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20+ Unique Thanksgiving Desserts

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You're going to love these Unique Thanksgiving Desserts! I am happiest when my recipes are a little unexpected, and hearing "Oooh--what is THAT?!" when you set down one of these beauties after Thanksgiving dinner is the best!

Collage of Unique Thanksgiving Desserts.

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Don't feel like serving the same old thing after Thanksgiving dinner this year? Here are 20+ Unique Thanksgiving Desserts that will have your guests impressed! From cookies to pies to cream puffs, there's something here for everyone!

So what makes a recipe unique? This roundup of Unique Thanksgiving Desserts includes many combinations of flavors that maybe you haven't seen before, or perhaps ingredients used in a different way (like in my Caramel Apple Angel Food Cake)!

If you enjoy this roundup, check out my posts with 30+ Fall Desserts, 20+ Friendsgiving Desserts, and 40+ Fancy Desserts!

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Cookies & Bars

Cookies and bars tend to be rather humble in the baking world--but not these! Each of these cookie recipes is rather unexpected, in the best possible way!

Stack of three Cranberry Sage Cookies on parchment paper with a candied sage leaf on top.
Caramel Apple Cookies
These Caramel Apple Cookies are crisp, buttery, and sandwiched with dulce de leche!
Check out this recipe!
Caramel Apple Cookies with bite on a white plate.
Orange Shortbread Cookies with Cranberry Glaze
These Orange Shortbread Cookies are the most flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread you've ever tasted! Flavored with orange zest and orange oil, with a beautiful glaze made from fresh cranberries, you'll want make these beauties for the holidays and all winter long!
Check out this recipe!
Stack of Orange Shortbread Cookies with Cranberry Glaze.
Apple Crisp Macchiato Bars
These Apple Crisp Macchiato Bars have a crisp espresso shortbread crust topped with an apple-cinnamon filling, then with a crunchy cinnamon-espresso topping! These bars are so cozy and delicious!
Check out this recipe!
Side view of sliced Apple Crisp Macchiato Bars with apples in the background.
Fresh Ginger Cookies
These Fresh Ginger Cookies let the bold spice of both fresh and candied ginger take center stage! No other spices necessary (cinnamon who?), these cookies are perfect for Christmas, for a cozy Winter day next to the fire, or anytime you're craving a sweet and spicy treat!
Check out this recipe!
Closeup of Fresh Ginger Cookies on a red and white plaid plate.
Pumpkin Blondies with Cinnamon Swirl
These Pumpkin Blondies with Cinnamon Swirl are soft, cakey pumpkin blondies with rich cinnamon swirled throughout! The combination of pumpkin with warm cinnamon spice is the perfect Fall twist on traditional blondies!
Check out this recipe!
Three Pumpkin Blondies with Cinnamon Swirl stacked on a white plate, one with a bite missing.
Sage Cookies with Cranberry Buttercream
These Sage Cookies with Cranberry Buttercream are an unexpected treat! The sage sugar cookies are sandwiched with cranberry buttercream, for an outstanding combination of flavors and textures!
Check out this recipe!
Stack of three Cranberry Sage Cookies on parchment paper with a candied sage leaf on top.
Sweet Potato Cookies
These Sweet Potato Cookies are soft, cakey, and deliciously spiced! In a nod to sweet potato casserole, they're topped with homemade marshmallow for an irresistibly sweet finish. These cookies would make a perfect (and unique!) addition to your Thanksgiving gatherings!
Check out this recipe!
Sweet Potato Cookie topped with marshmallow frosting on a scalloped white plate.
Dirty Chai Cookies
These Dirty Chai Cookies are crisp and chewy with the warm, spiced goodness of chai paired with a hint of rich espresso. They're so cozy and comforting!
Check out this recipe!
Dirty Chai Cookies piled on a wooden table, one with a bite missing.
Pumpkin Pie Cookies
These Pumpkin Pie Cookies are cinnamon sugar cookie cups filled with pumpkin filling and topped with whipped cream! These bite-sized gems are irresistible!
Check out this recipe!
Closeup of a Pumpkin Pie Cookie with a bite missing on a small fluted plate with cinnamon sticks in the foreground and more cookies in the background.
Caramel Cookies
These Caramel Cookies have the nutty richness of browned butter paired with the silky sweetness of dulce de leche! If you enjoy a sweet and salty treat, sprinkle them with some flaky sea salt for the perfect finishing touch!
Check out this recipe!
A round, stamped Caramel Cookie with dulce de leche in the center on a dark wood table with a bite missing.
Blondie Brownies
These Blondie Brownies are two desserts in one! The browned butter blondie layer is topped with a fudgy brownie layer for the ultimate treat! I drizzled a few of mine with homemade salted caramel sauce for a truly decadent dessert, but these are so rich and delicious they don't really need it!
Check out this recipe!
Stack of Blondie Brownies with salted caramel sauce dripping down the side.

Cakes & Cupcakes

Cakes and cupcakes are definitely crowd-pleasers, and these unique recipes are no exception! Serve up something your Thanksgiving guests haven't tasted before!

Partially eaten slice of Caramel Apple Angel Food Cake on a white plate.
Caramel Apple Angel Food Cake
This Caramel Apple Angel Food Cake is a light, fluffy apple angel food cake drizzled with a caramel glaze and homemade salted caramel sauce, then topped with cinnamon apple chips!
Check out this recipe!
Partially eaten slice of Caramel Apple Angel Food Cake on a white plate.
Apple Cider Cupcakes with Cranberry Buttercream
These Apple Cider Cupcakes with Cranberry Buttercream are moist (sorry not sorry), delicious apple cider cakes topped with sweet-tart cranberry Swiss meringue buttercream. Fall in cupcake form! <3
Check out this recipe!
Irish Apple Cake
This Irish Apple Cake is a tender cinnamon-spiced cake with baked apples and a crisp streusel top. This cake is the perfect balance of sweet and tart, and a lovely treat for Fall, St. Patrick's Day, or anytime you're craving an apple treat! If you'd like, you can serve it with my Whiskey Caramel Sauce!
Check out this recipe!
Caramel being drizzled from a spoon onto a slice of Irish Apple Cake on a white plate.
Caramel Ginger Date Cake
This Caramel Ginger Date Cake combines the warm flavors of ginger, dates, and salted caramel with the goodness of cream cheese frosting!
Check out this recipe!
Caramel Ginger Date Cake

Cream Puffs

I've made so many cream puff recipes that they get their own section (and these are just the Thanksgiving-worthy ones)! I love how a cream puff is a (delicious) blank canvas for whatever flavors you can dream up!

pecan pie cream puff on top of measuring cup
Pecan Pie Cream Puffs
These Pecan Pie Cream Puffs are brown sugar craquelin cream puffs filled with pecan pie filling and bourbon whipped cream!
Check out this recipe!
pecan pie cream puff on top of measuring cup
Caramel Apple Cream Puffs
These Caramel Apple Cream Puffs are a classic cream puff filled with caramel pastry cream and apple preserves, then drizzled with homemade salted caramel sauce!
Check out this recipe!
Caramel Apple Cream Puffs

Pies

Sometimes it's nice to put a twist on tradition (Apple Date Pie) or to shake things up completely with something never seen before (Pumpkin Coconut Pie)! I also threw in a couple galettes--not to be overlooked with their easier-than-pie crust and amazing flavors!

Slice of Cinnamon Pie with apple cider meringue on a white plate.
Gingerbread Pumpkin Pie
This Gingerbread Pumpkin Pie has a classic pumpkin pie filling inside a gingerbread crust! Topped with spiced whipped cream, this pie would be perfect for all your holiday festivities!
Check out this recipe!
Chocolate Cherry Pie
This Chocolate Cherry Pie has juicy, fresh cherries and chopped dark chocolate in a crisp, flaky chocolate pie crust! I think the two-tone lattice gives it a little pizazz, too! 🙂
Check out this recipe!
Slice of Chocolate Cherry Pie on a white plate with a bowl of cherries in the background.
Apple Date Pie
This Apple Date Pie is a twist on tradition! Here, a classic flaky pastry crust is filled with spiced apples and the caramel flavors of dates and brown sugar!
Check out this recipe!
Top view of baked Apple Date Pie.
Rosemary Almond Apple Galette
This Rosemary Almond Apple Galette is a rustic beauty! Its sweet pastry is filled with homemade almond paste, apples, and rosemary sugar!
Check out this recipe!
Top view of Rosemary Almond Apple Galette with two scoops of ice cream and chopped almonds on top.
Pumpkin Coconut Pie
This dreamy Pumpkin Coconut Pie puts a Fall spin on a classic! The filling is a coconut cream/pumpkin spice custard, topped with cinnamon-vanilla whipped cream, toasted coconut, and candied pumpkin seeds!
Check out this recipe!
Pumpkin Coconut Cream Pie
Hazelnut Fig Galette
This Hazelnut Fig Galette has a sweet pastry crust filled with homemade hazelnut paste, topped with figs drizzled with honey and vanilla bean paste! Absolutely fantastic served with a dollop of crème fraîche!
Check out this recipe!
Apple Maple Custard Tart
A classic pastry shell filled with maple custard and topped with sliced apples. Refreshingly Fall!
Check out this recipe!
Apple and Maple Custard Tart

More Unique Thanksgiving Desserts

Last but *definitely* not least, here are all the recipes that didn't quite fit into a category. My personal favorite is the Caramel Apple Shortcakes made with cornmeal biscuits!!

Apple Shortcake
This Apple Shortcake is cornmeal buttermilk biscuits with caramel baked apples, cinnamon-cardamom whipped cream, and homemade salted caramel sauce!
Check out this recipe!
Apple Shortcake drizzled with salted caramel sauce on a white plate.
Vanilla Bean Blondie Cheesecake
This Vanilla Bean Blondie Cheesecake is a creamy, no-bake vanilla bean cheesecake with a funfetti blondie crust and whipped cream!
Check out this recipe!
Caramel Apple Marshmallows
These Caramel Apple Marshmallows are fluffy apple marshmallows dipped in homemade salted caramel! Drizzle them with chocolate, coat them in chopped peanuts, or enjoy them plain. They're the ultimate fall treat!
Check out this recipe!
An apple marshmallow being dipped into a white bowl of salted caramel, with caramel dripping from the marshmallow.
Apple Glaze
This Apple Glaze, deeply flavored with reduced apple cider, is the perfect way to enhance breakfasts, desserts, and more with autumn flavor! In just a few minutes and with just TWO ingredients, you'll have a simple and delicious glaze to turn your recipes into extraordinary fall treats!
Check out this recipe!
A silver spoon drizzling Apple Glaze into a small white bowl.

So there you have it! This roundup has over 20 Unique Thanksgiving Desserts, but you know that I'll have more to add! Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear from you! Reach out in a comment below or reach out to me on Instagram.

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Updated 9/27/2024

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