Updated October 2026 Looking for easy yet delicious Thanksgiving desserts that won’t keep you in the kitchen all day? These simple yet unique fall desserts include pumpkin favorites, easy cakes, cookies, cobblers and a few recipes that use just 2 or 3 ingredients.
We’ve included options for just about every Thanksgiving table—from quick desserts and make-ahead treats to fun alternatives to traditional pie. Some are great for a crowd, some travel well for potlucks, and several use shortcuts like boxed cake mix or canned pumpkin to make holiday baking easier.
Along the way, we’ll share our favorite serving ideas, make ahead shortcuts, and tips to help you quickly choose the desserts that work best for your Thanksgiving.
Easy Thanksgiving Dessert Table Tips
You don’t need a huge dessert spread to make Thanksgiving feel special. A few different flavors and textures usually work better than making too many similar desserts.
For a balanced dessert table, try to include:
- One pumpkin dessert
- One apple or pecan dessert
- One easy grab-and-go option like cookies, bars, or muffins
- One make-ahead dessert you can finish before Thanksgiving Day
If you’re serving a larger group, choose desserts that can be sliced or scooped quickly and don’t require last-minute decorating. Chilled desserts, bars, dump cakes, and cookies are especially helpful because they can usually be made ahead and served with very little work.
Choose Dessert Plates Everyone Can Easily Hold
At a big family gathering, the prettiest plate isn’t always the most practical one. If your table includes little kids and older relatives, lightweight plates are easier for small hands and for anyone with arthritis or limited grip strength to hold, especially when people are standing and mingling with dessert.
We love Corelle plates for the main meal because they’re thin, light, and chip-resistant. For dessert, sturdy plastic plates that look like real dinnerware still feel dressy, but they’re lighter and safe if one gets dropped. We used them for an upscale 4th of July celebration and they looked like fine china without the fear.
Hosting tip: If guests will be walking around with dessert, choose plates that are lightweight, easy to grip, and sturdy enough to hold cake, cobbler, or ice cream without bending.
Our picks: Corelle dinnerware and Elegant plastic dessert plates
*This post may contain affiliate links BUT in NO way influences our opinions. Read the full disclosure here.
Easy 5-Minute Pumpkin Cheesecake
Want pumpkin cheesecake flavor without making a traditional cheesecake? This one uses just 4 ingredients and comes together in about 5 minutes, which makes it a great last-minute dessert after a long day of cooking Thanksgiving Dinner.
Best for: Last-minute Thanksgiving desserts, small gatherings, and anyone who wants pumpkin cheesecake without a complicated recipe.
Make-ahead tip: Make it earlier in the day and keep it chilled until dessert time so there’s one less thing to prepare after dinner.
Get the recipe: Everything Mommyhood
It uses just a few ingredients and works especially well when you need something simple after spending the day cooking Thanksgiving dinner.
Get the recipe: Everything Mommyhood
EASY HEALTHY BAKED APPLES FOR THANKSGIVING
These warm baked apples are a simple yet delicious alternative when you want a Thanksgiving dessert that isn’t overly rich. Cinnamon and pineapple juice give the apples plenty of fall flavor, and you can dress them up with walnuts, whipped cream, honey, sugar free or Maple syrup or whatever you already have on hand.
Best for: A lighter, healthier Thanksgiving dessert, serving alongside richer cakes and bars or smaller gatherings.
Make-ahead tip: Core and prep the apples ahead of time, then bake them closer to serving so they’re warm and tender.
INGREDIENTS:
- 4 cored apples with the top and bottom sliced off
- Organic Ceylon Cinnamon
- a bit of Pineapple Juice
- Optional: chopped walnuts, whipped cream, sugar-free syrup, or honey
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Place the cored apples upright in a small baking dish.
- Sprinkle cinnamon inside each apple and over the tops.
- Pour the pineapple juice into the bottom of the dish. Spoon a little juice into the center of each apple.
- Cover loosely with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for another 10–20 minutes, or until the apples are soft but still hold their shape. Spoon the warm pineapple juice over them once or twice while baking.
- Let them cool for about 5 minutes. Serve warm with chopped walnuts, whipped cream, sugar-free syrup, or a drizzle of honey.
Tip: Add the walnuts to the apples during the final 10 minutes of baking if you want them toasted, or sprinkle them on afterward for more crunch.
EASY PUMPKIN PIE DUMP CAKE
This 5 star Pumpkin pie dump cake is a good choice when you want the flavors of pumpkin pie without making pie crust. The recipe uses boxed cake mix as a shortcut, so it fits perfectly into a Thanksgiving menu when you already have several other dishes to prepare.
Best for: Thanksgiving dessert tables, potlucks and anyone looking for an easy pumpkin dessert for a crowd.
Serving tip: Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for an easy dessert that feels a little more special.
Recipe tip: You can use yellow cake mix in place of spice cake mix.
Get the recipe: Instrupix
2 INGREDIENT PUMPKIN MUFFINS
Few Thanksgiving desserts get easier than pumpkin muffins made with cake mix and canned pumpkin…(you can also throw a couple of eggs if you have them). They’re soft, full of fall flavor and useful when you want something that can work for dessert, brunch or even Thanksgiving morning.
Best for: Beginner bakers, Thanksgiving brunch, potlucks and anyone who wants a very short ingredient list.
Easy variation: Add chocolate chips, chopped pecans or a little cinnamon if you want to dress up the basic recipe.
Get The Recipe: 2 Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins by Themomsatodds.com
EASY PUMPKIN PIE TACOS
Crisp cinnamon-sugar tortilla shells filled with creamy pumpkin filling and topped with whipped cream and pecans. All the flavor of pumpkin pie in a handheld dessert that’s easy to serve and fun on a Thanksgiving dessert table. This Thanksgiving dessert is best for kids, big gatherings, and anyone who wants a handheld alternative to a whole pie. Make-ahead tip: Prepare the shells and filling ahead, then fill right before serving so the shells stay crisp.
Shells (makes ~9–12)
- 3 large or 8–10 small street-taco flour tortillas (cut into ~4–4.5″ rounds if using large ones)
- ⅓–½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ⅓ cup (about 5–6 Tbsp) melted butter
Filling
- 4–8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½–1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- ¼–½ cup brown or powdered sugar
- 1–1½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
- ½ tsp vanilla
Toppings
- Whipped cream or Cool Whip
- Chopped toasted pecans
- Extra cinnamon for dusting
Steps
- Shells: Preheat oven to 375–400°F. Mix sugar + cinnamon. Brush both sides of tortilla rounds with melted butter and coat well in the cinnamon-sugar. Poke a few times with a fork so they don’t puff.
Drape over the bars of an upside-down muffin tin (or between the cups) to form a taco shape. Bake 8–12 minutes until golden and crisp. Cool completely — they firm up as they cool. - Filling: Beat cream cheese until smooth, then mix in pumpkin, sugar, spice, and vanilla until creamy. Chill 20–30 minutes so it sets a bit.
- Assemble: Spoon or pipe filling into cooled shells. Top with whipped cream, pecans, and a dusting of cinnamon. Serve soon so the shells stay crisp.
Make-ahead tip: Bake shells and mix filling a day ahead; store shells airtight at room temp and filling in the fridge. Assemble just before serving.
Dessert Bar Tip: Make a taco dessert bar by allowing guests to assemble their own tacos. Offer both pumpkin filling and apple pie filling for guests to choose from.
3 INGREDIENT CHOCOLATE CHERRY DUMP CAKE
Not everyone wants pumpkin at Thanksgiving, so a chocolate cherry dessert is a nice way to add some variety to a pumpkin-heavy table. This dump cake uses just three ingredients and requires very little prep.
Best for: Chocolate lovers, potlucks and Thanksgiving tables that already have plenty of pumpkin and apple desserts.
Serving idea: A scoop of vanilla ice cream balances the rich chocolate and cherry flavors and makes this simple dessert feel more like a plated holiday dessert.
Get the recipe: Betty Crocker
EASY PUMPKIN DELIGHT DESSERT
A layered pumpkin dessert with a crust, cream cheese layer, and whipped topping. It needs just 15 minutes of baking for the crust, then chills in the fridge, so it’s easy to make the day before. It has a 5-star rating and rave reviews from viewers.
Best for: Make ahead Thanksgiving desserts, larger gatherings, and anyone who prefers creamy layered desserts over traditional pie.
Why it works: It looks and tastes like a more involved holiday dessert, but most of the work is simple assembly. The chilled layers also make it a nice contrast to all the warm pies, cakes, and cobblers on a Thanksgiving dessert table.
Planning tip: Make it several hours ahead, or even the day before, so the layers have plenty of time to chill and set before serving. There’s minimal baking (just 15 minutes for the crust) then put it in the fridge to cool.
Get the recipe: With 5 stars, this Pumpkin Delight Cake recipe by Lilluna.com is a crowd favorite!
EASY SOFT PUMPKIN COOKIES
These Easy Super Soft Pumpkin Cookies are so good they don’t even need frosting. Add chocolate chips to make them chocolate chip cookies. Soft, cakey pumpkin cookies that are good enough to skip the frosting. They’re easy to grab from a dessert tray, and you can stir in chocolate chips if you want a chocolate chip pumpkin cookie.
Best for: Cookie trays, potlucks, and kids.
Tip: Bake a batch the day before and store them in an airtight container, so they’re ready to set out
3 INGREDIENT PUMPKIN OAT COOKIES
Simple pumpkin cookies with just 3 ingredients and a hearty texture from the oats. They’re a lighter option for a dessert table that already has richer cakes and cobblers.
Best for: Snacking, cookie trays, and anyone who wants a simple pumpkin cookie.
Variation: Stir in chocolate chips, dried cranberries, or chopped nuts to make them feel more festive.
EASY PUMPKIN BREAD
A classic pumpkin bread that does double duty: slice it for the Thanksgiving dessert table or brunch, or wrap a loaf as an easy homemade gift. It’s also a smart bake-ahead recipe, so it’s one less thing to handle on the day.
Best for: Make-ahead baking, Thanksgiving brunch, and edible gifts.
Gift idea: Bake mini loaves and wrap them in parchment or a clear treat bag with ribbon for an inexpensive hostess or neighbor gift.
Get the recipe: The World’s Best Pumpkin Bread Recipe by TheFrugalGirls.com, it’s also easy. This would make a great gift too!
FALL PATTERNED PUMPKIN ROLL
A pumpkin roll with a decorative fall pattern baked into the cake, so it looks bakery fancy when you slice it. It’s the most impressive dessert on this list, with the classic pumpkin spice flavor people expect at Thanksgiving.
Best for: Thanksgiving dinner, Friendsgiving, and anyone who wants one showstopper dessert.
Planning tip: This one takes more effort than most on the list, so make it ahead instead of leaving it for Thanksgiving morning.
Get the recipe: SugarHero
EASY CINNAMON APPLES FOR THANKSGIVING
Warm cinnamon apples can work as either a simple Thanksgiving dessert or a sweet side dish, which makes them especially useful when you don’t need another heavy cake or pie. They’re also easy to dress up at serving time.
Best for: Thanksgiving dinner, smaller gatherings and serving alongside vanilla ice cream.
Serving idea: Spoon the apples over ice cream, pound cake or waffles if you have leftovers after Thanksgiving.
Get the recipe: Salty Side Dish
EASY PECAN PIE COBBLER
If you love pecan pie but don’t want to deal with pie crust, this cobbler gives you the same rich, buttery, nutty flavor in an easy spoonable dessert. It’s a great choice for feeding a crowd, and it’s especially good served warm.
Best for: Pecan pie fans, Thanksgiving dessert tables, and family-style holiday dinners.
Tip: Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for an easy dessert that feels extra indulgent.
Get the recipe: Dixie’s Pecan Pie Cobbler Recipe
EASY PUMPKIN HONEY BUN CAKE
Some say you can make this Pumpkin Honey Bun Cake by BunnysWarmOven.net with half the amount of brown sugar called for in the recipe and it’ll still be delicious. It’s also wildly popular on Pinterest.
EASY PUMPKIN BARS 4 INGREDIENT
- 15 oz can of Pure Pumpkin Puree
- 1 box Spice Cake mix
- 1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
DIRECTIONS: Bake at 350 degrees in a 9X13 inch pan lined with parchment paper leaving an over hang on the two sides for 25 mins or until inserted toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. Let cool completely
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
- 8 OZ CREAM CHEESE room temperature
- 1/2 CUP BUTTER room temperature
- 2 CUPS POWDERED SUGAR
- 1 TSP VANILLA EXTRACT
- DIRECTIONS : Leave cream cheese and butter out at room temperature for about an hour. In a bowl BEAT both cream cheese and butter completely smooth. Add powdered sugar gradually, mixing in between additions (3 or 4). Mix in 1 tsp Vanilla Extract.
PUMPKIN SPICE MAGIC COOKIE BARS
Pumpkin Spice Magic Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Recipes
These Pumpkin Spice Magic Cookie Bars by KaraCreates.com are highly rated on Pinterest. Add caramel bits or pumpkin chips to makes these magic!
NO BAKE PUMPKIN LUSH CAKE
This award winning recipe by BalancingMotherhood.com is no-bake, super easy to make, and a real crowd pleaser even for people who don’t like pumpkin or cream cheese! Pumpkin lush is a good choice when you want a cold, creamy Thanksgiving dessert instead of another baked cake or pie. Its layered presentation makes it look special even though most of the work is simple assembly and chilling.
Best for: Make-ahead Thanksgiving desserts, larger gatherings and creamy-dessert fans.
Planning tip: Make it early enough to give it plenty of refrigerator time before serving. Cold layered desserts are especially convenient because dessert is already finished before guests arrive.
Get the recipe: Balancing Motherhood
Whether you need a quick pumpkin dessert, something you can make ahead, or an easy Thanksgiving dessert for a crowd, hopefully you’ve found a few ideas here that make planning the holiday a little easier. Save your favorites now so you’ll have them handy when Thanksgiving baking begins.
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