Who said pies are the only ones invited to the Thanksgiving dessert table? Mix it up this year and include one of these 12 Thanksgiving Desserts That Aren’t Pie on your Thanksgiving dessert menu. Everyone will be happy to grab a piece of pumpkin cake roll, a slice of cinnamon roll cheesecake (or bake as cheesecake bars!), or a square of snickerdoodle blondies.
While Thanksgiving pies are certainly the frontrunner for Thanksgiving desserts, it’s always nice to have variety. If you’re looking for desserts beyond the pie dish that are equally impressive and seasonally festive, my team and I collected a list of 12+ Thanksgiving Desserts That Aren’t Pie.
Pictured above: Cinnamon Swirl Cheesecake as bars.
A show-stopping cake is sure to compete with pie for best Thanksgiving dessert! My pumpkin roll recipe and pumpkin cream cheese Bundt cake are two seasonal favorites for any pumpkin-loving crowd. For a pop of color and bright citrus flavor, I love serving this cranberry orange Bundt cake. Sheet cakes are also wonderful options to feed a larger crowd, making spice cake and apple cake both excellent choices.
For more cake inspiration, see my favorite 30+ fall cake recipe ideas.
If it’s lighter treats you’re after, these easy maple baked pears are only 4 ingredients and taste wonderfully special after a big meal. I also love to have a batch of chocolate-covered date & almond truffles on the dessert table. They’re easy to make ahead and require just a handful of simple, more wholesome ingredients. (Yet they still taste perfectly indulgent!)
Make-ahead desserts are especially convenient during this busy baking season, so I included a few favorites on this list. Mini cheesecakes and tiramisu are actually best when made ahead, so you can check dessert off your list early! Recipes like snickerdoodle blondies and pecan sugar cookies also keep well for several days and can be frozen. (Bonus: Cookies and bars are especially easy to travel with. I like to use pans with a lid like this 9-inch square pan or 9×13-inch quarter sheet pan to transport.)
Finally, if you want one of my favorite hybrid desserts that still gives pie vibes, pecan pie cheesecake always impresses!
More Thanksgiving Baking Resources
12+ Thanksgiving Desserts That Aren’t Pie
Pumpkin Roll Recipe
A beautiful fall dessert that always impresses, this homemade pumpkin roll yields a moist spiced pumpkin cake with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting inside.
Pecan Pie Cheesecake
It’s cheesecake meets pecan pie—a sweet, gooey, caramel-like pecan topping atop a creamy, brown sugar-infused cheesecake. The dessert mash-up you didn’t know you needed!
Cranberry Orange Bundt Cake
Every slice of this super moist, ultra flavorful cranberry orange Bundt cake boasts a buttery brown sugar orange crumb, tart juicy cranberries, a ribbon of cinnamon-sugar, and a drizzle of orange glaze.
Super Moist Spice Cake
Filled with comforting warm spices and topped with silky brown butter cream cheese frosting, this dessert is a perfect addition to any Thanksgiving dessert spread. Bonus: make it as a sheet cake, layer cake, cupcakes, or a Bundt cake to suit your needs!
Easy Maple Baked Pears
For a lighter post-feast treat, these 4-ingredient maple vanilla baked pears are cooked until warm and soft and are completely infused with maple and vanilla. Fantastic served with crunchy granola and/or creamy yogurt.
Snickerdoodle Blondies
Snickerdoodle blondies pack cinnamon-sugar swirls and sweet white chocolate chips in every bite, and there’s no dough chilling or individual cookie dough rolling required. Quick, easy, and oh-so tasty!
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bundt Cake
Pumpkin cream cheese Bundt cake is everything you love about pumpkin cake with a decadent cheesecake layer hiding inside—this one always flys off the dessert table!
Cinnamon Swirl Cheesecake
Swirl crumbles of cinnamon-brown sugar filling into layers of creamy cheesecake, and bake atop a thick graham cracker crust. Top with brown sugar whipped cream and cinnamon.
Chocolate-Covered Date & Almond Truffles
These chocolate-covered date and almond truffles are made quickly and easily from whole, natural ingredients but still taste perfectly indulgent after a big meal. Another great make-ahead option for your Thanksgiving spread.
Pecan Sugar Cookies (with Brown Butter Icing)
These pecan sugar cookies raise the classic cut-out sugar cookie to new heights, delivering both extra flavor and texture. Use your favorite cutout shapes and slather with dreamy brown butter icing.
Tiramisu Recipe
Tiramisu is one of my favorite desserts to make after a special meal. This timeless no-bake dessert is best made ahead, so you can prep it before a busy day of cooking on Thanksgiving.
Easy Apple Cake Recipe
Soft and tender with a stick-to-your-fork moist crumb and juicy apples in every bite, this cake is delicious plain, topped with buttery brown sugar glaze, or even a quick dusting of confectioners’ sugar.
Mini Cheesecakes (in a Standard Muffin Pan)
This recipe for creamy mini cheesecakes is so simple, perfectly acceptable to make in advance, and great for a small crowd. Serve plain or with a variety of toppings.
