Best Dessert Ideas for Thanksgiving – Besides Pumpkin Pie

We all know that pumpkin pie is a staple of Thanksgiving, but serving other healthy desserts on this holiday would be great too. Desserts like apple crisp or pecan pie are a must-try! These desserts may not be as traditional, but they are just as delicious, if not even better. Some people even get creative and make their version of these pies, which means you could have some fun creating new recipes with your family.

Overall, it’s excellent that pumpkin pie is not the only dessert for this holiday. These desserts can be served with some ice cream or even whipped cream, and the possibilities are endless. For example, you could add some cranberries to your apple crisp to give it a Thanksgiving flair! Sometimes having traditional desserts can get boring, and that’s why we’ve prepared some out-of-the-box recipes and ideas to serve your guests and have a blast this Thanksgiving.

Here are some great dessert ideas you can try for Thanksgiving this year:

1. Apple Pie

Apple pie is an all-time classic Thanksgiving dessert staple. You can use apple pie anywhere on Thanksgiving Day – on top of ice cream sundaes, served with whipped cream after dinner, on toast with some hazelnut spread on Thanksgiving morning, or even as part of breakfast! You can use many different recipes; include flour, butter, sugar, and eggs in your base recipe!

If you want to go a bit more unique, try adding walnuts or chocolate chips on top of your apple pie for something extra special. You can enjoy apple pie anywhere on Thanksgiving Day – on top of ice cream sundaes, served with whipped cream after dinner, on toast with hazelnut spread on Thanksgiving morning, or even as part of breakfast!

2. Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Chocolate chip cookie bars are one of the tastiest chocolate Thanksgiving desserts. Anyone who likes chocolate chip cookies will love this dessert! They are made with chocolate chips, butter, an egg, sugar, flour, vanilla extract, salt, and baking powder. You can either bake the dough or spread it in a pan to form bars. Chocolate chip cookie bars are a healthy Thanksgiving dessert option because they contain wholesome ingredients like eggs and butter.

3. Pecan Pie

Pecan pie is a healthy Thanksgiving recipe with wholesome ingredients like butter and eggs. There are many different pecan pie recipes available, but they typically consist of sugar, butter, corn syrup, eggs, vanilla extract, and pecans. Pecan pie is a great healthy dessert option for Thanksgiving because it’s not too heavy, and you can enjoy multiple slices without feeling overly full. You then add your favourite spices to the filling.

4. Apple Crisp

Apple crisp is a great gluten-free Thanksgiving dessert option for those with dietary restrictions, as the main ingredients are apples and oats. A combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, ginger, or cardamom is also lovely. You may use all four spices in the same recipe if desired. Granny Smith apples are among the most popular tart apple cultivars because they’re firm and can be stored for months after being picked; however, any complex variety will do.

5. Brownies

Chocolate desserts are great for Thanksgiving because they can be served at dinner or as a dessert. Brownies are a healthy Thanksgiving dessert option because they contain nutritious ingredients like eggs and butter. They are also beneficial because they don’t contain any sugar so that they won’t give you a sugar rush. Many people love brownies because they are rich and delicious, but don’t need added sugar.

6. Doughnut Holes

Doughnut holes are a fantastic dessert choice because of how easy they are to make & serve. You can get creative with them by using different spices, chocolate, or jelly! They are considered healthy Thanksgiving desserts because they contain eggs, butter, and sugar. If you are looking for new dessert ideas that don’t involve pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving season, try one of the above recipes to surprise your guests with something new and tasty!

7. Chocolate Espresso Bundt Cake

Chocolate Espresso Bundt Cake is a Thanksgiving dessert that everyone will love! It features chocolate, espresso, coffee, and chocolate chips to create something truly unique. If you are looking for Thanksgiving desserts with no sugar but still want the taste of chocolate, this is one for you! This dessert has a sweet, Thanksgiving-like taste thanks to the espresso and chocolate chips, but it is healthy because it doesn’t contain added sugar.

8. Chocolate Covered Strawberries

If you have leftover cake mix, you can use it to make Chocolate-Covered Strawberries for a Thanksgiving dessert, as Thanksgiving is all about being creative! You will need chocolate cake mix, buttercream frosting, strawberries & powdered sugar for this recipe. You can also add in sprinkles or other adornments if desired. This is a great recipe for children because cake mixes are very cheap, and it doesn’t involve anything too complicated.

9. Maple-Glazed Bacon

Maple-glazed bacon is another great Thanksgiving dessert option, as it can be served as a side to your meal. You’ll need frying pans with depth, a range of spices (such as cinnamon, nutmeg & allspice), brown sugar, and either maple syrup or pure maple extract. You can use a box of chocolate chip cookie mix and add some extra ingredients to make it a Thanksgiving dessert-worthy treat.

10. Cheesecake

Cheesecake is one of the best Thanksgiving desserts because it tastes delicious, but doesn’t necessarily have to be made into a pie or cake! You can cut it into squares and serve it at dinner or leave it in its original shape and eat it after dinner. Since Thanksgiving is all about desserts, consider making mini cheesecakes in either a cupcake tray or ramekins, allowing your guests to try different flavors.

Conclusion

The best Thanksgiving desserts are those that offer a healthy balance of sweet and savoury. If you’re looking for new dessert ideas to surprise your guests, try one of the recipes above! They all offer gluten-free options or no added sugar, making them a light yet satisfying end to your meal. They are all creative, thanks to the addition of spices, fruit, or dough. And best of all, they are all delicious!