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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Give Recipe
This Turkish pumpkin dessert only requires two ingredients (seriously, what could be better than that?), is budget-friendly, and oh-so comforting!
Image via Give Recipe
Nothing beats a good old cinnamon roll, and this one is only elevated by the addition of pumpkin!
Cooking Classy
When churros and hot fudge are involved, there will always be room for dessert. (via Cooking Classy)
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.
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.
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)
The Girl on Bloor
A unique twist on a classic caramel apple, these nachos are the ultimate treat. (via The Girl on Bloor)
Crazy for Crust
Here's a five-ingredient dessert that won't let you down — and it even has fresh fruit to boot.
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.
The Recipe Critic
When there's a crowd, you can't go wrong with a sheet 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.
Spicy Southern Kitchen
It's only logical to end an extremely large meal with an extremely rich dessert.
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.
Averie Cooks
The veggie action doesn't have to stop after dinner. Load pumpkin with more carrot!
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.
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!
Brit + Co
Gingerbread and pecans come together seamlessly in this festive, unique Thanksgiving dessert. Our stomachs are already grumbling.
Brit + Co
Pumpkin spice pairs deliciously with cinnamon-heavy snickerdoodles.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Novice Chef
Pass a plate of this Thanksgiving baking idea around, and they'll disappear faster than the turkey.
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.
Looks like our Chuck Bass has found his happily ever after. 😌 Ed Westwick, 36, who upholds the Bass namesake inGossip Girl, is now married to actress Amy Jackson. He originally popped the question on a couples-ski-trip-turned-romantic-getaway to Gstaad, Switzerland.
Jackson, 31, posted the news on Instagram, sharing a photo of the duo covered in ski gear, adding an enthused caption: “Hell YES 💍. ”Westwick soon relayed the engagement via an Instagram story of the post, saying “I hit the jackpot xxx.”
And now the couple's family is about to get bigger! Here’s to a lifetime full of love! ❤️ If you’re curious about the pair’s history, read on for a timeline of their sweet relationship.
Tim P. Whitby / Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival
Westwick and Jackson initially met at Silverstone race track through a mutual friend. The three of them chatted during the racing event and Westwick casually (and so cutely) asked Jackson on a date after the fact.
Westwick asked if Jackson and her poodle, Herbert, were up to meet for coffee with him and his Frenchie, Humphrey. Okay, puppy love!
“He knew how to win me over from the get-go… coffee and dogs,” Jackson told Lifestyle Asiafor a cover story last year.
Tristan Fewings / Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival
Westwick and Jackson were spotted in public more frequently as their relationship started to grow, adventurously attending red carpets, events, and vacations hand-in-hand.
The duo shared some wholesome pics of one another on social media, too, and began commenting on each other’s posts more often to put their feelings on display.
The pair made things officially official in July 2022 and made their first debut as a couple at the Red Sea International Film Festival the following winter, according to India Today.
Commenting on the duo’s ability to keep calm and cool in the wake of fame, Westwick told Lifestyle Asia that “I embrace my public life and it’s always great to meet people and take pictures as long as people are polite, which most of the time they are. I also like to, you know, be away at home, walk my dogs, be with my family and enjoy my privacy. Balance is always good.”
Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images
One of the biggest happenings between Westwick and Jackson in 2023 was their couples’ trip to Mumbai in India, where Jackson had briefly lived in 2012 to 2015 to work on a few films.
Jackson reportedly took Westwick on a tour of the city, stopping at famous landmarks like the Taj Mahal and enjoying local fares from nearby restaurants.
The two of them were featured in acover story for Lifestyle Asia in 2023, where they dished more on their relationship and respective careers in acting.
Westwick told Lifestyle Asia that his love shared with Jackson is similar to what his parents had.
“There was something beautiful. They could always count on each other and had the utmost respect for one other and I think that is the most important thing,” he said.
2023 was also the year that they bought a house together in the countryside. Things were getting more serious!
Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images
That brings us to 2024! Ed Westwick and Amy Jackson got engaged during a ski trip to Switzerland mid-January.
Westwick asked Jackson to marry him on top of the Peak Walk by Tissot, a popular scenic hanging mountain bridge.
Jackson was happily surprised, as the picture of the exact moment shows her with her hands over her mouth. We love!
The couple got married in August and are now prepping for the arrival of their baby, according to People. They shared the sweetest announcement photos on Instagram and were met with tons of congratulatory comments.
Ed Westwick is an English actor best known for his role as Chuck Bass on Gossip Girl, which aired from 2007 to 2012. People named him one of 2008’s Sexiest Men Alive, he won Best TV Villain at the 2008 and 2009 Teen Choice Awards after the show’s success. He’s also in a band called For You, which dropped a single in 2023.
Amy Jackson is an award-winning English model and actress well-known for her acting within Indian cinema. She made her US acting debut with DC Comics’ Supergirl in 2017. Her modeling career was kickstarted after winning the Miss Teen World title in 2009.
Jackson is a mom to a 4-year-old child that she shares with her ex, George Panayiotou.
Joe Maher / Getty Images
Ed Westwick and Amy Jackson have been together for almost 2 years. They met in 2021, but didn’t make things official until the summer of 2022.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter for more celebrity updates!
This post has been updated.
Nothing says reality TV like drama, intrigue, and betrayal. At least, according to The Traitors! The hit TV show is back for season 3 and the star-studded cast is so good, I'm sure this will be the best season yet. Host Alan Cumming returns, along with 21 reality TV stars who will be competing for up to $250 thousand.
But according to the official synopsis, "hidden amongst the Faithful contestants are the Traitors, whose goal is to eliminate the Faithful and claim the prize for themselves. Under the cover of darkness, the Traitors ‘murder’ contestants one by one, but if the Faithful can banish all the Traitors before the end of the game, they’ll split the incredible prize." Here's everything you need to know about The Traitors season 3.
Chris Haston/NBC
The Traitors season 3 premieres on Peacock on January 9, 2025. Season 1 premiered in January 2023, while season 2 premiered in January 2024, so the timeline makes sense!
The Traitors season 3 cast includes Bachelor in Paradise's Wells Adams, actor Sam Asghari,The Real Housewives of Dubai's Chanel Ayan, RuPaul's Drag Race's Bob the Drag Queen, Real Housewives of New Jersey's Dolores Catania, Survivor's Jeremy Collins, Real Housewives of Potomac's Robyn Dixon, Dylan Efron, Total Divas' Nikki Garcia, The Biggest Loser's Bob Harper, Big Brother's Britney Haynes, Survivor's "Boston" Rob Mariano,Real Housewives of New York City's Dorinda Medley, Summer House's Ciara Miller, Royal Lord Ivar Mountbatten, Big Brother's Danielle Reyes, Vanderpump Rules' Tom Sandoval, Selling Sunset's Chrishell Stause, Survivor's Tony Vlachos, Survivor's Carolyn Wiger and The Bachelorette's Gabby Windey.
Peacock
The Traitors is all about who can out-trick their components in the dreamiest murder mystery game. A variety of celebs gather in a Scottish castle, along with host Alan Cumming, to complete a series of missions and have the chance to win up to $250 thousand. While the Traitors are trying to "murder" the Faithful one by one, the Faithful work to unmask and banish the Traitors. Only one team can win!
Chris Haston/NBC
There are currently two seasons of The Traitors available to stream on Peacock now. You can stream season 3 starting January 9!
Let us know your thoughts and hopes for The Traitors season 3 on Facebook and check out The Best Reality TV Shows To Watch Right Now!
This post has been updated.
