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20 Thanksgiving Desserts That Aren't Pie

20 Thanksgiving Desserts That Aren't Pie

Check out these sweet, surprising alternatives to America's favorite baked pastry

By People Staff

Updated November 27, 2019 11:33 AM

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CHOCOLATE & MACADAMIA MONKEY BREAD

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Using storebought biscuit dough means this decadent stunner couldn't be easier. Each individual piece gets dipped in butter and brown sugar then tossed with a trio of nuts and dark chocolate chips. Trust us: No one will even remember that pie exists.

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CALIFORNIA ALMOND CAKE

Credit: Iain Bagwell

For those who like their desserts not-too-sweet, this simple, nutty confection will hit just the spot.

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MEYER LEMON BREAD PUDDING

Credit: Courtesy Bijoux

Meyer lemon season is just beginning, which means it's a great excuse to make this bread pudding from Bijouxs. But who are we kidding? Even with regular lemons, this dessert is scrumptious enough to make you forget all about apple pie.

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CHOCOLATE BARK WITH PISTACHIOS

Credit: Courtesy With Style and Grace

On a high-stress cooking day, it's nice to know that this forgiving, easily customizable dessert from With Style and Grace can be completed in four easy steps: Melt chocolate, pour into baking dish, add mix-ins, chill in fridge. You'll thank us when you're rearranging dishes inside the oven and playing referee among your relatives.

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CRANBERRY MINI CHEESECAKES

Credit: Courtesy Sweet Peas and Saffron

Here's why we love Sweet Peas and Saffron's mini cheesecakes: They combine something we've never really been into (cranberry sauce) with something we can't get enough of (cheesecake). And the single-serving style means it's easier to swipe seconds (and thirds!) when no one is watching.

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MOLASSES GINGERBREAD CAKE

Credit: Courtesy The Kitchn

This rich, dark cake from The Kitchn might be the best replacement for pumpkin pie we've found yet. We're ready to call it the new flavor of fall.

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VANILLA COCONUT FIG SLICES

Credit: Courtesy Secret Squirrel Food

What's that, you just learned you've got last-minute guests with dietary restrictions? Bring 'em on: Secret Squirrel Food's stunning fig bars are both vegan and gluten-free.

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PUMPKIN SUGAR COOKIES

Credit: Courtesy Cooking Classy

You know we couldn't leave pumpkin off this list. If you don't want to whip up a pie, these cookies from Cooking Classy are delicious and make perfect take-home treats, too.

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SLOW COOKER CARAMEL APPLE CRISP

Credit: Courtesy Eat at Home Cooks

There's no better time to put your slow cooker to work than on Thanksgiving. When the main meal is over, you'll get to reveal Eat At Home Cook's caramel apple crisp. And no one needs to know that it required barely any effort.

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MAPLE NUT CAKE

Credit: Courtesy Fragrant Vanilla Cake

This moist layer cake gets its distinctive taste and texture from three different nut flours: almond, hazelnut and walnut. Amy of the blog Fragrant Vanilla Cake calls her creation "crave-worthy, creamy, nutty and sweet."

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BUTTERMILK PEAR UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Credit: Courtesy Edible Perspective

If you've got any of Edible Perspective's beautiful buttermilk pear cake leftover the next morning, we won't judge if you eat it for breakfast. After all, it does pair perfectly with coffee.

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PILGRIM HAT COOKIES

Credit: Courtesy Handmade in the Heartland

Want to keep the kiddos occupied while you prep and cook? Once they're tired of watching Wally Kazam, put the over-four crowd to work making these cute cookies from Handmade in the Heartland.

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PUMPKIN CANNOLI

Credit: Courtesy Parsely Sage Sweet

There's no shame in the game if you buy cannoli shells from a local bakery and fill them with this pumpkin cream cheese from Parsley, Sage amp Sweet.

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TIRAMISU CAKE ROLL

Credit: Courtesy Diethood

This Italian dessert might not be a traditional Thanksgiving confection, but it does go well with a post-feast espresso. Think outside the wafer by making this cake roll from Diethood.

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QUINCE CRISP

Credit: Courtesy What's Cooking Good Looking

Quince has a short season, but if you can find some at your local farmers' market, you won't regret making What's Cooking Good Looking's warm, comforting crisp. As an alternative to quince, you can also use a mix of apples and pears.

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ORANGE-GLAZED CRANBERRY BREAD

Credit: Courtesy Sally's Baking Addiction

We bet that if slice up this sweet, tangy bread from Sally's Baking Addiction and arrange it neatly on a platter, your guests will gobble it up in no time — even if they claim to be stuffed.

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LEMON HONEY THYME SORBET

Credit: My Darling Lemon Thyme

Consider this herb-flecked sorbet from My Darling Lemon Thyme your much-needed palate cleanser after all those buttery side dishes.

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PUMPKIN PECAN BREAD PUDDING

Credit: Courtesy The Gunny Sack

Another slow-cooker dessert that you can set and forget, this slow-cooker bread pudding from The Gunny Sack can be ready just as you and your guests start to get hungry again.

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CHOCOLATE BANANA BREAD

Credit: Courtesy Erica's Sweet Tooth

Not only does this banana bread from Erica's Sweet Tooth make a worthy Thanksgiving dessert, we're willing to bet that if you eat enough, it totally counts as a fruit serving.

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PUMPKIN PIE COOKIES

Credit: Courtesy Sweet Sugar Belle

These mini sugar cookies from Sweet Sugar Belle are a delectable homage to the classic pie, right down to the teeny-tiny dollops of whipped cream.

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20 Thanksgiving Desserts That Aren't Pie

1 of 20

CHOCOLATE & MACADAMIA MONKEY BREAD

1 of 20

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CALIFORNIA ALMOND CAKE

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MEYER LEMON BREAD PUDDING

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CHOCOLATE BARK WITH PISTACHIOS

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CRANBERRY MINI CHEESECAKES

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MOLASSES GINGERBREAD CAKE

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VANILLA COCONUT FIG SLICES

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PUMPKIN SUGAR COOKIES

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SLOW COOKER CARAMEL APPLE CRISP

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MAPLE NUT CAKE

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BUTTERMILK PEAR UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

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PILGRIM HAT COOKIES

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PUMPKIN CANNOLI

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TIRAMISU CAKE ROLL

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QUINCE CRISP

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ORANGE-GLAZED CRANBERRY BREAD

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LEMON HONEY THYME SORBET

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PUMPKIN PECAN BREAD PUDDING

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CHOCOLATE BANANA BREAD

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PUMPKIN PIE COOKIES

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