Kick it Up a Notch This Year
One of the biggest holidays needs some of the biggest desserts! Ditch those bundt cakes and pecan pies and opt for finger-licking treats instead. From new spins on old favorites to creative sweets, here’s what to bring for dessert this year.
Image by Finn Bjurvoll Hansen from Pixabay
1. Sweet Potato Pie
Sweet potato pie is a classic Thanksgiving dessert, though we wish it wasn’t. Mix as much cinnamon and vanilla as you like but nothing saves the mushy sweet potato consistency—not even the dollop of whipped cream or the marshmallow topping.
Ernesto Andrade from San Francisco, California, United States on Wikimedia
2. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Oatmeal raisin cookies have a certain nostalgic value, but a big holiday calls for big desserts. These chewy treats leave much to be desired, even if you toss in a handful of chocolate chips.
3. Ambrosia
Oranges, pineapple, whipped cream—you’d think so many yummy ingredients would still be yummy in the same dessert. But they’re not. Some bring this as a side, others consider it dessert, but to us, it’s just a hodge-podge medley of fruit and yogurt.
Marshall Astor from Olympia, WA, United States on Wikimedia
4. Chocolate Pie
We know a mouthful of chocolate goes down smoothly, but this simple dessert’s a little too easy. Chocolate pudding in a graham cracker crust doesn’t hold a candle to more advanced Thanksgiving desserts, like pumpkin cheesecake or gingerbread trifles (which we’ll get into)!
5. Jell-O Salad
There’s a reason this side didn’t last long. We’re not sure why we ever shoveled fresh fruit, cottage cheese, and Jell-O in our mouths, but at least it’s over. Don’t even get us started on the heavy whipping cream.
6. Fruitcake
We love fruit, we love cake, but we draw the line at their marriage. Though some people swear by it, fruitcake is often far too sweet. You’ve got molasses, brown sugar, Triple Sec, candied ginger, dates, raisins—make it stop!
7. Coconut Cream Pie
It’s Thanksgiving, so it’s time for pie…as long as it’s not this one. It’s already hard enough to grab a forkful of this messy dessert, but its bland flavor doesn’t tickle our tastebuds either. Shredded coconut, flour, and whipped cream just aren’t enough to bookend a delicious turkey dinner.
8. Bundt Cake
Cakes are plenty dense already without making a thicker, crumblier version. Thankfully, it brings several flavors to the table—lemon, vanilla, and chocolate often top charts but boxed mix is a far cry from our favorite.
9. Pecan Pie
Love it or hate it, it’s time to retire this traditional treat. Pecan pie is too polarizing to be popular, so there’s always someone left in the lurch. Not everyone likes a dense mouthful of dark corn syrup, brown sugar, and coarsely chopped pecans.
10. Chocolate Chip Cookies
Don’t get us wrong, we love chocolate chip cookies! It’s just that we could do more than this fan-favorite at Thanksgiving. You can whip together eggs, chocolate chips, and sugar any night of the week, but Turkey Day calls for something extra special.
Now it’s time to dive into the good stuff. Get your fork and mouth ready for the real Thanksgiving desserts!
1. Apple Pie
We tried, we really did—but we can’t go without apple pie. This perfect dessert captures everything we love about the holiday, and no guest can turn down those buttery slices filled with Granny Smith apples and topped with sugar. The flaky crust only makes it better!
Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash
2. Pecan Pie Brownies
Though pecan pie’s too much, combining it with another popular treat is how you satisfy every sweet tooth. Brownies with cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and broken dark chocolate pieces? A pecan pie layer with syrup, crushed pecans, and salt? Our mouths are already watering!
3. Pumpkin Pie
Don’t turn your back on tradition! Pumpkin pie is so much more than its simple-seeming look; it’s delicious and packed with every autumnal flavor. Nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves bring the taste of fall right to your plate.
4. Baked Apples
Craving a dessert that’s more apple and less pie? We’ve got you covered! This strips all the frills of traditional desserts and leaves you with crisp Granny Smith apples loaded with oats, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Alabama Extension on Wikimedia
5. Carrot Cake
Nothing beats carrot cake—it’s moist, it’s delicious, and its rich cream cheese frosting ties it all together. It also has all kinds of classic autumnal ingredients like chopped pecans and ground cinnamon. (Don’t worry, you can skip out on the raisins.)
Cristina Matos-Albers on Unsplash
6. Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle
Rachel Greene may have messed up her Thanksgiving trifle, but you can knock yours out of the park! Who could resist layered pumpkin, vanilla pudding, and gingerbread cake mix? Top it with whipped cream and crushed gingersnaps for the ultimate fall treat.
Personal Creations on Wikimedia
7. Chocolate Chip Cranberry Blondies
Cranberry isn’t just for turkey—it’s also for crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving desserts. This gooey snack is chock full of chocolate, brown sugar, and vanilla, all mixed with dried cranberries. Recipes yield enough for the fullest tables, too.
8. Pumpkin Cheesecake
What’s dessert without a little cheesecake? Though we love classic recipes, this is Thanksgiving and that calls for a touch of pumpkin, brown sugar, and cinnamon-flavored whipped cream. Cream cheese and sour cream bring it all together!
9. Apple Cobbler
We’re not done with tasty apple-based desserts! Nothing goes better with a scoopful of ice cream than piping hot cobbler. Sliced apples, cinnamon, and allspice bring all the season’s flavors right to your fork.
10. Caramel Apple Cookies
Apple cookies dusted with sugar and filled with caramel? If those sound good that’s because they are! Vanilla extract and dark brown sugar make an appearance too, so talk about a sweet treat.
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