12 Crowd-Pleasing Thanksgiving Desserts That Feed 20

Thanksgiving’s here, and you’re staring down a table of 20+ hungry relatives who all swear they “just want a sliver.” Yeah, right. These 12 big-batch apple desserts scale like champs, taste like fall exploded in your mouth, and won’t have you chained to the oven all day. We’re talking sheet-pan crisps, skillet pies, and a cheesecake that could double as a coffee table. Let’s feed the masses, foodie-style.

1. Sheet-Pan Apple Crisp for 24

One pan, zero drama, all the crunchy topping.

Why It’s Awesome

A 13×18 sheet pan means 24 generous squares of buttery oat crumble over spiced apples. Bake once, done.

Ingredients

• 12 cups sliced Granny Smith & Honeycrisp apples (mix for texture)
• 1 ½ cups brown sugar (split)
• 2 tbsp cinnamon
• 2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 ½ cups flour
• 1 cup melted butter
• 1 cup chopped pecans (optional crunch)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a half-sheet pan with parchment.
2. Toss apples with ¾ cup brown sugar + cinnamon. Spread evenly.
3. Mix oats, flour, remaining sugar, and butter until clumpy. Add pecans.
4. Scatter topping thick – press lightly.
5. Bake 40–45 mins until golden and apples bubble at edges.
6. Cool 15 mins. Cut 6×4 for 24 squares.

Why You’ll Love It

I once served this at my cousin’s potluck – gone in 8 minutes. The pecans toast in the oven; no extra step. Pro tip: double the topping if your crew fights over crunch.

2. Skillet Apple Pie (Serves 18 – Cast Iron Magic)

One giant pie, no slicing stress.

Why It’s Awesome

A 12-inch cast iron skillet holds a mountain of apples under a lattice crust that looks pro but takes 10 mins to weave.

Ingredients

• 10 cups sliced Fuji apples
• 1 ¼ cups sugar
• 3 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• 2 packages refrigerated pie dough (4 crusts total)
• 1 egg + 1 tbsp water

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Toss apples with sugar, cornstarch, and spices.
3. Line skillet with 2 crusts (overlap edges). Pile apples high.
4. Cut remaining crusts into strips. Lattice over the top.
5. Brush with egg wash. Sprinkle turbinado sugar.
6. Bake 50–60 mins. Tent with foil if browning too fast.

Why You’ll Love It

The skillet keeps it warm for second (and third) helpings. I tried a regular pie plate once – overflow city. Stick to cast iron; it’s forgiving.

3. Triple-Layer Apple Caramel Cheesecake (20 Slices)

Yes, it’s as extra as it sounds.

Why It’s Awesome

Three 9-inch layers = 20 thick slices. Graham crust, spiced apple filling, caramel drizzle. Make-ahead hero.

Ingredients

• Crust: 3 cups graham crumbs + ¾ cup melted butter
• Filling: 32 oz cream cheese, 1 ½ cups sugar, 5 eggs, 1 cup sour cream
• Apples: 6 cups diced Pink Lady, ½ cup brown sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon
• Top: 1 ½ cups caramel sauce

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Press crust into three 9-inch springforms. Bake 10 mins at 325°F.
2. Beat cream cheese + sugar. Add eggs one by one, then sour cream.
3. Sauté apples with sugar + cinnamon 8 mins. Cool.
4. Divide cheesecake batter between pans. Swirl in apples.
5. Bake 45–50 mins in water bath. Cool overnight.
6. Stack layers with caramel between. Drizzle more on top.

Why You’ll Love It

I froze a layer once – reheated like fresh. Make 2 days ahead; flavors deepen. Who needs pumpkin when apples steal the show?

4. Apple Cider Donut Holes (Makes 60 – Yes, 60)

Bite-sized, baked, and dangerously poppable.

Why It’s Awesome

One batch = 5 dozen mini donuts. Roll in cinnamon sugar while warm. Gone before pie cools.

Ingredients

• 4 cups flour
• 2 cups apple cider (reduced to 1 cup)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• ½ cup melted butter
• 2 eggs
• Coating: 1 ½ cups sugar + 3 tbsp cinnamon

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Boil cider down to 1 cup. Cool.
2. Whisk dry ingredients. Mix wet (cider, butter, eggs). Combine.
3. Scoop into mini muffin tins (60 holes).
4. Bake 10–12 mins at 350°F.
5. Toss warm holes in cinnamon sugar.

Why You’ll Love It

Kids (and uncles) inhale these. I tried frying – oil splatter nightmare. Baked = easy cleanup, same vibe.

5. Apple Cranberry Slab Pie (24 Squares)

Sheet pan pie = less crust drama, more filling.

Why It’s Awesome

18×13 slab means thin, flaky crust + max apple-cranberry ratio. Tart + sweet = balance.

Ingredients

• 2 packages pie dough (4 crusts)
• 8 cups sliced Granny Smith
• 3 cups fresh cranberries
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• 2 tsp cinnamon

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Roll 2 crusts into a 20×15 rectangle. Fit into sheet pan.
2. Mix filling. Pile high.
3. Top with lattice from remaining crusts.
4. Bake 45–50 mins at 375°F.

Why You’ll Love It

Cranberries keep it from being cloying. I once used dried – meh. Fresh is non-negotiable for that pop.

6. Slow-Cooker Spiced Apple Cobbler (Serves 20)

Set it and forget it. Your oven thanks you.

Why It’s Awesome

A 7-quart slow cooker holds enough for 20 scoops. Warm, gooey, and zero babysitting.

Ingredients

• 10 cups chopped Gala apples
• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1 cup oats
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• ¾ cup melted butter

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Dump apples in greased slow cooker.
2. Mix cake mix, oats, sugar, cinnamon. Sprinkle over.
3. Drizzle butter.
4. Cook on LOW 4 hours.

Why You’ll Love It

I served straight from the crock – rustic charm. Ice cream melts into the cracks. Heaven.

7. Apple Pecan Bread Pudding (9×13 Pan, 18 Servings)

Stale bread’s glow-up.

Why It’s Awesome

Turns day-old bread into a custardy, nutty dream. Make night before.

Ingredients

• 1 loaf challah, cubed (12 cups)
• 6 cups diced Braeburn apples
• 8 eggs
• 4 cups half-and-half
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup pecans

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Layer bread + apples + pecans in greased 9×13.
2. Whisk eggs, half-and-half, sugar, cinnamon. Pour over.
3. Press down. Refrigerate 2+ hours.
4. Bake 60 mins at 350°F.

Why You’ll Love It

I added bourbon to the custard once – adults only, 10/10. Reheats like a dream.

8. Giant Apple Fritter Bread (2 Loaves, 24 Slices)

Like a fritter, but sliceable.

Why It’s Awesome

Two 9×5 loaves = 12 thick slices each. Glaze drips into every crevice.

Ingredients

• 4 cups diced Granny Smith
• 1 cup brown sugar + ½ cup white
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 3 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• Glaze: 2 cups powdered sugar + ¼ cup apple cider

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Toss apples with brown sugar + cinnamon.
2. Cream butter + white sugar. Add eggs.
3. Alternate flour/baking powder + milk.
4. Layer batter + apples in 2 loaf pans. Swirl.
5. Bake 55–60 mins at 350°F.
6. Poke holes. Pour glaze.

Why You’ll Love It

Freezes like a champ. I thawed a loaf in December – still moist.

9. Apple Dumpling Bake (9×13, 18 Dumplings)

Individual dumplings, zero fuss.

Why It’s Awesome

Wrap cored apples in crescent dough. Pour spiced syrup. Bake. Done.

Ingredients

• 6 apples, peeled/cored, cut in thirds (18 pieces)
• 3 cans crescent rolls
• 1 ½ cups butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 12 oz Mountain Dew (trust me)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Wrap each apple piece in crescent triangle. Place in 9×13.
2. Melt butter + sugar + cinnamon. Pour over.
3. Pour soda around edges.
4. Bake 40 mins at 350°F.

Why You’ll Love It

The soda caramelizes into magic. I tried Sprite – flat flavor. Dew’s the secret.

10. No-Bake Apple Cheesecake Trifles (20 Cups)

Assembly-line dessert for the win.

Why It’s Awesome

Layer in plastic cups – grab-and-go for buffet lines.

Ingredients

• 2 lb cream cheese
• 2 cups whipped topping
• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 6 cups diced Honeycrisp + 1 cup brown sugar + cinnamon
• 4 cups crushed graham crackers
• Caramel sauce

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Sauté apples 5 mins. Cool.
2. Beat cream cheese + sugar. Fold in topping.
3. Layer in 20 cups: crackers, cheesecake, apples, repeat.
4. Drizzle caramel. Chill 1 hour.

Why You’ll Love It

I prepped 50 for a wedding – zero oven time. Kids love the cups.

11. Apple Spice Texas Sheet Cake (24 Squares)

Chocolate who?

Why It’s Awesome

18×13 cake with apple cider in the batter + frosting. Feeds a small army.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup apple cider
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• Frosting: ½ cup butter, ⅓ cup cider, 4 cups powdered sugar, pecans

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Boil butter + cider. Stir in dry ingredients.
2. Whisk in buttermilk + eggs. Pour into sheet pan.
3. Bake 20 mins at 400°F.
4. Boil frosting ingredients. Pour over warm cake.

Why You’ll Love It

Cuts clean even when warm. I added cloves once – too much. Stick to cinnamon.

12. Frozen Apple Pie Milkshakes (20 Servings)

Dessert + drink = genius.

Why It’s Awesome

Blend leftover pie with ice cream. Instant crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

• 1 baked apple pie (crust + all)
• 2 quarts vanilla ice cream
• 4 cups milk
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• Whipped cream + caramel

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Crumble pie into blender in batches.
2. Add 1 cup ice cream + 1 cup milk per 5 shakes.
3. Blend thick.
4. Top with cream + caramel.

Why You’ll Love It

Leftover pie? Never again. Kids think it’s a trick. Adults steal sips.

There you go – 12 desserts that feed 20+ without turning you into a stressed-out pumpkin. Make two, freeze one, and watch the table go silent (except for the “mmm” sounds). Which are you baking first? Tag me in your pics – I’m nosy like that. 😉