Whether you’re tired of rolling out pie dough or just feel like trying something new this Thanksgiving, we’ve got you covered with fall-flavored desserts that will win over your holiday crowd. Impress your potluck with a chocolate cake with browned butter-bourbon frosting or a sweet potato layer cake with cream cheese frosting. Keep things no-fuss with a six-ingredient pumpkin poke cake. Make everyone feel special with single-served lava cakes or mini cheesecakes. Whatever you choose, it will likely earn an annual spot on your table.
Molly Bolton
This recipe might have pie in the name, but it’s so much easier. No fussing with pie crust, instead the bottom layer of this 9×13 dessert is moist spice cake while a brown-sugar-pecan streusel topping adds a nice crunch atop the pumpkin pie filling.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey
Why have pumpkin pie when you could have a buttery pumpkin cake with a buttery maple glaze? This recipe works with any shape 12-cup Bundt pan.
Antonis Achilleos
One bite of this cake and you’ll start a new Thanksgiving tradition. The rich chocolate cake is perfectly moist, but the brown butter-bourbon frosting is the star. As you’ll see in the comments, it’s legendary among our readers.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners
A white cake mix makes this homey dessert come together in a flash. Tart Granny Smith apples are the perfect contrast for the buttery cake and spiced pecans.
Alison Miksch, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
These single-serve cheesecakes are the best of both worlds—they’re easy to make and look great on your holiday dessert buffet. You can even make them ahead up to two days (add the topping before serving).
Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Bundt cakes are easy, fuss-free crowd-pleasers that are well suited to big family meals like Thanksgiving. With its homemade pumpkin pie spice and cream cheese glaze, this one’s flavors are perfectly suited for the season.
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Enjoy tender spiced apples and buttery pastry without having to make dough or roll it out. Refrigerated crescent rolls make this dessert come together with little fuss but the end result tastes like you’ve been in the kitchen all day.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
These bars are easy to make and transport thanks to a sturdy shortbread crust. Warm spices add an extra autumnal note.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Pecan lovers will love this layer cake made with buttermilk, coconut, cream cheese, and plenty of nuts.
Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Sally McKay; Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser
This extra moist cake is made with applesauce and Granny Smith apples and a dash of apple brandy for good measure. A brown sugar-pecan topping puts this dessert over the top.
Molly Bolton
A rustic cobbler tastes every bit as good as a slice of pie, and doesn’t require expert baking skills. This recipe combines a mix of tart baking apples with fall spices for a comforting and classic dessert.
Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
This homey sheet cake is enriched with tangy buttermilk, which gives the dessert a tender crumb and a touch of acidity to balance out the sweetness.
Alison Miksch; Prop styling: Prissy Lee; Food styling: Erin Merhar
This impressive and totally indulgent dessert is perfect for a holiday gathering. A graham cracker-pecan crust, and caramel-like topping upgrades the classic cheesecake.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
This cake swaps out the usual canned pumpkin for pureed sweet potatoes. The staple Southern ingredient gives the dessert a rich flavor and a pretty orange hue.
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Four words: Apple Brandy Crème Anglaise. Add to that an apple custard and cubes of cinnamon-raisin bread and you’ve got the ultimate fall dessert.
Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Cloves, nutmeg, and a little orange zest, plus cream cheese frosting make this fruit-filled spice cake something special.
Kristina Vanni
Fruit isn’t a requirement for a good cobbler. In this recipe, pecan pie-like filling creates a gooey topping that you’ll want to eat up by the spoonful.
Jessica Furniss
No one will believe this cake is made with just six ingredients. You can add whatever toppings you’d like—this recipe includes caramel sauce, toffee bar pieces, and chopped pecans.
Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Matthew Gleason; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
In this extra special dessert, challah bread cubes are baked in a bourbon-sweet potato custard and topped with pecans. Serve portions with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to make it over-the-top delicious.
Photo: Antonis Achilleos Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Prop Styling: Matthew Gleason
Roasted sweet potatoes add a deep, caramelized richness to this cake. A thick layer of cream cheese frosting and crunchy pecans are the perfect pairing.
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell
Single-serving desserts are made for special holiday gatherings. And these lava cakes are ideal for fall, with their buttery, caramelized sweetness.
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop styling: Lydia Pursell
A sticky-sweet sauce of bourbon, pecans, and brown sugar tops this ridiculously creamy cheesecake flavored with bourbon and vanilla.