The Best Thanksgiving Desserts (That Aren’t Pie)

Oma’s Apfelkuchen (Grandma’s Apple Cake)

My husband’s German family calls this Oma’s apfelkuchen, which translates to “Grandma’s apple cake.” They’ve been sharing the recipe for more than 150 years. I use Granny Smith apples, but any variety works. —Amy Kirchen, Loveland, Ohio

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Chocolate Ganache Pumpkin Tart

I love the flavor combination of spiced pumpkin and chocolate, which inspired me to create this chocolate pumpkin tart. Sometimes I like to sprinkle chopped crystallized ginger over the chocolate ganache for extra flavor and texture. —Bernice Janowski, Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Easy Apple Crisp

Here’s an easy apple crisp! This is a delicious dessert perfect for young cooks to prepare. It’s super simple to make since there’s no crust—just a crumbly topping. Plus, with apples and oats, it’s a wholesome treat. —Sheri Hatten, Devil’s Lake, North Dakota

Maple Walnut Cake

This maple-flavored cake with candied walnuts honors my grandpa, who made maple syrup. —Lori Fee, Middlesex, New York

Slow-Cooked Pumpkin Apple Cobbler

This spiced cobbler with apples and cranberries is sure to please all of your holiday guests. It is perfect for fall but can be made year-round since it uses fresh or frozen cranberries. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

Pumpkin Creme Brulee

I've never met a creme brulee that I didn't love! I'm not a big pumpkin fan, but this is fantastic. —Tamara Leonard Merritt, Raleigh, North Carolina

Cheesecake Pumpkin Dessert

My family requests this dessert each Thanksgiving. For a change of pace, I sometimes use cinnamon graham crackers instead of plain ones.
—Melissa Davis, Clermont, Florida

Toffee-Pear Crisp Bread Pudding

My son loves pear crisp, but one night I was making bread pudding. He asked if I could make both. I compromised by combining two desserts into this one dish. It's absolutely fantastic! —Kurt Wait, Redwood City, California

Pumpkin Cream Tiramisu

Pumpkin isn’t only for pies. Now you can take the classic fall vegetable and enjoy it in a tiramisu-style dessert. I promise after one bite, you’ll add this recipe to keeper files. —Pam Peters, Fernie, British Columbia

Upside-Down Pumpkin Pecan Tarts

These treats are a great twist on pumpkin pie, and can be prepared a day ahead. You’ll love the flaky phyllo combined with the rich pumpkin filling. —Darlene Buerger, Peoria, Arizona

Sweet Potato Cheesecake Bars

Your whole house will be filled with the aroma of pumpkin spice when you bake these wonderful sweet potato cheesecake bars. They look complicated but are so easy, you can whip up a batch anytime. —Nancy Whitford, Edwards, New York

Turkey Cake

Create a simple centerpiece for your Thanksgiving dessert table. This turkey cake comes together fast with the help of a mix, and melted candy coating keeps decorating easy. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Air-Fryer Honeyed Pears in Puff Pastry

This cozy dessert looks both elegant and decadent. Wrapped in puff pastry, the pears resemble little beehives. —Heather Baird, Knoxville, Tennessee

Pumpkin Rugelach with Cream Cheese Icing

This pumpkin rugelach recipe with a rich cream cheese icing is my twist on this classic pastry. The dough can be made ahead and refrigerated, which makes the recipe ideal for the busy holiday season. —Justine Duffy, Wooster, Ohio

Pumpkin Charlotte

My mother-in-law gave me this recipe a while back and I just love it! I make it for my husband and his friends during hunting season and it's a big hit. —Lorelle Edgcomb, Granville, Illinois

Chocolate-Caramel Pumpkin Torte

I’m pretty proud to say this is one of my first experiments in the kitchen that turned out “to-die-for” delicious. The key is to let the cake cool completely before cutting and assembling with the frostings. —Lauren Brennan, Hood River, Oregon

Heavenly Praline Cake

A moist cake and generous frosting are filled with the fabulous flavor of caramel. The candied pecans are almost a dessert by themselves!—Jennifer Rodriguez, Midland, Texas

Pumpkin Ice Cream Roll

This wonderfully light dessert is our standby at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The hint of pumpkin and the refreshing ice cream make a most delicious after-dinner treat. —Gayle Lewis, Yucaipa, California

Air-Fryer Apple Fritters

These easy air-fryer apple fritters with brown butter glaze are healthier than old-fashioned fritters, yet they are still as delicious. Plus they’re made in under 30 minutes for a quick and easy air-fryer dessert! — Alyssa Castriotta, North Scituate, Rhode Island

Apple and Squash Crisp

Someone brought this crisp to a parish dinner at my church. I asked for the recipe, and now I make this yummy dessert all the time. —Therese Butler, Ijamsville, Maryland

Carrot-Cranberry Spice Cake

I love carrot cake and those made with cranberries. Using leftover cranberry sauce, I add carrots to make one marvelous cake that’s tangy and sweet. —Elizabeth King, Duluth, Minnesota

Butter Pecan Cheesecake

Fall always makes me yearn for this pecan cheesecake, but it’s delicious in any season. You’ll want to put it on your list of favorite holiday desserts. —Laura Sylvester, Mechanicsville, Virginia

Spiced Pumpkin Tiramisu

I added pumpkin and subtracted some of the coffee flavor in a tiramisu I developed for a special holiday dinner. A new tradition was born! —Heather Clary, Downingtown, Pennsylvania

Nectarine Plum Cobbler

I live in northern Manitoba, where fresh nectarines and plums are usually available only at summer’s end. So I make up the fruit filling and freeze it for use all winter. My family really enjoys this nectarine cobbler and it’s wonderful topped with vanilla ice cream. —Darlene Jackson, The Pas, Manitoba

Apple Gingerbread Skillet Cake

This gingerbread recipe came from my grandmother, and we always ate it with warm applesauce. I adapted it into a one-pan dessert by layering the apples around the bottom of a cast-iron skillet and topping them with the gingerbread batter. The skillet creates a wonderfully thick crust on the gingerbread. —Mary M. Leverette, Columbia, South Carolina

Pumpkin Cranberry Bread Pudding

Savor your favorite fall flavors with this scrumptious bread pudding, served warm with a sweet vanilla sauce. Yum! —Judith Bucciarelli, Johnson, New York

Cinnamon-Caramel Peanut Butter Tart

Peanut butter and cinnamon create a unique, upscale flavor combination. This rich and creamy creation is one of my daughter’s favorites. Keep copies of the recipe handy—everyone wants it. —Mary Hawkes, Prescott, Arizona

Pumpkin Spice Cake

We sometimes call this pumpkin spice cake “Thanksgiving Cake” because it’s a tasty alternative to pie, but we don’t relegate it to just that holiday. I think you’ll agree it’s delicious any time of the year.—Kathy Rhoads, Circleville, Ohio

Pecan Pie Bars

These pecan pie bars are rich and delicious – just like pecan pie! They’re perfect for gatherings…I always come home with an empty pan. —Carolyn Custer, Clifton Park, New York

Maple Pumpkin Cheesecake

For our first Thanksgiving with my husband’s family, I wanted to bring a special dish and decided I couldn’t go wrong with a dessert that combines cheesecake and pumpkin pie. It was a huge success!—Jodi Gobrecht, Bucyrus, Ohio

Quinoa, Fresh Fig and Honey-Balsamic Parfait

This quinoa yogurt parfait is special to me because of its wholesome ingredients. Quinoa is gluten-free, which is good for those who have food allergies, like my daughter. And I love fresh ripe figs when they are in season. Enjoy this for breakfast or dessert. —Dawn Hutchins, St. Johns, Florida

Also check out these Thanksgiving desserts made with a healthy twist!

Pumpkin Fudge

I look forward to the taste of pumpkin every Thanksgiving. This easy pumpkin fudge recipe lets me do that and everyone loves it.—Marlene Fudge, Rushville, Indiana

Pear Bundt Cake

Next time you make cake from a mix, try my easy and delicious recipe. The pears and syrup add sweet flavor and prevent the cake from drying out. And since there's no oil added to the batter, this tender fall-perfect cake is surprisingly low in fat. —Veronica Ross, Columbia Heights, Minnesota

Cranberry-Pumpkin Bread Pudding

For fans of pumpkin and bread pudding, this sensible recipe is a marriage made in Heaven. It’s perfect for breakfast, brunch or dessert with a dollop of yogurt—autumn comfort food at its best! —Lisa Varner, Charleston, South Carolina

Caramel Apple Strudel

My father, who was born and raised in Vienna, Austria, would tell us stories about how his mother covered all the kitchen counters with dough whenever she made apple strudel. This recipe is a modern, delicious way to carry on part of my family's heritage. —Sarah Haengel, Bowie, Maryland

Fluffy Raisin Pumpkin Bars

Chocolate-covered raisins are a fun surprise inside these moist pumpkin bars. The traditional cream cheese frosting never fails to please. —Margaret Wilson, San Bernardino, California

Butterscotch Cake

I get lots of compliments and recipe requests whenever I make this eye-catching cake. The filling is similar to German chocolate cake. —Judy Lamon, Louisville, Tennessee

Pumpkin Spice Custard

We love this traditional Crockpot pumpkin spice custard. The added espresso powder gives it a latte effect! —Shelly Bevington, Hermiston, Oregon

Deluxe Chocolate Marshmallow Bars

I’ve been asked to share this marshmallow chocolate bar recipe more than any other in my collection. It’s a longtime favorite of our three daughters. How many times we’ve all made these, I can’t count. — Esther Shank, Harrisonville, Virginia

Rustic Orange-Rhubarb Tart

This rustic rhubarb and orange tart is the perfect light dessert. We love it with fresh rhubarb in the spring, but it also tastes fantastic with frozen fruit. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Gingerbread Pumpkin Trifle

I like to spice up our Thanksgiving dinner with this special dessert featuring two popular holiday flavors. A delicious alternative to pumpkin pie. —Deborah F. Hahn, Belle, Missouri

Spiced Cranberry Crisp Cake

This cake is a cross between a fruit crisp and a moist cake. We love the festive cranberry filling with its sweet-tangy flavor and the combination of soft cake, tender fruit and crunchy topping. —Priscilla Yee, Concord, California

Ginger Tea Pumpkin Custard

I created this recipe when I was first attending photography school. I realized I didn’t have any of my usual spices, so out came the ginger tea. The result was wonderful and subtle. Even though I missed my kitchen at home, it was nice to have this comforting pumpkin custard. —Rhonda Adkins, Great Falls, Montana

Southern Sweet Potato Tart

We love sweet potatoes, so I try to incorporate them in as many dishes as I can. My secret ingredient in this sweet potato tart is the bourbon—it’s what makes it so delicious. —Marie Bruno, Greensboro, Georgia

Orange Cranberry Cookie Bars

These cranberry cookie bars combine two beloved holiday flavors and top a delicious soft crust with cream cheese icing. We enjoy these during the holiday season. —Jennifer Blakely, Visalia, California

Pumpkin Mousse

If you’ve had your fill of pumpkin pie, this cool and creamy pumpkin mousse is perfect for you. Its light and fluffy texture won’t make you feel “stuffed” after your favorite turkey dinner. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen