9 Easy Thanksgiving Desserts That Aren't Pie

Q: What are the most common Thanksgiving desserts?

The most common Thanksgiving desserts are traditionally pies. Pumpkin pie is the most iconic, followed closely by apple pie and pecan pie. However, other popular choices include sweet potato pie, pumpkin cheesecake, apple crisp, and various seasonal cakes and dessert bars that offer variety beyond the traditional pie selection.

Tired of the pressure to produce a perfect Thanksgiving pie? Let’s be honest, between juggling the turkey, the sides, and the guests, the last thing you need is a finicky pie crust that refuses to cooperate. Oven space is at a premium, and after a huge meal, not everyone is even in the mood for a dense, heavy slice of pie.

The annual dessert dilemma is real. You want to create a show-stopping finish to your holiday meal, but you’re short on time, energy, and maybe even baking confidence. The thought of adding another complicated recipe to your prep list is enough to make you want to just buy a store-bought dessert and call it a day. But what if you could serve something homemade, impressive, and incredibly easy?

This post offers 9 easy and delicious Thanksgiving dessert recipes for when you want something other than pie. These alternatives, from no-bake cheesecakes to festive pumpkin bars and crowd-pleasing trifles, save oven space and cater to a wider variety of tastes, making your holiday prep simpler. As a seasoned holiday host, I know the struggle of juggling oven timers and guest preferences. That’s why I’ve curated this list of go-to, stress-free desserts that have been a huge hit at my own Thanksgiving table for years. Updated for October 2025.

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Tired of the Same Old Thanksgiving Pie?

The best alternatives to Thanksgiving pie are easy, crowd-pleasing recipes like bars, crisps, trifles, and no-bake desserts that save valuable oven space and cater to a wider range of tastes. While pumpkin, apple, and pecan pies are Thanksgiving staples, many guests secretly wish for something different. The traditional pie can be time-consuming to prepare, tricky to get right, and heavy after a big meal.

Opting for a non-pie dessert solves several holiday hosting problems at once. You can often make them ahead of time, freeing you up on the big day. Many options, like the no-bake cheesecake or fudge on this list, don’t require any oven time at all—a huge win when the turkey is hogging all the heat. This curated list provides nine delicious, easy, and impressive alternatives that will solve these problems and earn a permanent spot on your Thanksgiving dessert table.

9 Easy Thanksgiving Desserts That Aren’t Pie (And Will Steal the Show)

The best easy Thanksgiving desserts that aren’t pie include Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting, Effortless Apple Crisp, and No-Bake Pumpkin Caramel Cheesecake. These recipes deliver all the classic fall flavors your guests crave without the stress and complexity of making a traditional pie. Each of these recipes has been selected for its simple instructions, accessible ingredients, and consistently delicious results, ensuring even beginner bakers can create a showstopping dessert.

Here are nine fantastic pie alternatives that are guaranteed to be a hit:

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Effortless Apple Crisp
No-Bake Pumpkin Caramel Cheesecake
5-Ingredient Pumpkin Fudge
Easy Make-Ahead Pumpkin Cream Trifle
Shortcut Pecan Pie Bars
Chocolate Pumpkin Bundt Cake
Light & Airy Pumpkin Mousse
Interactive Caramel Apple Bar

1. Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Save this recipe to your ‘Thanksgiving Desserts’ board!

These moist, soft pumpkin bars topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting are like a lighter, easier-to-serve version of pumpkin pie. They have all the beloved fall spice flavor but are baked in a simple sheet pan, making them perfect for feeding a crowd.

Ingredients:
- For the Bars: All-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, salt, eggs, granulated sugar, pumpkin puree, vegetable oil.
- For the Frosting: Cream cheese (softened), unsalted butter (softened), powdered sugar, vanilla extract.
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients for the bars.
3. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, pumpkin puree, and oil.
4. Combine wet and dry ingredients until just mixed. Pour into the prepared pan.
5. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
6. For the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla.
7. Spread frosting over the cooled bars, slice, and serve.

Pro-Tip: Ensure your pumpkin bars are completely cool before frosting. A slightly warm cake will melt the cream cheese frosting, resulting in a runny mess.

2. Effortless Apple Crisp

Save this comforting dessert to your ‘Fall Recipes’ board!

Get all the comforting flavor of apple pie with a fraction of the effort. This apple crisp features tender, spiced apples under a crunchy oat topping. It’s a wonderfully rustic dessert that’s best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Plus, it can easily be made gluten-free!

Ingredients:
- For the Filling: Apples (peeled and sliced), lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon.
- For the Topping: Rolled oats, all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend), brown sugar, cold butter (cubed), pinch of salt.
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Toss sliced apples with lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon. Spread evenly in a baking dish.
3. In a separate bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, and salt. Cut in the cold butter with your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apples.
5. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until the topping is golden and the filling is bubbly.
6. Let cool slightly before serving warm with vanilla ice cream.

Pro-Tip: Use a mix of sweet and tart apples, like Honeycrisp and Granny Smith, to create a more complex and balanced flavor in your filling.

3. No-Bake Pumpkin Caramel Cheesecake

Pin this no-bake recipe to save oven space!

This dessert is a holiday game-changer. A creamy, pumpkin-spiced cheesecake filling sits atop a crunchy gingersnap crust, all without ever turning on the oven. It’s the ultimate make-ahead dessert; simply let it chill in the fridge overnight for a stress-free Thanksgiving day. A drizzle of caramel makes it absolutely irresistible.

Ingredients:
- For the Crust: Gingersnap cookies (crushed), melted butter, sugar.
- For the Filling: Cream cheese (softened), pumpkin puree, powdered sugar, pumpkin pie spice, heavy whipping cream.
- For Topping: Store-bought or homemade caramel sauce.
Instructions:
1. Combine crushed gingersnaps, butter, and sugar. Press firmly into the bottom of a springform pan. Chill for 30 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Mix in pumpkin puree, powdered sugar, and pumpkin pie spice.
3. In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks. Gently fold the whipped cream into the pumpkin mixture.
4. Spread the filling evenly over the chilled crust.
5. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight, until firm.
6. Drizzle with caramel sauce before serving.

Lesson Learned: For the smoothest cheesecake filling, make sure your cream cheese is truly at room temperature. Cold cream cheese is the number one cause of lumpy cheesecake.

4. 5-Ingredient Pumpkin Fudge

Save this easy fudge idea for a sweet holiday treat!

When you need a super simple, quick, and decadent treat, this 5-ingredient pumpkin fudge is the answer. It’s soft, creamy, and packed with fall spice. These little squares are perfect for adding variety to your dessert spread or for gifting to guests as a take-home treat.

Ingredients:
1. White chocolate chips
2. Sweetened condensed milk
3. Pumpkin puree
4. Pumpkin pie spice
5. Vanilla extract
Instructions:
1. Line an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper.
2. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the white chocolate chips with the sweetened condensed milk in 30-second intervals, stirring in between.
3. Once smooth, quickly stir in the pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla extract until fully combined.
4. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
5. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until firm.
6. Lift the fudge out using the parchment paper and cut into small squares.

Pro-Tip: Work quickly once you mix in the pumpkin! The fudge will start to set up fast, so have your pan ready to go before you even start melting the chocolate.

5. Easy Make-Ahead Pumpkin Cream Trifle

Pin this showstopper dessert for your next holiday gathering!

For a dessert that looks incredibly impressive but is secretly simple, a trifle is your best friend. This recipe features beautiful layers of spiced pumpkin pudding, fluffy whipped cream, and crunchy gingersnap cookies. Assembling it a day ahead allows the flavors to meld and the cookies to soften perfectly. It’s a guaranteed “oohs and aahs” moment when you bring it to the table.

Ingredients:
- Pumpkin Layer: Canned pumpkin puree, instant vanilla pudding mix, milk, pumpkin pie spice.
- Cream Layer: Heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, vanilla extract.
- Cookie Layer: Crushed gingersnap cookies or cubed pound cake.
Instructions:
1. Prepare the pumpkin layer by whisking together pumpkin puree, pudding mix, milk, and spice until it begins to thicken.
2. Prepare the cream layer by whipping heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form.
3. Begin layering in a large trifle bowl: start with a layer of cookies, followed by a layer of the pumpkin mixture, then a layer of whipped cream.
4. Repeat the layers until you reach the top of the bowl, finishing with a final layer of whipped cream.
5. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight, to allow the flavors to meld and the cookies to soften.
6. Garnish with extra cookie crumbs or a sprinkle of cinnamon before serving.

Pro-Tip: For perfectly distinct layers, make sure your pumpkin pudding mixture is fully chilled and set before you begin assembling the trifle.

6. Shortcut Pecan Pie Bars

Save this easy recipe for all the flavor of pie, with none of the fuss!

Love the gooey, nutty filling of pecan pie but not the hassle of the crust? These bars are the perfect solution. A buttery shortbread crust is topped with that classic pecan pie filling, then baked and sliced into easy-to-serve squares. They are portable, less messy than a slice of pie, and disappear just as quickly.

Ingredients:
- For the Crust: All-purpose flour, powdered sugar, cold unsalted butter.
- For the Filling: Brown sugar, corn syrup, melted butter, eggs, vanilla extract, chopped pecans.
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch pan with parchment paper.
2. For the crust, combine flour and powdered sugar. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture is crumbly. Press firmly into the bottom of the pan.
3. Bake the crust for 15-20 minutes until lightly golden.
4. While the crust bakes, whisk together the brown sugar, corn syrup, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla for the filling. Stir in the chopped pecans.
5. Pour the filling over the hot crust.
6. Bake for an additional 25-30 minutes, until the filling is set. Let cool completely before slicing into bars.

Lesson Learned: Don’t skip lining the pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. This creates ‘handles’ to easily lift the entire slab out for perfect, clean cuts.

7. Chocolate Pumpkin Bundt Cake

Pin this crowd-pleasing cake for the chocolate lovers at your table!

A beautiful bundt cake always feels festive, and this one is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. The pumpkin puree makes the chocolate cake incredibly moist, while the fall spices add a warm complexity. It comes together in about 45 minutes and looks stunning on a cake stand with a simple chocolate glaze.

Ingredients:
- All-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, salt, sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, pumpkin puree, vanilla extract.
- For Glaze: Semi-sweet chocolate chips, heavy cream.
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously grease and flour a bundt pan.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, spice, and salt.
3. In another bowl, beat the sugar, oil, eggs, pumpkin puree, and vanilla until well combined.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
5. Pour batter into the prepared bundt pan. Bake for 40-45 minutes.
6. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.
7. For the glaze, heat heavy cream until just simmering, then pour over chocolate chips. Let sit for 5 minutes, then stir until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cake.

Pro-Tip: The secret to a Bundt cake that never sticks is to grease every single crevice of the pan with shortening, then dust it with flour or cocoa powder. Don’t rely on cooking spray alone!

8. Light & Airy Pumpkin Mousse

Save this light and refreshing dessert idea for after a big meal!

After a hearty Thanksgiving feast, sometimes a light and refreshing dessert is exactly what everyone needs. This no-bake pumpkin mousse is airy, creamy, and not overly sweet. Serving it in individual cups makes it feel elegant and is perfect for portion control.

Ingredients:
- Cream cheese (softened), pumpkin puree, powdered sugar, instant vanilla pudding mix, milk, pumpkin pie spice, whipped topping (like Cool Whip), crushed gingersnaps.
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth.
2. Add the pumpkin puree, powdered sugar, pudding mix, milk, and pumpkin pie spice. Beat until well combined and smooth.
3. Gently fold in 1/2 of the whipped topping.
4. In individual glasses or bowls, create layers: start with crushed gingersnaps, then a layer of pumpkin mousse, then another layer of gingersnaps, and another of mousse.
5. Top with the remaining whipped topping.
6. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving.

Pro-Tip: For an extra fancy presentation, pipe the pumpkin mousse and whipped topping into the glasses using a piping bag with a star tip.

9. Interactive Caramel Apple Bar

Pin this fun and interactive dessert idea for your holiday party!

This is less of a recipe and more of a brilliant, no-cook idea. A caramel apple bar is fun, interactive, and requires zero baking. Simply arrange apple slices, warm caramel dip, and a variety of toppings like nuts, chocolate chips, and sprinkles on a board. Guests of all ages will love creating their own custom dessert.

Materials Needed:
- Apples (sliced)
- Jar of good-quality caramel sauce
- Toppings: Mini chocolate chips, chopped peanuts, sprinkles, crushed Oreos, shredded coconut, mini marshmallows, toffee bits.
- A large board or platter, and small bowls for toppings.
Step-by-Step Directions:
1. Wash and slice the apples just before serving to prevent browning. (A little lemon juice can help.)
2. Gently warm the caramel sauce in a microwave-safe bowl until it is smooth and dippable. Place this bowl in the center of your board.
3. Arrange all the toppings in separate small bowls around the caramel.
4. Fan the apple slices out on the board.
5. Let guests create their own dessert by dipping apple slices into the caramel and then into their favorite toppings.

Pro-Tip: Use a small slow cooker set to ‘warm’ to keep your caramel dip perfectly smooth and warm throughout the entire party without having to reheat it.

Key Takeaways: Your Quick Guide to Thanksgiving Desserts

Variety is Key: Offering desserts like cakes, bars, and mousses caters to all guests, even those who aren’t fans of pie.
Save Oven Space: No-bake options like the Pumpkin Caramel Cheesecake, Pumpkin Mousse, and Caramel Apple Bar are lifesavers when your oven is busy.
Make-Ahead for Less Stress: Desserts like the Pumpkin Cream Trifle and Pumpkin Fudge can be made a day or two in advance, freeing up your time on Thanksgiving day.
Best for Beginners: If you’re new to baking, the Effortless Apple Crisp and Shortcut Pecan Pie Bars offer classic flavors with minimal fuss.
Top Crowd-Pleaser: For a guaranteed hit with both kids and adults, the interactive Caramel Apple Bar is a fun and memorable choice.

Final Thoughts

This Thanksgiving, step away from the traditional pie and surprise your guests with something new and delicious. The goal of the holiday is to enjoy precious time with loved ones, and these easy, non-pie dessert recipes are designed to help you do just that—by spending less time stressing in the kitchen and more time making memories.

Which one of these easy desserts are you most excited to try? Let me know in the comments below

9 Easy Thanksgiving Desserts That Aren’t Pie

Tired of the Same Old Thanksgiving Pie?

9 Easy Thanksgiving Desserts That Aren’t Pie (And Will Steal the Show)