21 Thanksgiving desserts

Thanksgiving pie recipes

Pumpkin pie with maple cream

The best pumpkin pie. Designed to impress, this rich creamy pud uses shop-bought pastry, making it easy but still a special bake. Maple cream goes on the side for this classic Thanksgiving dessert.

Pecan pie

We've given the classic pecan pie a sweet 'n' salty flavour boost by combining salted butter and muscovado sugar in the filling, plus finishing with a sprinkle of sea salt flakes.. It's perfect with vanilla ice cream or crème fraîche

Apple pie

An American-style deep-dish apple pie with a crisp sugar-crust. Serve with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. Easy to make, this is sure to be a new family favourite over the festive season.

Lemon s'mores meringue pie

Our lemon s’mores meringue pie makes for a stunning alternative Thanksgiving Day dessert. S’mores are roasted marshmallows sandwiched between biscuits. Toasted marshmallows added to the filling of this pie give it an extra bump of flavour and a gooey texture.

Key lime pie

A light and zingy pud to impress your guests - this key lime pie freezes brilliantly, so it’s a great make-ahead pud. It’s best to freeze it before the cream goes on top then just add the topping before serving.

Mississippi mud pie

An ice cream version of the decadent American chocolate mud pie with crunchy hazelnuts and topped with rich fudge sauce, this makes an indulgent Thanksgiving dessert idea.

Black bottom pie

This recipe for Southern pie by Felicity Cloake owes its name to its rich, dark cocoa base and chocolate custard, topped with a rum mousse and a cloud of whipped cream. Pure indulgence, Dixie style.

Vegan pumpkin pie

Ready-made pastry and a tin of pumpkin purée make this plant-based pie very easy to whip up. This sweet, spiced treat makes a delicious dairy-free and egg-free Thanksgiving dessert option.

Thanksgiving cheesecake recipes

Baked raspberry cheesecake

We know you love this classic olive magazine recipe - it's been one of our most popular recipes for years! A classic and really indulgent dessert, baked cheesecake is a crowd pleaser. The fresh raspberries on top cut through the rich body of the cheesecake. An alternative dessert for Thanksgiving dinner. Try our best cheesecake recipes here.

PBJ cheesecake

Need a quick dessert to impress guests at Thanksgiving? Make this simple no-bake cheesecake with the classic American flavours of smooth peanut butter and swirls of raspberry jam.

Thanksgiving cake recipes

OTT chocolate s'mores cake

S’mores, bonfire-torched marshmallows sandwiched between biscuits with chocolate, are a classic in the US for a reason. This recipe mashes up all of those flavours into one seriously epic cake to serve over the Thanksgiving period.

Red velvet cake

Give your chocolate cake a red tinge in this classic American cake recipe, covered in silky-smooth cheese frosting for extra indulgence.

Thanksgiving dessert recipes

Chocolate brownie pecan tart

What's better than a brownie? A chocolate brownie-filled tart with a crisp pecan topping. This rich dessert is easily made ahead to ensure a stress-free Thanksgiving. Serve with creme fraiche or ice-cream.

Pumpkin-spiced doughnuts with salted maple glaze

Baked not fried, these pumpkin spiced doughnuts with salted maple glaze not only look stunning but are easy to make, too. You’ll need 6-hole doughnut tins for these. We used Wilton from amazon.co.uk.

S'mores chocolate and salted caramel pots

Here the classic US campfire snack of toasted marshmallow and chocolate squished between two biscuits is reworked to create an elegant layered dessert to make ahead for Thanksgiving.

Peanut butter fudge brownies

A foolproof traditional brownie recipe topped with indulgent peanut butter fudge. These easy decadent brownies are the ideal treat to serve with coffee after Thanksgiving dinner.

Banana split s'mores

We've combined two favourite US desserts to make the ultimate indulgent pud. Cooked bananas have a fragrant juiciness that’s ideal paired with salty biscuits and dark chocolate. This fun dessert is best made over a barbecue or campfire and enjoyed outdoors, or brought in from the cold.

Donut holes with whisky dipping sauce

The best pudding for an alternative Thanksgiving treat. Try our fun idea for homemade donuts with a delicious whisky sauce.

Cinnamon-spiced pecan and cranberry duff

This recipe from Felicity Cloake is a New England take on the traditional British upside-down cake, this is often made with the north-east’s famous apples, but here cranberries and pecans provide a sharp, crunchy counterpoint to the rich, buttery batter. Great served warm with ice cream, or at room temperature with a cup of tea.

Baileys milkshake (the dalmation)

An indulgent take on milkshake for grown ups. Baileys and vanilla ice cream, whizzed with Oreo biscuits, make an irresistible treat for Thanksgiving.

Chocolate tart with salty caramelised walnuts

This rich, dense chocolate tart is lifted to another level with sweet and salty walnuts, adding crunch as well as a complexity of flavour, perfect for a Thanksgiving dessert. You will need a loose-bottomed, fluted tart tin of about 25cm diameter and 3cm depth.