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26+ Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes (That Aren’t Pie)

November 7, 2025 · In: Cake, Fall, Recipes, Seasonal

Don’t get me wrong – I love a pumpkin pie on my Thanksgiving dessert table! But if you’re looking to add variety to your dessert spread, I’ve got you. These are my favorite Thanksgiving cakes, cupcakes, no-bake desserts, and more! Basically all of the classic Thanksgiving and holiday flavors translated into different kinds of desserts that are sure to impress.

26 thanksgiving dessert recipes that arent pie

As a reminder, all of my recipes include make-ahead and storage instructions that you can find at the bottom of each printable recipe.

I hope you find a new favorite dessert to add to your Thanksgiving table this year. Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

Easy No-Bake Desserts

easy no bake pumpkin cheesecake recipe

No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake

The dreamiest mousse-like pumpkin spice cheesecake with buttery Biscoff cookie crust, absolutely no baking necessary!

get the recipe

biscoff no bake cheesecake recipe

No-Bake Biscoff Cheesecake

Dreamy mousse-like Biscoff cheesecake filling set on a Biscoff cookie crust and topped with melted Biscoff cookie butter! The spiced caramel flavor of this dessert is incredible.

get the recipe

no bake eggnog cheesecake recipe by sugar and sparrow

No-Bake Eggnog Cheesecake

A deliciously festive eggnog cheesecake made without any baking! Rich and creamy no-bake cheesecake filling infused with spiced eggnog on a beautiful Biscoff cookie crust.

get the recipe

4th of july desserts no bake

No-Bake Oreo Cheesecake

The dreamiest cookies and cream cheesecake made without any baking! Rich and creamy french vanilla filling studded with Oreo cookies on a delicious Oreo crust.

get the recipe

no bake cheesecake recipe by sugar and sparrow

Customizable No-Bake Cheesecake

Set on a buttery graham cracker crust with a rich velvety texture and the perfect tangy flavor. Use your favorite festive toppings to customize it for Thanksgiving (like sugared cranberries or Salted Caramel!)

get the recipe

peppermint oreo truffles coated in chocolate

Peppermint Oreo Truffles

The perfect easy, bite-sized dessert made with just four ingredients: Mint Creme Oreos, cream cheese, melted chocolate, and crushed candy canes! You can also make these with traditional Oreos or any Oreo flavor.

get the recipe

Pumpkin Desserts

pumpkin sheet cake recipe with cream cheese frosting

Easy Pumpkin Sheet Cake

Extra moist, wonderfully spiced pumpkin cake baked in a 9×13 pan and frosted with tangy cream cheese buttercream. A classic Fall dessert!

get the recipe

pumpkin pie layer cake recipe inspired by milk bar

Pumpkin Pie Layer Cake

Pumpkin pie in cake form! Exposed layers of spiced pumpkin cake, pumpkin creme filling, brown sugar buttercream, and crushed pie pieces.

get the recipe

pumpkin chai cake recipe

Spiced Pumpkin Chai Cake

Layers of delicious chai tea-infused pumpkin cake and chai flavored buttercream, decorated with pretty piped pumpkins to look extra festive!

get the recipe

pumpkin cupcakes recipe with cream cheese frosting

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting

Extra moist, perfectly spiced pumpkin cupcakes with irresistible spiced cream cheese frosting. The BEST pumpkin cupcakes I’ve ever had!

get the recipe

pumpkin layer cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

Perfect Pumpkin Layer Cake

A Fall classic. Layers of moist, fluffy Pumpkin cake with just the right amount of spice, filled and frosted with tasty cream cheese buttercream.

get the recipe

pumpkin chocolate chip cookie bars

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

The BEST moist and chewy pumpkin chocolate chip cookie bars made with brown butter and warm spices for the ideal fall treat! No dough chilling, quick to make, and perfect for serving a crowd.

get the recipe

Pumpkin Biscoff Cake Recipe

Spiced Pumpkin Biscoff Cake

Deliciously moist pumpkin cake layered with Biscoff cookie butter frosting and crumbled Biscoff cookies throughout.

get the recipe

pumpkin chocolate chip cake by sugar and sparrow

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cake

Deliciously moist pumpkin cake with chocolate chips baked into each layer, paired with spiced cream cheese buttercream and decadent chocolate ganache.

get the recipe

Holiday Inspired Cake Flavors

cranberry orange cake by sugar and sparrow

Cranberry Orange Cake

Layers of light and zesty orange cake with fresh, whole cranberries folded in. Topped with orange flavored buttercream to give it extra zing.

get the recipe

chocolate caramel pecan pie cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

Chocolate Pecan Pie Cake with Salted Caramel

Layers of decadent chocolate cake, pecan pie filling, and homemade salted caramel, all wrapped up in tasty brown sugar buttercream.

get the recipe

chocolate orange layer cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

Chocolate Orange Cake

Layers of deliciously moist, citrus-infused chocolate cake and decadent chocolate-orange buttercream. The perfect cozy take on chocolate cake!

get the recipe

spiced vanilla chai cake

Spiced Vanilla Chai Cake

Layers of soft, moist vanilla chai cake that’s perfectly flavored with chai tea and a homemade chai spice mix, paired with vanilla chai buttercream.

get the recipe

chai cupcake recipe

Chai Cupcakes

Soft and moist chai cupcakes that are perfectly flavored with chai tea and a homemade chai spice mix, topped with chai buttercream.

get the recipe

chai bundt cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

Spiced Chai Bundt Cake

My favorite moist, deliciously spiced chai cake recipe, baked bundt cake style and topped with chai spiced glaze.

get the recipe

gingerbread latte sheet cake for christmas

Gingerbread Latte Sheet Cake

Spiced gingerbread sheet cake that’s extra soft and moist, frosted with coffee buttercream to mimic a gingerbread latte in cake form.

get the recipe

rafaello cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

Rafaello Cake

Inspired by Ferrero Rafaello truffles, this cake is layers of delicious almond cake, coconut cream filling, toasted almonds, and white chocolate coconut buttercream. It’s even rolled in shredded coconut like the real deal.

get the recipe

sugared cranberry cupcakes for the holidays

Sugared Cranberry Cupcakes

Delicious vanilla cupcakes with a cranberry swirl baked inside, topped with white chocolate buttercream and sugared cranberries. The perfect festive cupcakes for the holidays!

get the recipe

Apple & Spice Cakes

sugar and sparrow apple spice cake

Apple Spice Cake

Layers of deliciously moist apple cake with warm spices and cinnamon-vanilla buttercream to amplify all the flavors.

get the recipe

apple spice sheet cake thanksgiving dessert recipe

Apple Spice Sheet Cake

My favorite spiced apple cake topped with cinnamon-vanilla buttercream, baked in a 9×13-inch pan to feed a crowd.

get the recipe

apple crisp cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

Apple Crisp Cake

Layers of extra moist spiced apple cake, apple pie filling, baked crumble topping, and cinnamon-vanilla buttercream. Apple crisp in cake form!

get the recipe

salted caramel apple cake

Salted Caramel Apple Cake

Moist apple spice cake paired with salted caramel buttercream, topped with a salted caramel, chopped almonds, and a caramel apple.

get the recipe

spice cake recipe with brown butter cream cheese frosting

Spice Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

Tender and moist spice cake made paired with brown butter cream cheese buttercream to take it beyond delicious!

get the recipe

carrot cake recipe with cream cheese buttercream

Classic Carrot Cake

My favorite carrot cake recipe for many reasons: it’s extra moist, has the most incredible spice flavor, is so easy to throw together, and irrestible with cream cheese frosting.

get the recipe

I hope you find the perfect dessert for your Thanksgiving spread! If you make one of these, let me know how it went in the comments and feel free to tag @sugarandsparrowco on Instagram to show me a photo. I love to see what you create with my recipes. Happy holidays to you and yours!

By: Whitney · In: Cake, Fall, Recipes, Seasonal · Tagged: thanksgiving, thanksgiving cake recipes, thanksgiving desserts

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Comments

  1. Michael J Robinsmith says

    November 15, 2022 at 12:52 pm

    Followed all the way through everything looking for the Black Velvet cake. Looks amazing. Also that pumpkin spice cake sounds so good

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      November 16, 2022 at 3:08 pm

      Thanks so much, Michael! If you are having a hard time finding the Black Velvet Cake it’s right here: https://sugarandsparrow.com/black-velvet-cake-recipe/

      Reply
  2. Razwana amin says

    December 22, 2021 at 10:46 am

    Hi can I have ur receive for vanilla sponge cake please

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      December 22, 2021 at 11:27 am

      Hi there! My vanilla cake recipe is here: https://sugarandsparrow.com/vanilla-cake-recipe Enjoy!

      Reply

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@sugarandsparrowco

Everything I baked in June☀️I was so motivated to Everything I baked in June☀️I was so motivated to bake this month (summer flavors had me INSPIRED!) and could barely keep up with myself but I ended up publishing 7 new recipes on my website + finalized 5 more that will be up ASAP! 

Comment “JUNE” to get all the recipes that are available now:

-Cookie Dough Ice Cream Cake
-Rocky Road Cupcakes (w/ homemade marshmallow creme filling!)
-Blackberry Lavender Cake
-Homemade Blackberry Filling
-Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
-Strawberry Shortcake Cookie Bars
-Berries & Cream Sheet Cake

https://sugarandsparrow.com/everything-i-baked-in-june
 
#cake #bakersofinstagram #baking #bakinglove #cakedecorating
WHIPPED CREAM CHEESE FROSTING ☁️ this easy 4-ingre WHIPPED CREAM CHEESE FROSTING ☁️ this easy 4-ingredient whipped cream frosting is deliciously light, comes together SO easily, and is stabilized with cream cheese to make it the perfect thick consistency for filling and frosting cakes and cupcakes!! It’s so good with my strawberry shortcake sheet cake and berries & cream cake and I have a feeling I’m going to be whipping it up for many more summer cakes😍

Full recipe with cake pairing suggestions at https://sugarandsparrow.com/whipped-cream-cheese-frosting/ 

INGREDIENTS 
1 Cup (8oz, 226g) full-fat brick-style cream cheese, cold
1 Cup (120g) powdered sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 Cups (600ml) heavy whipping cream, cold

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Chill the bowl of your stand mixer (or the large bowl you’ll be using with your hand mixer) into the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
2. Into the cold mixing bowl, add the cream cheese and beat on medium speed with the whisk attachment until creamy, 2 min. Add the powdered sugar and mix on low speed until mostly incorporated, then turn the mixer to medium-high speed and mix for 1 min.
3. Add the vanilla extract, then turn the mixer to medium-high speed and slowly pour in the heavy whipping cream (down the side of the bowl so it doesn’t fly everywhere). Once all the cream is added, continue mixing on medium-high for just about 30 seconds longer, keeping a close eye on the mixing bowl to watch it thicken. It should come together into a thick, silky frosting consistency at this point, where you can dip the whisk into the frosting and it holds a slight peak when you hold it upright.
4. Use the frosting immediately to decorate cakes and/or cupcakes for best results!

#whippedcreamfrosting #creamcheesefrosting #cakedecorating #whippedcream #frosting
TOP 10 4TH OF JULY DESSERTS 🎆 These are just a few TOP 10 4TH OF JULY DESSERTS 🎆 These are just a few of my favorite summer dessert recipes that will disappear at any Fourth of July celebration.

Comment “JULY” and I’ll send you all 20+ of my favorite 4th of July dessert ideas – naturally red white and blue desserts like my berries and cream cake, easy no-bake desserts, no-churn ice cream, strawberry shortcake inspired recipes, and all the treats that will go FAST at any barbecue.

https://sugarandsparrow.com/4th-of-july-desserts/

#fourthofjuly #4thofjuly #summerdessert #partycake #dessertideas
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE COOKIE BARS 🍓my hot take: str STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE COOKIE BARS 🍓my hot take: strawberry shortcake toppings on a buttery, soft sugar cookie base is WAY BETTER than traditional strawberry shortcake. I topped my favorite sugar cookie bar recipe with silky whipped cream cheese frosting + homemade strawberry sauce and now I’m ruined 😵

Full recipe is linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/strawberry-shortcake-cookie-bars/ 

SOFT SUGAR COOKIE BARS
2 Cups + 2 Tbsp (283g) all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 Cup (170g) unsalted butter, room temp
1 Cup (200g) granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (177ºC). Grease and line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang for easy release.
2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or hand mixer) cream together the butter and sugar on high speed until pale and fluffy, 2-3 min.
4. Turn the mixer to medium and add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Mix until combined, then add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until a uniform cookie dough forms.
5. Press the cookie dough into the prepared pan in an even layer, all the way to the edges. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until the edges are just starting to brown. 
6. Cool the sugar cookie bars in the pan for 30 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Top with whipped cream cheese frosting and strawberry sauce (full recipe linked in my bio!)

#strawberryshortcake #strawberries #whippedcreamfrosting #cookiebars #sugarcookies
BLACK FOREST CAKE 🍒 this is my favorite thing to m BLACK FOREST CAKE 🍒 this is my favorite thing to make during cherry season! My version is decadent chocolate cake soaked with homemade cherry syrup, fresh cherry filling, and whipped cream frosting. Top it with a chocolate ganache drip if you want to go the extra mile! 

Full recipe + decorating tutorial is linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/black-forest-cake-recipe/

PS I’m working on a sheet cake version of this recipe that’s even easier! Stay tuned.

#blackforestcake #cherrycake #chocolatecake #cherries #cakedecorating

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