Impress Your Guests with These 10 Easy Thanksgiving Desserts

While Thanksgiving is about feeling grateful, and connecting with friends and families, it is also about delicious food. Though the scrumptious turkey takes center stage, having some Thanksgiving desserts is like the cherry on top. Regardless of how much savory food you eat, there is always room for dessert. So, if you want to impress your guests at your Thanksgiving party, then preparing some easy Thanksgiving desserts will surely leave a lasting impression.

Simple and easy-to-make desserts can save you a lot of time and effort while at the same time ensuring your guests leave with an unforgettable dessert experience. Moreover, you can use GARVEE’s restaurant & food service products to make all your prep work easy.

Here are some detailed recipes for creating delicious and easy Thanksgiving desserts.

Table of Contents

• 10 Easy Thanksgiving Desserts You Must Try Making
• Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes
• Pumpkin Mousse
• No-Bake Pecan Pie Bites
• No-Bake Cranberry Cheesecake Bars
• Apple Cobbler
• Chocolate Mousse with Cocoa Powder
• Gingernut Crusted Chocolate Brownies
• No-Bake Pumpkin Truffles
• Cranberry Tart
• Pumpkin Cake

10 Easy Thanksgiving Desserts You Must Try Making

Here are some easy Thanksgiving desserts that you must try making for your guests.

Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes

These Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes are absolutely creamy and delicious! They are sure to become your favorite addition to your Thanksgiving dessert menu. They're rich, creamy and so delicious that everyone surely will have more than one. Here’s a recipe for making 12 mini pumpkin cheesecakes.

Ingredients:

Crust

• ¾ cup graham cracker (crushed)

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted

• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar

• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Filling

• 8 oz. cream cheese (1 package)

• ½ cup pumpkin puree 

• 1 large egg (room temperature)

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

• 2 tablespoons sour cream

• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ⅛ teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg

• pinch of cloves powder

• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350°F

• For the crust, combine gram crackers, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Once done, add one rounded tablespoon of the mixture into a mini cheesecake pan, press it down well, and set aside.

(You can even use a muffin pan - best to make them in a silicon muffin pan but in case you do not have one, then use the regular one, just make sure to line them with parchment paper. Also, you might need more gram crackers in case you use a muffin pan.)

• For the filling, beat the cream cheese until nice and smooth. Then add the pumpkin puree, sour cream, sugar, eggs and spices. Blend until all the ingredients are combined well. Now, add the flour and vanilla extract and combine again until smooth.

• Next, pour the filling over the prepared crust equally into each section of the mold.

• Bake in a preheated oven for 20 minutes at 350°F. Once done, remove it from the oven and let it cool for about 15-20 minutes.

• Cling wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Top these mini pumpkin cheesecakes with some whipped cream.

Pumpkin Mousse

This creamy pumpkin mousse with marshmallows and pumpkin pie spice makes for an ideal Thanksgiving dessert. Sweet and fluffy, this mousse is easy to prepare for the holidays. Here’s a recipe for 10 servings.

Ingredients:

• 24 marshmallows

• ½ cup canned pumpkin

• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

• 1 tablespoon butter

• 1 cup heavy cream

• ½ cup milk

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• ⅓ cup confectioners' sugar

Instructions:

• Melt butter in a pan and then add the marshmallows, milk, and pumpkin. Stir all the ingredients together until completely smooth.

• Now, remove from the heat and add in the vanilla extract and pumpkin spice and combine well. Leave it to cool completely for about 30 minutes.

• Take a large mixing bowl and combine confectioners' sugar and heavy cream well. Use an electric mixer to beat the confectioners’ sugar and heavy cream till stiff peaks form. Fold in this whipped cream mixture into the cooled pumpkin mixture.

• Now, pour this mixture into mousse cups, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until it is firm.

No-Bake Pecan Pie Bites

Making a Thanksgiving dessert without having to bake is a blessing, especially if you need to get something done at the eleventh hour. These no-bake pecan pie bites are easy to make and just require a few ingredients that are most likely to be available in your kitchen.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pecans

• 1 cup pitted dates (soaked)

• 2 tablespoons coconut sugar

• Pinch of sea salt

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)

• 1 1/4 cup chocolate chips

Instructions:

• Except for the chocolate chips, add all the other ingredients in a food processor and blend until a sticky dough is formed. Scrape the sides of the food processor on the go and mix.

• Once the dough is done, make small balls of the mixture and place them in a lined cookie sheet. Now with your palm, flatten each ball slightly and place in the freezer for about 15 minutes or until they are firm.

• Melt chocolate in a bowl well, dip the firm balls into the mixture and place them on the cookie sheet. You can add a pecan on the top and place them back into the freezer until they are hardened.

No-Bake Cranberry Cheesecake Bars

If you want to add a cheesecake to your Thanksgiving dessert menu but do not have the time to make a baked cheesecake, then these no-bake cheesecake bars are just what you need. Plus, the cranberry flavor is what makes it so festive. Here’s a no-bake cranberry cheesecake bar recipe that serves 12.

Ingredients:

Topping

• 1/2 cup orange juice

• 4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries

• 1/3 cup maple syrup (can use sugar instead as well)

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Crust

• 2 boxes or 16 oz. graham crackers

• 12 tablespoons butter, softened

Filling

• 11.25 oz. condensed milk (can use a dairy-free option)

• 2, 8 oz. packages of cream cheese (softened)

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

• For the topping, add cranberries, orange juice, maple syrup, or sugar, and ground cinnamon to a pan over medium-high heat. Let the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook this sauce for about 10 minutes. Or, until the sauce thickens and reduces.

• For the crust, add the gram crackers in a food processor and blend them into crumbs. Then add 4 tablespoons of softened butter a little at a time and blend until the mixture is slightly crumbly and flaky.

• Now add this mixture into a 9x13-inch pan, spread evenly, and set aside.

• For the cheesecake filling, in a large bowl add cream cheese, condensed milk, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Then use an electric stand mixer to beat the mixture well until it is fluffy and smooth.

(If you do not have a stand mixer and are planning to get one, then check out some amazing Black Friday deals on food preparation equipment on GARVEE).

• Pour cheesecake filling on top of the crust. Even out the filling and then pour the cranberry sauce over it.

• Then, let it set for about 4 hours in the refrigerator.

Apple Cobbler

Want to make an easy Thanksgiving dessert out of apples? Then, this simple old-fashioned apple cobbler is something that you must try making. Here’s a recipe that yields 12 servings.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons white sugar

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 6 large apples - peeled, cored and sliced

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 cup white sugar

• 1 large egg

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• ¼ cup water

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F or 175°C.

• Combine 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 3 tablespoons sugar in a bowl.

• Now, lay the sliced apples in a 9x13-inch ungreased baking pan. Each layer once placed in the pan has to be sprinkled with the sugar and cinnamon mixture.

• Next, combine all-purpose flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, and egg. Use a fork to combine well. Pour this mixture onto the layered apples. Sprinkle a little bit of water on top.

• Bake for about 30 minutes in the preheated oven until the top is golden brown.

Chocolate Mousse with Cocoa Powder

Who doesn’t love chocolate mousse? Everyone does! If the turkey and savory dishes have taken up all your cooking time and you want to make an easy Thanksgiving dessert, then this no-cooking, no-baking, last-minute dessert idea is just what you need.

Ingredients:

• 1 ⅓ cups heavy cream

• ⅔ cup whipped cream cheese

• ½ cup powdered sugar + 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

• ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• ½ teaspoon almond extract

• 1 tablespoon grated chocolate

Instructions:

• Combine heavy cream, cocoa powder, and ½ cup powdered sugar in a large bowl (make sure to chill the bowl as well). Beat this mixture with an electric mixture (the beaters should also be chilled) till stiff peaks are formed. Keep this mixture aside.

• Now, take another bowl, add the whipped cream cheese and beat until soft and smooth. Add 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar (1 spoon at a time) and beat well. Then go on to add the almond extract and beat till well combined.

• Once the cream cheese mixture is ready, fold it into the chocolate and cream mixture and combine well.

• Now pipe the mousse into shooter glass or a mousse cup and top with some grated chocolate. Refrigerate and serve when needed.

Gingernut Crusted Chocolate Brownies

If you are a fan of brownies, then you must try these gingernut-crusted chocolate brownies. They are chewy, crunchy, and fudgy. Your guests will surely love them.

Ingredients:

• 400 g ginger snap biscuits (crushed)

• 175 g butter (melted) + 225 g butter

• 150 g cake flour (sifted)

• 200 g milk chocolate (55% would be ideal)

• 200 g dark chocolate (70% would be ideal)

• 1 tsp ground ginger (this is optional)

• 4 eggs

• 175 g brown sugar

• 220 g white sugar

• 1 tsp instant espresso powder

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• ½ tsp salt

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease and line a baking tin (20cm x 30 cm).

• Combine the crushed gingersnap biscuits with 175 g butter and ginger (optional) well.

• Then put the combined mixture into the baking tin, press down evenly, and place it in the freezer until needed.

• Take chocolate and 225 g butter in a pan and over low heat stir until smooth and melted completely. Set this mixture aside.

• Whisk together eggs, sugar, espresso powder, vanilla and salt.

• Now add the chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and stir together until well combined. Add flour and mix everything until combined.

• Pour this mixture over the frozen biscuit base and bake for 35-40 minutes at 180°C. Test with a skewer to see if they are fudgy.

• Cut the brownies when they have completely cooled down.

No-Bake Pumpkin Truffles

These no-bake pumpkin truffles are an easy Thanksgiving dessert that tastes delicious and is a great addition to your dessert menu.

Ingredients:

• ⅓ cup (75g) pumpkin puree

• 2 oz. cream cheese (room temperature)

• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

• 1 tablespoon powdered sugar

• 4 cups (64g) rice cereal (gluten free)

• ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

• 10 oz. chocolate (dark or milk)

• sea salt

Instructions:

• Take a large bowl and stir together pumpkin puree, powdered sugar, brown sugar, cream cheese, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract until smooth.

• In a food processor pulse the rice until it turns into crumbs. Add these cereal crumbs to the pumpkin mixture and mix till completely combined. Now cover with a cling wrap and put it for an hour in the refrigerator to chill.

• Once chilled, make small balls, about 1 tablespoon for each ball. Line a baking sheet, place all these balls on it, and chill for 30 more minutes.

• In a microwave melt the chocolate in a 30 seconds interval or on a double boiler. Let the melted chocolate cool a bit.

• Take the chilled balls out from the refrigerator, dip them into the melted chocolate, and place them on the lined baking sheet. Now sprinkle some salt and let it set in the refrigerator.

Cranberry Tart

A delicious addition to your Thanksgiving dinner menu is this super quick and easy Thanksgiving dessert. This sweet and tangy cranberry tart is just what you need after a scrumptious Thanksgiving dinner.

Ingredients:

• 12 oz. or 1 package fresh cranberries (can use thawed frozen cranberries too)

• 1/2 cup sliced almonds

• 1 cup sugar (divided)

• 3/4 cup butter (melted)

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 2 large eggs (room temperature)

• 1 teaspoon almond extract

• 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F.

• Take a bowl and mix together sliced almonds, cranberries, and ½ cup sugar. Transfer this mixture onto an 11-inch greased removable bottom fluted tart pan or a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate and place it on a baking sheet.

• In another bowl, beat the eggs, ½ cup sugar, butter, and almond extract well. Now add the all-purpose flour into the mixture and combine well. (This will be a thick batter).

• Next, spread this batter over the cranberry mixture and bake for 40-45 minutes at 325°F. Insert a skewer and check to see if the center comes out clean.

• Let the tart cool down and dust some confectioners’ sugar.

Pumpkin Cake

Another addition to your Thanksgiving dessert menu is a pumpkin cake – a soft and moist cake that melts in your mouth.

Ingredients

Cake

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 can (15 oz.) solid-pack pumpkin

• 2 cups sugar

• 1-1/2 cups neutral vegetable oil

• 4 large eggs (room temperature)

• 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 2 teaspoons baking soda

• 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Frosting

• 8 oz. or 1 package cream cheese (softened)

• 1/2 cup butter (softened)

• 3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Then, in a large bowl beat together pumpkin, sugar, oil, and eggs until fully combined.

• Next, in another bowl combine all-purpose flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

• Now add the dry ingredients gradually into the pumpkin mixture and beat until blended well. At this stage, add some pecans – this is optional.

• Transfer this mixture to a greased baking pan (13 x 9 inches) and bake for 40-50 minutes at 350°F.

• For the frosting, take some cream cheese and butter and beat until fluffy. Then add in the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla extract and beat until smooth and creamy. Once the cake is completely cooled down, add the frosting.

Try out these easy Thanksgiving desserts for your guests and they are surely going to be impressed by you. If you need some kitchen products, you can check out some GARVEE products that will make prepping these delicious desserts convenient and enjoyable.