If pie just isn’t your thing, this list is for you! Here is my list of the best Thanksgiving desserts (that aren’t pie!)! I’m sharing 25+ pie-free desserts, you’ll find everything from classics like pumpkin bars to fun new twists like cranberry cake and apple pie cookies!
Pie-Free Thanksgiving Desserts
When you think of Thanksgiving desserts, do you think of pie? Most people do, but there are SO many other options! This curated list explores the many pie alternatives for your Thanksgiving dessert table. If pie isn’t your thing or you simply want a variety of desserts this year, you are going to LOVE these recipes!
Below you’ll find a collection of my favorite fall desserts made with festive ingredients like cranberries, pecans, apples, and of course, pumpkin. There’s really something for everybody in this list, but if I had to name a fan favorite, it has to be my pumpkin cheesecake bars (#1 on the list). They are so easy to make, slice into neat, perfectly portioned squares, and have a gorgeous swirled appearance every is so impressed by!
Don’t worry though, if cheesecake isn’t your thing, there’s plenty more to choose from. So grab your pumpkin spice, and let’s get baking!
1. Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
Beautifully swirled and perfectly handheld, these pumpkin cheesecake bars are an easy and impressive dessert to add to your Thanksgiving menu.
My recipe is made WITHOUT a water bath uses just 12 ingredients. These are so much easier and less fussy than traditional cheesecake!
PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE BARS RECIPE
2. Spice Cake
Spice cake has a warm, spiced flavor perfect for Thanksgiving. It’s not too festive in it’s flavor, unlike gingerbread, which is a Christmas classic!
This simple spice cake is packed with fall spices and cloaked in a silky cream cheese frosting. Works great as a layer cake or sheet cake!
SPICE CAKE RECIPE
3. Butter Pecan Cookies
So cozy and flavorful, these are one of the easiest Thanksgiving desserts.
Made with toasted pecans, brown sugar, and plenty of butter, these soft and chewy cookies are packed full of flavor. NO mixer and NO chilling required!
BUTTER PECAN COOKIE RECIPE
4. Apple Pie Cheesecake
All the flavor of Dutch apple pie, but in cheesecake form! This is always a hit at parties.
This cheesecake is served on a walnut-infused crust (or leave out the walnuts!) and topped with an easy crumb topping. It’s so festive and perfect for fall!
APPLE CHEESECAKE RECIPE
5. Maple Leaf Cookies
How cute are these maple leaf cookies? They would be so pretty on their own plate or used as a decoration/garnish for other desserts.
Thin and crispy maple leaf cookies are as cute as they are tasty! They are infused with real maple syrup and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.
MAPLE LEAF COOKIE RECIPE
6. Pumpkin Cake
Pumpkin cake is a great choice for feeding a crowd (or celebrating a Thanksgiving birthday, which Luke has every few years). I also have a pumpkin bundt cake recipe and pumpkin cupcakes that you might enjoy.
This tender spiced pumpkin cake is fast, easy, and impressive. Spread my simple cream cheese frosting overtop for a show-stopping cake!
PUMPKIN CAKE RECIPE
7. Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
One of my all-time favorite pumpkin recipes, these pumpkin snickerdoodles perfectly balance classic snickerdoodles and pumpkin cookies.
Buttery, soft, and chewy pumpkin snickerdoodles are the fall cookie of your dreams! No mixer needed and just 45 minutes to chill.
PUMPKIN SNICKERDOODLE RECIPE
8. Pecan Pie Bars
These pecan pie bars are one of my most popular Thanksgiving desserts. The buttery shortbread crust is a fun and oh-so-tasty addition to the classic pie recipe.
Perfect for feeding a crowd, these nutty pecan pie bars are a fast and fun twist on the classic Thanksgiving dessert.
PECAN PIE BAR RECIPE
9. Orange Cranberry Cookies
Cranberry orange cookies make the perfect holiday dessert. Serve them for Thanksgiving or bookmark this recipe for your Christmas cookie baking!
Infused with real orange zest and juice, these soft and chewy orange cranberry cookies are so festive. No chilling required!
ORANGE CRANBERRY COOKIES RECIPE
10. Apple Pie Cookies
These are a showstopper at the dessert table every single time. If you want to impress people, bring these cookies, seriously. They even have an “a la mode” topping that’s optional but I mean look how cute it is.
My adorable and tasty apple pie cookies have a homemade apple pie filling, crumb topping, and optional “ice cream” buttercream decoration.
APPLE PIE COOKIES RECIPE
11. Pumpkin Bars
Not quite cookie, not quite cake, these are a fun and classic hybrid of the two. The cream cheese frosting smeared on top is my favorite part.
A fast fall dessert! These pumpkin bars take just 20 minutes to prep before they go in the oven.
PUMPKIN BARS RECIPE
12. Butter Pecan Cake
If you’re looking for a pecan pie alternative, try my butter pecan cake. People fall just as in love with the soft cake crumb as they do the delicate brown sugar frosting.
Incredibly soft and moist, this cake simply melts in your mouth! It has chopped pecans throughout and is topped with brown sugar frosting.
BUTTER PECAN CAKE RECIPE
13. Spice Cookies
These soft and chewy spice cookies can be customized to your liking. Chill them longer for thicker cookies, or stick with 30 minutes for average thickness.
These cookies are infused with five different spices and topped with an easy vanilla drizzle. So warm and cozy!
SPICE COOKIES RECIPE
14. Bread Pudding
Bread pudding is a classic holiday dessert. We love it on the dessert table just as much as we do on the breakfast table (beside a dish of breakfast casserole) Make this, and everyone will be asking you for the recipe!
This classic bread pudding recipe can be customized with dried fruit, nuts, or chocolate, or keep it simple and serve with the buttery sauce.
BREAD PUDDING RECIPE
15. Pumpkin Cheesecake
A pumpkin pie alternative, this pumpkin cheesecake is equally as impressive and festive.
No water bath required! Top yours with my homemade cinnamon whipped cream for the best flavor.
PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE RECIPE
16. Apple Dumplings
Made with homemade pie crust (hint: you can also use my sourdough pie crust) and fresh apples, these apple dumplings are reminiscent of apple pie and so much fun! This is my grandmother’s recipe and it’s been loved for generations 💕
Old-fashioned apple dumplings are made with juicy, tender spiced apples baked inside a buttery crust and topped off with a simple syrup.
APPLE DUMPLING RECIPE
17. Cranberry Cake
Cranberries aren’t just for cranberry sauce! I use them in quite a few of my Thanksgiving desserts. Also see my cranberry bundt cake recipe, if you’re looking for something with a more elevated presentation.
My festive cranberry cake is so plush and moist, and it tastes just like sugared cranberries. Only 15 minutes to prep!
CRANBERRY CAKE RECIPE
18. Candied Pecans
Everyone absolutely loves these! They also make a fantastic homemade gift (so do these cookie mix in a jar gifts!) for the holidays.
You only need a few ingredients and ten minutes to prep sweet spiced pecans. Save leftovers for fall salads!
CANDIED PECANS RECIPE
19. Apple Crisp
Who doesn’t like apple crisp? This fall favorite deserves a spot among your Thanksgiving desserts!
No pastry cutter needed! My easy recipe can be prepped in just 10 minutes and is ready within an hour.
APPLE CRISP RECIPE
20. Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Whoopie pies are an old-fashioned favorite, especially this pumpkin version!
Fluffy pumpkin cookies surround smooth cream cheese frosting in this pumpkin whoopie pie recipe. Perfect for making in advance!
PUMPKIN WHOOPIE PIE RECIPE
21. Praline Cookies
Inspired by pecan praline candy, these cookies will disappear off your Thanksgiving dessert table!
These cookies are studded with chopped pecans and topped with an easy praline candy topping. No chilling and no candy thermometer required!
PRALINE COOKIE RECIPE
22. Apple Cake
This is my grandmother’s traditional apple cake recipe, with a few of my own modifications. I also have an apple crumb cake that would work nicely for dessert or Thanksgiving breakfast.
Made with fresh apples and topped with cinnamon sugar, this apple cake is a classic dessert recipe. Can be made in a bundt or sheet pan.
APPLE CAKE RECIPE
23. Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
Gourmet cookies can be just as impressive and satisfying as other Thanksgiving desserts, especially when they are stuffed with cheesecake!
24. Pumpkin Fudge
This adorable pumpkin fudge is fun served alongside your Thanksgiving desserts or as a homemade gift!
No candy thermometer or marshmallow fluff needed! This fudge is sweet, creamy, and perfectly spiced.
PUMPKIN FUDGE RECIPE
25. Brown Butter Blondies
Infused with fall flavor and oh so decadent! We love serving ours with a scoop of ice cream and caramel sauce.
Decadent, chewy blondies made with browned butter, maple syrup, and a crisp walnut crumble.
BROWNED BUTTER BLONDIE RECIPE
26. White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
A classic! You could also try my pumpkin oatmeal cookies.
My version has the best texture; slightly crisp on the outside with a soft and chewy interior. They are loaded with white chocolate, dried cranberries, and oats.
WHITE CHOCOLATE CRANBERRY COOKIE RECIPE
27. Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispie Treats
If your family loves classic rice krispie treats, make them this pumpkin spice version! So easy and there’s no baking required.
Still want to include a few pies on your dessert table? I have huge collection of pie recipes to choose from. Or skip the browsing and head right over to my list of my top 10 best pie recipes.
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family. Keep scrolling for a few more Thanksgiving recipes you might want to try!
Enjoy!
If you try any of these recipes, be sure to tag me on Instagram, and you can also find me on YouTube and Facebook
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