Pumpkin
There’s a reason pumpkins reign supreme on the Thanksgiving table. When paired with cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice, pumpkin desserts feel like the harbinger of fall. The smell of pumpkin spice compels a Pavlovian response: It’s time to put on a knit sweater and cue up When Harry Met Sally, famous for its fall foliage scenes. It also helps that pumpkin is endlessly versatile and can be baked into basically any type of dessert.
For the classics, there’s pumpkin pie, arguably the most important dessert on the table, or pumpkin cheesecake, which can feed a crowd. If you want to go unconventional, try these chewy pumpkin snickerdoodle cookies or these pumpkin-spiced mini doughnuts, although we must warn you they’re best served right away.
Still not sold on any of these recipes? Why not try a different fall classic recipe or something warm and fruity?
Warm and fruity
Pumpkins tend to get the spotlight at Thanksgiving, but the fall harvest brings in a feast of other fruits, including apples of all varieties, pears, cranberries and quince. Roasted or pureed, smothered in butter and cinnamon, these fruits are a sweet counterpart to all the pumpkin-centred treats.
Apple pie is a no-brainer. But there are plenty of pie-adjacent recipes to choose from. If the idea of ornate lattice pie tops stirs up a minor panic, opt for a galette, like this pear and cranberry galette or an apple slab pie, which looks like a giant turnover and therefore is a perfectly appropriate breakfast the next day. If you want to bake a showstopper – and have a few hours – try this vegan apple cake, which is topped with oatmeal cookie crumbs and a homemade salted caramel. Need something quicker? These dark chocolate orange cranberry cookies can be made in less than an hour.
Still undecided? Go back to the start.
Fall classics
Thanksgiving is a celebration of the fall harvest, so most desserts are filled with the fruits of the season. But warm fruit isn’t for everyone. If you’re one of those people, or if the pumpkin and apple pies are already covered off, here are some other ideas.
Maple pecan pie and butter tarts are Canadian classics for a reason. Gooey, rich caramel is the perfect addition to pecan cheesecake too. For something chocolatey, these brownies are swirled with pistachio cream, but it can be swapped for peanut butter or hazelnut spread.
Nothing here tickling your fancy? Maybe try something fruity or with pumpkin.
