These Are the Best Indoor S’mores You’ll Ever Bite Into

Tessa Huff
May 15, 2014

Craving campfire treats and a night under the stars, but can’t make it out to the woods? These indoor S’mores Sandwich Cookies bring together all the flavors of your favorite camping dessert in your own kitchen. Think: Gooey, toasted meringue filling sprinkled with crushed graham crackers and sandwiched between two giant double-chocolate cookies. All without sticky fingers or the occasional marshmallow casualty lost in the flame of the fire. These treats are way easier to enjoy. Plus, the chewy, truffle-like cookies are to die for — even on their own!


– 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp all purpose flour

– 1/4 tsp baking powder

– 1/2 tsp salt

– 1 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder

– 10 oz dark chocolate

– 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

– 1 cup granulated sugar

– 3 eggs

– 1 tsp vanilla extract

– 1 cup chocolate chips

For the Meringue Filling
Ingredients:

– 2 egg whites

– 1/2 cup granulated sugar

– pinch cream of tartar

– 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

3. Sift together the dry ingredients and set aside.

4. Melt chocolate over a double-boiler and stir until smooth. Set aside to cool.

5. Using an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy.

6. Add in the vanilla and eggs, one at a time.

7. Stop mixer and stir in the dry ingredients with a rubber spatula. Be sure to fully incorporate, but do not over mix.

8. Fold in the chocolate chips.

9. Using a cookie scoop, place batter on the parchment about two inches apart from one another. Batter should be soft and used immediately. Slightly moisten fingertips with water and gently flatten the tops.

10. Bake in pre-heated oven for about 14-16 minutes — until tops are cracked and centers are set.

11. Cool on a wire rack.

12. Make the meringue filling by placing egg whites and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer. Whisk to combine.

13. Fill a medium sauce pan with a couple inches of water over medium-high heat. Place the mixing bowl on top to create a double boiler.

14. Heat egg white mixture about three to four minutes, until sugar starts to dissolve.

15. Transfer bowl back to the electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment.

16. Beat on high until stiff, glossy peaks form (about 5-7 minutes).

17. Add in the cream of tartar and vanilla during the last minute of mixing.

Assembly:

1. Crush graham crackers or pulse in a food processor and set aside.

2. Match similar shaped cookies together and set aside.

3. Pre-heat broiler in your oven.

4. Spread meringue topping on the inside of half of the cookies and place meringue-side-up on an unlined baking sheet.

5. Place baking sheet under the broiler for a few minutes until meringue is toasted. Do not walk away from your oven. This will only take a few minutes, and the meringue may burn easily.

6. Remove from oven and sprinkle toasted meringue with crushed graham crackers.

7. Spread a small amount of meringue on the top half of the cookie and sandwich them together.

Set your box of graham crackers aside, girl. We’re sandwiching our s’mores with from-scratch chocolate cookies. Once your dry ingredients are sifted and your chocolate is melted, it’s time to get mixing. Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy, then add vanilla and eggs one at a time. Mix until it’s smooth then pour in that cooled chocolate + dry ingredients. Stir these ingredients together with a rubber spatula — don’t over mix. Then when you’ve got it just right, add in chocolate chips for extra decadence.

Now move quickly, scooping out the soft batter with an ice cream scooper and flattening the tops with slightly moistened fingertips. Then bake your cookies in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 14 to 16 minutes, until the tops are cracked and the centers are fully set. Cool the batch on a wire rack and in the meantime, make the marshmallowy meringue filling.

meringue

stiff treat that’s a delight to snack on, or amazing as a creamy filling that transforms everything from pies to cookies — like you’re gonna see here — into bakery-worthy confections. Here’s how to do it: Place your egg whites and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer and whisk to combine. Mix over a double boiler for three to four minutes until the sugar starts to dissolve, then beat on high until the peaks are stiff and glossy, like you see above. Then in the last minute of mixing, add cream of tartar and your fave flavoring (we used vanilla here to go with the s’moresy vibe).

Now onto the best part: Assemble those sandos! Cookie first, then an ample layer of graham cracker-dusted meringue (crunch crunch!). Top off that cookie and move onto the next. You know you won’t be able to stop at just one ;)

Stack ’em up!

Now pour yourself a tall glass of milk (don’t forget the straw!) and dig in. Just one bite and we promise you’ll never experience camping FOMO ever again!

sprinkles

peanut butter-flavored meringue (yeah, we’d go there!). And since the assembly process is so fun, it would make a great dessert station at any occasion: just line up your cookies, filling choices + assorted toppings and we guarantee your guests will party on with full stomachs and much cleaner fingers ;)

What’s your favorite twist on traditional s’mores? Tell us in the comments below.

3 Irresistible International Cookie Recipes To Spice Up This Cozy Season

When the new cookbook Crumbs: Cookies & Sweets from Around the World by food writer, recipe developer, and self-confessed baking obsessive Ben Mims arrived in my mailbox, I was instantly smitten. Not only because I LOVE fresh-baked cookies in all varieties, but because this book is stunning, from the elegant cover to the beautiful photography by Simon Bajada inside. My mom was visiting and she was obsessed too, but I couldn't bring myself to part with it! It's also a great holiday gift for the baker in your life — or a great gift to give yourself. 😉 Regardless, here's Ben's best baking tips — plus three international cookie recipes you can bake right now!

Swirled Pig's Ears Cookies (Vietnam)

Simon Bajada

Bake your way around the world with Crumbs's 300 irresistible cookie recipes from nearly 100 countries, from classic chocolate chip cookies to date-filled maamoul, and almond macaroons to cardamom biscuits, Italian waffle cookies, and Okinawan brown sugar shortbread.

Simon Bajada

"Cookies are condensed pieces of excess," says Ben. "They allow everyone to feel extravagant and rich for a second. I think that’s a universal appeal for everyone. They bring joy while eating them, no matter how you feel the rest of the time. And sharing in that joy is what cookies do best; they allow you to physically give out happiness in a few bites."

He's sharing an excerpt of three cookie recipes below!

Simon Bajada

Chocolate-Glazed Polish Gingerbread (Poland)

Adapted from Crumbsby Ben Mims

Preparation time: 50 minutes, plus cooling and setting time

Cooking time: 20 minutes

Makes: 30 cookies

INGREDIENTS

For the cookies:

  • 6 tablespoons (125 g) honey ¼ cup (50 g) white US granulated (UK caster) sugar
  • 2½ tablespoons (35 g) unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¾ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream
  • 2¼ cups (315 g) all-purpose (plain) flour, plus more for dusting
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
  • ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt

For the chocolate glaze:

  • 1½ cups (200 g) powdered (icing) sugar
  • 1/3 cup (30 g) natural cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons whole milk, plus more if needed

DIRECTIONS

  1. Make the cookies: Position racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C/Gas Mark 4). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Pour the honey into a small frying pan and place over medium-high heat until the honey starts to bubble around the edges and is loose. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the white US granulated (UK caster) sugar, butter, water, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and cardamom until the sugar dissolves. Pour the mixture into a medium bowl and let cool for 10 minutes.
  3. Stir in the sour cream until smooth, then add the flour and sprinkle over the baking soda (bicarb) and salt. Fold the mixture with a silicone spatula or wooden spoon until the dough just comes together and there are no dry pockets of flour remaining.
  4. Scrape the dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough to ½ inch (13 mm) thick. Using a 2½- to 3-inch (6.5 to 7.5 cm) round or heart-shaped cutter, cut out cookies and transfer them to the prepared baking sheets, spaced 2 inches (5 cm) apart. Reroll the scraps to cut out more cookies.
  5. Bake until the cookies are risen, golden brown at the edges, and give just slightly when pressed on top, 15-20 minutes, switching racks and rotating the baking sheets front to back halfway through. The cookies will firm up considerably upon cooling so err on the side of underbaking them.
  6. Transfer the baking sheets to wire racks. Let the cookies cool on the pans for 1 minute, then transfer them to the racks to cool completely.
  7. Make the chocolate glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered (icing) sugar and cocoa. Add the vanilla and 2 tablespoons of the milk and stir until a thick paste forms. Add another 1 tablespoons milk and stir until the glaze is pourable and smooth but not too runny. Add more milk if needed to reach the consistency you want.
  8. Balance a cookie on the tines of a fork and position it over the bowl of glaze. Use a spoon in your other hand to spoon glaze over the cookie, allowing the excess to drip back into the bowl. Once the glaze stops dripping, return the cookies to a rack or a baking sheet. Repeat glazing the remaining cookies. Let the glaze dry until set before serving.

Simon Bajada

Rainbow Sprinkles-Covered Cookies (Mexico)

Adapted from Crumbsby Ben Mims

Preparation time: 15 minutes, plus 1 hour chilling time

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Makes: About 36 cookies

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 cups (280 g) all-purpose (plain) flour
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ¾ cup (150 g) white US granulated (UK caster) sugar
  • ½ cup (115 g) cold-rendered leaf lard or vegetable shortening, softened
  • 4 tablespoons (2 oz/55 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, preferably Mexican
  • 2 eggs, 1 whole and 1 separated
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • ½ cup (120 g) rainbow-colored nonpareils (hundreds & thousands) or small dragées

DIRECTIONS

  • Position racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C/Gas Mark 4). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • In a large bowl, with a hand mixer, combine the sugar, lard, butter, and vanilla and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add the whole egg, beat until smooth, then add the egg yolk to the bowl, beating until smooth. Add the flour mixture to the bowl and stir until a dough forms and there are no dry patches of flour remaining. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap (cling film) and refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes to firm.
  • Scrape the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and use a rolling pin to flatten the dough to ¼ inch (6 mm) thick. Using a 2½-inch (6.5 cm) round cutter, cut out cookies and transfer them to the prepared baking sheets, spaced 2 inches (5 cm) apart. Reroll the dough and cut out more cookies. Place the baking sheets in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm the dough rounds.
  • Meanwhile, make an egg wash by whisking the remaining egg white with the water until smooth. Place the nonpareils in a shallow dish or large plate.
  • Using a pastry brush, brush some of the egg wash over the top of a dough round and place the round, brushed-side down, in the nonpareils to completely encrust that side. Invert the cookie and return it to its spot on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough rounds.
  • Bake until light golden brown at the edges and just set in the center, 12-15 minutes, switching racks and rotating the baking sheets front to back halfway through.
  • Transfer the baking sheets to wire racks. Let the cookies cool on the pans for 1 minute, then transfer them to the racks to cool completely.

Simon Bajada

Flower Shaped Butter Cookies (Italy)

Adapted from Crumbsby Ben Mims

Preparation time: 45 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Makes: About 24 cookies

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup (140 g) all-purpose (plain) flour
  • ¾ cup (105 g) potato starch or cornstarch (cornflour)
  • ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 2 hard-boiled egg yolks
  • 1 stick (4 oz/115 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup (65 g) powdered (icing) sugar, plus more for dusting
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or almond extract
  • Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

DIRECTIONS

  1. Position racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C/Gas Mark 4). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, potato starch, and salt. Place a fine sieve over a large bowl and use a silicone spatula to press the hard-boiled egg yolks through the sieve, scraping the back of the sieve to ensure you get all the egg yolk. Add the butter and sugar, and beat on medium speed with a hand mixer until pale and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Beat in the vanilla extract and lemon zest. Add the dry ingredients and stir until the dough forms and there are no dry patches of flour remaining. Gather the dough into a ball.
  3. Working on a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough with a rolling pin to ⅜ inch (1 cm) thick. Using a 2½-inch (6.5 cm) flower-shaped cutter, cut out shapes of dough. Reroll the scraps to cut out more cookies. Transfer the shapes to the prepared baking sheets, spaced 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart. Using the end of a narrow-handled wooden spoon or a ½-inch (13 mm) round piping tip (nozzle), punch out the center of each dough flower. Reroll the centers to make more cookies or discard them.
  4. Bake until golden brown at the edges and dry to the touch on top, 10-15 minutes, switching racks and rotating the baking sheets front to back halfway through.
  5. Transfer the baking sheets to wire racks and let the cookies rest on the pans for 1 minute. While they are still hot, dust the cookies with sugar and then transfer directly to the racks to cool completely.

VARIATION

Castagnese

Substitute the same weight of chestnut flour for the potato starch.

Chocolate Chip Cookies (United States)

Simon Bajada

"Ben's best baking tip? "Be patient. So much of the success of your baking comes down to simply giving things the time they need to set up or cool down. Don’t rush things. Always set a timer. Oh, and use a scale! Using the proper weight of ingredients (versus using volume measurements) will be the single greatest determining factor in the outcome of your cookies and all baked goods."

There's so much inside of Crumbs, including the origin story of each cookie and its region. Try them for breakfast, with afternoon tea, on holidays, or as a late-night snack, they are that good!

Order 'Crumbs' Here!

Amazon

Crumbs: Cookies and Sweets From Around the World

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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

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Upgrade Your Thanksgiving With A Crescent-Roll Cornucopia

This edible crescent-roll cornucopia is our way of making a normal cheese boardmore festive — and definitely more fun — during the holiday season. Our go-to this time of year is a massive cheese plate that can stand alone and be the main attraction, or the starter for a larger meal. Press on for the surprisingly easy steps to braid a breaded cornucopia.

Chris Andre

Materials + Tools:

  • 1 roll of tin foil
  • 2 packages of crescent rolls
  • 1 egg (for egg wash before cornucopia goes into the oven), optional

Chris Andre

Instructions:

Start by sculpting tin foil into the shape of a cornucopia (it looks like a cone with an upturned tail). Pro tip: Lightly pack tin foil so it's easier to remove later from your baked cornucopia. Crescent rolls should be buttery enough that this shouldn't be difficult.

Chris Andre

Your tin foil mold should look a little something like this.

Chris Andre

Pop open the crescent rolls and cut the triangles into strips. Pinch together the ends of strips to make strips longer.

Chris Andre

Braid crescent roll strips. You can make these as fancy as you want. Not a braiding pro? Skip this step and leave those strips alone.

Chris Andre

Wrap tin foil cornucopia with braids/strips. Make sure you cover all the tin foil. Leave a little wiggle room at the opening of the cornucopia, so that when you’re done baking you can pull some of that tin foil out.

Chris Andre

Use any extra dough to cover the bottom of your cornucopia. Pinch the sides and anchor those braids/strips in.

Chris Andre

Brush on egg wash before placing your cornucopia in the oven. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Take out of oven and cover spots of cornucopia that are already golden brown with extra tin foil. Bake for another 20 minutes at 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chris Andre

Let it cool down until it’s easy to handle. Remove tin foil.

Chris Andre

Place cornucopia in corner of your cheese plate. Arrange cheese on your serving tray.

Chris Andre

Add crackers — we like to have two or three options.

Chris Andre

Don’t forget to fill up your cornucopia. It's called "the horn of plenty" for a reason. Fill with fresh fruit like grapes, apples, and pears.

Chris Andre

Add nuts like walnuts and pistachios to fill in any empty spaces. Garnish with fresh herbs like rosemary and sage to finish it off.

Chris Andre

Voilà! Invite over your friends, open a bottle of wine, and dig in!

Chris Andre

A cornucopia cheese board will become your new favorite holiday tradition.

Show us your crescent-roll cornucopias on Instagram and check out our baking classes (and our Easy Thanksgiving Desserts piece) for more holiday food inspo!

DIY Production and Styling: Paris Fried

Paris Fried: Paris loves any excuse to celebrate and throw a themed party. She loves experimenting in the kitchen and has a terrible sweet tooth. When she's not crafting in her studio, she's at the farmers' market buying seasonal produce or at her favorite local theater watching double features.

This post has been updated.

holidaysthanksgivingthanksgiving dessertsthanksgiving recipesfood

32 Easy Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes You’ll Be Thankful Are Not Pies

It's 2024; changing up Thanksgiving staple dishes is totally cool. It's almost time to serve stuffing cups and mashed cauliflower puree, but do you dare go beyond the classic pumpkin or apple pie? The answer is yes. There are so many new ways to incorporate your favorite Thanksgiving ingredients that you might as well try them all! (Well, as many as you can anyway).

You can always opt for new takes on apple crisp, unique pecan recipes, and pumpkin pie alternatives. Or, if you'd rather skip the pies altogether, try something completely new. Here are some of the best Thanksgiving desserts that break the mold and taste delicious while doing so.


Pumpkin Recipes

Brown Butter Pumpkin Bread 

Sloane's Table

Nothing says Thanksgiving like delicious pumpkin bread, but have you ever tried the brown butter recipe? It adds "a nutty, caramelized flavor" that'll make it hard for you to eat only one slice.

Pumpkin Pie Spiced Toffee 

Brit + Co

Don't want to deal with any leftovers? This crispy pumpkin-spice toffee is one of our favorite Thanksgiving desserts that aren't pie because it's easy for people to take home in bags. Give some to your friends, your family, and your neighbors!

Einkorn Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Calico + Twine

These aren't your average cookies. Not only are they packed with pumpkin flavor, but they're fluffy like cake instead of dense like other chocolate chip cookie recipes. One thing you'll want to note is that this recipe is specified for Einkorn flour (which hasn't been hybridized, meaning it's full of health benefits and flavor), so if you use another kind, you'll want to follow Kaetlyn's instructions on ratios.

Pumpkin Pie Brownies 

The Cookie Rookie

Boxed brownie mix (which is already a good Thanksgiving dessert) gets a gooey upgrade when layered with pumpkin, cream cheese, and warming spices.

Chocolate Pumpkin Tart with Gingersnap Crust

Completely Delicious

This is like pumpkin pie, only so much better. The rich gingersnap crust pairs so nicely with the dark chocolate ganache and sweet pumpkin filling.

Nutella-Stuffed Pumpkin Beignets

Half-Baked Harvest

Reason 8,453 why Nutella makes everything better: these plump and pillowy pumpkin beignets. Your guests will love the look of these fun Thanksgiving desserts, but they'll really freak out when they take a bite from the gooey center.

Kabak Tatlisi - Turkish Pumpkin Dessert

Give Recipe

This Turkish pumpkin dessert only requires two ingredients (seriously, what could be better than that?), is budget-friendly, and oh-so comforting!

Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll

Image via Give Recipe

Nothing beats a good old cinnamon roll, and this one is only elevated by the addition of pumpkin!

Baked Pumpkin Churros 

Cooking Classy

When churros and hot fudge are involved, there will always be room for dessert. (via Cooking Classy)

Easy Apple Dessert Ideas

Goat Cheese Cheesecake With Honey-Cinnamon Apples

Food Faith Fitness

Turn your favorite charcuterie-board combo into dessert with a rich and sweet goat cheese filling, sliced apples, and honey-cinnamon syrup that is definitely a Thanksgiving dessert to impress.

Puff Pastry Apple Roses

Give Recipe

Not only does this dessert taste amazing, but it looks amazing too! It's perfect to make for a Thanksgiving get-together, as everyone will be ooh-ing and aah-ing over it.

Apple Dumplings With Sparkling Apple Cider Sauce

Sweet Cayenne

Sparkling apple cider, butter, and brown sugar form a sticky sauce when baked with soft apple dumplings. If you listen closely, you can practically hear the dumplings begging to be heaped with ice cream. (via Sweet Cayenne)

Samoa Caramel Apple Nachos

The Girl on Bloor

A unique twist on a classic caramel apple, these nachos are the ultimate treat. (via The Girl on Bloor)

Apple Fritter Bread 

Crazy for Crust

Here's a five-ingredient dessert that won't let you down — and it even has fresh fruit to boot.

(Cheese)cakes Make Awesome Thanksgiving Dessert

Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes

Brit + Co

If you want the taste of a cake without committing to a huge slice, opt for cupcakes instead! They're delicious, they're bite-sized, and they make the perfect Thanksgiving dessert.

Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting 

The Recipe Critic

When there's a crowd, you can't go wrong with a sheet cake.

Glazed Buttermilk Donut Bundt Cake 

The View From Great Island

Why buy a dozen donuts when you can make a giant one? This unique cake is made with oat flour, buttermilk, and nutmeg.

Nutella Gooey Butter Cake

Spicy Southern Kitchen

It's only logical to end an extremely large meal with an extremely rich dessert.

Rum Cake

Averie Cooks

Few things are better than a moist and boozy bundt with a buttery sauce.

Pumpkin Roll

The Recipe Critic

If you want an elegant Thanksgiving dessert that doubles as dessert and a centerpiece, go with this pumpkin roll, which looks complex but is beginner-friendly.

Pumpkin Cheesecake 

The Recipe Critic

Gingersnap crust, caramel drizzle, can't lose.

Pumpkin Carrot Cake

Averie Cooks

The veggie action doesn't have to stop after dinner. Load pumpkin with more carrot!

Cookies, Bars and Other Dessert Recipes for Thanksgiving

Baked Churro Chips 

Brit + Co

These healthy-ish churro chips are an easy Thanksgiving dessert recipe, and they pair oh-so-well with your end-of-feast espresso. Serve them with multiple dipping sauces for a shareable treat.

Caramel Cranberry Nut Bars

Completely Delicious

It's not Thanksgiving without cranberries! This bar is buttery and masterfully combines tart cranberries with sweet caramel.

Brit + Co

Casseroles and sweet potatoes are already turkey day staples — together they make one of the best Thanksgiving dessert recipes!

Gingerbread Pecan Cheesecake

Brit + Co

Gingerbread and pecans come together seamlessly in this festive, unique Thanksgiving dessert. Our stomachs are already grumbling.

Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles

Brit + Co

Pumpkin spice pairs deliciously with cinnamon-heavy snickerdoodles.

Baked Hot Chocolate Doughnuts

Brit + Co

Hot chocolate is one of our favorite winter treats, and we'd eat doughnuts every day of the year if given the opportunity. The logical next step? Combining the two.

Vegan Butter Board 

Brit + Co

This Thanksgiving dessert can also double as an appetizer, making it double the fun! Since it's vegan, you don't have to worry about your guests with allergies feeling left out. Plus it's a hands-on snack which is great for kids.

Low-Carb Eggnog

Brit + Co

This Keto drink might not technically be a dessert, but it's sweet and delicious so we couldn't pass up the opportunity to include it. It's also the perfect segway from Thanksgiving to the rest of the holiday season.

Caramel Apple Crisp Bars 

Pinch of Yum

Love apple crisp but don't love doing dishes? These squares pack plenty of apple, butter, and cinnamon and make great finger food.

Iced Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

The Novice Chef

Pass a plate of this Thanksgiving baking idea around, and they'll disappear faster than the turkey.

Nutter Butter Acorn Cookies

Wondermom Wannabe

If kids are on dessert duty, they'll love dipping Nutter Butters into chocolate and customizing them with sprinkles — no oven necessary. These cookies are festive, cute, and a great dessert to make for Thanksgiving!

Check out our email newsletter and our online baking classes for more Thanksgiving day desserts and inspiration!

Additional reporting by Maggie McCracken and Sara Cagle

This post has been updated.

dessert recipesholiday recipespumpkin recipesthanksgiving dessertsfood

Your Ultimate Guide To Holiday Shopping In 2024

Though Black Friday is traditionally the official start of the holiday shopping season, we argue that it’s been kicking since mid-October. We know, we know: it still feels extremely early to start thinking about the holidays, but they’ll be here before you know it! Plus, many brands and retailers are already promoting their holiday goodies with plenty of sales and discounts available right now.

If you’re ready to embark on your holiday shopping journey, but still need answers to questions like ‘when’s the best time to shop?’ and ‘where should I shop for gifts?’ and even ‘how the heck do I save money this season?’, you’ve come to the right place. Consider this your go-to guide for holiday shopping in 2024.

Scroll on for our best guidance on navigating this busy time of year and finding the best gifts possible!

When's the best time to do holiday shopping?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best time to do holiday shopping really all depends on your personal shopping goals. Do you want to get a jump on items you know will sell out soon? Do you want to save the most money possible? Do you want to focus on handmade, personalized gifts? These factors will undoubtedly influence your holiday shopping schedule.

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Shopping early can be advantageous for all of the aforementioned goals. A lot of retailers start promoting their holiday products early on, giving you ample time to snatch up that limited-time lip kit or fancy water bottle you’ve been eyeing way before the holidays.

Plus, some of the best deals for holiday shopping happen ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday – in 2023, Experian observed a surge in early spending in October, thanks to early discounts, a trend likely to continue in 2024.

Finally, shopping early can be especially helpful if your plan is to focus on handmade or personalized gifts, giving the artisan you buy from (or yourself, if you’re DIY-ing your gifts) plenty of time to craft the item with love and care.

Gallup reported in 2023 that one in four shoppers start shopping as early as September, a trend likely to continue in 2024 – so you might already be embarking on your shopping spree!

Mikhail Nilov / PEXELS

If right now is just still too darn early for you to start holiday shopping, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best times to shop since so many retailers offer their largest discounts of the entire year. Plus, the late November-early December timeline can feel a bit more appropriate for the gifting season opposed to late October-early November, when everyone’s still recovering from Halloween.

The only thing to consider during this time is the shipping timelines for the items you purchase – but most retailers will typically advise their specific shipping schedules, so you don’t risk your goodies arriving late.

Where should I shop for gifts?

Ron Lach / PEXELS

You have three main options when it comes to where to shop for holiday gifts: online, in-store, and via our amazing gift guides. Of course, each method has its advantages and disadvantages.

Shopping in-store offers a tangible experience: the opportunity to hold specific items in your hands and gauge exactly what they’ll be like when you give them as a gift. The pitfall with shopping in-person is that it typically requires a commute and journeys through potentially very busy malls and shopping strips, which can add to the already-stressful holiday experience.

In-store shopping can be more physically exhausting, but it’s all about preference! Sometimes strolling through the stores that get all dolled up for Christmas is the best part of the season.

Andrea Piacquadio / PEXELS

Per Google, 65% of those planning to shop for the holidays say they will shop online more. Shopping for gifts online can be super helpful since you can centralize your findings in your browser’s bookmark tab or via virtual cart(s). Plus, shopping online can pose more opportunities for saving some money: lots of retailers typically offer discount codes for online users, especially if you sign up for their digital marketing channels (like email and text) and make a purchase.

Shopping online isn’t just shopping, either. The internet can be a stellar research tool to help you vet whether certain products are worth it, where they can be bought, and when they’ll be available. In fact, Google reported that more than half of U.S. holiday shoppers who went into a store last year say they looked up product reviews online and/or located an item in-store by checking it online.

Kaboompics / PEXELS

Last but not least, scrolling gift guides has to be our favorite place to shop for gifts – and not just because we write and publish them.

At their very core, gift guides help streamline the holiday shopping process, alleviating the stress that bubbles up when you’re wondering what the heck to shop for in the first place. Our gift guides are backed by real people, real experiences, and real opinions from our editorial team. We only promote products that we really love and believe in, oftentimes ones we’ve tested and reviewed ourselves.

We have gift guides for just about everyone on your list, with more on the way! Check ‘em out:

What are the best kinds of gifts to give?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best kinds of gifts to give are thoughtful gifts that consider the giftee’s interests, wants, and needs. These gifts can be sentimental, practical, or both simultaneously. What matters most in a gift is that it’ll be meaningful to them past just the holiday season, whether it’s helping them get through daily tasks, reminding them of a memorable trip or event, or giving them small doses of joy.

“Shoppers are increasingly looking for personalized and unique gifts that reflect the recipient's personality and interests,” says Mia Anderson, Owner of ChicSew. “With the rise of online shopping, many consumers are opting for curated gift boxes or experiences that add a special touch.”

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Gift boxes, personalized items, books of interest, self-care goodies, and even gift cards can all be thoughtful gifts depending on the recipient. If you have no clue what your giftee is into, it’s not a bad idea to ask them what they want the most!

“My idea of a great gift is something that is in tandem with the recipient's interest and offers something new to the person, be it learning a new skill, enjoying a calming activity, or simply spending quality time with the family,” says Alfred Christ, Sales Manager & Marketer at Robotime. “This season, we encourage shoppers to shift their focus on quality and the memories their gifts will create and not just merely material aspects.”

When is Black Friday?

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Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year, Black Friday lands on November 29.

When is Cyber Monday?

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Cyber Monday is typcally the Monday after Thanksgiving. This year, Cyber Monday will land on December 2. Oftentimes, retailers and brands extend their online offers through the week (coined Cyber Week) after the event. Salesforce reported that 67% of shoppers in 2024 plan on shopping during Cyber Week!

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When Is Starbucks' Red Cup Day?

The holidays at Starbucks are creeping up on us, people! Peppermint Mocha season will return on November 7. If you’re a die-hard Starbucks fan, you know Red Cup Day is a whole holiday in itself – the frenzy for a free reusable cup is truly no joke. There’s even an entire website dedicated to counting down the madness! Even though there’s no official word on when Red Cup Day 2024 will be, there are several clues that cue us into the annual event. Scroll on for details!

What is Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day is Starbucks’ highly-awaited annual event that marks the start of holiday beverage season at the coffee chain. For one day only (and while supplies last), customers who order any of Starbucks’ holiday drinks will receive a reusable red cup that features a bespoke design for the respective year.

Starbucks

Here’s a list of all the drinks rumored to be available on the Starbucks holiday menu starting November 7:

  • Peppermint Mocha
  • Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha
  • Caramel Brûlée Latte
  • Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
  • Chestnut Praline Latte
  • Salted Pecan Crunch Cold Brew
  • Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai

What do the red cups look like for 2024?

Starbucks

Starbucks hasn’t officially announced when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, let alone what the famed red cups will look like this go-around. The one obvious point is that the cups will be red! They’ll also likely feature some festive motifs that echo the holiday season. Last year’s red cups boasted playful white and green stars and ornament-like shapes.

Why should I participate in Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day = freebies, which can feel really rewarding if you’re really into receiving free goodies. Plus, it’s just a fun way to lean into the holiday spirit. The red reusable cup keeps giving beyond Red Cup Day, though! Every time you use the reusable cup for future Starbucks orders, you get a 10-cent discount as well as 25 bonus stars toward your Starbucks Rewards account to save up for more discounts on drinks, food, and merchandise.

When is Starbucks' Red Cup Day 2024?

Starbucks

Again, Starbucks hasn’t alerted us on when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, but based on previous Red Cup Days, we can infer it’ll land on the third Thursday of November. In 2022, Red Cup Day happened on November 17, and for 2023, it was November 16. The third Thursday of November in 2024 hits on November 21, so mark your calendars, everyone!

Additionally, check back here for official info as Red Cup Day approaches.

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This post has been updated.

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