Thanksgiving Desserts

by Marsha - Budget Bytes
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All recipes are rigorously tested in our Nashville test kitchen to ensure they are easy, affordable, and delicious.

What better way to end a special holiday dinner, than with a rich, decadent dessert. This week we’re sharing our top picks for sweet, luscious, but still easy to make Thanksgiving Desserts! From classic pumpkin pie and apple pie, to an impressive, creamy, no-bake cheesecake, we’ve got lots of sweet treats that we’re sure your guests will absolutely love! Oh, and if you’re not in the mood for making a traditional pie crust, don’t worry we’ve got a few mini pie recipes that are no-fuss and easy to serve!😉

Collage of six Thanksgiving dessert recipes with title text in the center.

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Pumpkin Pie Bars

Pumpkin Pie Bars

Side view of a pumpkin pie bar on a white plate with whipped cream on top.
These easy Pumpkin Pie Bars are rich, creamy, full of warm spices, and made with a buttery shortbread crust. The perfect stress-free dessert to make this holiday season!
4.57 from 16 votes
$5.63 recipe / $0.63 serving Get the Recipe

Of course you’ve got to have at least one pumpkin pie on your dinner table this Thanksgiving, but if making a homemade pie crust is a little too stressful, then make these easy Pumpkin Pie Bars instead! You can cut the bars as little or as big as you want making them perfect for serving on Thanksgiving day!

Apple Pie

Apple Pie

Overhead shot of a slice of apple pie on a white plate with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with caramel sauce.
This is the easiest apple pie recipe ever! The cinnamon-scented filling and buttery crust are scrumptious and ridiculously simple to make!
4.28 from 11 votes
$6.94 recipe / $0.87 serving Get the Recipe

You’ll never go back to store-bought apple pie again after try trying our sweet & delicious Apple Pie recipe. Perfect for holiday parties and fall gatherings!

Maple Brown Butter Pumpkin PIe

Maple Brown Butter Pumpkin Pie

Overhead view of a Maple Brown Butter Pumpkin Pie with a slice cut out, on a plate on the side with whipped cream.
This Maple Brown Butter Pumpkin Pie is the perfect special touch for your Thanksgiving dinner, without adding a lot of extra work or unusual ingredients.
4.80 from 15 votes
$4.70 recipe / $0.59 serving Get the Recipe

This Maple Brown Butter Pumpkin Pie is extra special because it’s made with nutty brown butter and rich maple syrup. The perfect special touch that will leave all of your guests wondering what secret ingredient you added to make this pie SO good!

Mini Dark Chocolate Pecan Pies

Mini Dark Chocolate Pecan Pies

These easy Mini Pecan Pies studded with dark chocolate make the perfectly balanced and pre-portioned dessert for all of your holiday gatherings. Budgetbytes.com
These easy Mini Pecan Pies studded with dark chocolate make the perfectly balanced and pre-portioned dessert for all of your holiday gatherings. 
4.92 from 23 votes
$5.23 recipe / $0.44 each Get the Recipe

Pecan pie is another classic Thanksgiving dessert and these Mini Dark Chocolate Pecan Pies are the perfect pre-portioned size for holiday gatherings. They’re also incredibly easy to make, so if you’re intimidated by pie baking, this is an excellent place to start.

Easy Apple Crisp

Easy Apple Crisp

Apple crisp in a bowl topped with vanilla ice cream
This Easy Apple Crisp is a warm and cozy dessert that features fresh fall apples baked with cinnamon and spices and a crispy oat topping.
4.89 from 9 votes
$2.48 recipe / $0.41 serving Get the Recipe

I love a good fruit crisp dessert. Mainly because they’re uncomplicated, uses simple ingredients, and made with fresh seasonal fruit like this Easy Apple Crisp! It includes baked apples that are seasoned with a little sugar and warm spices, and topped with a sweet and buttery crispy oat topping. So good!

Sweet Potato Pie

Sweet Potato Pie

Overhead view of a whole sweet potato pie with one slice cut and being lifted out of the pie pan.
Impress your guests with this creamy & delicious Sweet Potato Pie recipe! It adds the perfect touch to finish your Thanksgiving meal.
4.73 from 18 votes
$5.08 recipe / $0.64 serving Get the Recipe

Indulge in sweet goodness with this homemade Sweet Potato Pie. An absolute classic Thanksgiving dessert!

No-Bake Cheesecake

No-Bake Cheesecake

Side view of one slice of no bake cheesecake on a plate, a fork taking a bite.
This No-Bake Cheesecake is sweet, rich, and tangy with a buttery graham cracker crust. The perfect easy dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth!
5 from 3 votes
$14.37 recipe / $1.79 serving Get the Recipe

This creamy, mouth-watering No-Bake Cheesecake is the perfect Thanksgiving dinner dessert to add to your menu this year! It’s made with a lighter texture than traditional baked cheesecake and can be made up to 4 days ahead.

Mini Pumpkin PIes

Mini Pumpkin Pies

close up of mini pumpkin pies with whipped cream
Make your Thanksgiving dollar go further by using simple pantry staples to make these adorable and affordable Mini Pumpkin Pies!
5 from 13 votes
$2.78 recipe / $0.23 each Get the Recipe

If you’re looking for a really easy Thanksgiving dessert, then try these adorable Mini Pumpkin Pies! They’re the best option for any party, Thanksgiving gathering, or if you just want to keep a few for yourself stashed in the freezer for later. ;)

Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding

Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding

Close up of a fork cutting into a piece of apple cinnamon bread pudding
Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding (also known as French Toast Casserole) is a rich and sweet breakfast treat or after-dinner dessert!
 
4.89 from 9 votes
$4.22 recipe / $0.70 serving Get the Recipe

This Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding is sweet, cozy, comforting, and just a whole lot of goodness! The great part is that you can have it for breakfast or dessert! Since we’re taking the dessert route, feel free to drizzle a little cream cheese icing or caramel sauce on top!

Jello salad

Jello Salad

Overhead photo of a whole full of jello salad topped with sliced strawberries.
Jello salad is a sweet, creamy, popular dessert that’s easy to make and always a crowd favorite for potlucks, picnics, and holidays!
5 from 3 votes
$7.87 recipe / $1.12 serving Get the Recipe

Jello Salad is a classic holiday potluck dessert that’s always fun to share at family gatherings. It’s light, simple, sweet, and definitely a crowd favorite! ;)

Texas Sheet Cake

Texas Sheet Cake

A slice of chocolate cake being lifted out of the sheet pan.
Texas Sheet Cake might be the ultimate chocolate cake. It's incredibly easy to make and has a luscious buttery richness with a pure chocolate punch!
4.20 from 5 votes
$11.27 recipe / $0.75 serving Get the Recipe

Say hello to one of the best chocolate cake recipes you’ll probably every taste. This Texas Sheet Cake can easily feed a crowd, is surprisingly simple to make, and is great for large family gatherings.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip

Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip

This Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse is a super light and fluffy dessert packed with fall spices and just enough sweetness to balance the pumpkiny flavor. BudgetBytes.com
This Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip is a light and fluffy no-bake dessert packed with fall flavor. Perfect for parties, holidays, or just dessert!
4.25 from 8 votes
$2.28 recipe / $0.57 serving Get the Recipe

Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip is a super delicious, light, and fluffy dip that only requires eight simple ingredients. You can turn it into a parfait by layering it in a jar with crushed cinnamon graham crackers, or just serve it as a dip with graham crackers, apple slices, or cinnamon pita crisps. So good!!

Chocolate Depression Cake

Chocolate Depression Cake (No Eggs, Butter, or Milk)

One slice of chocolate depression cake or "crazy cake" viewed from the side, a glass of milk in the background
This unique Chocolate Cake recipe, popularized during the great depression, is rich and chocolatey without the using any eggs, butter, or milk!
4.80 from 110 votes
$2.41 recipe / $0.27 serving Get the Recipe

This Chocolate Depression Cake is rich and chocolatey without using any eggs, milk, or butter. It’s surprisingly still moist and delicious and can be made for under $2.50 per recipe. Score!!

Chocolate Cream Pie

Chocolate Cream Pie

Overhead view of a chocolate cream pie with whipped cream on top and a slice removed.
This chocolate cream pie recipe features a silky chocolate cream filling, flakey pie crust, and a fluffy whipped cream topping. 
4 from 1 vote
$10.57 recipe / $1.32 serving Get the Recipe

It’s always a good idea to have more than one pie at Thanksgiving dinner and this Chocolate Cream Pie is the perfect addition. It’s luscious, velvety smooth, and topped with sweetened whipped cream. What’s not to love?!

I hope you’re enjoying our Thanksgiving series featuring our favorite Thanksgiving Salads that are perfect to kick off your holiday meal, and the best Thanksgiving Side Dishes that are a must-have for the big day! Let us know which one of these easy Thanksgiving desserts you’ll be making for your holiday meal!😊

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  1. Great collection. Love that you included chocolate cream pie–this, although not your recipe, became a family tradition when our grandsons were very small and didn’t like either pecan or pumpkin, the adult faves. I decided not to bother making it a couple of years ago–the boys are adults now–but the outcry was overwhelming. I delivered a chocolate cream pie to my son’s house the next day and chocolate pie will never not show up again on the Thanksgiving table–or at least until I’m no longer there! I’m going to try this more substantial and sophisticated version next week! And a word to the wise–if there are kids at your celebration, they will love it! It may turn into one of your traditions, too.

    The Texas sheet cake is a big time winner, too, but that’s the traditional birthday cake my DIL, a Dallas native, serves us numerous times a year!