The 52 Best Pumpkin Desserts for Thanksgiving
Updated on October 01, 2025
Whether you’re craving pie, streusel-topped crumble or cheesecake, these desserts will be the highlight of your meal.
Photo: Lucy Schaeffer
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Thanksgiving Pumpkin Dessert Recipes & Ideas
There’s no denying the ubiquity of pumpkin (especially pumpkin spice) during the fall—and Thanksgiving dinner is no exception. Is your holiday feast even complete if you don’t have a slice of pumpkin pie?! That got us thinking about all the other ways to use pumpkin, especially in desserts. Pumpkin roll, pumpkin bread, pie-inspired cupcakes, pumpkin-ified chocolate chip cookies: you really can’t go wrong when this beloved fall flavor is involved. One of our favorite ways to use our canned pumpkin? A Thanksgiving cheesecake like this one. With swirls of pumpkin filling, caramel and a gingersnap crust, this autumnal cheesecake is a true delight. The fun bullseye pattern? Simply whip up a classic cheesecake batter and then add pumpkin and warm spices to half the batch. It couldn’t be easier!
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Photo: Renee Comet
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Dump Pumpkin Pie
Forget the fuss of pie dough! This one-pan dessert has the creamy pumpkin filling you love and a crunchy topping made with spice cake mix, graham crackers and pecans. It feeds a crowd, and there's almost no clean up!
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Photo: Caitlin Ochs
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The Best Pumpkin Pie
The filling for this classic, full-flavor pumpkin pie has an ultralight and fluffy texture, thanks to the generous doses of sugar and cream.
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Photo: Matt Armendariz ©
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Pumpkin Roll
Trisha's sweet pumpkin roll is loaded with autumnal flavors and spices, but easy and convenient canned pumpkin makes it an anytime-of-the-year treat.
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Photo: Matt Armendariz
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Spiced Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Icing
These spiced pumpkin bars are soft, moist and packed with warm fall flavors, then topped with a luscious cream cheese icing for the perfect seasonal treat. Ideal for sharing or savoring solo!
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Pumpkin Rum Cake
This rich pumpkin rum cake from Ree Drummond blends cozy autumn spices with a splash of rum, all topped with a buttery glaze that soaks into every bite for irresistible flavor.
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Photo: Kate Mathis ©
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Pumpkin Crumble
One scoop of ths luscious dessert, and you'll forget why you ever made pie crust. A simple brown sugar-and-spice crumble comes together in no time, so it's one of the easiest ways to satisfy a pumpkin pie craving.
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Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes
What could be better than pumpkin pie? How about a pumpkin pie cupcake? These are super moist, almost like steamed pudding, and the whipped-cream topping gets a little help from cream cheese to make it sturdy enough for filling and frosting. Oh, and there's still a crust - in the form of crunchy pie-dough garnish.
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Photo: Matt Armendariz
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Pumpkin Streusel Spoon Cake
At its simplest, a spoon cake is a dessert that is best served warm while the cake is at its most tender and an attempt to cut it with a knife would end in a (delicious) mess. This autumnal spoon cake is punched up with all the flavors of pumpkin pie and has the texture of a super-moist coffee cake complete with a browned butter and pecan crumble topping. Spoon the warm cake into bowls then add a final drizzle of maple syrup and dollop of whipped cream take it over the top.
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Gingersnap Pumpkin Pie with Ginger Cream
Don't scrimp on the ginger whipped cream; it brings everything together for a double hit of gingery goodness.
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Pumpkin Pie
This classic pie promises an especially creamy pumpkin filling with heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk.
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Pumpkin Dip
Everyone loves dip, so why not serve it for dessert? This dip tastes just like pumpkin pie, but the deconstructed style is even more fun to serve at a party.
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Photo: KATE MATHIS
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Pumpkin Pie-Stuffed Cheesecake
This creamy cheesecake has a secret — there's a surprise pumpkin pie inside making it the ultimate holiday dessert.
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Photo: Kana Okada
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Pumpkin-Cranberry Cheesecake
Cranberries deserve a place on the Thanksgiving dessert table too. A combination of ricotta, mascarpone and pumpkin creates a lighter cheesecake and an ideal landing place for the tart fruit.
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Photo: Matt Armendariz ©
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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Spice up chocolate chip cookies with pumpkin puree, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves.
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Apple-Pumpkin-Pecan Pie
This amazing mash-up holiday pie will be the star of your Thanksgiving (sorry, turkey). It boasts a gooey pecan bottom, a sweet-and-tart apple edge and a creamy pumpkin center.
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Pumpkin Bread
Dress up slices of pumpkin bread with whipped cream or ice cream for dessert, or serve it for breakfast on Thanksgiving morning.
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Instant Pot Pumpkin Cheescake
A food processor and an Instant Pot® make quick work of this creamy, spice-laced dessert. The result is a perfectly creamy cheesecake with a crispy gingersnap crust.
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Pumpkin Pie - Slimmed
Spray the pie tin with vegetable cooking spray to assure easy serving instead of butter. To top each slice without too many calories, use 2 tablespoons of fat free frozen vanilla yogurt.
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Aida's Pecan Pumpkin Crunch
Aida's dessert has it all, with sweet pumpkin and crunchy pecans.
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Pumpkin-Coconut Pie
This pie is definitely for guests who love tropical flavors: There's flaked coconut in the crust, and there's coconut milk and coconut rum in the filling.
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Photo: Tara Donne
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Bobby's Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Spicy Caramel Apple Sauce and Vanilla Bean Creme Anglaise
Get a double dose of pumpkin in Bobby's Thanksgiving Throwdown Pumpkin Bread Pudding.
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Photo: Con Poulos
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Sticky-Toffee Pecan-Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkins and pecans are the tent poles of an optimal Thanksgiving dessert spread, but this pie's toffee topping just might steal the spotlight.
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Spiced Pumpkin Icebox Cake
For your Thanksgiving get-together, make this chilled twist on a favorite holiday pie a day in advance, so you can focus on other dishes. Or enjoy it in summer for a cool treat with autumn spices and flavors.
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Sunny's Mini Pecan-Pumpkin Pies
For a sure crowd-pleaser, Sunny mixes pecans into her pumpkin pies and makes them bite-sized.
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Vegan Pumpkin Pie
We use a few vegan-friendly stand-ins for this can't-believe-it's-vegan pie. Unrefined coconut oil provides a flaky and buttery texture for the crust, and silken tofu lends creaminess to the filling.
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Bobby Flay's Pumpkin Pie with Cinnamon Crunch and Bourbon-Maple Whipped Cream
Bobby spruces up his Throwdown pie with bourbon whipped cream.
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Photo: Con Poulos
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Pumpkin-Brownie Swirl Pie
Pumpkin lovers and chocolate lovers will each love this pie; it will go fast. Serve it with ice cream for an extra-special holiday treat.
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Photo: Con Poulos
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Pumpkin Spice Cake with Chocolate-Pecan Filling
This showstopping cake relies on two types of towering-high layers: Moist cake mimics your favorite pumpkin bread, and chunky pecans and decadent chocolate add a gooey crunchiness in between.
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Pumpkin-Chocolate Chiffon Pie
A silky take on a pumpkin filling makes this pie more delicate than its more traditional cousin, but the deep chocolate crust ensures the dessert is no shrinking violet.
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Photo: Tara Donne
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Sunny's Hazelnut Pumpkin Pie
Intimidated by pie crust? Sunny makes an easy, press-in graham-cracker crust for her pumpkin pie. Then she mixes some cream cheese into her pumpkin filling to make it extra rich.
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Pumpkin Roulade with Ginger Buttercream
Roulades, or rolled cakes, make beautiful desserts but they can be a little tricky. Follow Ina's lead for perfect results every time.
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Photo: Con Poulos
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Linzer-Hazelnut Pumpkin Pie
This amped-up pumpkin pie, which has a thin layer of red currant jelly and a nutty topping, steals a few ideas from the equally nostalgic confection.
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Anne's Pumpkin-Ginger Bread Pudding
Anne uses fresh sugar pumpkin or kabocha squash to make this bread pudding, along with a sweet bread for the base.
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Buttermilk Pumpkin Pie
A bit of buttermilk adds a rich, tangy quality to a pumpkin pie filling.
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The Barefoot Contessa's Pumpkin Banana Mousse Tart
Thanksgiving may be a time for the classic pumpkin pie, but Ina’s mother was always known for her Pumpkin Banana Mousse Tart. She combines pumpkin and mashed bananas for an unexpected make-ahead dessert.
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Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins
Made with pumpkin puree and spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger, these delicate muffins will remind you of classic pumpkin pie.
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The Ultimate Pumpkin Cheesecake
Food Network Magazine couldn't get the secret recipe for the Cheesecake Factory's famous slice, so they made their own creamy, decadent version. We can't tell the difference!
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Photo: Tara Donne ©
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Bobby's Throwdown Pumpkin Pie
To make his pie worthy of a Throwdown, Bobby uses fresh vanilla in the filling, and tops the pie with a bourbon-maple whipped cream. Freeze extra filling, or make a double batch to fill three pie shells.
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Melissa's Pumpkin Cake Pops
These cake pops are kid friendly both to make and to eat. Get the little ones involved in tearing up the cake into crumbs and then dipping the finished pops into white chocolate.
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Pumpkin Creme Brulee
This elegant dish has pumpkin pie flavors, but it's a little more dressed up. And the construction is easier than you think: Just make really simple custard seasoned with cinnamon, fresh nutmeg, ground cloves and ginger.
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Pumpkin Gingersnap Cheesecake
Ree Drummond's spicy and creamy cheesecake finishes with a special surprise topping: salted caramel sauce.
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Photo: Teri Lyn Fisher
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Sticky Pecan Pull-Apart Bread
Your crowd will love pulling apart this crunchy, gooey bread. Pumpkin pie spice, caramel and pecans combine to make it your new fall favorite.
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Tyler's Ultimate Pumpkin Pie with Crunchy Cranberry Topping
Tyler takes his pumpkin pie to the next level by adding a crunchy topping of amaretto cookies, tart dried cranberries and pecans.
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Claire's 5-Ingredient Ginger-Pumpkin Tart
To keep her ingredient list at or below five, Claire uses sweetened condensed milk to thicken her filling. Pour it into a ginger cookie crust.
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The Neelys' Whoopie Pumpkin Pies
The Neelys give whoopie pies a fall makeover with this chocolate-pumpkin version.
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Thanksgiving How-To: Gina Neely's Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust
Instead of the Neelys' traditional sweet potato pie, they're making pumpkin cheesecake with an easy, press-in gingersnap crust. Catch all of Gina's cheesecake-making secrets.
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Gluten-Free Pumpkin Spice Cream Puffs
Your gluten-free friends don't have to feel excluded from the dessert table. All of your guests will love these cream puffs made with a rice-flour-based blend and filled with a fall-inspired whipped cream (mixed with pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice).
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Photo: Con Poulos
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Pumpkin Pie with Spiced Crust
Tossing spices into the pumpkin mixture and the crust results in a pie that really packs a punch.
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Apple-Pumpkin Galette
This rustic dessert combines the creaminess of pumpkin puree, the chunky texture of apples and the nuttiness of chopped pecans — the perfect autumnal mix.
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Amaretto Pumpkin Pie with Almond Praline
For an update on a favorite, Food Network Kitchens baked amaretto-spiced pumpkin custard in a cookie crust and topped it with sweet, crunchy almond praline.
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Slow-Cooker Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust
Is your oven preoccupied cooking a giant bird? Break out the slow cooker (really!) and you won't have to ask any of your guests to bring dessert. Cooking this cheesecake low and slow makes it extra smooth and creamy.
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