliced apples over store-bought puff pastry and bakes up golden with crisp, buttery edges. A brush of apricot jam gives it that bakery-style sheen. Great for a last-minute fall dessert to impress your guests!
Get the recipe: Apple Tart Using Puff Pastry
Pumpkin Dessert Dip
If you love dessert dips, try dipping apple slices in this homemade pumpkin dip. It mixes pumpkin puree, cream cheese, a secret ingredient, and spices into a fluffy, dippable treat. Serve it with graham crackers, fruit, or pretzels for a no-bake dessert.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Dessert Dip
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