Thanksgiving, the greatest holiday of the year, is upon us. July Fourth, there are beaches and barbecues, and Christmas is simply piles of presents. But for the foodies among us, Thanksgiving is the blissful holiday that is all about eating. And, we guess, gratitude for family, friends, and all of life's blessings. But mostly the eating. And dessert! We know it's bad to love a holiday for the food, but who can blame us?
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Let's get a little hungry here, shall we? Every year the turkey is epic and each side dish — from the marshmallow-crusted sweet potato casserole to the heaps of fluffy stuffing — could stand alone as the best bite of the year. Truly, Thanksgiving dinner is all of our comfort foods. But the fun doesn't stop there. Sure, the dinner is delicious, but really we are counting down the minutes until dessert arrives on the table. But maybe the typical pumpkin, pecan, or apple pies are getting a little stale.
While most Thanksgiving dinners end with pie, who says they have to? We've rounded up 10 perfect post-turkey dessert recipes to try this year. With deliciously fitting holiday flavors like apple, pumpkin, and maple, these desserts make a sweet finale to the feast. Chances are, no one will miss the pie.
Image via halfbakedharvest.com
Caramel Apple Mini Cheesecakes with Streusel Topping
Jaclyn of Cooking Classy combines two of her favorite desserts — caramel apples and cheesecake to make Caramel Apple Mini Cheesecakes with Streusel Topping. She recommends chopping the apples very small, "almost mincing them" so they cook all the way through.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip
The Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip Amber shared on Oh, Sweet Basil is a deliciously sweet ending for Thanksgiving dinner. Or, she suggests, spread some on a waffle for a decadent breakfast. (We’ll start that juice cleanse in January.)
Salted Caramel Apple Snickers Cake
This Salted Caramel Apple Snickers Cake courtesy of Tieghan of Half Baked Harvest is next level. Though, she’s quick to point out, it’s not difficult, just time consuming. (It requires not one but two visits to the fridge to chill.) One look at the photos of the rich Snickers frosting and salty, gooey caramel says it’s well worth the time.
Pumpkin Eggnog Bread Pudding
For her Pumpkin Eggnog Bread Pudding recipe, Nicole of Cooking for Keeps recommends using a "good-quality crusty ciabatta loaf" to really soak up the custard and achieve a “lovely texture contrast of a soft, gooey inside and a super crisp exterior.” The result is a warm and comforting dessert worthy of a holiday meal or special breakfast.
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Salted Caramel Maple Pecan Pie Bars
Averie of Averie Cooks says her "one-bowl, no-mixer recipe" for these rich, buttery Salted Caramel Maple Pecan Pie Bars is so much easier than baking a pecan pie. We doubt anyone scarfing up these bars at your holiday gathering will miss the pie.
Eggnog Bread
We totally agree with Amanda of Fake Ginger — eggnog is a festive holiday drink that’s a much better idea in theory. Instead, try her Eggnog Bread, boasting a subtle taste, “perfect for those of us that want to like eggnog but just don’t.”
White Chocolate Raspberry Pie Crumb Bars
The crumb topping is made from the same mixture as the crust in Tiffany of Creme de la Crumb’s White Chocolate Raspberry Pie Crumb Bars, cutting down on time and cleanup. Swap in this sweet, tart, buttery dessert instead of a berry pie to switch things up.
Caramel Apple Trifles
Lindsay of Life, Love & Sugar recommends making these Caramel Apple Trifles as a Thanksgiving dessert, noting “With all the cooking going on, these are an easy but pretty dessert that can be made ahead of time.” With layers of caramel, cinnamon apples, granola, and whipped cream, they make a lovely ending to the meal.
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Sweet Potato Cupcakes With Maple Marshmallow Frosting
Miriam of Overtime Cook suggests these Sweet Potato Cupcakes With Maple Marshmallow Frosting as a play on the traditional marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole. Genius! Though we’ll probably (definitely) eat both.
Sidenote: she suggests swapping in canned pumpkin if you don’t have sweet potatoes on hand.
Snickerdoodle Pumpkin Cobbler
Jennifer of Mother Thyme uses store-bought snickerdoodle cookie mix to make the topping for her Snickerdoodle Pumpkin Cobbler. With a mere 10-minute prep time, we’ll be making this and serving it with a scoop of vanilla — or, as she suggests, butter pecan ice cream — throughout the fall.
