Let’s be honest: Thanksgiving pie is basically a family feud waiting to happen. “Who cut this uneven?” “Where’s the whipped cream?” Spare yourself the drama. These 12 Thanksgiving desserts that aren’t pie deliver all the fall flavor, zero slicing, and 100% “I’ll have another” vibes. From gooey skillet cakes to boozy puddings, they’re stupidly easy, stupidly delicious, and perfect for when you’re already elbow-deep in gravy. Ready to ditch the crust? Let’s go.

1. Skillet Apple Cinnamon Crumble (One Pan, Zero Stress)

Apple crisp but make it lazy—bake it in a cast-iron skillet and scoop straight to bowls.

Ingredients

• 5 apples, sliced (no need to peel)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup oats
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• Vanilla ice cream

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Toss apples with 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon in the skillet.
2. Mix oats, flour, remaining sugar, and butter.
3. Crumble over apples like you’re burying treasure.
4. Bake at 375°F for 35 minutes—bubbly edges = done.
5. Serve warm with ice cream melting into the cracks.

Why You’ll Love It

No crust, no fuss, and the skillet keeps it hot for seconds (and thirds). Your oven’s already full—this fits right in.

2. Pumpkin Spice Tiramisu (Coffee + Pumpkin = BFFs)

Tiramisu but fall-ified. No baking, just layering and chilling.

Ingredients

• Ladyfingers
• 1 cup strong coffee, cooled
• 8 oz mascarpone
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• Whipped cream + cocoa

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Whip mascarpone, pumpkin, and sugar until fluffy.
2. Dip ladyfingers in coffee—quick, don’t soak.
3. Layer: ladyfingers, pumpkin cream, whipped cream.
4. Repeat. Dust with cocoa.
5. Chill 4 hours (or overnight—better).

Why You’ll Love It

Creamy, spiced, and the coffee cuts the sweetness. Your Italian grandma would nod—then steal the corner.

3. Chocolate Bourbon Bread Pudding (Use the Stale Rolls, Hero)

Bread pudding with a boozy twist. Leftover dinner rolls never had it so good.

Ingredients

• 6 cups stale bread, cubed
• 2 cups milk
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup bourbon
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• Caramel sauce

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Whisk milk, eggs, sugar, and bourbon.
2. Toss bread and chocolate in a baking dish.
3. Pour custard over. Soak 15 minutes.
4. Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes.
5. Drizzle caramel while warm.

Why You’ll Love It

Gooey, rich, and the bourbon makes it fancy. Perfect for when the turkey’s dry—this saves the meal.

4. No-Bake Cranberry Cheesecake Parfaits

Cheesecake in a glass. Zero oven space stolen.

Ingredients

• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup cranberry sauce
• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• Whipped cream

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
2. Layer crumbs, cheesecake, cranberry sauce in glasses.
3. Repeat. Top with whipped cream.
4. Chill 1 hour.

Why You’ll Love It

Tart, creamy, and the layers look like you tried. Make ahead—party day = zero panic.

5. Maple Pecan Skillet Cookie (One Giant Cookie, No Slicing)

Cookie baked in a skillet. Cut wedges or scoop with spoons—your call.

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1 cup pecans

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Mix butter, sugar, egg, and maple.
2. Stir in dry ingredients and pecans.
3. Press into a greased skillet.
4. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes—gooey center = perfect.
5. Serve warm with forks.

Why You’ll Love It

Crunchy edges, chewy middle, and maple makes it holiday. Ice cream on top? Mandatory.

6. Spiced Hot Chocolate Pudding Cakes

Pudding cakes that magically separate into cake + sauce. Mind = blown.

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cocoa
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup hot chocolate (brewed)
• Whipped cream

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Mix dry ingredients. Stir in milk.
2. Pour into ramekins.
3. Pour hot chocolate over batter—don’t stir.
4. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes.
5. Sauce forms underneath. Dig in.

Why You’ll Love It

Warm, fudgy, and the sauce is pure magic. Serve in the ramekins—less dishes, more cozy.

7. Sweet Potato Casserole Bars with Marshmallow Frosting

Sweet potato casserole but portable. No spoon required.

Ingredients

• 2 cups mashed sweet potatoes
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup flour
• 1 jar marshmallow fluff

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Mix sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, and flour.
2. Spread in a lined 8×8 pan.
3. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes.
4. Cool. Spread fluff. Torch it.
5. Cut into squares.

Why You’ll Love It

All the casserole vibes, none of the casserole dish. The torched fluff is chef’s kiss.

8. Pumpkin Spice Rice Pudding (Creamy Comfort in a Bowl)

Rice pudding but make it fall. Stovetop only.

Ingredients

• 1 cup rice (arborio or jasmine)
• 4 cups milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 tsp pumpkin spice
• Cinnamon

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Cook rice in milk over low heat, stirring often—30 minutes.
2. Stir in sugar, pumpkin, and spice.
3. Cook 5 more minutes.
4. Serve warm or chilled.
5. Dust with cinnamon.

Why You’ll Love It

Silky, spiced, and the pumpkin melts in. Perfect for when you need something cozy but not heavy.

9. Cranberry Orange Bread Pudding (Tart + Bright)

Bread pudding with a citrus kick. Use that stale challah.

Ingredients

• 6 cups bread, cubed
• 2 cups milk
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup cranberries
• Zest of 1 orange

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Whisk milk, eggs, sugar, and zest.
2. Toss bread and cranberries in a dish.
3. Pour custard over. Soak 15 minutes.
4. Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes.
5. Serve with orange glaze (juice + powdered sugar).

Why You’ll Love It

Tart berries, bright orange, and custardy bread. The glaze makes it extra.

10. Gingerbread Trifle with Caramel Cream

Gingerbread crumbled with caramel whipped cream. Yes, please.

Ingredients

• 1 gingerbread cake, cubed
• 2 cups whipped cream
• 1/2 cup caramel sauce
• Crushed gingersnaps

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Fold caramel into whipped cream.
2. Layer cake, caramel cream, gingersnaps in glasses.
3. Repeat. Chill 1 hour.

Why You’ll Love It

Spicy, sweet, and the caramel cream is addictive. Make in a big bowl or individual glasses—both work.

11. Pecan Praline Bark (Five Minutes, Zero Baking)

Praline but make it snackable. Break and devour.

Ingredients

• 1 cup pecans
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• Sea salt

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Melt butter and sugar in a skillet.
2. Add pecans. Stir 3 minutes.
3. Spread on parchment. Sprinkle salt.
4. Cool 15 minutes. Break into pieces.

Why You’ll Love It

Crunchy, buttery, and gone in 60 seconds. Bag it for favors—guests will fight over the salty bits.

12. Boozy Eggnog Mousse (Adults-Only Cloud)

Eggnog whipped into a fluffy mousse. One bite = holiday buzz.

Ingredients

• 2 cups eggnog
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup bourbon (or rum)
• 1 packet gelatin
• Nutmeg

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Bloom gelatin in 2 tbsp cold water.
2. Heat eggnog. Stir in gelatin until dissolved.
3. Cool. Fold in whipped cream and bourbon.
4. Chill 2 hours in glasses.
5. Dust with nutmeg.

Why You’ll Love It

Light, boozy, and the nutmeg makes it fancy. Serve in shot glasses—perfect for toasting.

There you have it—12 Thanksgiving desserts that aren’t pie and won’t start a single family argument (over slices, anyway). From skillet cookies to boozy mousses, these are your ticket to a stress-free, sugar-high holiday. Make three, delegate one to your control-freak sister, and watch the table go quiet except for the sound of spoons scraping bowls. This Thanksgiving, pie who? 🦃🍮