Thanksgiving is a time for indulgent feasts, but when it comes to dessert, many people immediately think of pie. While pumpkin and apple pies are classics, there are so many other creative desserts that can add variety and flair to your Thanksgiving spread. If you're looking for something a little different this year, here are five mouthwatering alternatives that will impress your guests without the traditional pie crust.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
If you love pumpkin but want something a little lighter and more portable than a pie, these pumpkin cheesecake bars are a great choice. They combine the rich creaminess of cheesecake with the warm spices of pumpkin.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- Pinch of salt
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form a crust.
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt.
- Pour the pumpkin mixture over the crust and smooth the top.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the center is set and slightly jiggly. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.
Cranberry Orange Pound Cake
This moist pound cake offers a delightful combination of tart cranberries and zesty orange. It’s the perfect festive dessert, especially when topped with a simple glaze.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 orange
- ½ cup orange juice
- 1 ½ cups fresh or frozen cranberries (coarsely chopped)
For the glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp orange juice
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x5-inch loaf pan.
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla and orange zest.
- Gradually add the flour mixture, alternating with the orange juice. Fold in the cranberries.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For the glaze, whisk together powdered sugar and orange juice, then drizzle over the cooled cake.
Apple Cinnamon Clafoutis
Clafoutis is a French dessert that typically uses cherries, but it works wonderfully with apples too! This warm, custard-like dessert is perfect for Thanksgiving and a great way to highlight the flavors of fall without resorting to pie.
Ingredients:
- 2 apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter, for greasing
- 3 large eggs
- ¾ cup milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9-inch round baking dish with butter.
- Arrange the apple slices evenly in the prepared dish.
- In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Gradually add the flour and whisk until smooth.
- Pour the batter over the apples and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let cool slightly before dusting with powdered sugar and serving.
Pecan Caramel Brownies
For those who love rich, fudgy desserts, these pecan caramel brownies are a decadent choice. They combine the sweetness of caramel with the crunch of toasted pecans, making them an irresistible treat.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 8 oz semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup pecans, chopped
- 1 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
- Melt the butter and chopped chocolate together in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
- Stir in the sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined. Add the flour and salt and mix until smooth.
- Fold in the chopped pecans and pour the batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few crumbs attached.
- Drizzle the caramel sauce over the top of the brownies while they are still warm, and allow to cool completely before slicing.
Maple Panna Cotta
For a lighter, more sophisticated dessert, try making maple panna cotta. This creamy, custard-like treat is infused with the rich flavor of maple syrup and is perfect for fall.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 ½ tsp unflavored gelatin
- 3 tbsp cold water
Instructions:
- In a saucepan, heat the cream, milk, and maple syrup over medium heat. Stir occasionally until the mixture is hot but not boiling.
- In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water and let it sit for 5 minutes to bloom.
- Stir the gelatin mixture into the warm cream mixture until dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Pour the mixture into individual serving glasses or molds. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight until set.
- Serve the panna cotta as is or top with fresh berries, whipped cream, or crushed nuts for extra flavor and texture.
Thanksgiving Dessert Shopping List:
- For the Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars:
- Graham crackers
- Sugar
- Unsalted butter
- Cream cheese (3 packages)
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- Canned pumpkin puree
- Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger
- Salt
- For the Cranberry Orange Pound Cake:
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Granulated sugar
- Eggs
- Orange (for zest and juice)
- Fresh or frozen cranberries
- Powdered sugar (for glaze)
- For the Apple Cinnamon Clafoutis:
- Apples
- Unsalted butter
- Eggs
- Milk
- Heavy cream
- Granulated sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Ground cinnamon
- All-purpose flour
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
- For the Pecan Caramel Brownies:
- Unsalted butter
- Semi-sweet chocolate
- Granulated sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Pecans
- Caramel sauce
- For the Maple Panna Cotta:
- Heavy cream
- Whole milk
- Maple syrup
- Vanilla extract
- Unflavored gelatin
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