Location Label: Home Kitchen, Classic American Holiday
Best Thanksgiving Desserts: Easy Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie and More
Author and Visit Details
This is a researched guide, not a restaurant visit. Food Menu Journal researched Thanksgiving desserts from published recipe sources, including Katherine’s Corner, Living Lou, Recipecs, Honest Cooking and Bonsai Mary, and wrote this guide from those published sources. No visit to a bakery or restaurant took place and no pie was baked by us for this post. Every fact in this post comes from the sources listed at the end, and every estimate is labelled as an estimate.
Introduction
Thanksgiving desserts are the sweet finish to the biggest meal of the year, and the best Thanksgiving desserts are the classics: pumpkin pie, pecan pie, sweet potato pie and apple pie. No Thanksgiving table feels finished without a pumpkin pie, and most families add a second pie so every guest finds a slice they love. This guide covers the best Thanksgiving desserts in full, with ingredients, bake times, make-ahead notes and the points where recipes disagree.
Start with the two pies that matter most, pumpkin and pecan, then add one more dessert from the list below if your table is large. Bake the pies the day before so the oven is free on Thanksgiving Day. If you want the full holiday plan, start with our Thanksgiving Dinner Menu: Complete Guide 2026, and serve these desserts after our Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Menu.
Featured Image and Caption
Thanksgiving Desserts at a Glance
| Detail | Thanksgiving Desserts |
| Must-have pies | Pumpkin pie and pecan pie |
| Classic pumpkin pie | 15 oz pumpkin puree, 3 eggs, 1 cup half-and-half, bake 350F for 50 to 60 min, serves 8 |
| Classic pecan pie | 2 cups chopped pecans, 1 cup brown sugar, 3/4 cup corn syrup, 3 eggs, bake 350F for 50 to 60 min |
| Two pies in one | Pumpkin pecan pie, about 450 kcal per slice (estimate) |
| Other classics | Sweet potato pie, apple pie, pumpkin cheesecake, pecan bars, pumpkin crunch cake |
| Make ahead | Bake pies 1 day ahead; chill pumpkin pie with pecan-chocolate topping at least 8 hours |
| Serving | Serve with whipped cream; 1 pie serves about 8 |
| Best for | Hosts who want the classic sweet finish without last-minute baking |
Why We Made This Guide
We made this guide because Thanksgiving desserts cause more last-minute stress than any other course. The turkey has a clear plan, the sides can be made ahead, but the pies need the oven at the worst possible time. The fix is simple and every guide we checked agrees on it: bake the pies the day before. This guide gives you the recipes, the bake times and the storage rules so the sweet course takes care of itself.
The other reason is choice. Pumpkin pie is the classic, but not everyone loves pumpkin. Pecan pie is the usual second pie, and sweet potato pie is the Southern favorite. This guide to Thanksgiving desserts covers all three, plus the cheesecakes, bars and cakes that work when you want something different, so every guest finds a slice they like.
The Best Thanksgiving Desserts, Course by Course
The table below lists the best Thanksgiving desserts in the order most families serve them, with the key facts for each. Full ingredients and steps follow for the two classic pies.
| Thanksgiving Dessert | What it is | Prep and bake | Serves |
| Classic pumpkin pie | Smooth spiced pumpkin custard in a pastry crust | 20 min prep, 50 to 60 min at 350F | 8 slices |
| Classic pecan pie | Gooey caramel filling with 2 cups pecans | 15 min prep, 50 to 60 min at 350F | 8 slices |
| Pumpkin pecan pie | Pumpkin layer below, pecan layer on top, double bake | 25 min plus 35 min, two bakes | 8 slices |
| Sweet potato pie | Southern classic, mashed sweet potatoes with spice | About 1 hour total | 8 slices |
| Apple pie | Sliced apples with cinnamon in a double crust | About 1 hour total | 8 slices |
| Pumpkin cheesecake | Creamy pumpkin cheesecake on a crust | About 1 hour plus chilling | 10 to 12 slices |
| Pecan pie bars | Shortbread base with gooey pecan filling | 20 min prep, 3 hours total with cooling | 24 bars |
| Pumpkin crunch cake | Pumpkin custard with a buttery cake-mix crumble | About 1 hour total | 12 servings |
| Pumpkin gingersnap trifle | Layered pumpkin cream, gingersnaps and whipped cream | No bake, chill 4 hours | 10 servings |
Our Review of These Thanksgiving Desserts
As a researched guide, we did not bake these Thanksgiving desserts ourselves, so this review is a judgement of the published sources, not a tasting. This list of Thanksgiving desserts earns its place because it covers the full range of the holiday sweet course: the two classic pies, the Southern favorite, the fruit pie, the cheesecake, the bars for a crowd, and the no-bake trifle for hosts who have no oven time left. The classic pumpkin pie is the most reliable dessert on the list, with the same ingredients and method in every source we checked. The pecan pie is the richest, and the pumpkin pecan pie is the smartest choice when you cannot decide between the two.
The weakest part of most Thanksgiving dessert lists is the bake time disagreement. One recipe bakes a pumpkin pie for 30 to 40 minutes, another for 50 to 60 minutes, and a third for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. The difference is the crust, the depth of the dish and the oven, so this guide states the range and tells you how to check: the edges should be set and the center should quiver slightly, like jelly, when you take it out.
Top Classic: Easy Pumpkin Pie Step-by-Step
The classic pumpkin pie is the most important of all Thanksgiving desserts, and the recipe is the same in every source we checked. Use a 9 inch unbaked deep dish pie crust, one 15 oz can of pure pumpkin puree, 3 large eggs, 1 cup of half-and-half, 3/4 cup of packed dark brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of ground ginger, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon of ground allspice and 1/8 teaspoon of ground cloves. Do not use pumpkin pie mix, which already contains sugar and spice.
- Make the filling: Whisk the pumpkin, brown sugar, eggs, half-and-half, ginger, cinnamon, allspice and cloves in a bowl until silky smooth.
- Fill and bake: Pour the filling into the crust and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 50 to 60 minutes, until the edges are set but the center quivers.
- Cool completely: Let the pie cool for at least 4 hours. A warm pumpkin pie cuts badly and tastes flat.
- Serve: Serve with whipped cream. One pie serves about 8 slices.
Variations in the sources we checked include a gingersnap crust instead of pastry, a Biscoff cookie crust, a maple pecan topping, and a pumpkin pie with a gooey pecan-chocolate topping that needs at least 8 hours in the refrigerator. All of them start from the same pumpkin filling above.
Must-Try Pecan Pie: Gooey, Crunchy and Rich
Pecan pie is the richest of the classic Thanksgiving desserts. The filling needs 5 tablespoons of unsalted butter, 1 cup of packed light brown sugar, 3/4 cup of light corn syrup, 1/2 teaspoon of fine salt, 2 cups of chopped toasted pecans, 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract and 3 eggs, lightly beaten. Some recipes add 1 to 2 tablespoons of bourbon. The crust needs 1 and 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons of sugar, 1/8 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 cup of cold butter and 1 large egg.
Toast the pecans at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 to 7 minutes first, because toasting intensifies the flavour. Mix the filling, pour it into the crust and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 50 to 60 minutes, until the edges are set and the center jiggles slightly. Cool completely before slicing. A brown butter version melts the butter over medium heat until golden with brown flecks, then cools it before whisking, which adds a nutty depth to the filling.
Best Two-in-One: Pumpkin Pecan Pie
If you cannot decide between pumpkin and pecan, the pumpkin pecan pie is the answer, and it is one of the most popular Thanksgiving desserts in the sources we checked. It layers a spiced pumpkin filling on the bottom with a gooey pecan filling on top. The trick is a double bake: bake the pumpkin layer first for about 25 minutes, then pour the pecan mixture over the top and bake for another 35 minutes. Baking in two parts keeps the layers separate instead of letting the pecan layer sink into the pumpkin. One slice has about 450 kcal, an estimate from the source recipe.
Easy Alternatives: Cheesecake, Bars and Trifle
When two pies are not enough, or when you want something different, the alternatives in the sources we checked are pumpkin cheesecake, pecan pie bars, pumpkin crunch cake and pumpkin gingersnap trifle. Pecan pie bars pair a crisp, buttery shortbread base with the same gooey caramel filling as the pie, and one batch makes 24 bars, which is the best choice for a large crowd. Pumpkin crunch cake starts with a pumpkin pie custard and finishes with a golden, buttery crumble made from dry cake mix and pecans. The pumpkin gingersnap trifle layers pumpkin cream, gingersnaps and whipped cream, needs no baking at all, and chills for 4 hours. All four can be made a day ahead.
Picky Eats
Thanksgiving desserts are friendly to picky eaters because the pies are served separately and guests choose their own slice. A guest who does not like pumpkin can take pecan, and a guest who does not like either can take apple pie or the trifle. For children, the pecan pie bars and the pumpkin crunch cake are easier to hold than a slice of pie. For a nut allergy, skip the pecan pie, the pecan bars and the pumpkin pecan pie, and serve the pumpkin pie, the apple pie and the cheesecake instead, keeping the nut desserts on a separate plate. For guests who do not eat dairy, the fruit pies are the safest choice, and a coconut whipped cream works in place of dairy cream.
Parents Review and Family Tips
Parents who bake Thanksgiving desserts every year give the same advice: bake the pies the day before, and let them cool completely before covering them. A warm pie covered in plastic wrap sweats and turns soggy. Give children the job of adding the whipped cream or arranging the pecan halves on top of the pie, which keeps them involved without touching the oven. If your oven is full, choose the no-bake trifle or buy one pie and bake one pie. Store leftover pie in the refrigerator and eat it within 3 to 4 days. Pumpkin pie freezes well for up to 1 month if wrapped tightly, but pecan pie freezes less well because the filling can turn grainy.
Nutrition and Carbohydrate Information
Thanksgiving desserts are rich, and the published sources we checked give different nutrition figures by recipe. The figures below are the values the cited sources give for their own recipes, labelled as estimates, not as tested measurements for this guide.
| Thanksgiving Dessert | Serving | Calories (estimate) | Carbohydrates (estimate) |
| Pumpkin pie | 1 slice | About 320 | About 40 g |
| Pecan pie | 1 slice | About 500 | About 55 g |
| Pumpkin pecan pie | 1 slice | About 450 | About 50 g |
| Sweet potato pie | 1 slice | About 350 | About 45 g |
| Apple pie | 1 slice | About 410 | About 55 g |
| Pumpkin cheesecake | 1 slice | About 380 | About 35 g |
| Pecan pie bar | 1 bar | About 220 | About 28 g |
| Whipped cream | 2 tablespoons | About 50 | About 3 g |
Pecan pie is the heaviest slice on the table, and the bars are the lightest way to taste it. One slice of pumpkin pie is the lightest of the classic pies. If you want a lighter dessert table, serve the pumpkin pie and the trifle, and cut the pecan pie into thin slices.
What to Know Before You Bake
- Bake the day before: Pies need hours to cool. Bake these Thanksgiving desserts 1 day ahead and keep the oven free on Thanksgiving Day.
- Use pure pumpkin, not pie mix: Canned pumpkin puree has no added sugar or spice. Pumpkin pie mix already contains both and will make the filling too sweet.
- Check the set: A pumpkin pie is done when the edges are set and the center quivers slightly. It firms up as it cools.
- Toast the pecans: Toast pecans at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 to 7 minutes before adding them to the filling.
- Chill the topped pie: A pumpkin pie with a pecan-chocolate topping needs at least 8 hours in the refrigerator before serving.
Is It Worth It?
Yes. Thanksgiving desserts are worth baking at home because two homemade pies cost less than one bakery pie and taste better, and the whole table remembers the dessert course. The work is front-loaded: the pies take about 20 minutes of active work each and bake while you do other things. If time is short, buy one pie and bake one pie, or make the no-bake trifle. For the rest of the meal, see our Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Menu and our Thanksgiving Appetizers and Party Food guide for the starters. If you do not want to bake at all, our Thanksgiving Meal Kits and Catering guide includes options that come with dessert.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Thanksgiving desserts?
Pumpkin pie and pecan pie are the two classic Thanksgiving desserts. Sweet potato pie, apple pie and pumpkin cheesecake are the usual additions. Two pies cover almost every guest.
How long does pumpkin pie take to bake?
A classic pumpkin pie bakes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 50 to 60 minutes, until the edges are set and the center quivers slightly. Some recipes give 30 to 40 minutes or 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, depending on the crust and the depth of the dish. Let the pie cool for at least 4 hours before slicing.
Can I make Thanksgiving desserts ahead of time?
Yes. Bake the pies 1 day ahead and let them cool completely before covering them. A pumpkin pie with a pecan-chocolate topping needs at least 8 hours in the refrigerator. The trifle needs 4 hours to chill.
What is pumpkin pecan pie?
Pumpkin pecan pie layers a spiced pumpkin filling on the bottom with a gooey pecan filling on top. It is baked in two parts: the pumpkin layer first for about 25 minutes, then the pecan layer for another 35 minutes. One slice has about 450 kcal, an estimate from the source recipe.
Can I freeze pumpkin pie?
Yes. Wrap a cooled pumpkin pie tightly and freeze it for up to 1 month. Pecan pie freezes less well because the filling can turn grainy. Eat refrigerated leftover pie within 3 to 4 days.
Related Guides
- Thanksgiving Dinner Menu: Complete Guide 2026
- Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Menu: Turkey, Stuffing and All the Sides
- Thanksgiving Appetizers and Party Food: 20 Easy Ideas
- Thanksgiving Meal Kits and Catering 2026: Best Options and Prices
- Best Make-Ahead Christmas Appetizers
- Classic No-Bake Cookies
Sources and Review Notes
This guide is a researched guide based on published sources. Food Menu Journal did not visit a bakery or restaurant for this post, and no pie was baked by us. The main sources are the pecan pie and pumpkin pie recipes on katherinescorner.com, the maple pecan pumpkin pie on cookingislikelove.com, the pumpkin pecan pie on livinglou.com, the pumpkin pecan pie on recipecs.com, the pumpkin pie with pecan-chocolate topping on honestcooking.com, and the 19 easy Thanksgiving desserts on bonsaimary.com, all re-checked live on November 6, 2026. The facts taken from those pages are the ingredients, the bake times, the serving counts and the make-ahead notes.
Bake times disagree across the sources, from 30 to 40 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes for a pumpkin pie, depending on the crust, the depth of the dish and the oven. This guide states the range and uses the 50 to 60 minute figure as the default. The nutrition figures are the values the cited sources give for their own recipes, labelled as estimates, because no single source publishes one agreed panel for the full dessert table.
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