85 Best Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes That Will Sweeten Your Holiday Table

• Time Commitment: 6 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: no bake, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 10 to 12

Since your oven is already packed with sides and a roast bird, why not make a Thanksgiving dessert that doesn't require any baking? Case in point: pumpkin spice tiramisu, spiked with bourbon, pumpkin purée and fresh coffee. "Other than the six-hour chill time, this recipe is a breeze to make," former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen asserts, "and while I call for a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, you could easily adapt it to another shape or size vessel."

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

Soft, fluffy cookies meet sweet, tangy frosting and just the right amount of pumpkin pie spice to create the ultimate fall treat. "These cakey treats start with the same batter as our recipe for pumpkin black and white cookies," Gillen writes, "so once you have this version down, branch out and make those too. It’s as simple as swapping the frosting."

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

Bury me in espresso-dusted, brown sugar-cinnamon crumb topping. The cake is guaranteed to turn out impossibly moist, thanks to sour cream in the batter. "Lucky for you, it doesn’t even require an espresso machine to make," Gillen says. "The secret is instant espresso powder."

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
• Serves: 15 to 20

In my book, when it comes to indulging in apple cider, the limit does not exist. So, wash a gooey, decadent slice down with a warm mug for good measure. "Keep in mind that you should have all your caramel ingredients measured and ready before you begin; the process goes fast!" Gillen writes. "You must not stir once the sugar syrup comes to a boil, or the mixture could crystallize."

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 12

The homemade cranberry filling might sound like a lot of work, but it’s actually quite simple. (Oh, and it'll make your home smell like a holiday wonderland.) Of course, you can substitute store-bought jam if you're feeling lazy.

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 18

Due to the cake's tender, moist crumb and swoops of apple cider frosting, I'd like to start a petition to get this confection on everyone's Thanksgiving table, every year. One bite, and I'm betting you'll join me.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: one 9-inch cake

Let's put a spin on the traditional British holiday pudding and turn it into a glorious cake. Honeycomb and butter melt together in the oven to create a caramel-like topping that you'll want to drizzle on everything.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: one 9-inch pie

Erin McDowell is the queen of all things pie, so you know her ginger-cherry number is going to be well worth the effort. (C'mon, it even has gingerbread pieces worked into the crust—need I say more?)

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: one 12-inch tart

Sure, you could put together a traditional apple pie that would likely taste delicious. Alternatively, you could go the extra mile and make this pretzel-crusted, sweet-and-salty version, then let the oohs and ahhs roll in.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, gluten free, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6

I know you still have a lingering bottle of summer rosé in your fridge. Put it to good use with this effortlessly chic pear dessert that's just right for intimate dinners. Finish it with a dollop of whipped cream topped with candied ginger.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 9

Don’t feel obligated to save these for a sweet breakfast—they'll do just fine for Thanksgiving dessert. They taste like pumpkin bread and pecan pie combined, so how can you go wrong?

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
• Serves: 24

Pumpkin pie might not be your thing, but have you tried pumpkin cookies? These are stuffed with a tangy, rich cheesecake filling that even picky kids will crave after their first bite. Make them on Thanksgiving Eve to make room in your oven on the big day.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

You can thank the Brits for this delectable treat, which is like banana pudding on steroids. Gooey caramel, soft whipped cream and crisp graham cracker crumbs—sign me up.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, gluten free, dairy free, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6

You don’t eat pumpkin pie, dairy or gluten, so what’s for Thanksgiving dessert? Aran Goyoaga’s delightfully easy and delicious tart, is what. Brown rice and almond flours keep it surprisingly wheat-free.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, gluten free
• Serves: 6

Does it count as Thanksgiving dessert if it takes only 35 minutes to make? Absolutely. Bring on the maple-almond crumble and fresh whipped cream (or better yet, vanilla ice cream).

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 10

Don't be offended if your guests think you picked these up at the fancy bakery down the street. It's a compliment. After all, they won't be able to tell that they're made with store-bought frozen puff pastry.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, gluten free
• Serves: 10

A layer of pastry cream hides beneath those pretty apple roses, which are easier to craft than they may seem. As for the crust, it's mostly butter, sugar and fall-friendly pecans.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, kid-friendly
• Serves: 30

If you can't possibly pick between pie and cookies, make these hybrids that check both boxes. I'd also make a second batch of bark for snacking on while the cookies bake...just sayin'.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8

Need proof that scones aren’t just for breakfast? The dough for these is basically just pie crust, people. Don't even get me started on the layer of homemade caramel in the center of each scone.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 24

Why wait until Christmas? These cookies are best served with a side of eggnog for dunking, of course. (Bonus points for spiking it with whiskey or rum.)

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
• Serves: 24

You start with a store-bought refrigerated pie crust and doctor it up with lots of cinnamon. Trust us: No one will suspect a shortcut (especially with this distractingly adorable mini dessert in front of them).

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
• Serves: 6

Bless you, cast iron skillet. When all of your guests show up with either pumpkin or apple pie, you'll be so grateful to have a decadent chocolate dessert in the mix.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 10

If you’re looking for a Thanksgiving dessert that doubles as a stunning centerpiece, Gaby Dalkin has you covered. The cheesecake has the same flavors as pumpkin pie, minus the inevitably soggy crust.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 5

If simplicity is more your style, you can’t go wrong with a skillet dessert. Make sure to save room for this crumb-topped masterpiece after all that turkey.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 12

Isn't she lovely? The caramel coats this butternut squash delight almost like a glaze, so it doesn’t need an accompaniment…but if you want to gild the lily, a drizzle of cold heavy cream just before serving would do.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6 to 8

You get a pie! You get a pie! Everybody gets a pie! (However, if you don't have tiny ramekins on deck, a single oven-safe, nine-inch baking dish will do.) Might I suggest washing it down with mulled wine?

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 10

Not to brag or anything, but that sweet-and-savory glaze really speaks for itself. "I packed as much as I could into it to make it really pumpkin-flavored without ruining the light, airy feeling of an angel food cake,” recipe creator Erin McDowell explains. "This cake doesn’t rise as tall as a traditional angel food cake does, but it still has that angel food texture."

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 15

I'll take these over a mini-mallow-topped casserole any day. Sweet potatoes keep the cookies impossibly soft and moist, even though the recipe doesn't call for traditional egg.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 10

Extra brown sugar = crackly, chewy, caramelized bliss. You'll need a tall glass of milk for these cinnamony handhelds, trust. Pair them with hot chocolate, mulled cider or even buttered rum, if you're feeling fancy.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

The whole mason jar deal is so much cuter than a regular old pie dish. (Plus, just *look* at those teeny-tiny crimped crusts.) Kids will be extra psyched to dig into this Thanksgiving dessert.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, gluten free
• Serves: 6

"Eton mess is usually made with fresh fruit or jam,” McDowell explains, “and that is really delicious…but this is a fall-ified version. It's sort of like eating a bite of pumpkin pie with whipped cream, but with meringue instead of pie crust." It'll be our little secret if you go with store-bought meringue instead of homemade.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 6

Warning: These fall doughnuts will disappear in five seconds flat, especially if they're placed on the kids' table. Feel free to roll half the batch in confectioners' sugar instead of cinnamon sugar for some visual variety.

• Time Commitment: 4 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, make ahead, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 24

Making puff pastry from scratch takes a little patience, but the payoff? Totally worth it. This recipe requires a bit more forethought because of the time commitment, so start it on Thanksgiving Eve (and get some of your relatives in on the action, if you dare).

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: one 9-inch pie

Fun fact: The custard is thickened with flour instead of eggs, so it's basically impossible for the surface to crack. But don't worry if you don't like how the top turns out—you'll be covering it in homemade meringue anyway.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 10

Psst: I have plans for all that leftover Halloween candy corn in your pantry. The little ones will be thrilled when you slice the cake open. You can definitely add M&Ms, orange sprinkles or mellocreme pumpkins to the filling, too.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

You can save these for fueling up ahead of Black Friday shopping, or make them a sophisticated pairing for post-feast coffee. (Or perhaps Crockpot spiked cinnamon lattes are just what the doctor ordered?)

• Time Commitment: 3 hours and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, gluten free, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6

No one will see this crisp, apple-y stunner coming. Not only is it gluten-free, but you and your guests can also dig in together with spoons—no plates required. Bye, dirty dishes.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
• Serves: 10

Apples, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon cake batter—what's the worst that can happen? (Besides you eating the whole darn thing before your guests arrive, that is.) Plus, upside-down cakes are a breeze because they basically "frost" themselves.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 24

"They have that caramelly flavor on the inside, but you also spoon a little bit of the sauce on the outside as they're baking and it slides down the macaroon like a glaze," McDowell explains. In case the from-scratch caramel glaze isn't indulgent enough for you, you can always dip the bottoms in melted chocolate.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 16

Cinnamon streusel falls somewhere between chunky cardigans and crunchy leaves on my list of favorite fall things. Up the pumpkin-infused ante by serving big-batch pumpkin spice lattes with this crowd-pleaser.

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, one pan, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 8

Can you believe this chic French beauty takes less than an hour to make? Très easy. It bakes in a single skillet, the most work you’ll have to do is slice some figs and the results are sticky-sweet, caramelized fruit nestled in a blanket of crisp pastry.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 10

It blows the classic peanut butter cup out of the water in terms of flavor, but honestly, this one's appeal is all presentation. The kids at the party will definitely be asking for a second slice.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

You so don't need to wait for Christmas to put gingersnaps (even the store-bought kind) on the table. The warm spices fit right in at Thanksgiving, and you'll only need six ingredients to make it happen.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 10

Because fussy, fancy frosting isn't required to make a bakery-quality Thanksgiving dessert. Slivered almonds and sugar have it covered. It doesn't even need a dollop of whipped cream to be table-ready.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, one pan, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: one 9-inch cinnamon roll

You call it Thanksgiving dessert, I call it Black Friday brunch. The secret is a few tubes of store-bought Crescent roll dough, which bake to buttery perfection without much effort. Pass the mimosa pitcher, please.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, gluten free
• Serves: 6

This dessert was all the rage in the '90s. Fragrant, whole cardamom pods give the custardy treat the modern update it deserves. If you don't have a kitchen torch, pop the ramekins in a cold oven and turn on the broiler.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 10

For that one aunt of yours who's always on a new diet. For the uninitiated, spelt is a nutrient-rich variety of wheat that offers nutty, wholesome flavor to the cake. The apple cider-poached pears are a delicious bonus.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: no bake, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 8

I love cheesecake. The baking (and the pesky water bath)? Not so much. Enter this no-bake, cinnamon-laced number, complete with red currant jelly and gingersnap crumbles.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 10

'Tis the season for all things apple, pumpkin and cranberry—but there's always room on my table for chocolate. A generous dose of cinnamon keeps this cake in Thanksgiving dessert territory anyway.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, make ahead, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 24

Ready for a hosting hack? Make the dough a few days ahead, so you can just slice and bake on Thanksgiving. It's packed with maple syrup *and* maple extract for potent fall flavor.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, gluten free, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6

The sweet spud can do way more than side dishes, and this gourmet-looking treat is delicious proof. "The starch in the sweet potato makes it really thick, smooth and creamy, and it’s a great way to use leftovers," McDowell claims.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 24

A little dusting of powdered sugar and store-bought caramels go a long way in the presentation department. They're so tasty that your guests won't mind eating them for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 10

Trade regular pie dough for impressively swirly cinnamon roll pie crust, then let the crowd go wild. If you're looking for a shortcut, use store-bought cinnamon roll dough instead of making your own.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Want to know the secret behind these itty-bitty sweets? They're baked in mason jar lids. How clever is that? Even better, you only need seven ingredients to bake the tarts (and you likely have most of them in your pantry already).

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: one 9-inch cake

Inspired by the Swedish dessert semlor, this cake is light as clouds and super elegant. "Traditionally, the cake is scored to show people where to cut it," McDowell writes. "My version is much easier to shape because it's simply baked in a Bundt pan. The results are impressive with minimal effort."

• Time Commitment: 12 hours and 40 minutes (includes chilling time)
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, no bake
• Serves: 10

You'll barely have to lift a finger food to make this Thanksgiving dessert. Thanks to store-bought gingersnap cookies and premixed pumpkin pie spice, this will give you all the fall feels you crave without you even needing to turn on the oven.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 12

Reason #362 to always have store-bought puff pastry on hand. It's also a great dessert to make the day after Thanksgiving, since the recipe calls for cranberry sauce. You'll have leftover anyway, no?

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, no bake, crowd-pleaser, ready in <15 minutes
• Serves: 6 to 8

Once you taste this dairy-free delight, you'll crave it year-round. (You could even serve it with apple pie.) Substitute maple syrup or agave nectar for honey to make it vegan; just know the ice cream will freeze harder.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 18

There's apple cider in both the cake and spiced buttercream, but since there's no such thing as too much, I'll take a mug of the stuff on the side as well. Might I suggest finishing them with caramel drizzle?

• Time Commitment: 3 hours
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 18 to 24

Cinnamon bars + cranberry filling + orange icing > whatever you were planning on buying at the grocery store. This is an ingeniously simple way to kick off citrus season, if you ask me.

• Time Commitment: 5 hours
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 24

Maple buttercream and candied bacon are just the match for buttermilk-bacon fat cupcakes. I wouldn't blame you for serving these instead of doughnuts on Thanksgiving morning either.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
• Serves: 3

Instead of oozing molten chocolate, this stunner's full of smooth, luxurious caramel. (Although there is melted white chocolate in the batter, in case you aren't convinced yet.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 16

Wash these down with boozy hot cocoa after dinner to do the holiday up right. Hot tip? The hand pies can be fully assembled, then wrapped up and frozen for up to one month before being baking. (Read: You can have dessert on deck indefinitely.)

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why I Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 25

Two holiday classics united in buttery, flaky harmony. Substitute the dark rum with coffee liqueur or bourbon, if you'd prefer. (Just don't skimp on the pecan shortbread crust.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8

This chess pie-inspired Thanksgiving dessert, thickened with cornmeal, will make you forget all about pumpkin. (Well, at least for the night.) Use the darkest orange sweet potatoes possible; lighter sweet potatoes will cause the pie to turn out more brown than orange.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 10

Peppermint? Never heard of her. This fall version is dappled to perfection with dried cranberries, crunchy pepitas and toasty almonds. It's a great gift for the hostess, if I do say so myself.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 12

It's teeming with honeycrisp apples, apple butter and apple cider. Baking the cake in an autumnal bundt pan is the ultimate pièce de rèsistance. (A dusting of confectioners' sugar doesn't hurt, either.)

• Time Commitment: 7 hours
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
• Serves: one 9-inch pie

In case you're wondering why some Americans swear by combining cheese and apple pie, this Thanksgiving dessert will make you a believer. Don't doubt the power of this sweet-and-savory delicacy.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, gluten free, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 16

These are vegan, gluten-free and ridiculously soft and chewy, thanks to chickpeas. Go-to mix-ins for me include white chocolate chips, toffee chips and chopped pecans.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, gluten free
• Serves: 64

Just the topper for a batch of warm, homemade apple cider or hot cocoa. They're easier to make than you think, especially because the recipe calls for mostly pantry staples that you already have on hand.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, gluten free, kid-friendly
• Serves: 6

And the award for best-dressed fall dessert goes to this beaut. Semisweet or bittersweet chocolate in the filling rounds out the sweetness of sugar and pumpkin.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 6

Skip the pie crust and homemade whip. All you really need are soft, sugary roasted apples and your favorite store-bought vanilla ice cream to create one of the easiest Thanksgiving desserts of all time.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 22

These chewy pops are dangerously irresistible. Good thing you're one of the grown-ups and can eat however many you want, right? Go forth and nosh, friend.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: dairy free, vegan, gluten free, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Caramelized apples and cinnamon-sugared nuts meet vanilla-coconut ice cream to create a warm-and-cozy Thanksgiving dessert your guests will love. It'd work with other fruits too, like bananas or peaches.

• Time Commitment: 9 hours
• Why I Love It: one bowl, vegan, gluten free, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 10

Aquafaba, banana and pumpkin purée make this classic beyond moist without the help of dairy or wheat. It needs plenty of time to chill, so be prepared to make it a day ahead of the big feast.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, vegan, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

You'll want to put the pecan-oat topping on every fall dish you ever make, and you have my full support. To keep the dessert wheatless, use gluten-free oats and sub the all-purpose for your favorite gluten-free flour blend.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
• Serves: 8

Pumpkin, shmumpkin. This holiday, I'm putting the bounty of citrus season front and center. According to McDowell, this beauty is best eaten the same day it’s made, so go ahead and have a second slice.

• Time Commitment: 12 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 15

Why serve classic apple pie when you can impress your family with these inventive (and beautiful) tarts? You can use any kind of oranges—blood oranges, cara cara, navel and mandarin are all fair game.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 24

These delicious gingerbread cookies look just like little pie tops. I'd use a round, fluted cookie cutter to nail this simple design, but you can get as celebratory as you want with cookie cutters instead, if you'd prefer.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8 to 10

If sweet potatoes aren't your thing, you can easily substitute roasted pumpkin or canned pumpkin purée in their place. (Either way, it pairs seamlessly with a pumpkin spice latte, IMO.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 12

Our motto at Thanksgiving? Go big or go home, hence this jaw-dropping confection. If you'd rather make a tiny version of this confection, use Half Baked Harvest's mini pumpkin cakes recipe instead.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 10

This rendition of the Chinese street snack is made from laminated dough layered with buttery brown sugar filling. Wash it down with spiced tea, a boozy cup of coffee or hot cocoa.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

When in doubt, chocolate is always a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. These pillowy crepes taste *exactly* like the leftover cereal milk from a bowl of Cocoa Krispies, so they're bound to delight everyone.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly
• Serves: 8

This classic Thanksgiving dessert never gets old. "The apples are peeled and chopped into the bite-sized pieces to ensure you get a little bit of everything in each bite," cookbook authors Eric and Shanna Jones explain. Serve it with...well, more bourbon.

• Time Commitment: 5 hours and 15 minutes (includes rising time)
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 12

This just might be one of the most unique Thanksgiving desserts you ever make. The recipe for this labor of love calls for homemade jam. However, you can save time with a store-bought jar of high-quality jam and get similar results.