63 Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas That Aren’t Pie!
63 of the Best Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas That Aren’t Pie – Thanksgiving is coming soon, and everyone is busy planning this big family event that we all love and enjoy, but are you prepared? Do you want something different to eat for dessert that isn’t a pie but can’t seem to find enough dessert ideas in one place? You’re in luck! Continue reading as we are featuring some of the best Thanksgiving dessert recipes that will have everyone’s mouth-watering.
We all know that there’s nothing like a good Thanksgiving pie, but sometimes it’s nice to mix things up!
Sometimes it’s nice to have more on your Thanksgiving dessert table than just pie, but it may not be so easy to come up with ideas on how exactly to replace the more traditional Thanksgiving desserts. Not to worry, you won’t have to spend hours combing the internet to find the best Thanksgiving dessert ideas that is exactly what we focus on in this post!
If you’re looking for something other than pie to present on your thanksgiving dessert table this year, look no further! We’ve put together a round-up of over 60 dessert ideas that are perfect for Thanksgiving and not a single one is a pie! You’ll find the best of the best non-pie recipes including decadent options like buttermilk-pumpkin pound cake and sweet potato cupcakes with toasted meringue frosting as well as simple recipes like pumpkin molasses cookies with cream cheese frosting. There is something for everyone on this list!
Move over turkey and stuffing – desserts are going to steal the show this Thanksgiving!
What are the most common Thanksgiving desserts?
The most popular and traditional Thanksgiving desserts table would not be complete without a pumpkin pie, it is hands down the number one Thanksgiving dessert. You’re also likely to find desserts made with apples, sweet potatoes, cranberry, and even carrots. Cakes, cookies, brownies – nothing is off-limits when planning what to make and include with your Thanksgiving dinner.
How many dessert options should you have at Thanksgiving?
Desserts are one of the most important dishes to have on hand for Thanksgiving, and having 3-4 options will allow your guests to enjoy a variety of flavors that will be the perfect complement to your dinner, but this will depend on the number of people attending your celebration. Consider having one large pie or cake and some small bites for everyone to enjoy, as well as some fun desserts for the kids at your party, which I am sure they will enjoy.
A good rule of thumb is to have 2-3 dessert options for every six people. That means if you are expecting 12-15 guests you’ll want to have 4-6 different options depending on the size and quantity of the desserts you end up making. Plus, no one complains about having to take home a bunch of delicious leftover desserts after the big meal!
63 Best Thanksgiving Desserts That Aren’t Pie!
Cast Iron Skillet Apple Crisp
This warm apple crisp with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel is a friendly, bubbly, and delicious Thanksgiving dessert that is easy to make and requires way less work than a traditional apple pie.
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Pumpkin Dump Cake
If you don’t want to deal with pie crust but still want a freshly baked pumpkin dessert, try this Pumpkin Dump Cake recipe. It’s one of the simplest Thanksgiving desserts I’ve ever made.
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Pecan Pie Brownies Recipe
Move over pecan pie. Pecan brownies are where it’s at this year. This Thanksgiving classic is given a fun twist without the hassle of pie making! Caramelized pecans and chewy, fudgy brownies make up the foundation of this not so pecan pie recipe.
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Blackberry and Blueberry Galette Recipe
This rustic galette recipe with a golden buttery crust is baked with blackberries, juicy blueberries, and rosemary. While this isn’t the technical definition of a pie. It does have the crusty bottom we all love. Serve your Blueberry Galette with vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream and a dusting of powdered sugar.
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Buttermilk-Pumpkin Pound Cake
This dense, rich buttermilk-pumpkin pound cake is ideal for the holiday season. Every bite is a treat, moist and bursting with fall flavors. This recipe is also easy to make and delicious.
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Pumpkin Spice Molasses Cookies , Cream Cheese Icing
These molasses cookies are chewy and delicious, and with a touch of pumpkin pie spice, they are amazing! The maple cream cheese frosting balances out the spices perfectly. It makes a great Thanksgiving dessert that isn’t pie!
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Bread Pudding with Brown Butter Bourbon Sauce
The bourbon sauce is rich, luscious, and makes you want to pour the whole pitcher over because it’s so delicious! To make your bread pudding even more decadent, add raisins, almonds, marshmallows, chocolate chips, and so on.
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Paleo Pecan Pie Bars
These Paleo Pecan Pie Bars have all of the great flavors of a pecan pie but are much easier to make! These bars are delicious at any time of year, but I particularly enjoy them during the holidays. An egg is used in the shortbread layer to help it rise. In this delectable treat, maple syrup is used to sweeten both the shortbread layer and the pecan filling. This is a must-see! The buttery crust is delicious. The center of the pie has a wonderful combination of sweetness, saltiness, and crunch.
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Pecan Pie Cheesecake
This elegant pecan pie cheesecake is a smooth, creamy brown sugar cheesecake with a rich and delicious pecan sauce on top. This is a great dessert to serve during the holidays that looks great but is easy to make. This recipe calls for a graham cracker crust, which is pressed into the bottom and sides of a springform pan. Butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, heavy cream, corn syrup, and pecans make up the topping. The cheesecake can be made up to three days ahead of time and served chilled or with rosettes of whipped cream on top.
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Easy Cranberry Fluff Recipe
Cranberry fluff with cool whip, marshmallows, and pineapple is an easy light Thanksgiving dessert that isn’t pie and is perfect even as a side dish.
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Pumpkin Cobbler Recipe
This easy cobbler has only a few ingredients and simple instructions! It’s the perfect replacement for pumpkin pie when you just don’t have time to whip one up. Go with this easy Thanksgiving dessert!
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Cranberry Upside Down Cake
Cranberry Upside Down Cake is a tart, sweet cake made with light pudding. It’s one of my favorites because of its soft and fluffy texture. This fresh cranberry cake is made with orange zest will not be able to withstand the attention of your guests.
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Easy Pumpkin Pudding: Quick 5 Minute Thanksgiving Dessert
Pumpkin pudding elevates simple Thanksgiving desserts. When canned pumpkin and cinnamon are added to box pudding, it transforms into something truly special. Gingerbread cookies are an excellent complement to this 5-minute dessert.
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Pumpkin Cupcakes With Bourbon Caramel Frosting and Filling
These decadent bourbon caramel-filled brown butter-pumpkin cupcakes are topped with gooey, rich bourbon caramel. The delicious sauce is then used to make a fluffy, creamy Bourbon Caramel Frosting, which we use to top our Brown Butter-Pumpkin Cupcakes with Bourbon Caramel frosting and filling. Your new fall favorite.
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Easy Instant Pot Fireball Apple Shortcakes
Do you want to use your Instant Pot to make a delectable Thanksgiving dessert? You’re going to love these easy Instant Pot apple shortcakes! Fireball whisky is used to soak fresh apples, which are served in premade sponge cake dessert cups. This Fireball whiskey dessert recipe will be a hit at your celebration and is another great Thanksgiving dessert that isn’t pie!
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Honey Peanut Pie Tassies
Honey Peanut Pie Tassies are mini peanut hand pies made with honey instead of corn syrup or refined sugar. They call for refrigerated pie dough, which is a little bit of a cheat on our list for Thanksgiving desserts that aren’t pie, but we couldn’t help but add these as they are so cute!
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Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Toasted Meringue Frosting
Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Toasted Meringue Frosting are both delicious and visually appealing! Sweet potato cupcakes are an excellent choice for a tasty and visually appealing dessert. My favorite part of the recipe is the toasted meringue icing. Desserts that allow me to use my torch are my favorite!
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Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust
Pumpkin cheesecake with a spiced ginger snap crust… um yesss, please! This cheesecake is the perfect replacement for pumpkin pie and is sure to wow your Thanksgiving guests!
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Coquito Tres Leches Coconut and Rum Tres Leches Cake
Coquito is a cinnamon-sprinkled rum and coconut beverage. Many Caribbean-Hispanic countries consume it throughout the Christmas season. Tres lech is a popular Latin American dessert that has gained popularity among American palates. A layer of milk is applied to a light and airy sponge cake. The cake is then topped with a creamy whipped cream topping. The recipe includes three types of milk, so you can make this Coquito Tres Leches cake with it as is or substitute fresh coconut milk from the grocery store.
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Chocolate Pumpkin Brownies
These Chocolate Pumpkin Brownies are a guilt-free way to enjoy a fudgy, pumpkin-y fall treat that is free of refined flour and sugar. They’re also a great alternative to pie for Thanksgiving dessert. A Green & Black’s Organic chocolate bars are baking and snacking dream, and their fantastic Pumpkin Brownies are ideal for the best Thanksgiving desserts.
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Pumpkin Icebox Cake Recipe
In this autumn-inspired dessert, this icebox cake recipe incorporates pumpkin, spice, and white chocolate. It’s super easy to make—no baking required—and everyone loves it. If you like pumpkin Thanksgiving dessert recipes, you’ll want to try this one.
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Delicious Mini Pumpkin Layer Cakes
The soft, fluffy pumpkin sponge cake is topped with creamy, gooey cream cheese frosting to make these tiny pumpkin layer cakes. A delightful holiday treat for small gatherings during Thanksgiving or Christmas! You can make the pumpkin cake ahead of time and freeze it until ready to decorate.
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Loaded Carrot Cake
A baked carrot cake is an ideal dessert for a special occasion. Raisins, walnuts, coconut, pineapple, and spiced rum are among the extras. The most difficult part of making this carrot cake was grating the carrots.
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Granny Tag’s Prune Cake
Granny Tag’s Prune Cake was one of her first experiments into southern cooking. Because of the use of buttermilk in the cake and icing, this dessert is both moist and delicious. Allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg combine to form a pungent combination that works well in the winter. It also goes well with a vintage cake, and it’s one of the most delightful cute Thanksgiving desserts you’ll ever taste.
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Cinnamon honey crème brûlée
With its warm cinnamon flavor and sweet honey, cinnamon honey creme brûlée is a delicious twist on the classic recipe. The rich, creamy sweetness inside matches the lovely aroma of fresh-baked cinnamon buns on the outside. A delicious cream pie lies beneath the crispy sugar shell. In this creme brûlée, the warm spice of cinnamon complements the refreshing sweet honey. This recipe will ensure that your custard is a success.
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Amazingly Delicious Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
These pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are a delicious dessert or treat during the cooler months of winter and autumn! They make great a great bite-sized addition to our Thanksgiving dessert table.
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Gluten-Free Apple Butter Bundt Cake with Cinnamon Glaze
A cinnamon glaze tops this gluten-free and allergy-friendly Apple Butter Bundt Cake. The combination of apple butter and spices results in a rich and savory cake. Try this traditional Thanksgiving dessert that isn’t pie at your next celebration.
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Steamed Pumpkin Cake Recipe Khanom Fak Thong
Steamed pumpkin cake is a beautiful and tasty dessert that can be eaten with your hands. It’s also a great finger food because it’s easy to make, fresh, and perfect for picnics or potlucks. You can decorate the cake with icing, whipped cream, grated dark chocolate, cinnamon sugar, or anything else you want.
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Cranberry Swirl Mini Cheesecakes
This recipe takes a traditional Thanksgiving dessert favorite, cheesecake, and tops it with cranberries, and is formed into bite-sized cups!
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Vegan Ginger and Pear Sticky Toffee Pudding
It’s time for pudding! I enjoy making decadent desserts as an alternative to traditional Thanksgiving desserts such as Christmas pudding. Try this Thanksgiving dessert idea for your next holiday party.
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Chocolate Swiss roll
Chocolate Swiss roll is a delicious treat for any occasion, including afternoon tea. To make the sponge, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar, then fold in the flour and cocoa. The filling is a wonderfully smooth and creamy chocolate buttercream made by whisking together butter and icing sugar until smooth before adding cooled melted dark chocolate. It’s also simple to make and has a delicious, chocolatey texture.
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Goat Cheese Puff Pastries with Maple Spiced Pecans
These Easy President Cheese Pastries are a delicious but unexpected Thanksgiving dessert that will have everyone asking for more. They are a delectable, easy Thanksgiving dessert that will leave everyone wanting more. The pumpkin-spiced maple pecans connect all of those wonderful Thanksgiving spice combinations.
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Pumpkin Pie Truffles
When you make these pumpkin pie truffles, you don’t need to turn on the oven because you can enjoy pumpkin pie flavors without burning the house down! Pumpkin pie truffles are perfect for a fall party or dessert. They’re easy to make and a great way to show off your pumpkin pie skills.
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Pumpkintini Cocktail Cake
With its moist and delicious flavor, the pumpkintini cocktail cake celebrates the fall season. It’s an easy to make Thanksgiving dessert idea that isn’t pie that’s sure to leave a lasting impression on your guests!
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Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie Bars
These chocolate chip pecan bars are a delicious alternative to pecan pie. These pecan pie bars are a little more decadent thanks to the addition of chocolate chips. Excellent for the holidays! Pecan pie bars are impossible to go wrong with!
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Secret Ingredient Banana Pudding
You can’t go wrong with a traditional banana pudding dessert at Thanksgiving! Layers of pudding, vanilla wafers, and fresh bananas make the perfect addition to your dessert table.
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Decorated Thanksgiving Sugar Cookies
These decorated Thanksgiving Sugar Cookies are made with a simple cookie recipe and royal icing. Cookies make great Thanksgiving desserts as they are portable and easy to grab and go!
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Black Forest Chocolate Trifle {5 ingredients}
Black Forest Trifle is a tender chocolate cake drenched in cherry liquor or Amaretto (or a little of both!), topped with whipped cream & cherry pie filling! An easy yet tasty Thanksgiving dessert!
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Super Easy Individual Pumpkin Tiramisu Recipe
This Pumpkin Tiramisu, with its fall flavors, has everything you love about the season. Mascarpone, marsala, and lady’s fingers are used to make the dessert. A traditional Thanksgiving dessert for small get-together.
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Air Fryer Baked Apples with Cinnamon & Pecans
Baked apples, which are even easier to make in an air fryer, are a warm, sweet, and traditional fall dessert. Then bake them until crisp and golden brown. The filling is made with pecans, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a whole apple.
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Vegan Pear Cake
A vegan pear cake that’s fluffy, moist, and light. The golden topping adds a touch of radiance, while the pears add juicy sweetness. Here are some expert tips you should be aware of!
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Pear Pecan Upside-down Cake
Pears are often a forgotten about fall fruit in the shadow of apples! This Pear upside down cake is delicious, moist, and the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving dessert table.
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Waldorf Salad with Yoghurt
This salad contains less fat and more calcium and protein than a typical salad. This dish is made with colorful ingredients such as apples, celery, grapes, and nuts in the traditional Thanksgiving desserts version. It makes an excellent starter or side dish.
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Baked Stuffed Apples with Belgian Raspberry Beer
This warm dessert will impress your guests with its sweet-tart baked stuffed apple with oat crumble. In the oven, the Framboise or Kriek becomes sweet-tart and gains a layer of flavor from its acidic undertones. During the holidays, desserts are a great way to impress your friends and family.
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Sweet Potato Cake With Marshmallow Buttercream
If you’re looking for a wow factor Thanksgiving dessert that isn’t pie, this is it! While it may look complicated, the decorations are super easy, and it is a centerpiece dessert!
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Apple Pie Cookies Recipe
The flavor of these mini apple pie cookies is unreal. Techinically this isn’t a pie, just looks very similar and surprisingly they are not that hard to make! These apple pie cookies are delicious at room temperature or warmed with a dollop of whipped cream! As a Thanksgiving dessert, these cookies would be stunning.
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Easy Blueberry Dump Cake Recipe
The flavors to remember for this easy dump cake recipe are yellow cake mix and blueberry pie filling. Serve one decadent and inexpensive dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. It’s an easy Thanksgving dessert to replace pie! Garnish with whipped cream or fresh berries, if desired.
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Chocolate Eclair Cake
A chocolate eclair cake is a unique and interesting Thanksgiving dessert idea to try out this year. It has all the flavors of an eclair without the headache of making one!
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Carrot Cake Cobbler
This warm and gooey carrot cake cobbler is a unique take on a classic Thanksgiving dessert. It’s one of the best cobblers we’ve ever had, and your guests will be fawning over it too!
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Gluten-Free Pear and Raspberry Cake
If you’re looking for a delicious gluten-free cake, this gluten-free pear and raspberry cake is a must-try. A moistened almond cake batter is flavored with pears and raspberries. This gluten-free cake is delicious and needs the following ingredients: flour, butter, superfine or caster sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and whipping cream. To access the full recipe, please click the link below.
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French Cream Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting and Cinnamon Pecans
This recipe is straightforward and elegant, and it can be made gluten-free if desired. An elegant cake flavored with cream, French vanilla, and buttermilk is topped with a delicious maple cream cheese frosting and cinnamon pecans. You can use any flour you want in this cake. It will be fantastic.
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Orange Cranberry Bread Pudding: Made with Croissants!
This rich holiday dessert is filled with orange cranberries and is creamy and gooey. Fresh organic cream, pasture-raised eggs, vanilla paste, and orange zest are combined to make a buttery croissant. Bread pudding can be baked in a 7x11x2 baking pan or divided and baked separately in ramekins.
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Sweet Potato Cheesecake
This rich, decadent sweet potato cheesecake will look stunning on your Thanksgiving table. The flavors of sweet potato casserole are carried over into this velvety dessert. You should bake the sweet potatoes ahead of time and keep them refrigerated so you can make the cheesecake with them. What are some sweet potato desserts you’d like to try?
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Best Roasted Maple Pears
You can satisfy your sweet tooth with this light dish of roasted maple pears. You can serve it with ice cream or cottage cheese for a healthier dessert. Roasting Bosc and Anjou pears yield the most tender and juicy fruit when they are cooked. This is an easy Thanksgiving dessert recipe that isn’t pie!
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Autumn Caramel Apple Pecan and Cinnamon Spice Bundt Cake
This winter season, caramel apple pecan & cinnamon spice bundt cake is easy to make because it is made with a cake mix. This Thanksgiving, treat yourself to a warm apple bundt cake drizzled with caramel sauce and served with vanilla ice cream.
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Pumpkin Cream Cheese Pound Cake
This layered pumpkin spiced pound cake with layers of pumpkin spice is perfect with coffee and great for dessert. This pumpkin pound cake is layered with cream cheese filling and topped with a vanilla glaze, making it the ideal fall treat for your next Thanksgiving celebration.
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Raspberry Jello Mold (Polly’s Pink Stuff)
This raspberry jello mold, or “pink stuff,” as we call it, is a delicious Thanksgiving recipe. It should be on your Thanksgiving menu. This Raspberry Jello Mold (Polly’s Pink Stuff) is a fun retro recipe to remember the good old days, and it’s also very tasty.
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Pumpkin Cream Cheese Brownies
Pumpkin and cream cheese brownies have the texture of a moist cake. The gratifying sweetened cream cheese layer swirled together with pumpkin makes for an indulget dessert option! Like peanut butter and jelly, pumpkin and cream cheese go together.
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Apple Pecan Coffee Cake
A buttery cake layer that is topped with a layer of apple slices and a crunchy pecan and brown sugar. Another great Thanksgiving dessert idea for those who love traditional flavors!
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Flourless Walnut Cake
Flourless Walnut Cake is a gluten-free dessert made with ground walnuts and beaten egg whites for lift. This flourless cake is flavored with chocolate and coffee. It’s rich but not overly sweet and the perfect Thanksgiving dessert that isn’t a pie option for your gluten-sensitive guests.
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Cinnamon Roll Cake With Cream Cheese
What goes better with a cup of after Thanksgiving dinner coffee tan a cinnamon roll cake? Pretty much nothing! This Thanksgiving dessert idea is the best option to pair with coffee hands down!
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Salted Caramel Pecan Cheesecake Dip
This Salted Caramel Pecan Cheesecake Dip is a mouthwatering after-dinner treat that can be prepared in less than 10 minutes. This crowd-pleaser includes cream cheese, marshmallow cream, caramel sauce, chopped pecans, and salt. Dip with apple slices, vanilla cookies, or graham crackers.
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