Our Favorite Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

Apple Pie Sorbet via good housekeeping

Of course, Thanksgiving a dinner feast is about the turkey, potatoes, stuffing, and sides. But today, we’re talking about the desserts that steal the show. Though we love a classic apple or pumpkin pie, it’s time for something different this year. Here are some of our favorite less-traditional Thanksgiving dessert recipes!

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

(image via the pioneer woman/caitlin bensel)

Combine pumpkin with a classic sugar cookie recipe, and you get this super festive dessert that will tingle everyone’s taste buds. Check out this recipe from The Pioneer Woman.

Ingredients:

For the Cookies:

• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• 1¼ tsp granulated sugar
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup pumpkin purée
• 1 large egg
• 1½ tsp vanilla extract

For the Icing:

• 2½ cups powdered sugar
• 2 Tbsp pumpkin purée
• ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 2 Tbsp water
• White sparkling sugar (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a standard mixer bowl fitted with a paddle attachment, beat sugar and butter on medium until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in pumpkin purée, egg, and vanilla extract until combined, about 1 minute. Add flour mixture and beat on low until the wet and dry ingredients are incorporated, about 30 seconds. Cover mixture and chill for at least 2 hours.
3. Preheat oven to 350° F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
4. Scoop dough into small balls (about 2 Tbsp each) and arrange 2 inches apart on baking sheets.
5. Bake until cookies are puffed and lightly browned, 11-12 minutes. Let the cookies cool before applying icing.
6. In a medium bowl, whisk together icing ingredients. Spoon 1 teaspoon of icing on top of each cookie, then sprinkle with white sparkling sugar, if desired. Let the cookies sit for 45 minutes before serving.

Baked Applesauce Donuts

(image via good housekeeping)

This applesauce donut recipe from Good Housekeeping is out-of-this-world!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ¾ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp apple pie spice
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
• ¼ cup packed dark brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
• ⅓ cup applesauce
• 3 Tbsp whole milk
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar (for coating)
• ½ tsp apple pie spice (for coating)
• 1 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Coat a 6-cavity donut pan with nonstick spray.
2. In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, apple pie spice, and salt. Once combined, beat butter and sugars on medium until light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, and applesauce to the mixer and mix on low to combine. Add half the flour mixture and milk. Mix until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
3. Transfer batter to a large piping bag to easily fill each cavity about ¾ full. Use a wet finger to smooth the tops. Bake 20-22 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through.
4. To make the coating, combine sugar and apple pie spice in a bowl. Once the donuts are cooked, let cool for a few minutes before removing from pan. Lightly brush melted butter onto each and sprinkle spiced sugar on top.

German Chocolate Pie

(image via country living/hector m. sanchez)

Chocolate cookie crust with a delectable filling and even fancier topping? That’s what a classic German chocolate pie is all about. Pair this recipe from Country Living with your favorite coffee drink, and you’ll practically be in heaven.

Ingredients:

For the Crust:

• 9 oz package chocolate wafer cookies
• 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
• ⅛ tsp kosher salt
• 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

For the Filling:

• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ tsp kosher salt
• 6 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 oz German chocolate, chopped
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• ⅓ cup milk
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

For the Topping:

• 3 large egg yolks
• 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
• 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1½ tsp vanilla extract
• ⅛ tsp kosher salt
• 1½ cups sweetened shredded coconut
• ¾ cup chopped toasted pecans

Instructions:

1. For the Crust: Preheat oven to 350° F. Process cookies in a food processor until finely ground. Add salt, sugar, and butter, and pulse until combined. Press into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Bake 10-12 minutes or until slightly puffed on bottom. Cook on a wire rack.
2. For the Filling: Whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, flour, and salt. Place butter and chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted. Add chocolate, eggs, milk, and vanilla to the sugar mixture and whisk to combine. Pour mixture into crust. Bake until set, 25-30 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for 2 hours.
3. For the Topping: In a medium saucepan, whisk together egg yolks and condensed milk. Add butter and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thickened and bubbly, 3-5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the vanilla, salt, coconut, and pecans. Allow to cool on a wire rack.
4. Spread topping on pie. Chill for at least 2 hours.

Apple Pie Sorbet 

(image via good housekeeping)

The heck with apple pie! Bring an apple pie sorbet and watch everyone’s jaws drop in awe. Check out this recipe from Good Housekeeping.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups applesauce
• ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp kosher salt

Instructions:

1. Prepare ice cream maker per the manufacturer’s instructions. In a medium bowl, combine applesauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and salt. Cover mixture and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
2. Add applesauce mixture to ice cream maker. Churn until the consistency is soft-serve, about 25 minutes. If you’d like the consistency to be harder, transfer sorbet to an airtight container and freeze for at least 2 hours.
3. Scoop into bowls and top with crumbled gingersnaps, if desired.

Tiramisu Dip

(image via good housekeeping/mike garten)

Tiramisu in a dip form? What dessert could be better than that? This dessert from Good Housekeeping is a dream come true. You can serve it with anything, but we think ladyfingers make the most delectable combination.

Ingredients:

• 3 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 1½ cups heavy cream
• ¼ cups Kahlúa
• 8 oz mascarpone
• ½ cup confectioners’ sugar
• ½ tsp instant espresso powder
• ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
• Kosher salt
• Unsweetened cocoa powder
• Ladyfingers

Instructions:

1. Place chopped chocolate in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan, combine ¼ cup heavy cream and Kahlúa on medium heat until simmering. Pour cream over the chocolate and let sit for 5 minutes, stirring until smooth. Refrigerate mixture until cool and pourable.
2. Beat mascarpone, confectioners’ sugar, espresso powder, vanilla, and a pinch of salt in a mixer until smooth and creamy. Gradually add remaining heavy cream and beat until stiff peaks form.
3. Divide tiramisu into glasses and layer with chocolate sauce. Dust with cocoa powder and serve with ladyfingers.

Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving dessert recipe? Share it with us in the comments below!