Everyone knows that aside from the mashed potatoes and a few other featured dishes, desserts are the real star of Thanksgiving and any holiday really. This is your ultimate guide to Thanksgiving desserts. We have you covered for everything from traditional pies to daring mousses to cookies for the kids! A little something for everyone. Plus, most of these dishes are easily prepared and will be a wonderful addition to your Thanksgiving feast.
1. Cakes
Source: Raw Chocolate Caramel Pecan Cake [Vegan]
No matter the holiday, cakes are a must. They are a great end to any dinner party and can be customized and decorated specifically to your tastes! The cakes in this guide are the best of the best – feature classic Thanksgiving flavors like cinnamon and gingerbread alongside other scrumptious flavors and textures. Emily von Euw’s recipe for Raw Chocolate Caramel Pecan Cake is comprised of a dense, dark chocolate pecan cake base topped off with a sweet, creamy, spiced caramel sauce and covered in pecans: can you go wrong here? Or check out this Pecan Carrot Cake by Gabrielle St. Claire that is packed full of carrots, raisins, pecans, and that classic cinnamon flavor with rich cream cheese frosting. If you are not a fan of nuts in or on your cake, Sara Oliveira’s Sugar-Free Cinnamon Almond Ring Cake is made from wholesome ingredients like spelt flour and is completely sugar-free. If you are looking for a different flavor palette, Holly Jade’s Gingerbread Maple Cake is moist, fluffy, perfectly sweet and extremely mouth-watering! And for a more healthy cake, you’re going to love Sarah and Peter Hagstrom’s great recipe for Cranberry Chocolate Cake!
2. Pies
Source: Sweet Potato Pecan Pie with Salted Bourbon Maple Caramel [Vegan, Gluten-Free]
When you think of Thanksgiving dessert, you definitely think of pie! Pies are a crowd pleaser all around and when they’re jam packed with Thanksgiving flavors, what is not to love. This guide contains recipes for pies that go way beyond your traditional apple and pumpkin featuring Bourbon, Coconut, and other delicious flavors. Sweet Potato Pecan Pie with Salted Bourbon Maple Caramel by Rachel Carr is mostly raw, with only the sweet potatoes being roasted to create a naturally sweet and creamy texture. Or for someone looking for a richer flavor, Melanie Sorrentino has a recipe with thick and dense layers of pudding – Chocolate and Butterscotch Pudding Pie. For those people with allergies to nuts, Aileen Metcalf’s recipe for Triple Coconut Cream Pie with Graham Cracker Crust is super allergen-friendly, with no nuts and no soy! Ciarra Siller’s Healthy Apple Cranberry Crumble Pie features some more classic Thanksgiving textures and flavors. Or try a Raw Chia Caramel Pecan Pie by Emily von Euw!
3. Cookies
Source: Date Caramel Stuffed Pumpkin Cookies [Vegan]
The best thing about cookies, besides the fact that they can and should be eaten for all holidays and throughout the year, is that they are best dessert to serve a dinner party because they’re small yet filling and offer no hassle in serving. They are also so difficult to mess up and so easy to make! Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday to give these delicious cookie recipes a shot. For starters, we have a classic Pumpkin Spice cookie by Holly Bertone that are gluten-free on top of being vegan! Katrina Nixon creates moist biscuit-like cookies filled with fiber rich ingredients like apples, coconut flour, coconut oil, cinnamon, and sunflower seeds – Apple Snickerdoodle Cookies. For more pumpkin-y goodness, check out Medha Swaminathan’s Pumpkin Almond Butter Cookies that require only six ingredients (including salt!) and are so so delicious! Katarina Hawk has a great Soft Chocolate Cranberry Cookies recipe for adding a pop of color to your Thanksgiving spread. And for a cookie that literally oozes magic, Katarina Hawk also has you covered with her brilliant Date Caramel Stuffed Pumpkin Cookies.
4. Tarts
Source: Currant and Berry Tart with Date Caramel [Vegan, Gluten-Free]
Pies feature a crust with a savory or sweet filling while tarts offer shallower sides and only a bottom crust. This means more delicious filling for you!!! Plus, as there is only a bottom crust, tarts are significantly simpler to make and as scrumptious as pies. Adam Graczynski offers a Raw Chocolate and Cherry Mousse Tart comprised of a silky-smooth chocolate mouse flecked with ripe cherries and sandwiched between a chocolate walnut crust that is mind-blowingly good! For a more sour-sweet flavor combination, Laine Rudolfa has you covered with her gluten-free, crisp and oh so delicious Currant and Berry Tart with Date Caramel. This amazing Heavenly Apple Tart by Petra Vogel will will have your kitchen smelling wonderful and your taste buds celebrating. Or for a raw and equally beautiful tart option, try Heidi Turunen’s Raw Lavender Fig Tarts colored with blueberries and flavored with lavender essential oil. Hannah Sunderani’s Chocolate Almond and Thyme Tart whose savory thyme topping brings out the rich, chocolate notes in the mousse!
5. Mousses
Source: Pumpkin Mousse [Vegan]
Mousses are truly under appreciated. They feature the flavors and textures of so many different desserts all compiled together and layered beautifully and intricately easy for individual serving! Emily von Euw’s Raw Chocolate Mousse chocolate nut crust holds this creamy chocolate vegan mousse, drizzled with a chocolate sauce that you won’t get enough of. For more classic autumn flavors, Gretchen Price has a creamy and light recipe for Pumpkin Mousse that will have you drooling. In a rush? Dessert is not something you should skip! Whip up this 15 Minute Salted Caramel Chocolate Mousse or this Four Ingredient Espresso Mouse by Lauren Glucina! Holly Bertone also has you covered with her vegan, dairy free, and keto friendly smooth and creamy Pumpkin Spice Mousse.
Still need more Thanksgiving ideas? We’ve got plenty! Check out our Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide for all the plant-based Thanksgiving recipes you could hope for, from appetizers to desserts and everything in between.
