13 Must-Try Thanksgiving Desserts for 2024

Food & Recipes
By Ella Brown

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, family gatherings, and of course, indulgent feasting.

As we look forward to Thanksgiving 2024, let’s explore a delightful array of desserts that will not only satisfy your sweet tooth but also impress your guests.

From traditional favorites to innovative twists, these desserts are sure to make your Thanksgiving dinner unforgettable.

Classic Pumpkin Pie

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No Thanksgiving is complete without a classic pumpkin pie. This dessert features a smooth pumpkin filling, spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, all encased in a flaky, buttery crust. Serve it with a generous dollop of whipped cream.

Ingredients: Pumpkin puree, sugar, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, pastry dough.

Preparation: Prebake the crust, mix ingredients, pour into crust, and bake until set.

Pecan Pie Bars

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These pecan pie bars are a delightful alternative to the traditional pie, offering all the rich, nutty flavor in a convenient bar form. With a buttery shortbread base and a gooey pecan topping, they’re perfect for sharing.

Ingredients: Pecans, corn syrup, sugar, butter, eggs, flour.

Preparation: Prepare shortbread base, bake, then pour pecan mixture on top and bake again.

Apple Crisp

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Apple crisp combines the tartness of apples with a sweet, crunchy topping. It’s an easy-to-make dessert that brings warmth and comfort to any Thanksgiving table.

Ingredients: Apples, oats, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon.

Preparation: Slice apples, mix with spices, top with oat mixture, and bake until golden.

Cranberry Cheesecake

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This cranberry cheesecake is a showstopper with its rich, creamy filling and tart cranberry topping. It offers a perfect balance of flavors for those looking to try something new.

Ingredients: Cream cheese, sugar, eggs, cranberries, graham crackers.

Preparation: Make crust with crushed graham crackers, prepare cheesecake filling, bake, and top with cranberry sauce.

Sweet Potato Pie

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Sweet potato pie is a Southern classic that’s gaining popularity everywhere. Its creamy, sweet filling is often spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, offering a comforting twist on the usual pumpkin pie.

Ingredients: Sweet potatoes, sugar, butter, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg.

Preparation: Boil and mash sweet potatoes, mix with other ingredients, pour into crust, and bake.

Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie

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This decadent dessert combines chocolate, bourbon, and pecans in a luscious pie. It’s a grown-up treat that’s sure to impress your guests with its deep flavors.

Ingredients: Pecans, chocolate chips, bourbon, sugar, corn syrup, eggs.

Preparation: Mix filling ingredients, pour into crust, and bake until set.

Maple Walnut Tart

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Maple walnut tart offers a sophisticated flavor profile with its combination of rich maple syrup and crunchy walnuts. It’s a delightful dessert for those who enjoy nutty flavors.

Ingredients: Walnuts, maple syrup, flour, butter, eggs.

Preparation: Create tart crust, prepare walnut and maple filling, bake until golden.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

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Pumpkin cheesecake is a delicious blend of creamy cheesecake and pumpkin pie. With its smooth texture and warm spices, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s both familiar and fresh.

Ingredients: Pumpkin puree, cream cheese, sugar, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg.

Preparation: Prepare cheesecake batter with pumpkin, pour into crust, and bake until firm.

Gingerbread Trifle

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Gingerbread trifle is a festive dessert that layers spiced gingerbread cake with creamy whipped layers. It’s an elegant and visually appealing choice for your holiday table.

Ingredients: Gingerbread cake, heavy cream, caramel sauce.

Preparation: Bake gingerbread, layer with whipped cream and caramel in a trifle dish.

Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding

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This dessert transforms day-old cinnamon rolls into a comforting bread pudding. It’s sweet, gooey, and perfect for those who love cinnamon-flavored treats.

Ingredients: Stale cinnamon rolls, milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla.

Preparation: Cube cinnamon rolls, soak in custard mixture, bake until set and drizzle with glaze.

Pear and Almond Tart

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Pear and Almond Tart is an elegant dessert with juicy pears and a nutty almond filling.

Ingredients: Pears, almond flour, sugar, butter, eggs, tart crust.

Preparation: Preheat oven to 375°F. Arrange sliced pears over almond filling in a tart crust. Bake for 45 minutes.

Spiced Carrot Cake

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Spiced Carrot Cake combines the earthiness of carrots with warm spices, topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting.

Ingredients: Carrots, flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cream cheese.

Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix grated carrots with flour and spices. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool and frost with cream cheese.

Maple Glazed Donuts

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Maple Glazed Donuts bring a sweet and savory flavor to your table with their rich maple glaze.

Ingredients: Flour, sugar, baking powder, milk, eggs, maple syrup, nuts.

Preparation: Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and milk. Fry donuts until golden. Dip in maple syrup glaze and sprinkle with nuts.