Thanksgiving dessert spread can be tricky when guests want different kinds of sweets. This selection covers pumpkin and apple bakes, chocolate treats, pecan desserts, and tender cakes. Familiar flavors, handheld cookies and bars, and a few centerpiece desserts give hosts a range of choices for the holiday table.
Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies
The cinnamon-sugar coating gives each cookie a crackled edge, while the centers stay soft. Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies make 24 cookies with pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and cream of tartar. The dough chills for two hours before baking, so it can be prepared ahead of the busy holiday. Set them out with coffee after dinner or add them to a cookie tray for guests who prefer a small, familiar sweet.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies
Gooey Butter Cake
A tender, yeast-raised cake base supports a sweet, custardy layer with crisp golden edges. Gooey Butter Cake is finished with powdered sugar, giving the soft center a simple contrast. Slice it into squares for a dessert platter, or serve a larger piece after the Thanksgiving meal. Its buttery cake-and-custard texture offers a different option for guests who want a rich bake instead of pie or cookies.
Get the Recipe: Gooey Butter Cake
Sweet Potato Cookies
Soft centers and a maple glaze make these cookies an easy fit on a holiday dessert tray. Sweet Potato Cookies take 31 minutes and yield 24 cookies, with sweet potato, pecans, and pumpkin pie spice in the dough. Their mild spice and nutty bite bring seasonal flavor in a small serving. Arrange them beside other cookies or pack a few for guests who want something to take home.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Cookies
Pumpkin Blondies
For a bar cookie with a soft, dense crumb, Pumpkin Blondies combine pumpkin puree with white and dark chocolate chips. The recipe takes 50 minutes and makes 24 portions, so one pan can cover a crowd. Cut the bars into small squares for a mixed dessert spread, where their pumpkin flavor and chocolate pieces give guests an alternative to frosted cakes or traditional pie.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Blondies
Air Fryer Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
A chewy cookie with oats and raisins brings a familiar choice to the Thanksgiving sweets table. Air Fryer Oatmeal Raisin Cookies take 20 minutes and make 24 cookies, with rolled oats, golden raisins, and cinnamon in the dough. The air fryer cooks them in batches, which can be handy when oven space is busy. Serve them with coffee or set them out for anyone who prefers a less frosted dessert.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Chocolate Pumpkin Patch Brownie Cake
Glossy ganache topping and bright candy-coated strawberries give this brownie cake its pumpkin-patch look. Chocolate Pumpkin Patch Brownie Cake layers a fudgy brownie base with chocolate ganache, then finishes the berries to resemble little pumpkins. The brownie base can be made ahead and decorated before serving. Place it at the center of a fall dessert spread for guests who like chocolate and a playful seasonal finish.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Pumpkin Patch Brownie Cake
Turtle Brownies
Dense chocolate squares get a crunchy, gooey finish from toasted pecans and caramel. Turtle Brownies pair semisweet and unsweetened chocolate in the brownie base, then add a pecan-caramel topping with heavy cream. The brownie layer can be prepared in advance, while the caramel goes on hot. Cut them into small pieces for a dessert platter, especially for guests who want chocolate with a nutty topping.
Get the Recipe: Turtle Brownies
Fall Brownie Cupcake
Two familiar bakes share one wrapper in Fall Brownie Cupcake, with a brownie base beneath a vanilla cupcake top. Buttercream adds a light finish, and optional orange coloring gives the frosting a seasonal look. These individual portions are easy to place on a holiday sweets table or pass around after dinner. The mix of chocolate, vanilla cake, and frosting gives guests a change from cookies and pie bars.
Get the Recipe: Fall Brownie Cupcake
Apple-Cranberry Puff Pastry Tarts
Flaky pastry gives these hand-held tarts crisp edges around a cinnamon-scented fruit topping. Apple-Cranberry Puff Pastry Tarts use store-bought puff pastry with apples, cranberries, and brown sugar, and the topping can be prepared ahead. Serve them warm with a scoop of ice cream, or let them cool for a simple platter addition. Their sweet-tart fruit filling adds an apple option alongside the richer chocolate and pecan desserts.
Get the Recipe: Apple-Cranberry Puff Pastry Tarts
Maple Pecan Pie Bars
A shortbread-style crust holds the maple and pecan topping in neat squares. Maple Pecan Pie Bars use butter, brown sugar, real maple syrup, heavy cream, and pecans, combining a crisp base with a nutty top. They keep in the refrigerator or freezer, which helps with holiday prep. Cut them into small pieces for a dessert board, or serve one with tea after the meal.
Get the Recipe: Maple Pecan Pie Bars
Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls
Soft spirals filled with cinnamon and apple get another layer of fruit spooned over the top. Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls use a yeasted dough, cinnamon-apple filling, and cream cheese icing, bringing the flavors of apple pie into a shareable bake. Serve them warm as a late brunch treat or place them on the dessert table after dinner. The apple pieces and icing make each roll substantial enough for guests who want a sweet with their coffee.
Get the Recipe: Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls
Chocolate Caramel Cookies
A soft chocolate cookie surrounds caramel for a chewy center, with toffee bits adding crunch. Chocolate Caramel Cookies take 27 minutes and make 10 cookies; the recipe includes cocoa, soft caramels, chocolate frosting, and toffee. Their smaller batch suits a table that already has several desserts. Set them beside fruit bakes or pack them into a small take-home bundle for guests who favor chocolate.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Caramel Cookies
Pumpkin Spice Scones with Vanilla Glaze
Tender wedges with a vanilla glaze bring pumpkin spice to a dessert or brunch spread. Pumpkin Spice Scones with Vanilla Glaze take 55 minutes and make 12 scones, using pumpkin puree, heavy cream, and pumpkin pie spice. The glazed tops make them easy to serve without extra toppings. Offer them with coffee after dinner, or bring them out earlier for guests who prefer a baked treat over a rich slice of cake.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Scones with Vanilla Glaze
Buttermilk Banana Cake
A cream cheese glaze gives this banana cake a lightly sweet finish over its tender crumb. Buttermilk Banana Cake combines ripe bananas and buttermilk, with cinnamon and nutmeg in the batter. Slices can be frozen, making it practical to bake ahead of the holiday. Serve it as a mellow fruit-forward option beside the chocolate and pumpkin desserts, or cut smaller pieces for a varied Thanksgiving dessert plate.
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Banana Cake
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Recipe
Soft pumpkin rounds sandwich a creamy filling for a dessert guests can pick up by hand. Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Recipe takes 42 minutes and makes 12 servings, with pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and a butter-and-cream-cheese filling. Their individual size works well on a buffet or dessert tray, and the spiced cakes offer pumpkin flavor in a different form from pie, scones, or bars.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Recipe
Nanna’s Apple Cake
Rustic cake lets firm apple pieces show through each slice, with cinnamon and powdered sugar for a simple finish. Nanna’s Apple Cake uses tart apples such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, along with butter and cinnamon. Its homestyle look suits a relaxed Thanksgiving table, and the fruit keeps it distinct from the richer chocolate desserts. Serve slices plain after dinner or add a scoop of ice cream for guests who want a fuller dessert.
Get the Recipe: Nanna’s Apple Cake
Bourbon Pecan Pie
A flaky crust holds a glossy filling packed with toasted pecans, while bourbon adds a warm note. Bourbon Pecan Pie combines pecans, eggs, butter, corn syrup, and bourbon; a store-bought crust can save time. It sets as it chills and slices cleanly, so it can be made ahead for Thanksgiving. Serve it as a classic centerpiece dessert, with a small slice for guests who want pecan pie after the meal.
Get the Recipe: Bourbon Pecan Pie