Thanksgiving Desserts

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times to bake. The kitchen fills with the warm scent of cinnamon, apples, pumpkin pie, and freshly baked cakes. There’s something magical about gathering with family and ending the day with a table full of Thanksgiving desserts.

Whether I’m baking for a big Thanksgiving dinner or prepping a few extra treats to enjoy throughout the holiday season, I love mixing nostalgic flavors with new twists. Below, you’ll find a collection of my favorite desserts to make your table feel extra special this year!

Let’s get started!

Pecan Pie Cake

This Pecan Pie Cake combines everything you love about pie and cake in one irresistible dessert. A gooey caramel-pecan topping bakes right into the pan, creating a glossy, buttery layer that coats the top once flipped. Beneath it is a soft, spiced cake that soaks up all that caramel flavor. It’s cozy, rich, and the kind of dessert that feels right at home on a Thanksgiving table, ready to be cut into generous slices for every guest.

Apple Upside Down Cake

If you love apple pie, this cake is a must. A layer of caramelized apples melts into a sticky, spiced topping, while the cake underneath stays light and fluffy. Every slice tastes like fall, with cinnamon and caramel mingling together. It’s simple, beautiful, and perfect for holiday gatherings.

Pumpkin Roll

This classic Pumpkin Roll never goes out of style. A soft pumpkin cake is rolled around a smooth cream cheese filling, creating beautiful spirals in every slice. The balance of warm spices and tangy cream cheese makes it a Thanksgiving dessert that always disappears fast.

Sugared Cranberries

Sugared Cranberries add sparkle and texture to any dessert spread. They’re crisp on the outside, juicy inside, and offer a tart contrast to sweet cakes, pies, or cheesecakes. Scatter them on top of your bakes or serve them as a sweet-tart snack—they always bring a festive touch.

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

These are some of the best cookies to bake during the holidays. They’re soft, buttery, and filled with white chocolate chips, tangy cranberries, and crunchy macadamia nuts. Every bite delivers a perfect mix of sweet and tart. They’re ideal for dessert trays, cookie swaps, or sneaking straight from the bowl.

Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce isn’t just for turkey—it’s a versatile ingredient that brightens both sweet and savory dishes. It adds color, moisture, and a sweet-tart pop to cakes, pastries, and cheesecakes. A homemade batch takes just minutes but makes everything feel more festive.

Apple Pie Cookies

These Apple Pie Cookies are like little bites of warm apple pie. Tender, spiced dough holds a caramelized apple filling full of cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar. A drizzle of cream cheese glaze finishes each cookie, making them just as pretty as they are delicious.

Orange Cranberry Bread

This loaf is bright, tart, and perfectly festive. Fresh cranberries and orange zest bring a lively burst of flavor, while a creamy glaze and sugared cranberries on top make it shine. Serve it for breakfast, brunch, or as part of your Thanksgiving desserts.

Pecan Pie Brownies

Fudgy brownies meet gooey maple pecan pie topping in this decadent mashup. The chocolate base is rich and chewy, while the sticky topping caramelizes into the perfect sweet layer. It’s the ultimate dessert for anyone who wants a little chocolate with their pie.

Cranberry Coffee Cake

This Cranberry Coffee Cake is moist, tender, and filled with tart cranberries. A cinnamon streusel crumble on top adds texture, while a cranberry glaze ties everything together. It’s just as good with your morning coffee as it is after Thanksgiving dinner.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Macarons

These macarons are an elegant addition to any Thanksgiving dessert table. They’re filled with pumpkin cheesecake filling, then decorated with orange candy melts and graham cracker crumbs. The flavor is warm and spiced, but the texture is light and delicate.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread

Rich, moist, and full of warm spices, this bread is swirled with a luscious cream cheese filling that bakes right into the loaf. A layer of cream cheese frosting on top makes it even more irresistible. It’s one of those recipes that fits just as well on a casual fall afternoon as it does on a Thanksgiving dessert spread.

Dulce de Leche Pumpkin Cupcakes

These cupcakes are soft and fluffy, filled with dulce de leche, and topped with silky pumpkin buttercream. They’re sweet, spiced, and absolutely perfect for special occasions.

Cranberry Cheesecake

This cheesecake is a true centerpiece. A creamy white chocolate base swirls with homemade cranberry sauce, all set in a golden Oreo crust. A smooth ganache and sugared cranberries finish it off, making it a stunning dessert from Thanksgiving through Christmas.

Pumpkin Flan

Pumpkin Flan layers chocolate cake, pumpkin flan, and caramel sauce for a magical combination. Also called Chocoflan, it blends the flavors of pumpkin pie and caramel custard into one stunning dessert.

Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars

These bars feature a buttery pecan graham crust, a creamy cheesecake center, and a gooey pecan pie topping. They slice beautifully and feed plenty of guests, making them ideal for holiday meals.

Apple Pop Tarts

Homemade pie crust, spiced apple filling, and a cinnamon glaze turn these pop tarts into something truly special. They’re made completely from scratch with simple ingredients and taste like a cozy autumn morning.

Pecan Brownies

These brownies are rich, fudgy, and packed with pecans. White chocolate adds a creamy sweetness, while a touch of spice keeps things cozy. They’re like a pecan pie and a brownie rolled into one.

Turkey Macarons

These festive turkey macarons are filled with maple buttercream and cranberry sauce and decorated with festive turkey and pumpkin designs. You can also try Pumpkin Caramel Macarons, Cranberry Macarons, and Fall Macarons to complete the spread. They’re playful, elegant, and always a hit.

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to fill your kitchen with buttery pie crusts, warm spices, and festive flavors. These Thanksgiving desserts bring comfort and joy to every slice. As the season shifts toward Christmas, many of these recipes carry over beautifully. Picture Mom slicing into a loaf of Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread with maple syrup drizzled on top. Imagine trays of sweet potato cupcakes, chocolate chips, and pecan pie bars shared after dinner. Whether you’re baking for Thanksgiving or Christmas, these desserts—made with simple ingredients, plenty of love, and often from scratch—make the holidays feel extra sweet.