Alright, confession time: as much as I love a good Thanksgiving pie, cutting it neatly? Serving it without total chaos? Not my strong suit. That’s why dessert bars are my Thanksgiving secret weapon—they’re portable, pretty, and honestly, just easier to pull off when you’re juggling mashed potatoes, gravy, and a turkey that refuses to brown evenly. 😅
So grab your apron (or don’t—no judgment), and let’s talk 12 Thanksgiving dessert bars that’ll make your guests swoon, your kitchen smell like fall heaven, and your life way easier.
1. Classic Pecan Pie Bars
All the gooey, nutty magic of pecan pie—minus the stress of rolling dough.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups flour
- ½ cup butter (softened)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup corn syrup
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 cups chopped pecans
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Step-By-Step
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Mix flour, butter, and brown sugar; press into a 9×13 pan for the crust. Bake 15 minutes.
- Whisk eggs, corn syrup, brown sugar, vanilla; stir in pecans.
- Pour over crust, bake another 25–30 minutes. Cool completely before slicing.
Why You’ll Love It
It’s pecan pie—but portable. I once made these for a Friendsgiving, and they were gone before the turkey even hit the table.
2. Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
They taste like pumpkin pie and cheesecake had a baby. A beautiful, creamy, spiced baby.
Ingredients
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup melted butter
- 2 (8 oz) cream cheese blocks, softened
- 1 cup pumpkin purée
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp pumpkin spice
- 1 tsp vanilla
Step-By-Step
- Mix graham crumbs + butter, press into a lined 9×9 pan.
- Beat cream cheese, sugar, pumpkin, eggs, spice, and vanilla until smooth.
- Pour over crust, bake at 325°F for 35–40 mins.
- Chill at least 2 hours before slicing.
Why You’ll Love It
They’re creamy, cozy, and make your kitchen smell like Starbucks in October. IMO, they beat plain cheesecake every time.
3. Apple Crumble Bars
Basically, if apple pie and coffee cake teamed up for Thanksgiving dessert duty.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup oats
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup butter
- 3 cups chopped apples
- 2 tbsp sugar + cinnamon mix
Step-By-Step
- Combine flour, oats, sugar, butter → crumbly mixture.
- Press half into pan, top with apples and cinnamon sugar.
- Sprinkle remaining crumble on top.
- Bake 40 mins at 350°F.
Why You’ll Love It
It’s warm, crunchy, and smells like pure nostalgia. Drizzle caramel over the top if you’re extra like me. 😏
4. Salted Caramel Brownie Bars
Because regular brownies are great, but salted caramel brownies? Game-changer.
Ingredients
- Your favorite brownie mix (or homemade, if you’re fancy)
- ½ cup caramel sauce
- ½ tsp sea salt
Step-By-Step
- Prepare brownie batter.
- Pour half into pan, drizzle half the caramel, then layer the rest of the batter.
- Swirl in remaining caramel and sprinkle sea salt.
- Bake per brownie instructions, cool before slicing.
Why You’ll Love It
Soft, chewy, slightly salty—like dessert therapy in square form.
5. Cranberry Oat Bars
They’re tangy, sweet, and just the right amount of festive.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 1 ½ cups brown sugar
- 2 cups oats
- 2 cups flour
- 2 cups cranberry sauce (homemade or canned)
Step-By-Step
- Mix butter, sugar, oats, flour. Press half into a greased 9×13 pan.
- Spread cranberry sauce, top with remaining oat mix.
- Bake 30 mins at 350°F.
Why You’ll Love It
It’s Thanksgiving in bar form—tart, buttery, and totally snackable. Great for breakfast the next day too (no judgment).
6. Maple Blondies
Soft, chewy, and dripping with maple goodness. Basically cookie dough’s more sophisticated cousin.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter (melted)
- 1 ½ cups brown sugar
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Optional: chopped walnuts
Step-By-Step
- Mix melted butter, sugar, maple syrup, eggs, vanilla.
- Stir in flour (and nuts if using).
- Pour into pan, bake 30–35 mins at 350°F.
- Cool and slice.
Why You’ll Love It
Chewy centers. Crisp edges. Maple flavor that screams fall. Just don’t eat the whole pan yourself (I say this from experience).
7. Sweet Potato Pie Bars
Sweet potato pie—but easier and in handheld form.
Ingredients
- 1 prepared pie crust or shortbread base
- 2 cups mashed sweet potato
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup evaporated milk
- 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp nutmeg
Step-By-Step
- Bake crust for 10 mins.
- Mix sweet potato, sugar, eggs, milk, and spices.
- Pour filling over crust; bake 35–40 mins at 350°F.
- Cool before slicing.
Why You’ll Love It
They taste like fall comfort wrapped in buttery crust. Add whipped cream on top—trust me.
8. S’mores Cookie Bars
Perfect for the “kids table”… and every adult sneaking seconds.
Ingredients
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
Step-By-Step
- Combine crumbs + butter, press into pan.
- Sprinkle marshmallows + chocolate chips.
- Drizzle condensed milk.
- Bake 25 mins at 350°F.
Why You’ll Love It
Sticky, melty, nostalgic. Basically a campfire that doesn’t require bug spray.
9. Chai-Spiced Snickerdoodle Bars
They’re soft, buttery, and loaded with cozy spice—like your favorite chai latte, but in dessert form.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups flour
- 1 cup butter
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp chai spice blend (or cinnamon + cardamom + cloves)
- 1 tsp baking soda
Step-By-Step
- Cream butter + sugar, add eggs and spices.
- Stir in flour + baking soda.
- Spread batter into pan, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
- Bake 25 mins at 350°F.
Why You’ll Love It
Soft, chewy, and smells incredible. Pairs perfectly with a cup of coffee (or mulled wine—no judgment 😉).
10. Pumpkin Gooey Butter Bars
Warning: these are rich, messy, and completely addictive.
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- ½ cup butter
- 1 egg
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup pumpkin purée
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp pumpkin spice
Step-By-Step
- Mix cake mix, butter, and 1 egg—press into pan.
- Beat cream cheese, pumpkin, remaining eggs, sugar, and spice.
- Pour over crust, bake 40 mins at 350°F.
- Cool completely (it’ll firm as it cools).
Why You’ll Love It
They’re ridiculously soft and rich. You’ll get asked for the recipe. A lot.
11. Ginger Molasses Bars
Perfectly spiced, chewy, and totally underrated. They taste like a hug.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup molasses
- 1 egg
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp each ginger, cinnamon, cloves
Step-By-Step
- Cream butter + sugar + molasses, then egg.
- Add dry ingredients, mix well.
- Spread in pan, bake 25 mins at 350°F.
- Cool and slice.
Why You’ll Love It
Warm, chewy, and cozy AF. They make your kitchen smell like Santa’s workshop (if Santa baked).
12. Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Bars
Because adding bourbon to dessert is never the wrong call. Ever.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups flour
- ½ cup butter
- ¼ cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- ¾ cup corn syrup
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp bourbon
- 1 cup pecans
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips
Step-By-Step
- Make shortbread crust with flour, butter, sugar. Bake 15 mins.
- Mix eggs, corn syrup, sugar, bourbon, pecans, and chocolate.
- Pour over crust, bake 30–35 mins.
- Cool before slicing.
Why You’ll Love It
Sweet, nutty, chocolatey—with that bourbon warmth that makes everyone say, “Ooooh.” Perfect for adults who want dessert with a kick.
Final Slice (Pun Totally Intended)
Thanksgiving dessert bars are where convenience meets “wow.” You get all the cozy flavors—pumpkin, apple, pecan, caramel—without the mess or formality of slicing pies. Plus, they travel well (looking at you, potluck people).
So whether you’re team chewy blondie, fudgy brownie, or fruity crumble, these 12 Thanksgiving dessert bars will make your holiday table look amazing and your guests happy.
And hey, if you “accidentally” keep a few bars for yourself? Totally justified. 😉
