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19 Chocolate Desserts That Will Be Right at Home on Your Thanksgiving Table

October 14, 2026
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Chocolate is the perfect accompaniment to warm baking spices — and beloved fall flavors like pumpkin and sweet potato.

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Our Favorite Chocolate Desserts for Thanksgiving

If you've hosted Thanksgiving for years, chances are you might be ready to switch up your dessert plan. There's no question that everyone loves pie, and it's a holiday staple that can't be skipped. But for chocolate lovers, fruit-based pies aren't always the best way to satisfy a sweet tooth. If you love chocolate but don't want to skip out on the warm, hearty flavors of fall, try one of these desserts that incorporate fall flavors like pumpkin spice and sweet potato. From cupcakes to slab pie there are plenty of ways to incorporate chocolate into your Thanksgiving table. The rich, decadent flavors of chocolate pair beautifully with spicy baking flavors like cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger.

On a day like Thanksgiving there’s no reason to dirty extra plates, so skip the pie and serve these handheld treats instead! No plates or forks required. The chocolate and pumpkin combination is seasonal and festive, so it’s a fantastic holiday treat that will delight and surprise your guests.

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Chocolate Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin and chocolate isn’t always a traditional pairing, but for folks who love a rich dessert the two ingredients actually go together delightfully well, especially during the fall. In this recipe the rich chocolate is infused with warming flavors like cloves, nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon and the perfect amount of flaky sea salt. It’s gooey, flaky and perfect for a special holiday dessert.

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Photo: Pawel Kaminski
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Chocolate Sweet Potato Cupcakes

Sweet potatoes are a great natural sweetener that helps add moisture to baked goods. They’re dense and tender when cooked, so they add flavor and necessary texture. Better yet, the earthy, sweet flavor pairs nicely with the chocolate without overpowering it.

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Photo: Con Poulos
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Pumpkin-Brownie Swirl Pie

If you’re tired of serving all the same pies for Thanksgiving, switch it up this year with something a bit more decadent. This pumpkin-brownie swirl pie has all the same festive flavors — like warm pumpkin pie spice — but pairs it with rich, luscious chocolate. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a heaping pile of freshly-whipped cream.

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Photo: Matt Armendariz
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Pecan Pie Brownies

A fudgy and decadent chocolate brownie topped with a sweet and crunchy layer of pecan pie is a match made in heaven. To ensure the layers stay distinct when these two classic desserts come together, the brownie is baked first then the nut filling is layered over it and baked again. In the oven, the syrup seeps into the brownies, keeping them moist and rich. Try serving them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

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Photo: Matt Armendariz
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Healthy Chocolate Pudding

This luscious chocolatey pudding has a secret ingredient: sweet potatoes! It’s a great way to pack your sweet treat with a little extra nutrients. Creamy milk chocolate and rich cocoa powder work together to balance out the flavor so it’s perfectly sweet without being cloying. This pudding is so packed with chocolate flavor you’d never guess there are veggies inside this velvety treat.

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Photo: Matt Armendariz ©
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Bourbon and Chocolate Pecan Pie

Chocolate, bourbon and pecans combine to make a rich and indulgent pie that’s perfect for holidays like Thanksgiving. A level-up from the traditional pecan pie, this one is easy to crave — and easy to whip up, too. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to balance out the richness of the chocolate.

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Photo: Ryan Liebe
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Triple Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls

We love making this dessert during holidays because you can totally serve the leftovers for breakfast the next morning and we promise your guests will thank you. It’s the ideal cinnamon roll for chocolate lovers because the chocolate flavor is infused in three different ways. Cocoa powder is added to the dough, a decadent chocolate hazelnut spread is added to the center and lastly, a rich chocolate glaze coats the top.

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Photo: Teri Lyn Fisher
9 / 19

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Everybody loves chocolate chip cookies; they’re an American staple that are perfectly suitable for any holiday, any time of year. But with the addition of pumpkin puree and a bit of pie spice these cookies are just a little more festive for Thanksgiving. Ready in under an hour, they’re an easy treat that takes some of the pressure off the pie-centric holiday.

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Photo: Matt Armendariz
10 / 19

Fudgy Zucchini Brownies

We love that these delightful brownies are actually veggie-packed versions of Food Network's The Best Fudgy Brownies. We switched in zucchini for the cream and half of the butter and used whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose. Zucchini is naturally packed with moisture, so you won’t sacrifice any texture by adding in the extra nutrients.

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Pumpkin-Chocolate Slab Pie

We love slab pies because the shallow dish ensures a better crust to filling ratio, meaning each piece ensures a crunchy, tender bit in every bite. Heavy cream, pumpkin puree and dark chocolate combine for a creamy filling that’s rich and decadent. This is the perfect pie to convince your guests that Thanksgiving isn’t just for traditional pie; rich, chocolatey slab pies are just as satisfying.

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Photo: Teri Lyn Fisher
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Chocolate Cinnamon Roll Wool Bread

Wool bread was first introduced by a YouTube video created by the Malaysian food blog “Apron,” and the yeasted, slice-able dough has only continued to grow in popularity. By taking inspiration from the original method of rolling and shaping, as well as adding our own cinnamon-sugar filling and combination of two flavors of dough, the result is a beautifully swirled wool bread that’s as impressive as it is tasty.

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Photo: Tara Donne ©
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Cinnamon-Spiced Hot Chocolate Cookies

Cookies are a fantastic treat to serve during Thanksgiving because you can make a big batch ahead of time and kids and adults alike can enjoy them throughout the weekend. Plus, it’s a great way to take a break from traditional pies. This recipe is warm and cozy thanks to the cinnamon, cayenne and dulce de leche, so it’s decadent without being too overly sweet.

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Photo: Jason DeCrow
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Chocolate Biscuit Cups with Pumpkin-Cream Cheese Filling

If you want a Thanksgiving dessert that combines the flaky goodness of a biscuit with the creamy, tender texture of cheesecake, look no further than these chocolate biscuit cups. They might seem like a totally unexpected Thanksgiving dessert, but the pumpkin flavor means they’re festive and flavorful for fall. Ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon add delightful complexity.

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Pecan Pie with Chocolate-Cinnamon Whipped Cream

Pecan pie is a Thanksgiving staple, and it’s usually paired with standard whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. But in this version, we’re ramping things up with a bit more flavor. A chocolate-cinnamon whipped cream is the perfect sidekick for a hearty and delicious pecan pie. The chocolate adds a bit more decadence while the cream balances all the rich and indulgent flavors.

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Chocolate-Zucchini Cake

Zucchini is a totally versatile vegetable and is often just as delicious in savory foods as it is in sweet foods. In this recipe, we’re incorporating it into a chocolate cake that benefits greatly from the added moisture. A bit of nutmeg and allspice makes it perfectly-spiced for fall.

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Photo: Matt
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Chocolate-Zucchini Bread

Even though it’s rich and decadent, this bread is actually loaded with vegetables. Cocoa powder and chocolate chips mean it’s layered with chocolatey flavor that’s deep and rich, rather than overly sweet. A slice of zucchini across the top makes for the perfect garnish.

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Sweet Potato Brownies

We took our favorite brownie recipe and packed it with loads of extra nutrients. By adding roasted sweet potatoes (a full two pounds!) We were able to decrease the amount of eggs, sugar and butter in the original without losing the deep flavor and temptingly moist texture. It’s a feel-good treat that’s extra healthy and perfect for fall.

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Photo: Con Poulos
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Pumpkin Spice Cake With Chocolate-Pecan Filling

Pumpkin spice lovers know how versatile the flavor combination is — it can be used in coffee, baked goods, even cocktails! This cake is proof of that: the mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice and cloves perfectly offsets the sweetness of the chocolate, making for a rich and complex cake that’s luscious and moist. Bits of pecan add just the right amount of crunch.

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