Easy Thanksgiving Desserts: Apple & Pumpkin Favorites Everyone Will Love
Thanksgiving dessert doesn’t have to mean just one pie (although pie is always welcome!). Apple and pumpkin desserts bring all those cozy fall flavors we love to the holiday table—warm spices, tender fruit, cinnamon, caramel, and plenty of delicious homemade goodness.
I’ve rounded up 20 of my favorite apple and pumpkin desserts from Domestically Speaking. You’ll find everything from buttery apple crisp bars and cinnamon-filled coffee cake to easy cake-mix pumpkin treats, homemade cookies, bread puddings, and even a no-churn pumpkin ice cream.
Whether you’re looking for something to add to your Thanksgiving dessert table, a sweet treat to send home with guests, or a simple bake to enjoy with your coffee the next morning, there’s something here for you.
And the best part? There are plenty of easy recipes and a few no-bake options, so you can find something delicious no matter how busy your holiday week gets.
Let’s get baking!
Apple Desserts for Thanksgiving
If you love the flavor of baked apples, cinnamon, caramel, and buttery crumble, these apple desserts are a delicious addition to your Thanksgiving celebration. From easy apple cakes to cookies and bite-sized treats, there’s something for every apple lover!
1. The Best Apple Crisp Bars
All the cozy flavor of classic apple crisp in an easy-to-serve bar! These Apple Crisp Bars have a buttery oat crumble that forms both the crust and topping, with a layer of tender, cinnamon-spiced apples in between.
They’re delicious served as-is, but I especially love them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Get the Apple Crisp Bars Recipe
2. The Most Delicious Apple Coffee Cake
This Apple Coffee Cake has tender pieces of fresh apple baked into a soft cinnamon cake, topped with a sweet crumb topping. It’s simple to make and perfect for serving with coffee or tea.
While it’s wonderful as a Thanksgiving dessert, I also love the idea of having a slice ready for breakfast or brunch the next morning.
Get the Apple Coffee Cake Recipe
3. Pumpkin Apple Muffins
Why choose between apple and pumpkin when you can enjoy both in one delicious muffin? These Pumpkin Apple Muffins combine moist pumpkin batter, warm fall spices, and little bites of fresh apple.
They’re a fun addition to a Thanksgiving brunch, a dessert platter, or a little something to send home with guests.
Get the Pumpkin Apple Muffins Recipe
4. Easy Spiced Apple Bread
This easy Spiced Apple Bread is a wonderful shortcut for fall baking. A spice cake mix and vanilla pudding mix make the base, while fresh apple pieces add delicious texture and flavor.
It’s soft, fragrant, and perfect for slicing and serving with coffee after the big meal. You might want to save a few slices for the next morning, too!
Get the Spiced Apple Bread Recipe
5. Chocolate Caramel Apple Bark
Love caramel apples but don’t love the mess? This Chocolate Caramel Apple Bark gives you those classic fall flavors in an easy-to-share treat.
Creamy milk chocolate is topped with caramel and crisp pieces of Granny Smith apple. It’s a fun no-bake dessert for Thanksgiving, fall parties, or holiday treat trays. Break it into bite-sized pieces and watch it disappear!
Get the Chocolate Caramel Apple Bark Recipe
6. Apple Poppers
These Apple Poppers are little bite-sized treats that are a cross between mini apple muffins and baked doughnut holes. They’re made with apple pie filling and warm spices, then dipped in melted butter and rolled in cinnamon sugar.
One batch makes approximately 48 poppers, making them a wonderful choice for a crowd. They’re easy to grab, share, and enjoy without needing a plate or fork.
7. Apple Bread Pudding Loaf
Bread pudding is such a cozy dessert, especially when you add apples and cinnamon! This Apple Bread Pudding Loaf is baked in a loaf pan instead of a large casserole dish, making it a smaller-batch option for a family dessert or a smaller gathering.
It’s filled with chunks of bread, fresh apples, cinnamon, and a simple custard. The finishing touch is a warm cinnamon vanilla sauce drizzled over the top.
Get the Apple Bread Pudding Loaf Recipe
8. Apple Cinnamon Cream Cheese Galette
If you love apple pie but don’t want to fuss with making a traditional pie, this Apple Cinnamon Cream Cheese Galette is for you!
A flaky pie crust is topped with a sweet cinnamon cream cheese layer and apple pie filling. The edges are folded up around the filling for a pretty rustic look. It’s an easy dessert that looks impressive enough for your Thanksgiving table without all the work of making a pie from scratch.
Get the Apple Cinnamon Cream Cheese Galette Recipe
9. The Simplest Apple Spice Dump Cake
This Apple Spice Dump Cake is about as easy as fall baking gets! It uses just a few ingredients, including spice cake mix and apple pie filling, to create a warm, comforting dessert.
There’s no complicated mixing involved. Just layer the ingredients, bake until golden and bubbly, and serve warm. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce for an extra-special finish.
Get the Apple Spice Dump Cake Recipe
10. Easy Applesauce Spice Cake
This Easy Applesauce Spice Cake starts with a box of spice cake mix, making it a simple dessert to pull together when your holiday baking list is already long.
Applesauce replaces the oil in the cake mix, adding moisture and a subtle apple flavor. It’s baked in a Bundt pan and finished with a simple cinnamon icing. A pretty cake without a lot of fuss!
Get the Easy Applesauce Spice Cake Recipe
11. Delicious Spiced Apple Oatmeal Cookies
A batch of homemade cookies is always a welcome addition to the holiday dessert table. These Spiced Apple Oatmeal Cookies are filled with fresh apple pieces, hearty oats, and warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
They have a chewy texture and plenty of cozy apple flavor. They’re also a fun option to package up as a little Thanksgiving treat for guests to take home.
Get the Spiced Apple Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
Pumpkin Desserts for Thanksgiving
Pumpkin desserts are practically made for Thanksgiving! These recipes bring all the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cozy pumpkin flavor you’d expect, with a few easy shortcuts and some fun twists mixed in.
12. 3 Ingredient Pumpkin Cake with Greek Yogurt
This is one of the easiest pumpkin desserts you’ll ever make! The cake uses just three ingredients: spice cake mix, pumpkin puree, and Greek yogurt.
Bake it in a Bundt pan, then serve it with cinnamon whipped topping for a simple dessert that looks beautiful on the Thanksgiving table. It’s moist, full of fall flavor, and doesn’t require a long list of ingredients.
Get the 3 Ingredient Pumpkin Cake Recipe
13. Pumpkin Spice Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
These Pumpkin Spice Bars are a fall favorite! The soft, spiced pumpkin bars are topped with a generous layer of cream cheese frosting.
They’re a great option when you’re serving a crowd. Cut them into squares and arrange them on a platter for an easy Thanksgiving dessert.
Get the Pumpkin Spice Bars Recipe
14. Pumpkin Poppers (Mini Pumpkin Donut Holes)
These bite-sized Pumpkin Poppers are like little pumpkin donut holes! They’re baked in a mini muffin pan and coated in melted butter and cinnamon sugar for a sweet, delicious finish.
They’re fun to serve on a dessert platter, especially when you want a little something guests can grab without needing a plate and fork. Just be prepared—these little treats tend to disappear quickly!
Get the Pumpkin Poppers Recipe
15. Easy Pumpkin Bread with Streusel Topping
This Easy Pumpkin Bread is made with a spice cake mix and canned pumpkin puree, then topped with a buttery streusel.
It’s a low-effort, high-reward fall bake with a delicious crumbly topping. Serve it as a Thanksgiving dessert, add it to your holiday brunch spread, or enjoy a slice with your morning coffee.
Get the Easy Pumpkin Bread with Streusel Recipe
16. Cake Mix Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Want a pumpkin dessert that feels a little extra special? These Cake Mix Pumpkin Whoopie Pies feature soft pumpkin spice cake cookies sandwiched around a sweet cinnamon cream cheese filling.
Using a spice cake mix gives you a head start, and the finished whoopie pies look adorable on a Thanksgiving dessert platter. They’re also a fun treat to package individually for guests to take home.
Get the Cake Mix Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Recipe
17. Pumpkin Spice Bread Pudding
If you love a warm, comforting dessert, this Pumpkin Spice Bread Pudding belongs on your fall baking list!
It’s made with pumpkin spice bread soaked in a creamy pumpkin custard, then finished with a cinnamon cream sauce. Serve it warm for a cozy Thanksgiving dessert. You can even add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a little whipped cream.
Get the Pumpkin Spice Bread Pudding Recipe
18. The Easiest Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream
Who says ice cream is just for summer? This homemade Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream is a delicious way to enjoy all those familiar fall flavors in a cool and creamy dessert.
The best part is that it’s a no-churn recipe, so you don’t need an ice cream maker. Made with pumpkin puree, sweetened condensed milk, heavy cream, and warm spices, it’s a fun alternative to traditional Thanksgiving desserts. Try serving it alongside apple crisp bars or a warm slice of apple cake!
Get the Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream Recipe
19. Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
These Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies are soft, chewy, and full of the warm spices we love during fall. Oats give them a wonderful texture, while pumpkin puree adds plenty of seasonal flavor.
The finishing touch is a simple cinnamon icing drizzle. They’re a lovely addition to a Thanksgiving cookie platter or a sweet treat to enjoy with a cup of coffee.
Get the Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
20. Mini Pumpkin Spice Cakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing
These Mini Pumpkin Spice Cakes are such a pretty dessert for Thanksgiving! They’re moist, full of pumpkin spice flavor, and topped with a delicious cinnamon cream cheese icing.
I love the idea of serving individual mini cakes at the holiday table. They feel a little more special than a regular slice of cake, and everyone gets their own little dessert.
Get the Mini Pumpkin Spice Cakes Recipe
Make-Ahead Tips for Thanksgiving Desserts
One of my favorite ways to make Thanksgiving a little less hectic is to get some of the baking done ahead of time. Here are a few ideas for planning your holiday desserts:
- Cookies: Apple Oatmeal Cookies and Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies are great options to prepare ahead. Follow the individual recipes for storage instructions.
- Cakes and breads: Apple Coffee Cake, Spiced Apple Bread, Applesauce Spice Cake, and Pumpkin Bread can be baked ahead and stored according to their recipe instructions.
- Bars and poppers: Apple Crisp Bars, Pumpkin Spice Bars, Apple Poppers, and Pumpkin Poppers are easy-to-serve choices for gatherings. Check the individual recipes for the best storage and make-ahead methods.
- No-bake treats: Chocolate Caramel Apple Bark is a fun option to prepare ahead, but because it contains fresh apple, keep it refrigerated and make it relatively close to serving.
- Frozen desserts: Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream needs time in the freezer, so it’s a great dessert to prepare in advance.
- Bread puddings: Apple Bread Pudding Loaf and Pumpkin Spice Bread Pudding are wonderful cozy desserts. Check their individual recipes for preparation and reheating details.
For the best results, check each recipe for its specific storage instructions, especially for desserts with cream cheese frosting, cream sauces, or fresh fruit.
Building a Simple Thanksgiving Dessert Spread
You don’t need to make all 20 desserts to put together a delicious holiday dessert table. A few different textures and flavors are all you need.
Here’s one easy combination:
- Something fruity: Apple Crisp Bars or Apple Cinnamon Cream Cheese Galette
- Something pumpkin: 3 Ingredient Pumpkin Cake or Mini Pumpkin Spice Cakes
- Something bite-sized: Apple Poppers or Pumpkin Poppers
- Something chocolatey: Chocolate Caramel Apple Bark
- Something for the next morning: Spiced Apple Bread or Pumpkin Apple Muffins
Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a bowl of whipped topping, or a drizzle of caramel sauce, and you’ll have a dessert spread everyone can enjoy.
The best part about these recipes is that they’re easy to share. You can make a few favorites for Thanksgiving dinner, then send guests home with a little something sweet.
Which Thanksgiving Dessert Will You Make?
Are you an apple dessert person or a pumpkin dessert person? I honestly have a hard time choosing! I love having a little variety on the holiday table, especially when it means enjoying all those wonderful fall flavors.
Which of these apple or pumpkin desserts will be making an appearance at your Thanksgiving celebration? I’d love to hear about your family favorites in the comments!
Happy baking, friends, and here’s to a delicious (and a little less stressful) Thanksgiving!
