30 Thanksgiving Desserts That Are Not Pie

By Rachel Mulcahy
Photo: Alison Miksch

In the South, bringing homemade pies to Thanksgiving dinner is as common as bringing hot casseroles to a neighbor. Although greatly appreciated, it’s often expected. Seasonal cakes and cookies can go unnoticed during the holiday season, but we are here to give them their moment in the spotlight.

Serve the unexpected this holiday season. Put your collection of pies on the backburner, and try an autumnal cake or cookie instead. These signature cakes, cookies, and bars will be the star of the show against a very saturated pie spread. We’ve collected Thanksgiving treats that are even better than pies. From Apple Upside Cake to Pecan Pie Bars, these stunning desserts will make you forget about all about that pumpkin pie. Refresh your Thanksgiving dessert spread with one of these irresistible treats.  

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Think Outside the Pie Pan for Thanksgiving Dessert

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Pumpkin Spice Magic Cake

Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Magic Cake

This impressive Bundt cake is as delicious as it is stunning.

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Caramel Apple Cake

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Caramel Apple Cake

This showstopping cake is drizzled with homemade caramel sauce.

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Spiced Pecan Pie Bars

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Spiced Pecan Pie Bars

Swap out the pecan pie for these bite-sized treats.

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Butterscotch Cookies

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Butterscotch Cookies

These soft and chewy oatmeal cookies are richly filled with butterscotch chips and toasted oats, but you can add in chocolate chips for an even sweeter cookie fix.

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Classic Apple Upside Down Cake

Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Erin Merhar

Recipe: Classic Apple Upside Down Cake

Swap out your apple pie for this stunning upside-down cake.

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Caramel Apple Coffee Cake

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Caramel Apple Coffee Cake

Grab fresh apples from the farmer’s market and whip up this decadent apple cake.

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Chocolate Torte

Micah Leal

Recipe: Chocolate Torte

The perfect chocolate-filled finish after a hearty Thanksgiving dinner.

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Pumpkin Layer Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting

Alison Gootee; Styling: Suzonne Stirling

Recipe: Pumpkin Layer Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin and caramel join forces to make this award-worthy dessert.

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Butter Toffee-Pecan Layer Cake

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Butter Toffee-Pecan Layer Cake

This rich, three-layer cake will fulfill everyone’s sweet tooth.

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Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

These old-fashioned cookies are Granny’s signature dessert.

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Gingerbread-and-Pear Upside-Down Cake

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Gingerbread-and-Pear Upside-Down Cake

Topped with caramelized pears, this cake is more impressive than any classic pie.

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Chocolate-Caramel Cookie Cups

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Chocolate-Caramel Cookie Cups

We elevated classic chocolate cookies into cookie cups that contain ooey gooey caramel filling.

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Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Nothing says fall quite like Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes.

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Crème Brûlée Cheesecake

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Crème Brûlée Cheesecake

This simple and easy cheesecake has a caramelized finish.

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Buttermilk-Pecan Pralines

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Buttermilk-Pecan Pralines

Set out a tin of these sugary treats, and they will be gone in seconds.

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Southern Sweet Potato Cake

Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Erin Merhar

Recipe: Southern Sweet Potato Cake

Talk about a sugar rush—this sugary Sweet Potato Cake is covered in brown sugar icing.

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Gingerbread Cake with Buttermilk Frosting

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Gingerbread Cake with Buttermilk Frosting

Nothing is more comforting than the aroma of gingerbread when you're with family.

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Chocolate-Pecan Phyllo Turnovers

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Chocolate-Pecan Phyllo Turnovers

If you love pecan pie, then you need to try these chocolate drizzled pecan turnovers.

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Brown Sugar-Rum Cake

Southern Living

Recipe: Brown Sugar-Rum Cake

This extra creamy cake is oh-so heavenly.

 

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Cranberry-Apple Tartlets

Linda Pugliese

Recipe: Cranberry-Apple Tartlets

Honeycrisp apples and cranberries are the perfect pair in these bite-sized tartlets.

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Brown Butter-Maple-Pecan Blondies

Linda Pugliese

Recipe: Brown Butter-Maple-Pecan Blondies

These blondies are sure to be a crowd favorite, make sure to use high-quality maple syrup for a sweeter taste.

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Pecan Pie Brownies

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pecan Pie Brownies

Decadent and gooey, these brownies will melt in your mouth.

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Pecan Snowball Cookies

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pecan Snowball Cookies

These Southern classic cookies are coated in powdered sugar and stuffed with crushed pecans.

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Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies

Victor Protasio

Recipe: Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies

Kids will love this s’more-like treat.

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Pecan Tassies

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pecan Tassies

These indulgent Pecan Tassies have the best of both worlds, by combining pecan pie and shortbread cookies.

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Nutty Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

Southern Living

Recipe: Nutty Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

Filled with creamy peanut butter, these thumbprint cookies are next level decadent.

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Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley

Recipe: Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls

Would you believe us if we said that this no-bake recipe has only four ingredients?

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Praline Mini Cakes

Southern Living

Recipe: Praline Mini Cakes

These sugary Bundt cakes are the perfect bite-sized treat—no sharing required.

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Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies

The addition of pumpkin elevates classic brownies and turns them into ooey-gooey treats.

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Pumpkin-Espresso Tiramisu

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Pumpkin-Espresso Tiramisù

This Pumpkin-Espresso Tiramisù deserves to be front and center at the dessert table.

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