5 Delicious Pumpkin Dessert Recipes

Menu prep for Thanksgiving starts weeks in advance. To me, this is the best part! Here are 5 delicious desserts to serve for Thanksgiving.

There’s something about Thanksgiving that puts the holiday on the top of my holiday favorites list. Though I have a soft spot for every holiday during the year, Thanksgiving is the one that I look forward to the most. With the crispness in the air and the vibrant yellow ochre and flaming oranges that bring the synergy and flow to inside our home and on to our table that I absolutely love.

Thanksgiving is that warm blanket wrapped around you; the zing of excitement with a house full of family, to the ebb and flow of a full belly, slowly gliding in to a turkey-tryptophan-couch-potato state in front of the TV.

Heaven.

Our Thanksgiving menu is one that I always put a lot of thought into, even though I don’t change it up too much. I add new recipes here and there, but always keeping our core dishes on point. When it comes to Thanksgiving desserts, the same thought is spent on those, though each year they vary.

And that’s totally my bag.

One dessert that always makes an annual appearance is a chocolate pudding pie. A recipe I can’t link to or even try to recreate as my own, it’s a dessert that my Mama made every year that I have now followed suit. It’s a simple, two-ingredient dessert that is a favorite among Sean, Mac and Caroline, that I would, perhaps, be tarred and feathered if I didn’t make it on Thanksgiving. Graham cracker crust with chocolate Jell-O pudding poured in, then stored in the fridge with plastic wrap over top so no skin forms.

Apparently, this pie also makes for an epic breakfast. But we all turn a blind eye to nutrition during the holidays….

So in addition to this “core” pie, I thought I would share with you a few desserts that hold court during our Thanksgiving feasts.

5 Delicious Desserts To Serve For Thanksgiving

Pumpkin Bread Trifle With Bourbon Whipped Cream

Halla!!

I created this recipe a couple years ago, and serving them individually in brandy sniffers, makes this dessert all the more special. And, adding a hint of bourbon to the whipped cream is the perfect compliment. For those that don’t drink alcohol, a good maple syrup added to the whipped cream is another delicious option! Click here for the recipe.

Pumpkin Ice Cream Profiteroles

OMG. Like, seriously. As you all know, making ice cream is my jam. I love to make it no matter what time of year we’re in. Hey, it’s ice cream season, always! Small, bitesized cream puffs filled with homemade pumpkin ice cream are certainly a welcome twist to traditional Thanksgiving desserts.  Go for it! Make pumpkin ice cream!  Click here for the recipe.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip

I recent wrote about this recipe, and I’ve already made it three times since publishing. It is that good and that easy. This year on Thanksgiving, I’m planning to make it and serve it in the afternoon, along with a platter of munchies to get everything through until the big meal. I love to prepare a nibble platter for everyone to enjoy while I’m bussing away at the stove. Every now and then I’ll get to a resting point where I can walk away and grab a nibble or two. This dip will be making an appearance on the nibble board. Check out the recipe here.

Pumpkin Pie

Of course, Thanksgiving may not be Thanksgiving without a pumpkin pie. Pumpkin pie is a tradition! Mama has followed this recipe for as long as I can remember, and now I follow it, too. Even though I like to recipe test and adjust to make my own, this recipe needs no adjusting. It’s the best pumpkin pie on the planet and it’s not one that needs tinkering. It’s that good. You can find the recipe here. 

Pumpkin Pie Punch

It’s cocktail time, and why not keep the pumpkin pie theme going with this delicious cocktail. The base tastes similar to melted pumpkin ice cream (YUM), and the addition with the liquor of your pleasure, whether it be bourbon, rum or brandy, will put everyone in the Thanksgiving mood! Serve it in the afternoon with small bites to snack on while the big meal is cooking away. It’s delish. Say cheers to the recipe here.