Thanksgiving

10 Thanksgiving Desserts That Aren’t Pumpkin Pie

Your guests will be thankful for the change.

by Katie McPherson

Whether you’ve never been a huge pie person or you’re just ready for a change, there are so many decadent, seasonal, and unexpected Thanksgiving desserts to choose from. These pumpkin pie crème brûlées keep the flavor, but give it a new format.

Want to step away from pies this year? Consider serving warm pecan pie cobbler topped with vanilla ice cream after dinner. Guests can choose how much they want, and chances are, they’ll ask for the recipe before they head home.A Cookie Named Desire

Italian cream cake is a vanilla cake with coconut and pecans inside, topped with homemade pecan cream cheese frosting to boot. It’s definitely a dessert baked to impress, and if you happen to have piping skills, now’s the time to flex with your frosting.

With the turkey and sides already competing for a spot in the oven, a no-bake blueberry cheesecake sounds like an easy alternative to a pumpkin pie. It just needs three hours to set in the fridge, but it’s best when it’s made the night before serving.Simply LaKita

If you’re thinking of making Thanksgiving desserts that aren’t pumpkin pie, don’t just call an audible with apple pie. Try an apple pear crisp (made in the slow cooker) that comes together relatively easily and will make your whole house smell delectable.

There’s apple pie, sure, and then there’s upside down apple pecan cake. It’s a gooey, nutty take on the classic pie, and one that will taste so good with coffee the next few mornings.Brown Sugar Food Blog

Why stop at pumpkin pie? Think outside the apple pie box with this blackberry and peach galette. It’s colorful, aromatic, and downright delicious. If you serve it warm from the oven, top it with ice cream or whipped cream.

No one will pass on one of these no-bake pumpkin cheesecake parfaits, made with layers of pumpkin-y cheesecake and crunchy, cinnamon graham crackers. Serve them in glasses you have on hand, jars, or festive bowls.

Need something bite-sized to serve? Cupcakes, like these autumnal bourbon sweet potato cupcakes, are perfect for parties where grab-and-go foods are easier to eat. That said, I’m sure your family won’t mind sitting down with one of these and a little night cap later either.

If you need a Thanksgiving dessert that isn’t pumpkin pie and will travel well, chewy brown butter pretzel pecan cookies are the move. They won’t tip over on the drive to your family’s house, and they’ll appease kids and adults alike.Half-Baked Harvest