15 Reader-Favorite Thanksgiving Desserts Everyone’s Baking This Year
Thanksgiving may be about the turkey, but dessert is where the celebration truly begins. It’s the moment when every guest leans back, grinning, and makes “just a little more” room.
Across kitchens everywhere, ovens hum with cinnamon, brown sugar, and butter as families bake their time-honored favorites – and a few new obsessions.
These desserts aren’t just sweet endings; they’re the taste of togetherness. Here are fifteen reader-loved treats everyone’s baking this year.
1. Pecan Pie
Buttery, crunchy, and impossibly sweet, this Southern classic never goes out of style. The gooey filling paired with toasted pecans creates a texture combo that’s downright addictive.
Fun fact: Pecan pie didn’t become popular until the late 1800s when corn syrup hit the market. Now it’s a must-have at nearly every Thanksgiving table, and one slice is never enough!
2. Pumpkin Pie
You can’t talk Thanksgiving without mentioning this spiced superstar. Smooth, creamy, and loaded with cinnamon and nutmeg, pumpkin pie is basically autumn in dessert form.
Top it with fresh whipped cream or go wild with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar. Either way, this orange beauty has been winning hearts since colonial times and shows no signs of slowing down.
3. Old-Fashioned Apple Pie
Nothing says comfort like warm apple pie straight from the oven. The flaky crust and tender cinnamon-spiced apples create pure magic with every forkful.
Granny Smith apples work best because they hold their shape and add a nice tartness. Serve it with vanilla ice cream, and you’ve got yourself a dessert that’ll have everyone asking for the recipe!
4. Sweet Potato Pie
Silky, smooth, and subtly spiced, sweet potato pie brings soul food vibes to your Thanksgiving spread. It’s less sweet than pumpkin pie but packs way more depth of flavor.
The secret? Real sweet potatoes mashed until perfectly creamy, mixed with butter, eggs, and warm spices. One bite and you’ll understand why this dessert has generations of devoted fans.
5. Hummingbird Cake
Packed with bananas, pineapple, and pecans, this Southern stunner is basically a tropical vacation for your taste buds. The cream cheese frosting? Absolutely dreamy.
Despite the fancy name, hummingbird cake is surprisingly easy to make and always gets rave reviews. It’s moist, flavorful, and different enough to stand out among all those pies on the dessert table.
6. Carrot Cake
Vegetables for dessert? Absolutely! Carrot cake somehow makes eating your veggies feel like a treat, with warm spices and sweet cream cheese frosting doing all the heavy lifting.
The grated carrots keep it incredibly moist, while walnuts or pecans add crunch. It’s practically health food when you think about it – okay, maybe not, but it’s delicious regardless!
7. Coconut Cream Pie
Creamy, dreamy, and crowned with fluffy meringue, coconut cream pie is pure indulgence. The custard filling is loaded with shredded coconut that gives every bite a tropical twist.
Toast the meringue until it’s golden for that gorgeous presentation and subtle caramelized flavor. This pie looks fancy but comes together easier than you’d think, making it perfect for impressing guests!
8. Classic Coconut Cake
This towering beauty looks like it’s covered in fresh snow and tastes like heaven. Layers of tender cake get slathered with sweet frosting and completely blanketed in shredded coconut.
It’s the kind of dessert that makes everyone stop and stare when you bring it to the table. Plus, that first forkful of moist cake with all that coconut? Absolutely unforgettable.
9. Classic Chess Pie
Simple ingredients create something surprisingly spectacular in this old-timey favorite. Chess pie has a sweet, custardy filling that’s almost impossible to describe – you just have to taste it.
Legend says it got its name when a Southern baker was asked what kind of pie it was and replied, “It’s jes’ pie.” Whatever the origin, this humble dessert deserves way more attention!
10. Pumpkin Roll
Part cake, part cream cheese heaven, all delicious. This rolled beauty looks impressive but is easier to make than most people think, as long as you roll it while it’s still warm.
The soft pumpkin sponge cake wrapped around tangy cream cheese filling creates the perfect bite every single time. Dust it with powdered sugar for that bakery-worthy finish everyone will love.
11. Pumpkin-Cheesecake Pie with Gingersnap Crust
Talk about an upgrade! The spicy gingersnap crust adds serious personality to this hybrid dessert that combines the best parts of pumpkin pie and cheesecake.
Each layer brings something special to the party – crunchy, creamy, spiced, and smooth all at once. It’s the kind of dessert that makes people lean in and ask, “Wait, what’s in this?” right before requesting seconds.
12. Poached Pear Frangipane Tart
Fancy pants alert! This French-inspired tart features tender poached pears nestled in almond cream filling that bakes up golden and gorgeous.
Frangipane sounds intimidating but it’s basically almond paste mixed with butter and eggs – totally doable! The result is an elegant dessert that tastes like you hired a professional pastry chef. Your guests will be seriously impressed by this beauty.
13. Cranberry Upside-Down Cake
Tart cranberries get the caramelized treatment in this stunning cake that flips your expectations upside down – literally! The jewel-toned berries create a gorgeous topping that tastes even better than it looks.
The cake itself is buttery and moist, perfectly complementing those tangy cranberries. It’s like Thanksgiving in cake form, bringing all those classic flavors together in one beautiful package.
14. Pumpkin Praline Bars
These bars bring serious game to your dessert lineup. A buttery shortbread crust gets topped with spiced pumpkin filling, then finished with a crunchy praline layer that’s basically candy.
They’re way easier to serve than pie – no slicing drama – and the three-layer texture situation is absolutely addictive. Plus, they’re perfect for feeding a crowd without breaking a sweat!
15. Chocolate Tart with Pomegranates and Hazelnuts
Rich, decadent, and totally sophisticated, this chocolate tart is for the guests who’d rather skip the pumpkin everything. Silky chocolate ganache filling gets topped with jewel-like pomegranate seeds and crunchy hazelnuts.
The contrast of bitter chocolate, tart pomegranate, and nutty hazelnuts creates flavor fireworks in your mouth. It’s the grown-up dessert option that still feels totally festive and special.
