While I may be the family aficionado of marvelously carb-y Thanksgiving side dishes, The One takes the cake when it comes to the dessert table.
Literally.
His favorite dessert is my pumpkin cake with maple-cream cheese frosting. I’ve been making it for 29 years, ever since I developed it for the Los Angeles Times. And whenever we host Turkey Day, he orders me to soft pedal offering guests Thanksgiving dessert doggie bags.
He wants it all for himself!
☞ GOT THANKSGIVING QUESTIONS?: WE’VE ANSWERED 99 OF YOUR BIGGEST
He adores pumpkin so much that I’ve made glazed pumpkin pound cake, pumpkin pie babka, and pumpkin-swirl cheesecake bars throughout autumn and winter for him.
The one dessert he forbids me to bake? Classic pumpkin pie. None, he says, compares to those sold at (bangs head on keyboard)…Costco.
But The One cannot live by pumpkin alone, which is why we’ve included cranberry crostata, pecan pies, cheesecake, and, yes, a pumpkin ice cream below. But this is a cold play on our pumpkin meringue pie–pumpkin ice cream, marshmallow swirls, and shards of pie crust. (The One made me do it.)
Pumpkin Pecan Pie
This pumpkin pecan pie means no longer must you confront the eternal Thanksgiving dilemma of pumpkin pie or pecan pie. Thanks to its pecan topping, it’s two, two, two pies in one!
Cranberry Apple Crostata
Cranberry apple crostata is so easy to make and so unexpectedly lovely to experience it may end up displacing the more familiar dessert offerings at your Thanksgiving table.
Cranberry-Orange Cheesecake
This cranberry-orange cheesecake from Bon Appetit is scented with vanilla and orange and topped with sweetened fresh cranberries. A perfect holiday dessert.
I have made this cranberry cheesecake recipe for several years, and it is excellent. Foolproof and so festive for the holidays. Orange in the filling is just perfect. Cheesecakes are the perfect dessert for a party as they can be made ahead and really are very easy.
linda
Pumpkin Meringue Pie Ice Cream
Pumpkin meringue pie ice cream is the ultimate mashup of pumpkin ice cream−spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and mace−creamy-dreamy meringue, and crunchy bits of Oreo-cookie crust. Think frozen pumpkin-spice latte.
Rum Pecan Pie
This rum pecan pie is all grown up thanks to a little splash of rum in the sweet and crunchy pecan filling. Just like traditional pecan pie. Only better.
Thanksgiving Dessert FAQs
It depends on the number of people at your table, but we suggest at least two, even for a small gathering. To be safe, plan on two slices of dessert per person. A pie usually has eight slices in it, so plan to have one dessert for every four people.
Ideally, you want to have a dessert that everyone can enjoy, without making anyone feel singled out. We love poached pears because they can be served to almost anyone, and can even be topped with a dollop of coconut whipped cream.
Our indulgent pumpkin pots de crème are gluten-free if served without the cookie crumbles. Making a pear-cranberry crumble with vegan butter is also a great choice if you’ve got dairy-free or vegan guests.
If they contain eggs, milk, or cream, store them in the fridge before and after serving. Other desserts can usually be stored at room temperature.
Desserts are arguably the most important (or at least most anticipated) part of the Thanksgiving meal. They often can be made a couple of days in advance, making them also one of the least stressful parts of hosting Thanksgiving dinner. So, pick a couple of the above Thanksgiving dessert recipes, get baking, indulge, and let the accolades roll in. You deserve it.
