1/30
From the Recipe Creator:
This no-bake pumpkin pie includes a delicious cream cheese layer. It's a terrific make-ahead dessert because it needs to refrigerate a few hours.
—Donna Freund, Dubuque, Iowa
2/30
From the Recipe Creator:
I love to make this dessert with maple syrup produced in our area. For a change from heavier cakes and pies, it’s a refreshing ending to a holiday meal. —Jane Fuller, Ivoryton, Connecticut
3/30
From the Recipe Creator:
The kids and I had a ball making these tasty turkeys for Thanksgiving one year. The treats would make a fun favor at each place setting on your Thanksgiving table—if your family doesn't gobble them up first! —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
4/30
From the Recipe Creator:
If you've had your fill of pumpkin pie, this cool and creamy pumpkin mousse is perfect for you. Its light and fluffy texture won't make you feel 'stuffed' after your favorite turkey dinner. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
5/30
From the Recipe Creator:
For a tasty treat during the fall, try this special dessert. The vanilla pudding makes it extra creamy.—Karen Grimes, Stephens City, Virginia
6/30
From the Recipe Creator:
These chocolaty turkeys are too cute. The white chocolate is the finishing touch that takes them over the top. —Audrey Rompon, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
7/30
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother-in-law gave me this recipe a while back and I just love it! I make it for my husband and his friends during hunting season and it's a big hit.
—Lorelle Edgcomb, Granville, Illinois
8/30
From the Recipe Creator:
We always have an abundance of apples in the fall, so I like to make this easy pie. My husband has diabetes, and this recipe fits into his diet ... but everyone enjoys it. —Shirley Vredenburg, Ossineke, Michigan
9/30
From the Recipe Creator:
Folks who favor the flavor of pumpkin really need to try this spiced ice cream. But be prepared to make more! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
10/30
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe is truly southern, and it's been a family favorite for years. I've packed many a Christmas tin with this candy. —Bernice Eberhart, Fort Payne, Alabama
11/30
From the Recipe Creator:
I look forward to the taste of pumpkin every Thanksgiving. This easy pumpkin fudge recipe lets me do that and everyone loves it.—Marlene Fudge, Rushville, Indiana
12/30
From the Recipe Creator:
No need to turn on the oven for this scrumptious pumpkin-spiced cheesecake! With a buttery graham cracker crust, mousse-like filling and fluffy whipped cream dolloped on top, this is a mix, assemble, chill and devour dessert. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
13/30
From the Recipe Creator:
Here’s my twist on the traditional German holiday lebkuchen—with a surprise inside. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois
14/30
From the Recipe Creator:
I discovered a fast recipe for a delectable chocolate mousse some years ago and thought it might make a good filling for a pie. The chocolate lovers in our family endorse this scrumptious dessert, saying that it “melts in your mouth”! —Keri Scofield Lawson, Fullerton, California
15/30
From the Recipe Creator:
Summer gatherings call for cool desserts like this one. Lots of the party invites I receive come with a request for this delicious treat. You can make it even more chocolaty by adding cocoa powder to the dry pudding mixes. —Mary Beth Desens, Fredonia, Wisconsin
16/30
From the Recipe Creator:
The combination of pumpkin and dark chocolate is unexpected and delectable. These delicious truffles make a pretty addition to a party plate, a sweet way to finish up a meal, or a gift your friends and family will love. —Monica Mooney, Roseville, California
17/30
From the Recipe Creator:
I tasted Biscoff cookie butter at a grocery store one day, and it was so delicious that I decided to create a no-bake pie with it. You can make it your own by using peanut butter or another kind of spread and matching toppings instead. —Katrina Adams, Mount Olive, Alabama
18/30
From the Recipe Creator:
This lazy cake will fix that sweet tooth craving. The no-bake treat is made with cookie pieces stirred with hazelnut spread. Then chill it for a super simple dessert. —Rashanda Cobbins, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
19/30
From the Recipe Creator:
Instead of using coffee and rum, I let cinnamon shine in this tiramisu. It's best if eaten within two days—if it even lasts that long! —Cathy Geniti, Saratoga Springs, New York
20/30
From the Recipe Creator:
Years ago, a friend gave me a recipe for
chocolate peanut treats that didn't require baking. I thought it was a quick and clever way to whip up a batch of sweet snacks without heating up the kitchen, and I started making different variations. This one includes luscious Nutella and crunchy hazelnuts. Yum! —Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida
21/30
From the Recipe Creator:
While being poached, the pear absorbs the sweetness and spice from the sugar, wine, cinnamon and peppercorn. It makes an easy yet elegant dessert that's perfect for a special night. —Kiersten Atkinson, Birmingham, Alabama
22/30
From the Recipe Creator:
When I was little, my grandpa always had a bag of caramels in his truck and a few in his pocket. Whether we were camping or going to a movie, I enjoyed sharing caramels with him. Now I try to put caramel in as many of my desserts as possible, including this sweet and salty tart. —Leah Tackitt, Austin, Texas
23/30
From the Recipe Creator:
Here’s a traditional slow-cooker pumpkin spice custard with some espresso powder for a latte effect. —Shelly Bevington, Hermiston, Oregon
24/30
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's a fun dessert that your youngsters can help make. It's a great treat for Halloween or Thanksgiving. —Lorraine J. Darocha, Berkshire, Massachusetts
25/30
From the Recipe Creator:
This pretty layered pie is easy to assemble with convenient canned pumpkin, store-bought candy bars and a prepared crust. While it's perfect for a Halloween party, this make-ahead dessert is delicious any time of year. —Suzanne McKinley, Lyons, Georgia
26/30
From the Recipe Creator:
A satisfying dessert like this is a superb treat on a chilly night. It has three layers—apples, cake and sauce—and I like to serve it in a bowl. It's comfort food for the soul. —Ellen Schroeder, Reedsburg, Wisconsin
27/30
From the Recipe Creator:
I love chocolate, caramel and hazelnuts, so I came up with a recipe that has all three. If you don’t have a food processor, place crust ingredients in a zip-top freezer bag and smash with a rolling pin. —Debbie Anderson, Mount Angel, Oregon
28/30
From the Recipe Creator:
For a fun, fuss-free dessert, try these darling tarts. They’re a satisfying, rich family favorite. —Mary Kelley, Wilmington, North Carolina
29/30
From the Recipe Creator:
I didn’t see my son, Lance Corporal Eric Harris, for more than two years after he enlisted in the Marines after high school. And when I saw him arrive at the airport, I just grabbed hold of him and burst out crying. When we got home, the first thing he ate was two bowls of my easy banana pudding recipe. He’s a true southern boy! It’s a dessert, but you can have it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. —Stephanie Harris, Montpelier, Virginia
30/30
From the Recipe Creator:
Mention turkey legs made of pretzels and chocolate, and the kids come running. Let them help by unwrapping caramels for this easy, no-bake treat. —Amy Lents, Grand Forks, North Dakota
No-Bake Thanksgiving Desserts FAQ
What no-bake desserts can be made ahead for Thanksgiving?
Many no-bake Thanksgiving desserts, like seasonal ice cream flavored with pumpkin and spice or a light and airy mousse, can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen until it’s time to eat. These sweets can be prepared as individual desserts for smaller gatherings or larger ones for sharing.
Can you make pumpkin pie without baking?
There are several delicious ways to make pumpkin pie without baking, such as starting with prepared cookie crusts or soft ladyfingers and lightening canned pumpkin with pudding or whipped topping. Since canned pumpkin is already cooked, it just needs to be sweetened, spiced and chilled for a few hours in the refrigerator until firm enough to slice.
What are some no-bake desserts for a crowd?
No-bake desserts for a crowd can be made in big batches, like a large dish of tiramisu, or you can assemble a bunch of small Thanksgiving treats like pumpkin mousse layered with crushed cookies in decorative glasses or caramel and chocolate-dipped pretzels that look like turkey legs. These recipes are easy to scale up or down for gatherings of all sizes.
