Holidays & Occasions Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Recipes 131 Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes to Finish Off Your Feast By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 12, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Forget all the fuss about Thanksgiving turkey. The real showstoppers of the day are the Thanksgiving desserts. From traditional pumpkin pie to easy-to-transport pecan pie bars, there are so many options to finish off your Thanksgiving feast. When it comes to crafting a stellar Thanksgiving spread, there are a few holiday party tips you should keep in mind to prepare a balanced selection. We love potluck-style dessert tables (there's no way you have time to bake all those different pies!), but be sure to have each guest sign up for a dessert ahead of time so you don't end up with three pumpkin pies and no pecan. Yes, of course Grandma Sue can bake her famous Peanut Butter Kisses, but organizing and coordinating ahead of time will save lots of hassle later. Present lots of different choices that range from lighter to heavier dishes and vary in scale, from bite-sized bars to decadent cakes, and be sure to accommodate any dietary restrictions with at least one dessert. You can't go wrong making too many Thanksgiving desserts, but it'll be a tragedy if you have too few–even after all of that turkey. Our solution? Share these recipes with friends and family to guarantee there will be a winning spread. 01 of 131 Pumpkin Spice Magic Cake Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Magic Cake Don't be the guest who brings another store-bought pumpkin pie to the table. This Pumpkin Spice Magic Cake is one of a kind. 02 of 131 Ultimate Apple Pie Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Ultimate Apple Pie from Buxton Hall Step aside, pumpkin pie. This picture-perfect Apple Pie is ideal for an All-American Thanksgiving. 03 of 131 Caramel Apple Cake Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Caramel Apple Cake This cake will undoubtedly be the star of your Thanksgiving dessert spread. 04 of 131 Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever Photo: Greg Dupree Recipe: Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever Looking for a quick-fix Thanksgiving dessert that's sure to please? We've got the perfect solution. 05 of 131 Kentucky Bourbon Pie Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Kentucky Bourbon Pie If it's good enough for the Derby, it's certainly good enough for our Thanksgiving table. This pie takes everything we love about pecan pie and ramps up the flavor with chocolate and bourbon. 06 of 131 Spiced Pecan Pie Bars Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Spiced Pecan Pie Bars These Spiced Pecan Pie Bars are perfectly portioned for no-hassle serving. For a larger group, you can cut them into bite-sized squares so everyone's sure to get a taste. 07 of 131 Sea Salt-Caramel Cake Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Sea Salt-Caramel Cake Salted caramel is one of our favorite holiday flavors, and you'll get a double-dose of that warm richness in this Sea Salt-Caramel Cake. 08 of 131 Caramel Pecan Tart Will Dickey Recipe: Caramel Pecan Tart Pecan pies are all the rage at Thanksgiving dessert tables, but this tart is just as impressive and even easier. 09 of 131 Easy Skillet Apple Pie Luca Trovato Recipe: Easy Skillet Apple Pie The only pan you need to complete this rustic Apple Pie is a cast iron skillet. Does it get any easier than that? 10 of 131 Caramel Apple Coffee Cake Photo: Jennifer Davick Recipe: Caramel Apple Coffee Cake After a big Thanksgiving meal, enjoy a slice of this specialty coffee cake with a hot cup of coffee or a tall glass of milk. 11 of 131 Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie A cinnamon roll crust brings sweetness and warm spice to your favorite apple pie. Plus, a slice of this pie makes for a sweet leftover breakfast the next morning. 12 of 131 Mini Apple Pies Micah A. Leal Recipe: Mini Apple Pies These pies are just cute as a button! Bake a variety of mini pies for your Thanksgiving spread, from pecan to apple, so your guests can get a small taste of all those beloved holiday flavors. 13 of 131 Arkansas Black Apple Pie with Caramel Sauce Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Arkansas Black Apple Pie with Caramel Sauce Your classic apple pie just got an upgrade. A drizzle of caramel sauce complements the caramelized cinnamon-sweetness of the apples inside the pie. 14 of 131 Chocolate Torte Micah Leal Recipe: Chocolate Torte You'll only need one slice of this decadent Chocolate Torte. It's naturally gluten-free, so it's a great option for those with dietary restrictions. 15 of 131 Pecan Pie Bars Lee Harrelson Recipe: Pecan Pie Bars These bars are mess-free and portable, making them a perfect hostess gift. Plus, the crowd will devour these nostalgic bars. 16 of 131 Pear Pie Micah A. Leal Recipe: Pear Pie Sweet roasted pears get an upgrade in this decadent Pear Pie. Prepare for this recipe to become a new holiday staple. 17 of 131 Pumpkin Layer Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting Alison Gootee; Styling: Suzonne Stirling Recipe: Pumpkin Layer Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting Switch out the pumpkin pie for this stunning Pumpkin Layer Cake, chock full of seasonal spices. 18 of 131 Triple-Layer Chocolate-Caramel Cake Greg Dupree Recipe: Triple-Layer Chocolate-Caramel Cake This cake is meant for a very special celebration, and we can't think of a better one than reuniting the whole family over Thanksgiving dinner. 19 of 131 Mini Pecan Pies Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro, Laura Zapalowski Recipe: Mini Pecan Pies These Mini Pecan Pies pack all that warm, nutty pecan flavor in a bite-sized package. 20 of 131 Pumpkin Crunch Cake Micah A. Leal Recipe: Pumpkin Crunch Cake With layers of fluffy pumpkin sponge, rich pumpkin frosting, and a pumpin crumble to top it all off, this cake makes the most of our favorite seasonal flavor. 21 of 131 Butter Pecan Layer Cake with Browned Butter Frosting Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Butter Pecan Layer Cake with Browned Butter Frosting While we'll never tire of a classic Pecan Pie, this cake may just be our new holiday showstopper. It's got all that warm butter pecan flavor packed into rich layers of sponge. 22 of 131 Butterscotch Pie with Whiskey Caramel Sauce Greg DuPree Recipe: Butterscotch Pie with Whiskey Caramel Sauce Nobody can resist a slice of sweet and salty butterscotch pie. This is a great lighter, yet still decadent option to add to your Thanksgiving dessert spread. 23 of 131 Chess Pie Jessica Colyer Recipe: Classic Chess Pie An oh-so-simple recipe for Chess Pie has always been a Southern favorite. Be sure to add this pie to the dessert spread. 24 of 131 Charlotte Russe Cake Micah Leal Recipe: Charlotte Russe Cake After a filling Thanksgiving meal, you'll be wanting something light for dessert. This silky-smooth, no-bake cake will hit the spot. 25 of 131 Mini Pumpkin Pies Micah A. Leal Recipe: Mini Pumpkin Pies Everything you love about pumpkin pie, but in miniature form. Be sure to finish them off with a dollop of whipped cream! 26 of 131 Crème Brûlée Cheesecake Micah A. Leal Recipe: Crème Brûlée Cheesecake This crème brûlée-cheesecake fusion is a dessert made in heaven. Homemade cheesecake is impressive all on its own, but it will really wow with this caramelized sugar crust. 27 of 131 Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies Would any holiday spread be complete without a tray of Grandma's signature Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies? We think not. 28 of 131 Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie Jennifer Davick Recipe: Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie Once you've made a pecan pie in a cast-iron skillet, you may never go back to a pie plate. Simply press a refrigerated pie crust into the skillet, sprinkle with sugar, top with the pecan mixture, and bake. Serving it in the skillet is also easy and makes the dish even more Southern. 29 of 131 Sliced Sweet Potato Pie Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Sliced Sweet Potato Pie We love the layered look of this ever-so-sweet streusel-topped treat. 30 of 131 Butterscotch-Spice Trifle Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Butterscotch-Spice Trifle With homemade spice cake and butterscotch custard, this layered trifle recipe is a showstopper. 31 of 131 Pumpkin-Spice Bundt with Brown Sugar Icing and Candied Pecans Photo: Jennifer Causey Recipe: Pumpkin-Spice Bundt with Brown Sugar Icing and Candied Pecans If you've been assigned to bring dessert to Thanksgiving, you can never go wrong with a rich pound cake recipe. 32 of 131 Mississippi Sweet Potato Pie Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Torie Cox Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Recipe: Mississippi Sweet Potato Pie Like many Southern desserts, this smooth pie gets a flavor boost from a splash of bourbon. 33 of 131 Old-Fashioned Apple Pie Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Old-Fashioned Apple Pie You've got to read the sweet story behind this pecan pie recipe. 34 of 131 Pumpkin Spice Cookies Micah A. Leal Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Cookies These festive cookies are easy for the kids to grab and go. If you want to up the presentation, a thin layer of cream cheese icing would be divine on these. 35 of 131 Pumpkin Spice-Heath Cake Alison Miksch Recipe: Pumpkin Spice-Heath Cake When it comes to serving a crowd, there's nothing better than a sheet cake straight from your favorite 13x9. 36 of 131 Pumpkin Dump Cake Micah A. Leal Recipe: Pumpkin Dump Cake It's all in the name—with this easy recipe, all you have to do is dump the ingredients in, mix, and bake. 37 of 131 Pecan Pie Cobbler Micah A. Leal Recipe: Pecan Pie Cobbler This decadent cobbler comes together with just a few minutes of hands on time and your cast-iron skillet. 38 of 131 Honeyed Plum Galette Micah A. Leal Recipe: Honeyed Plum Galette This elegant recipe features a homemade crust and a gooey, sweet fruit filling. 39 of 131 Salted Caramel-Apple Hand Pies Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs Recipe: Salted Caramel-Apple Hand Pies These cute bites are a fun Thanksgiving dessert for the kids to help you bake. 40 of 131 Pecan Tassies Micah A. Leal Recipe: Pecan Tassies A cross between a shortbread cookie and a sweet bite of pecan pie, these mini delights are an adorable addition to the dessert table at Thanksgiving. 41 of 131 Apple Stack Cake Photo: Victor Protasi; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Apple Stack Cake This vintage cake is a labor of love, but the final product is so worth it. 42 of 131 Brown Butter-Maple-Pecan Blondies Linda Pugliese Recipe: Brown Butter-Maple-Pecan Blondies A tip from the Test Kitchen: Choose high-quality 100% pure maple syrup for these bar cookies; the fake stuff doesn't have the same richness and aroma. The darker the syrup, the stronger the flavor. 43 of 131 Cranberry-Orange Cake with Orange Buttercream Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Recipe: Cranberry-Orange Cake with Orange Buttercream No dessert feels more dressed up for the holidays than a beautiful layer cake. 44 of 131 Granny Smith Apple Pie Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns Recipe: Granny Smith Apple Pie Roasting the apples beforehand makes a world of difference in the flavor of this pie. 45 of 131 Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake Micah A. Leal Recipe: Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake Why choose between a slice of pumpkin pie and a slice of cheesecake when you can have the best of both worlds? 46 of 131 Southern Sweet Potato Cake Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Erin Merhar Recipe: Southern Sweet Potato Cake This fall cake will make your house smell absolutely amazing. 47 of 131 Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Southern Living Recipe: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies We turned old-fashioned whoopie pies into a Thanksgiving treat by adding all your favorite autumn spices and flavors. 48 of 131 Sweet Potato Brownies Micah A. Leal Recipe: Sweet Potato Brownies The kids won't believe there's actually a vegetable in these fudgy brownies, and you don't have to tell them. 49 of 131 Auntie's Apple Cake Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke Recipe: Auntie's Apple Cake We don't know what we love most about this cake—the fresh apples, pecan-studded, spiced batter, or the praline-like frosting. 50 of 131 Transparent Pie with Whipped Crème Fraîche and Sugared Cranberries Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Transparent Pie with Whipped Crème Fraîche and Sugared Cranberries Sugared cranberries and whipped crème fraîche make the most elegant topper for this old-school pie recipe. 51 of 131 Southern Sweet Potato Cake Southern Living Recipe: Sweet Potato Sheet Cake Absolutely no guest will realize this sheet cake topped with bacon-cream cheese frosting (yes, bacon!) started with a box of mix. 52 of 131 Persimmon Pudding Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Persimmon Pudding This richly spiced dessert is a beautiful way to showcase the season's fresh persimmons. 53 of 131 Texas Pecan Pie Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Texas Pecan Pie To do the Lonestar state proud, be sure to find the best quality, freshest nuts available. 54 of 131 Instant Pot Pumpkin Cheesecake Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Recipe: Instant Pot Pumpkin Cheesecake Free up prime oven real estate on Thanksgiving and make your dessert in the Instant Pot. 55 of 131 Easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Micah A. Leal Recipe: Easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Classic chocolate chip cookies get a makeover that's made for Thanksgiving with canned pumpkin and cinnamon. 56 of 131 Dairy-Free Coconut-Pumpkin Pie Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns Recipe: Dairy-Free Coconut-Pumpkin Pie Family members with dairy allergies don't have to miss out on the dessert course with this pumpkin pie recipe. 57 of 131 Pecan Pie Brownies Micah A. Leal Recipe: Pecan Pie Brownies Pecan pie + brownies = your family's new favorite treat. 58 of 131 Spiced Pear Hand Pies Micah A. Leal Recipe: Spiced Pear Hand Pies These hand pies are a deliciously portable dessert for on-the-go kids at Thanksgiving. 59 of 131 Apple-Bourbon Pie Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Apple-Bourbon Pie There's a reason we're still making this pie recipe decades after it ran in the magazine in 1995—it's just that good. 60 of 131 Pumpkin Cake Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke Recipe: Pumpkin Cake This classic pumpkin cake is layered with light and airy spiced whipped cream for an easy but pretty presentation. 61 of 131 Persimmon Pie with Pecan Streusel Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Persimmon Pie with Pecan Streusel The simple pecan streusel adds just the right amount of texture to this creamy pie. 62 of 131 Brown Sugar-Rum Cake Southern Living Recipe: Brown Sugar-Rum Cake This super-tender sheet cake is perfect for an adults-only Thanksgiving celebration. 63 of 131 Apple Pie Cookies Micah A. Leal Recipe: Apple Pie Cookies These soft cookies are like mini apple pies, and the kids are going to love them. 64 of 131 Pumpkin Pie Cake Micah A. Leal Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Cake Pie filling and cake batter meet and meld into a decadent new dessert in this recipe. 65 of 131 Cushaw Pie with Vanilla Bean Custard Sauce Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Cushaw Pie with Vanilla Bean Custard Sauce Ever heard of a cushaw? This winter squash originates from Mesoamerica, and now you'll find it around the Louisiana area. 66 of 131 Hot Cranberry Bake Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Hot Cranberry Bake Published in our November 1992 issue, this simple, crisp-like dessert couldn't be easier or more delicious. 67 of 131 Fresh Apple Cake Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Amy Burke Recipe: Fresh Apple Cake This vintage apple cake has everything you could ever want in a fall dessert. 68 of 131 Caramel-Frosted Pound Cake Southern Living Recipe: Caramel-Frosted Pound Cake Caramel cake and pound cake are two of our all-time favorite desserts, so it's no wonder we love this mash-up recipe so much. 69 of 131 Purple Sweet Potato Pie Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis Recipe: Purple Sweet Potato Pie You don't even need food coloring for this naturally purple pie that adds a fun element to the Thanksgiving spread. 70 of 131 Butter-Pecan Shortbread Cookies Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Butter-Pecan Shortbread Cookies These cookies have a high yield, so there are plenty to bake for Thanksgiving and for family to take home. 71 of 131 Persimmon Cake Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Emily Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Persimmon Cake Walnuts add a hint of crunch to this super-moist cake that will introduce your family to delicious persimmons. 72 of 131 Apple and Pear Crisp Jennifer Davick; Food Styling: Vanessa Rocchio; Prop Styling: Missie Crawford Recipe: Apple and Pear Crisp This fall dessert comes together with the ease of your slow cooker, so you have plenty of oven and stovetop space for the rest of your Thanksgiving feast. 73 of 131 Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies Greg DuPree Recipe: Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies These super-seasonal brownies combine chocolate and pumpkin to create a beautiful marbled effect. 74 of 131 Coconut-Pumpkin Chiffon Pie Hector M. Sanchez Recipe: Coconut-Pumpkin Chiffon Pie Make and refrigerate without the topping a day ahead. Whip and add the topping just before serving. 75 of 131 Cherry-Spice Cake Trifle Alison Miksch Recipe: Cherry-Spice Cake Trifle The star of the spread. Thaw Holiday Spice Cake layers and prepare the recipe through Step 3. Assemble trifle in the morning, and refrigerate. Remove 1 hour before serving. 76 of 131 Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Puddings Jim Franco Recipe: Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Puddings This recipe is a great way to use the delicious, seasonal flavor of pumpkin. If you're short on time (or dishes) you can make this in a 13- x 9-inch baking dish. 77 of 131 Cranberry-Apple-Pumpkin Bundt Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Recipe: Cranberry-Apple-Pumpkin Bundt The topping on this bundt—a maple glaze with sugared pecans and pumpkin seeds—will make your guests ooh and ahh. 78 of 131 Black Bottom Pumpkin Pie Iain Bagwell Recipe: Black Bottom Pumpkin Pie With a moist, crumbly crust and a decadent, creamy filling, it's hard to say no to seconds of this pie. 79 of 131 Tennessee Jam Bundt Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Recipe: Tennessee Jam Bundt The best way to enjoy this blackberry and caramel confection is with friends—it makes 12 satisfying servings. 80 of 131 Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart with Honey Swiss Meringue Jody Horton Recipe: Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart with Honey Swiss Meringue Begin with a toasted pecan crust, layer with cream cheese and a classic pumpkin filling, and then gild the lily with a creamy meringue. 81 of 131 Pecan Spice Cake with Caramel-Rum Glaze Photo: Jennifer Davick Recipe: Pecan Spice Cake with Caramel-Rum Glaze Substitute extra cream for rum in the sauce, if you like. For a thicker glaze, add the whole 1 1/3 cups powdered sugar, whisking constantly, as the glaze begins to cool in the pan. For a sheer, saucy glaze, use less powdered sugar. 82 of 131 Apple-Pecan Carrot Cake Hector Sanchez Recipe: Apple-Pecan Carrot Cake You might think carrot cake is an Easter dessert, but apple pie spice, fresh apples, and a homemade apple cider caramel sauce bring this recipe into fall. 83 of 131 Pumpkin Crisp Southern Living Recipe: Pumpkin Crisp This simple dessert recipe starts with a box of cake mix and a can of pumpkin. 84 of 131 Pumpkin Spice Battenberg Greg DuPree Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Battenberg Cut into this cake to a fun surprise for family. 85 of 131 Spiced Caramel-Apple Bread Pudding Jennifer Davick; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine Recipe: Spiced Caramel-Apple Bread Pudding Bread pudding feels special, but it's actually so easy to make. 86 of 131 Apple-Cream Cheese Bundt Cake Greg Dupree Recipe: Apple-Cream Cheese Bundt Cake The cream cheese filling in this apple Bundt cake makes it so decadent. 87 of 131 Pumpkin-Pecan Cheesecake Jennifer Davick Recipe: Pumpkin-Pecan Cheesecake All the flavors of pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and cheesecake meet in this gorgeous dessert recipe. 88 of 131 Mini Apple Cider Pound Cakes Recipe: Mini Apple Cider Pound Cakes If you weren't assigned to bring dessert to Thanksgiving, pack one of these as a hostess gift for Mama—she'll be thrilled. 89 of 131 Cornbread Pudding with Whiskey Caramel Photo: Brian Woodcock Recipe: Cornbread Pudding with Whiskey Caramel We bet you haven't thought to use your cornbread quite like this before. 90 of 131 Sweet Potato Pound Cake Jennifer Davick Recipe: Sweet Potato Pound Cake We're always on the hunt for inventive ways to use fall's favorite ingredient, and this pound cake is our next project. 91 of 131 Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread Pudding with Apple Brandy-Caramel Sauce Alison Miksch; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell Recipe: Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread Pudding with Apple Brandy-Caramel Sauce Instead of a stale loaf from the pantry, this pudding recipe starts with our homemade Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread. 92 of 131 Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites Jennifer Davick Recipe: Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites Each guest can grab as few or as many of these sweet bites as he or she pleases. 93 of 131 Apple Bread Pudding Helen Norman Recipe: Apple Bread Pudding Cinnamon-raisin bread is the base for this autumn bread pudding recipe. 94 of 131 Erika Kwee's Spiced Carrot Cake with Candied Pecans and Caramel Sauce Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner Recipe: Erika Kwee's Spiced Carrot Cake with Candied Pecans and Caramel Sauce There's a reason Erika Kwee was named one of our 2021 Cooks of the Year, and one bite of her towering carrot cake creation will give you a full understanding. "There are no words to describe how good this cake is," wrote one five-star reviewer. 95 of 131 Gingered Sweet Potato Pie with Pecan-Crumb Crust and Ginger-Honey Whip Johnny Autry; Food Styling: Keia Mastrianni; Prop Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Gingered Sweet Potato Pie with Pecan-Crumb Crust and Ginger-Honey Whip North Carolina-based writer and baker Keia Mastrianni knows what she's talking about when it comes to seasonal pies. Swap your usual pumpkin pie for this ginger-studded sweet potato one this year—you won't regret it. 96 of 131 Apple-and-Pear Cornmeal Galette Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Apple-and-Pear Cornmeal Galette Galettes are a favorite of Southern holiday hosts, since they look stunning but don't take quite as much hands-on time as a lattice pie crust. Just don't forget a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of your serving! 97 of 131 Mini Pumpkin Pies with Maple Whipped Cream David Malosh; Prop Styling: Robyn Glaser; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero Recipe: Mini Pumpkin Pies with Maple Whipped Cream Leave the dough kneading to someone else this Thanksgiving. These adorable mini pies start with frozen phyllo pastry sheets for a picture-perfect (and oh-so-easy) result. 98 of 131 Apple Butter Pound Cake with Caramel Frosting Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Apple Butter Pound Cake with Caramel Frosting Bundt cakes are always a beautiful way to finish a meal, but the real beauty is on the inside of this one, where each slice will reveal a luscious ribbon of homemade apple butter. 99 of 131 Pecan Pie Cake with Browned Butter Frosting Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Pecan Pie Cake with Browned Butter Frosting Our readers went bonkers for this layer cake-version of Thanksgiving's most popular dessert, pecan pie. It's a labor of love (and worth it). 100 of 131 Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Recipe: Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars Cheesecake and caramel-apple pie meet in these portable bars—need we say more? 101 of 131 Apple Pie with Rye Crust and Cider Caramel Johnny Autry; Food Styling: Keia Mastrianni; Prop Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Apple Pie with Rye Crust and Cider Caramel You haven't had an apple pie like this one from Keia Mastrianni before! A rye-spiked crust and cider caramel take the flavors over the top. Take the advice of one five-star reviewer and reserve some caramel (or make extra) for drizzling over individual slices—genius! 102 of 131 Pumpkin Cobbler Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey Recipe: Pumpkin Cobbler You might think of cobbler as a summer dessert made with fresh fruit, but this version makes the argument for a fall cobbler. With just 15 minutes of hands-on time, our Test Kitchen says this will be the easiest thing you bake all season. 103 of 131 Pear Upside-Down Cake Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Recipe: Pear Upside-Down Cake Our Test Kitchen recommends Bosc pears for this recipe, as they're tender but don't fall apart during baking. A mandolin slicer makes quick work of getting perfectly thin and even slices for this upside-down delight. 104 of 131 Sorghum Custard Pie with Cornmeal Crust Johnny Autry; Food Styling: Keia Mastrianni; Prop Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Sorghum Custard Pie with Cornmeal Crust "Sorghum syrup is the currency of the mountains, and this product bears the signature of the land from which it came as well as the hand of its maker," notes North Carolina writer and baker Keia Mastrianni. "This pie tries to capture the essence of sorghum with its notes of grass and cane in a delicate custard filling." 105 of 131 Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Our Test Kitchen described this new dessert as "everything you love about about chocolate torte and pumpkin pie all in one delicious package," so yes, your family is going to gobble it up this Thanksgiving. Since it needs to chill well before serving, it's the perfect make-ahead option for the holiday. 106 of 131 Apple Butter Cobbler with Drop Biscuits Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Apple Butter Cobbler with Drop Biscuits This warm and cozy apple cobbler might be the best thing you make in your cast-iron skillet this fall. It starts with our homemade Slow-Cooker Apple Butter, which can be made up to one month in advance and stored in the fridge. 107 of 131 Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes Photographer: Alison Miksch Food Stylist: Erin Merhar Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee Recipe: Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes Prepare these cute mini cheesecakes up to two days in advance and top them with fresh whipped cream before serving. Fair warning: You might want to make a double batch. 108 of 131 Apple Rose Tart Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Recipe: Apple Rose Tart If you're asked to bring dessert to this year's Thanksgiving celebration, and you're really looking to impress the whole crew, look no further than this gorgeous dessert. 109 of 131 Pam Lolley's Pecan Pie Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Pam Lolley's Pecan Pie Southern Living readers know to trust a dessert recipe from Test Kitchen pro Pam Lolley. Since this pie came from her own mother's kitchen, it's doubly trustworthy. 110 of 131 Pumpkin Soufflé Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Pumpkin Soufflé Airy, creamy, and wonderfully spiced for the fall season, these Pumpkin Soufflés will dazzle your Thanksgiving crowd. Pair them with a hot cup of coffee after the big meal. 111 of 131 Mini Cranberry-Cheesecake Pies David Malosh; Prop Styling: Robyn Glaser; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero Recipe: Mini Cranberry-Cheesecake Pies These lovely tiny pies add a nice bit of color to a Thanksgiving dessert lineup that can often look a bit bland when it comes to the color wheel. Our Test Kitchen recommends serving any remaining cranberry compote over turkey, muddled into cocktails, or spooned over biscuits or hot sandwiches. 112 of 131 Amanda Mack's Apple-Almond Spice Cake with Brown Butter Frosting Gabriela Herman Recipe: Amanda Mack's Apple-Almond Spice Cake with Brown Butter Frosting You might not think to serve a loaf cake for dessert on Thanksgiving, but this recipe from Maryland bakery owner and one of our Southern Living 2021 Cooks of the Year Amanda Mack will convince you otherwise. Brown butter frosting, apple chips, and toasted almonds make for holiday-worthy presentation. 113 of 131 Caramel Apple-Pear Pie Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Caramel Apple-Pear Pie Apples shouldn't get all the attention at Thanksgiving. This pie recipe will prove they were meant to be paired with pears (no pun intended). 114 of 131 Mini Chocolate-Pecan Pies David Malosh; Prop Styling: Robyn Glaser; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero Recipe: Mini Chocolate-Pecan Pies "Everyone really liked these and this will go in my 'keeper' file," wrote one reviewer of these mini pies. They make the sweetest gifts, so bake a double batch and give a few to neighbors or teachers. 115 of 131 Apple Spice Cake Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner Recipe: Apple Spice Cake If you're over everything pumpkin spice, try this Apple Spice Cake out this Thanksgiving. The ingredient list isn't too extensive for a holiday dessert, but the flavor is impressive. 116 of 131 Brown Sugar Baked Pears Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Brown Sugar Baked Pears These baked pears are the perfect blend of elegant and easy for a dressy Thanksgiving dinner. Try a scoop of our editors' favorite vanilla ice cream on top. 117 of 131 Caramel Apple Blondie Pie Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Caramel Apple Blondie Pie Caramel apples are one of fall's greatest pleasures, and this decadent skillet pie takes their flavor to new heights. A drizzle of Apple Cider Caramel Sauce on top makes this dessert almost too good to be true. 118 of 131 Dark Chocolate-Pear Cake Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Dark Chocolate-Pear Cake This cast-iron skillet dessert is a rich addition to the usual pies of Thanksgiving. Because of its crisp edges and gooey center, our Test Kitchen called this a "brownie cake." 119 of 131 Apple Pie with Salted Pine Nut Streusel Ann Pittman Recipe: Apple Pie with Salted Pine Nut Streusel If you don't have time to fuss with a lattice crust this Thanksgiving, try this apple pie recipe that's topped with a sweet-and-salty streusel. Plus, it's gluten-free! 120 of 131 Pumpkin Pound Cake Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey Recipe: Pumpkin Pound Cake This moist Pumpkin Pound Cake can hold its own on the Thanksgiving dessert table as-is, but the maple-butter glaze on top lands it in the No. 1 spot. A tip from the Test Kitchen: Don't overbeat the eggs, as that can cause a soufflé effect in your cake. 121 of 131 Mini Pear-Cranberry Pies David Malosh; Prop Styling: Robyn Glaser; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero Recipe: Mini Pear-Cranberry Pies We used leaf cookie cutters to make for an unforgettable presentation with these seasonal mini pies, but you could top them with a lattice crust or simply a dollop of whipped cream instead. 122 of 131 Pear-Plum Tartlets Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Pear-Plum Tartlets Not only do these pretty little tartlets make a beautiful addition to your Thanksgiving dessert spread, they'd fit in just as well with brunch and coffee the next morning. 123 of 131 Blackberry-Apple Butter Pie Bars Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Blackberry-Apple Butter Pie Bars These fruity pie bars are basically like a slab pie, which is one of the best ways to feed dessert to a crowd. The ingredient list and instructions are simple, but the recipe is beautiful and tastes more complex than you might think. 124 of 131 Caramel-Apple Cookies Photographer: Alison Miksch Food Stylist: Erin Merhar Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee Recipe: Caramel-Apple Cookies These pretty cookies will travel well to your Thanksgiving supper, but be sure to make them the day of, as the apples will brown. 125 of 131 Apple Pie Cake Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Apple Pie Cake With this easy 13x9 dessert recipe, even Mama won't realize you used a boxed cake mix. It will become a family favorite at Thanksgiving. 126 of 131 Maple-Pecan-Pear Cheesecake Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Maple-Pecan-Pear Cheesecake This light and smooth cheesecake features fresh fall pears in the filling and the topping. The best news for busy Thanksgiving hosts is that this makes a great make-ahead dessert; simply bake the cheesecake up to 3 days in advance, then make the topping day-of and top just before serving. 127 of 131 Pecan Pie Bread Pudding Recipe: Pecan Pie Bread Pudding We have a knack for making mash-ups of some of our favorite recipes (looking at you, Margarita Cake!), and this Pecan Pie Bread Pudding is a stroke of Test Kitchen genius. Don't ignore the standing time—it allows the bread to soak up the custard mixture for perfect, non-soupy texture. 128 of 131 Mini Cinnamon-Apple Pies David Malosh; Prop Styling: Robyn Glaser; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero Recipe: Mini Cinnamon-Apple Pies No kids will fight over who got the biggest piece of pie when they all receive their own perfectly portioned ones! We saved time by using refrigerated pie crusts, but feel free to use your favorite homemade recipe instead. 129 of 131 Salted Irish Cream Apple Crostata Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Salted Irish Cream Apple Crostata Dallas-based food stylist, photographer, author of Black Girl Baking, and one of Southern Living's own Cooks of the Year in 2020 Jerrelle Guy dreamed up this cover-worthy dessert. "Really just a decadent and perfect dessert!" wrote one five-star reviewer. 130 of 131 Simplest Pear Tart Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Simplest Pear Tart Though the preparation for this Pear Tart is simple, the presentation wows. Frozen puff pastry makes for quick work of this dessert that needs just a few more ingredients. 131 of 131 Black Walnut-Buttermilk Pie with Hibiscus-Cranberry Relish Johnny Autry; Food Styling: Keia Mastrianni; Prop Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Black Walnut-Buttermilk Pie with Hibiscus-Cranberry Relish "Hibiscus flowers, grown by my farmer husband, make a mouth-puckering stand-in for cranberries, which don't grow in our region. I like to mix the two in this holiday relish, but you can use all cranberries just the same," says North Carolina writer and baker Keia Mastrianni. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit