90 Tempting Thanksgiving Desserts That Go Beyond The Average Pies

Behind the cute, edible faces is a decadent mix of crushed Oreos and cream cheese dipped in a semisweet chocolate shell. The filling has a gentle hint of cinnamon, which helps break through the hefty chocolate-on-chocolate flavor. Matching the straightforward ingredients of the Oreo balls is the ease of transforming them into turkeys. The decorating doesn’t require piping or tweezer use, just a few supermarket-friendly items that bond with the setting chocolate coating.

Get the Turkey Oreo Balls recipe.

Inspired by the popular Starbucks treat, these cranberry bliss cupcakes feature a tender vanilla cake with orange zest, tart cranberries, and a rich white chocolate cream cheese frosting. Want to add a little holiday cheer? Garnish with a few homemade sugared cranberries (they’re easy to make; we promise).

Get the Cranberry Bliss Cupcakes recipe.

These cheesecake bars have everything you want in a holiday dessert: a gooey, nutty topping, a creamy cheesecake layer, and a salty-sweet graham cracker crust. They’re the perfect alternative to a traditional pecan pie for Thanksgiving—or any day.

Get the Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars recipe.

Forget the kitchen nightmares of overcooked turkeys and dry white meat. With a Rice Krispies turkey, your worries are over! It’s a work of art and a culinary delight rolled into one. Channel your inner Michelangelo as you sculpt the perfect gobbler, ensuring every curve and contour is a testament to your creative prowess. Nonstick cooking spray will be your best friend as you unlock your artistic genius, so don’t be afraid to use it liberally.

Get the Krispie Turkey recipe.

Perfect for parties, potlucks, or just a cozy night in, these brownies are a versatile treat that will impress your friends and family. The silky chocolate layer gives an elegant touch, while the brownie base keeps things casual and fun.

Get the French Silk Brownies recipe.

Biscoff, the unique Belgium biscuit that's commonly served as a snack on airplanes, has such a deep caramelized flavor that just pairs perfectly with the cozy holiday season. So wethought, Why not make one of our favorite types of cakes with it? Tres leches (“three milks” in Spanish) cake is such an iconic Mexican dessert. This cake requires a little love and patience, but the result is so worth it. The longer it sits in the fridge, the more it can absorb the cookie butter-milk mixture, making the cake better and better.

Get the Biscoff Tres Leches recipe.

Move over, labor-intensive traditional cheesecake, there’s a new mini marvel in town: mini pumpkin cheesecake bites. These adorable morsels are not only the perfect size for snacking, they also pack a pumpkin-flavored punch that will keep you coming back for seconds (or thirds, who’s counting?).

Get the Mini Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites recipe.

This festively decorated dessert resembles a pumpkin pie, but is actually made from shortbread cookies, which have a buttery and slightly crumbly texture. It more closely mimics a real pie crust while still retaining enough structure to be picked up and eaten with your hands (and a bonus: it’s a lot easier to make than pie dough). We season the shortbread with pumpkin pie spice to impart some of the same warm flavors we love during the holiday season.

Get the Pumpkin Pie Sugar Cookies recipe.

This pie is the frozen version of a York Peppermint Pattie, and there is something so refreshing about a frozen minty dessert that is impossible to resist. This pie is quick to make and takes a note from our no-churn ice cream with the addition of cream cheese to make it more sliceable. The chocolate ganache on top stays slightly soft even after re-freezing for a very satisfying slice and bite.

Get the Frozen Peppermint Pattie Pie recipe.

For the brownie lover, the Thanksgiving dessert table can be... uninspired. No longer! Make these quick-and-easy beauties for the chocolate lover in your life so they're not stuck picking at a slice of pumpkin pie again this year.

Get the Pecan Pie Brownies recipe.

This classic apple crisp has a melt-in-your-mouth topping that bakes up buttery and crispy, while the apples soften enough that you can cut them with a spoon. Serve with scoops of vanilla ice cream, and you'll have a picture-perfect Thanksgiving dessert ready before a pie crust would be. 😉

Get the Apple Crisp recipe.

These irresistible cheesecake bars are like traditional cheesecake’s cool kid sister, and she’s invited to your holiday party this year. These bars perfectly balance creamy, rich cheesecake with the tartness of fresh cranberries and the nuttiness and warmth of a pecan streusel topping with none of the labor-intensity of traditional cheesecake.

Get the Cranberry Crumble Cheesecake Bars recipe.

Pumpkin cheesecake is rich and decadent, the prima donna of holiday desserts. For this version, we’ve stripped it down and put the focus on its true essence: a thick, crunchy crust, and a super-creamy, super-pumpkin-y filling.

Get the Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe.

If A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is a must-watch at your house, you've got to make this adorable chocolate bark inspired by the film.

Get the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving-Inspired Chocolate Bark recipe.

These sweet potato bars are a handheld twist on the classic sweet potato pie, offering a perfect blend of rich, buttery crust and creamy, spiced filling. If you're looking to switch up your Thanksgiving pie offerings (or just don't want to deal with pie crust!), these are an easy yet equally delicious option.

Get the Sweet Potato Pie Bars recipe.

Inspired by pastry chef Zac Young’s viral three-layer piecaken, these fun-sized versions feature a tiny cranberry pie baked inside a spiced pumpkin cupcake, crowned with a generous dollop of whipped cream, more cranberry pie filling, and a tiny round of sugary pie crust. 😍

Get the Mini Piecakens recipe.

If you love the richness and the comfort of homemade French silk pie, then these chocolate pie cookies are just what you need. Inspired by the classic, but with the ease and convenience of a cookie, this recipe offers a unique twist on beloved flavors.

Get the Chocolate Pie Cookies recipe.

Baklava is already one of our not-too-sweet dessert faves, so turning it into a cheesecake felt like an obvious way to take things to the next level. The crust is made from layers of butter-brushed phyllo dough, chopped walnuts and pistachios, and a hearty drizzle of honey, just like a traditional baklava. 😍

Get the Baklava Cheesecake recipe.

Looking to get a little crafty with your Thanksgiving dessert this year? These pumpkin turkeys are just the thing. Easy to make and extremely adorable, everyone will love them! Plus, you'll get to snack on the scraps before your guests arrive.

Get the Pumpkin Pie Turkeys recipe.

When you see “apple roses,” what comes to mind? Slices of apple encased in puff pastry should be the answer. These adorable treats are great for everything from early fall dinner parties to Thanksgiving dinner. Whatever you make them for, they're guaranteed to be the center of attention.

Get the Apple Roses recipe.