Turkey’s roasting, guests are arriving, and you still need dessert—panic over. These Thanksgiving desserts lean on pantry staples, store-bought cheats, and zero-fuss assembly; I’ve whipped them up mid-chaos and watched plates vanish. From no-bake to 5-ingredient bakes, they scream holiday without stealing your sanity. Grab canned pumpkin, crescent rolls, and a microwave—let’s sweet-talk the end of the feast.
1. 3-Ingredient Pumpkin Fluff Dip
Pumpkin cloud—dip apples or graham crackers.
Ingredients
- 15 oz pumpkin puree
- 8 oz Cool Whip
- 1 box instant vanilla pudding mix
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Stir pumpkin and dry pudding—thickens fast.
- Fold in Cool Whip—fluffy peak.
- Chill 10 minutes—serve in bowl.
- Cinnamon dust—dip away.
Why You’ll Love It
5 minutes, feeds 12. Sugar-free pudding = lighter.
2. Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings
Apple pockets in buttery soda sauce—15 minutes prep.
Ingredients
- 2 apples, quartered
- 1 can crescent rolls
- 1 cup sugar + 1 can lemon-lime soda
- 1/2 cup butter + cinnamon
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Wrap each apple in roll—pinch seams.
- Melt butter, sugar, cinnamon—pour over.
- Add soda—bake 375°F for 25 minutes.
- Spoon sauce—serve hot.
Why You’ll Love It
Semi-homemade magic. Ice cream = mandatory.
3. No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Cups
Pumpkin silk in glasses—layer and done.
Ingredients
- Graham crumbs + butter
- 8 oz cream cheese + pumpkin
- Cool Whip + spice
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Mix crumbs and butter—spoon into cups.
- Beat cheese, pumpkin, spice—fold Whip.
- Layer cream over crumbs—chill 15 minutes.
- Crumb top—spoon dessert.
Why You’ll Love It
10 minutes, individual. Mason jars = cute.
4. Microwave Caramel Apple Mug Cake
Apple cake for one (or two)—2 minutes.
Ingredients
- Mug + 1/4 cup cake mix
- Apple chunks + caramel
- Milk + egg
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Mix cake, milk, egg in mug.
- Stir in apple—dollop caramel.
- Microwave 2 minutes—puffy top.
- Cool 1 minute—dig in.
Why You’ll Love It
Single-serve, zero cleanup. Multiply mugs = crowd.
5. Pecan Pie Dip with Pie Crust Dippers
Pecan pie filling—scoop with cookies.
Ingredients
- 1 cup pecans + brown sugar
- Corn syrup + cream cheese
- Pie crust strips
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Toast pecans—mix with syrup, cheese.
- Microwave 2 minutes—stir smooth.
- Bake crust strips 10 minutes—cool crisp.
- Dip hot—spoon fights.
Why You’ll Love It
15 minutes, gluten-free crackers = swap.
6. Cranberry White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Cranberry chew—drop and bake.
Ingredients
- 1 pouch oatmeal cookie mix
- Dried cranberries + white chips
- Butter + egg
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Stir mix, butter, egg—fold extras.
- Drop tablespoons—bake 350°F for 10 minutes.
- Cool 2 minutes—transfer rack.
- Stack high—grab and go.
Why You’ll Love It
Box mix cheat. Dried cherries = twist.
7. Frozen Pumpkin Mousse Pie
Pumpkin icebox pie—no bake, slice cold.
Ingredients
- Graham crust
- Pumpkin + sweetened condensed milk
- Cool Whip
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Fold pumpkin, milk—gentle Whip.
- Pour into crust—freeze 2 hours.
- Thaw 10 minutes—slice clean.
- Nutmeg dust—fork tender.
Why You’ll Love It
Make morning of. GF crust = easy.
8. Cinnamon Sugar Roasted Sweet Potato Bites
Sweet potato cubes—candy coating, 20 minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 sweet potatoes, diced
- 2 tbsp butter + sugar
- Cinnamon
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Toss cubes in melted butter.
- Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar—roast 400°F for 20 minutes.
- Shake pan—caramelize.
- Toothpick—bite-sized.
Why You’ll Love It
Vegan, naturally GF. Marshmallow dip = extra.
9. Chocolate Pecan Clusters (Microwave)
Pecan turtles—3 ingredients, 5 minutes.
Ingredients
- Chocolate chips + caramels
- Pecans
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Melt chocolate—stir in melted caramels.
- Drop spoonfuls on pecans—wax paper.
- Cool 10 minutes—set firm.
- Pile in bowl—grab one.
Why You’ll Love It
Zero bake. Salted pecans = pro.
10. Apple Pie Nachos
Apple slices “chips”—cinnamon sugar, caramel.
Ingredients
- 2 apples, thin slices
- Cinnamon sugar
- Caramel + pecans
- Oven or air fryer
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Toss slices in cinnamon sugar.
- Bake 375°F for 15 minutes—crisp.
- Drizzle caramel—pecan crumble.
- Serve family-style—fork optional.
Why You’ll Love It
10 minutes prep. Microwave caramel = faster.
11. Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispie Treats
Krispie squares—pumpkin spice edition.
Ingredients
- Marshmallows + butter
- Rice Krispies + pumpkin spice
- Orange food color (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Melt butter, marshmallows—stir spice.
- Mix in cereal—press into pan.
- Cool 15 minutes—cut squares.
- Stack—sticky joy.
Why You’ll Love It
10 minutes, kid help. GF cereal = swap.
12. No-Bake Cranberry Cheesecake Bars
Cranberry swirl—graham base, set fast.
Ingredients
- Graham crumbs + butter
- Cream cheese + cranberry sauce
- Cool Whip
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Press crumbs into 8×8—chill.
- Beat cheese—fold Whip.
- Swirl cranberry—freeze 1 hour.
- Cut bars—serve cold.
Why You’ll Love It
15 minutes active. Jellied cranberry = pantry.
13. Maple Pecan Popcorn
Popcorn caramel—maple twist, microwave bag.
Ingredients
- 1 bag microwave popcorn
- 1/2 cup pecans + maple syrup
- Butter + brown sugar
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Pop corn—toss nuts.
- Melt butter, sugar, maple—pour over.
- Stir coat—cool 10 minutes.
- Break clusters—bowl it.
Why You’ll Love It
10 minutes, snack or dessert. Vegan butter = easy.
14. Mini Pumpkin Pies in Mason Jars
Pumpkin pies—jar lids, no slicing.
Ingredients
- Graham crust cups
- Pumpkin + condensed milk
- Whip cream
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Press crust in small jars.
- Fill pumpkin mix—bake 325°F for 20 minutes.
- Cool—top Whip.
- Lid and go—portable.
Why You’ll Love It
Individual, make-ahead. Store crusts = fast.
15. Chocolate-Dipped Frozen Banana Turkeys
Banana slices—turkey “feathers,” 10 minutes.
Ingredients
- Bananas, sliced thick
- Chocolate melts
- Candy corn + eyes
- Popsicle sticks
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Freeze banana slices 30 minutes.
- Dip in melted chocolate—stick candy corn.
- Add eyes—freeze 10 minutes.
- Serve cold—cute bite.
Why You’ll Love It
Kid craft, healthy-ish. Yogurt coating = lighter.
There you have it—15 easy Thanksgiving desserts that clock in under 30 minutes active time. Microwave, no-bake, or quick-bake—your holiday ends sweet without the stress. Stock Cool Whip, crescent rolls, and a microwave; dessert’s handled. 🥧✨
