Looking for the best Thanksgiving desserts that everyone at the table will actually save room for? You're in the right place.
This collection of classic Thanksgiving desserts celebrates all the nostalgic favorites that make the holiday feel complete-think pecan pie, pumpkin cheesecake, and old-fashioned cobblers that taste just like Grandma used to make.
These tried-and-true recipes are easy, make-ahead friendly, and travel beautifully, because dessert should be delicious, not stressful. Whether you're hosting a crowd or bringing a dish to share, these sweet traditions will make your Thanksgiving table shine.
How This Roundup is Different
While my Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Desserts roundup highlights fun twists and modern treats, this post is all about the timeless classics-the pies, cakes, and cobblers that keep Thanksgiving traditions alive year after year.
Classic Pies
Easy Southern Sweet Potato Pie – Grits and Pinecones
My, oh my, Sweet Potato Pie! Easy Southern Sweet Potato Pie tastes like a cool crisp Fall day, warm, pungent spices, and Thanksgiving all wrapped up in one delicious and decadent bite. A wonderful alternative to pumpkin pie, it will quickly become a family favorite.
Old-Fashioned Southern Pecan Pie – Grits and Pinecones
One bite of this old-fashioned Southern Pecan Pie will have your taste buds swooning with crunchy, sweet, custardy caramel goodness. In the South, there are as many recipes for pecan pie as there are pecan trees. Every family has a favorite, and this is ours. Classic and simple, it's a Thanksgiving tradition.
Pear Pie – Homemade with Fresh Pears – Grits and Pinecones
Imagine a delicious homemade pear pie laced with a flakey buttery crust and a juicy, cinnamon and nutmeg-infused fresh pear pie filling. It's how Thanksgiving dessert dreams without pumpkin are made!
Homemade Classic Pumpkin Pie – Jessica Gavin
Classic pumpkin pie recipe with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and black pepper infused in the creamy custard. This festive holiday treat is baked in a delicious flaky crust!
Cranberry Gingersnap Pie – The View from the Great Island
Cranberry Pie, with its spicy gingersnap crumb crust and silky cranberry curd filling, brings a little va-va-voom to the traditional dessert table ~ this vibrant pie going to be everybody's holiday favorite!
French Silk Pie Recipe – Salt and Baker
Silky smooth French silk pie with a graham cracker crust makes for the perfect Thanksgiving dessert. It’s easy to make and loved by all!
Pecan Pie Bars – Beyond the Chicken Coop
If you love pecan pie, then you’re really going to love these Pecan Pie Bars! Made with an easy shortbread crust and a simple filling, these bars will become a favorite. These pecan bars are easy to mix by hand in just one bowl! No special equipment is needed.
No Bake Turtle Pie – Entirely Elizabeth
This no-bake Turtle Pie is easy to make and so indulgent! It has a crunchy pecan crust, a caramel cream filling, and a rich chocolate ganache. Add even more caramel, chopped pecans, and silky whipped cream for a Thanksgiving dessert everyone will enjoy!
Cakes, Cobblers and Rolls
Pumpkin Ricotta Bundt Cake – The Merchant Baker
I originally was going to call this Pumpkin Ricotta Bundt Cake "Pumpkin Ricotta Custard Bundt Cake." But that's a mouthful of words that doesn't quite roll off the tongue. So, I took "Custard" out of the title but know that the custard forms like magic in the oven!
Easy Cranberry Cake with Hard Sauce – Grits and Pinecones
A beautiful and festive dessert, Easy Cranberry Cake with Hard Sauce, will make a unique sweet ending for your Thanksgiving meal. Full of fresh tart cranberries, this cake has it all; the colors of the season, a winning combination of flavors and textures, and the creamy, blissful yumminess of a decadent hard sauce.
Bourbon Butter Pecan Cake with Brown Butter Maple Frosting – The Flavor Bender
A pumpkin pie alternative for your Thanksgiving spread - this soft, moist, spiced Bourbon Butter Pecan Cake with Brown Butter Maple Frosting is made with ground pecan in the cake batter, plus chopped pecans sprinkled throughout for a rich, buttery pecan flavor throughout the cake.
Pumpkin Bundt Cake – Pudge Factor
Tired of the same old pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving? If so, you should try this incredible Pumpkin Bundt Cake. It has the same characteristic flavor of a pumpkin pie but will leave your family and guests saying, "WOW"! What's even better is that it's easy to make and can be made ahead of time and frozen.
Apple Dapple Cake with Caramel Glaze – Grits and Pinecones
It's fall and the time of year when it just seems right to put apples in everything. There is a season for everything, and Thanksgiving and apples go together.
Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake – Upstate Ramblings
It is Fall, and the apples are in season! Skip the pumpkin spice and make this Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake. It is the perfect dessert for Thanksgiving dinner.
Easy Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing – Grits and Pinecones
If you like carrot cake, you will love this delicious Thanksgiving dessert recipe! Easy Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing is chock full of pineapple, carrots, raisins, and pecans because I'm a Southern girl.
Flourless Chocolate Cake – Pudge Factor
Flourless Chocolate Cake is amazingly dense, rich, and decadent, with every bite packed with intense bittersweet chocolate flavor.
Ultimate Cranberry Upside-Down Cake – Grits and Pinecones
This exceptionally moist Cranberry Upside-Down Cake, topped with luscious deep garnet cranberries, is a unique twist on the more familiar pineapple upside-down cake.
Apple Cobbler with Cake Mix – Grits and Pinecones
This is one of those recipes that's almost too easy to be true-just three ingredients and minimal effort, and you've got a gooey, delicious apple dessert ready to go.
Pecan Cornbread Cobbler – South your Mouth
A pecan cobbler recipe made with cornbread for a rustic, sweet, Southern dessert perfect for Fall and Winter holiday meals!
Classic Pumpkin Roll – Ask Chef Dennis
My Classic Pumpkin roll is a timeless fall dessert guaranteed to bring smiles to your dinner table. It's one of those desserts that everyone thinks is too difficult to make, but honestly, it's not that hard and is well worth the effort.
Cheesecakes and Tarts
Pecan Pie Cheesecake – Grits and Pinecones
This easy Pecan Pie Cheesecake Recipe is the ultimate Southern holiday dessert mash-up, a creamy, velvety cheesecake baked on a buttery pecan graham cracker crust and topped with gooey pecan pie filling.
Southern Pecan Praline Cheesecake – Grits and Pinecones
This is the season, and I have a delicious make-ahead Thanksgiving dessert for you today! Southern Pecan Praline Cheesecake is everything a cheesecake should be and includes a delicious and decadent pecan praline topping.
Pumpkin Cheesecake – Berly’s Kitchen
Need a Thanksgiving dessert that is smooth, rich, creamy, and sure to please a crowd. Try this delicious pumpkin cheesecake.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Dessert – The Gunny Sack
Pumpkin Cheesecake Dessert has two layers of smooth, creamy cheesecake with a gingersnap crust. Made in a 9×13 inch pan, this cheesecake is made for sharing!
Easy Mini No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecakes – From A Chef’s Kitchen
Your guests will think you really fussed with these Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes! Individual creamy, dreamy mini pumpkin cheesecakes are topped with sweetened whipped cream and a gingersnap cookie topping. They're super simple and make the perfect Thanksgiving dessert.
Nutella Tart with Toasted Hazelnut Crust – Sally’s Baking Addiction
This Nutella tart tastes exactly how it looks: lush. It's a Nutella ganache of sorts, cooked on the… I'm sorry, wait. Did you read that just now? NUTELLA GANACHE.
Apple Tart – Beyond the Chicken Coop
Kids Treats
Easy Pumpkin Patties – Mom on Timeout
These delightfully easy Pumpkin Patties are the perfect no-bake dessert to celebrate the season. The cute dessert is off the charts!
Recipe FAQs
Pumpkin pie tops the list nationwide, but in the South, sweet potato pie and pecan pie are just as beloved. These three classics are must-haves on almost every holiday dessert table.
Pecan pie, pumpkin cheesecake, and apple cobbler can all be made one to two days ahead. Sweet potato pie also freezes beautifully for up to a month.
Look for sturdy, travel-friendly options that don't require refrigeration-like Apple Dapple Cake, Old-Fashioned Pecan Pie, or Pumpkin Bundt Cake.
Try a festive cake or cheesecake! Carrot Cake, Pumpkin Cheesecake, or Cranberry Cake with Hard Sauce are showstoppers that add variety to your dessert spread.
Expert Tips for a Stress-Free Thanksgiving
- Bake pies a day ahead and let them cool completely before covering loosely with foil.
- Slice cakes and bars before serving for easier plating.
- If freezer space allows, bake ahead and freeze pies like pecan or sweet potato for up to 3 months.
- And remember-dessert doesn't have to be perfect. Homemade beats store-bought every single time.
More Thanksgiving Menu Ideas
Still planning your Thanksgiving menu? You can find all of my Thanksgiving recipes here - from classic sides and desserts to make-ahead casseroles.
Looking Ahead to Christmas Baking and Treats
Still planning your holiday menus? You can find all of my Christmas recipes here - from elegant desserts to festive candies and make-ahead classics.
Join the Conversation
If you make any of these Southern Thanksgiving desserts, please leave a comment and a star rating on the recipe post! I love hearing which ones make it to your holiday table-and if your family has a favorite twist, share it below so we can all try it!
G&P Wisdom
"In the South, dessert isn't an afterthought-it's how we say thank you for showing up hungry."
Wishing you a cozy, laughter-filled Thanksgiving surrounded by good food, good company, and plenty of pie.
Margaret Swendseid
Good heavens, these desserts are fantastic! I’m a Northerner, but lived in South Carolina for several years where I fell in love with Southern cuisine. Thank you so much for your website. I’m going to make your Carrot Cake for Thanksgiving 2022!
Sharon Rigsby
Thanks so much, Margaret! I hope you enjoy it and Happy Thanksgiving!
All the best,
Sharon
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats
Thank you for sharing! Pinned, tweeted and yummed!
Linger
Just in time for Thanksgiving!! What a wonderful collection of recipes for the Holidays. You do such a great job of pulling together a variety of ideas. Thanks so much for sharing.
Casa Dodd
Love ALL of the recipes and posts!!!
Sharon Rigsby
Thanks so much for the sweet comment and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Sharon
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Seriously getting hungry looking at all of these delicious desserts! I want to try each and every one! Thanks so very much for including my partridgeberry cake – much appreciated 🙂
Kathryn @ FoodieGirlChicago
Great collection of desserts – thanks for sharing!!
Elaine Cobb
This is, without a doubt, the best collection of recipes ever! Not just for Thanksgiving. Thank you!!!
Gritsandpinecones
Thank you for your kind comments! And, thank you too to all the great bloggers for sharing their awesome recipes!
Nicoletta @sugarlovespices
Oh wow, what a Thanksgiving desserts round up! I wouldn’t know which one to choose they’re all sooo yummy!!
Kimberly @ Berly's Kitchen
Thanks for sharing this post. These are all beautiful dessert options for Thanksgiving. Great roundup idea!
Tina
What a GREAT roundup! This is very helpful, thanks so much!
Jackie
These all look amazing! How to choose just one for thanksgiving!
Kitty
Thanks for including my recipe in your roundup!
Amanda Mason
YUM!! All these look amazing!! Great Thanksgiving dessert roundup!!