You already know what you'll serve for Thanksgiving Day, right? Of course, there's
the turkey, always the centerpiece of the holiday dish. Don't forget the stuffing too! And perhaps you can also add some green bean casserole, candied yams, mashed potatoes, and more. Sounds like the typical Thanksgiving Day menu, doesn't it? But what about dessert? It's important to note that your dessert is just as important as your main course. Some of your guests might even consider it more important than the turkey, yams, and the like. So what are you serving as your Thanksgiving dessert this year? Maybe some chocolate pie, cranberry cake, English trifle, or baked apples would do!
English Trifle
If you were (or still are) a fan of the hit TV sitcom “Friends,” you probably think that serving an English Trifle for your Thanksgiving dessert is a bad idea. Don't worry! Even you won't make the same mistake of adding beef and onions to your dessert. And besides, the
British treat is the perfect after-meal sweet for Thanksgiving. Its many layers have something different to offer—from jam and marmalade to bananas and cream—that each of your guests will surely enjoy.
Chocolate Pie
You can always trust chocolate to make for a great dessert. Even something as rich as chocolate pie will still satisfy you after scarfing down a
Thanksgiving dinner. How could you help it when you're served a delectable slice of a chocolate-filled pie topped with whipped cream or perhaps even some fruits or two? If you go for the German chocolate pie recipe, you can add some pecans and coconut, sprinkle in some chocolate shavings, and you're good to go!
Cranberry Cake
Cranberries are a staple in any Thanksgiving dinner menu, arguably just as much as the turkey is. Since they were important and highly popular during the 1500s, it's safe to assume that cranberries made it to the first-ever Thanksgiving feast. As such, it's become a tradition to have any cranberry-enthused dish on your holiday menu, even for dessert. Cranberry cake is a popular choice as it's not too heavy of a treat. You can just enjoy it on its own or maybe even top it off with some cream, honey, and more.
Pumpkin Pie
Another Thanksgiving staple is the pumpkin. Since the
American holiday is held in mid-November, it's right around the peak of the autumn season. The pumpkin is a much-beloved autumn fruit, hence it's also a popular decoration for Halloween. It's also safe to assume that pumpkin was one of the many fruits the pilgrims and the Native Americans ate during the first Thanksgiving, so over the years, anything pumpkin has been a must-have for the holiday. For dessert, pumpkin pie is often the go-to variety.
Pumpkin Bread
Is pumpkin pie a little too heavy for you and your guests? Got a little carried away with the turkey and yams this year? Then perhaps you'd prefer some pumpkin bread instead! A lot lighter compared to the pie, it still has all the spice and flavor that the autumn fruit is known for. What's even better is that you can get creative with how you serve it too. Topping it off with some icing is a nice option. As is serving it with coffee so people can dunk their slices in the cup.
Baked Apples
Just like the pumpkin, the apple is also a much-beloved autumn fruit. It won't even surprise anyone if this citrusy delight also made its way onto the first-ever semi-
vegan Thanksgiving dinner table. And even if it didn't, there's just something about apples that are intrinsically American (apple pie, anyone?). So for this year's dessert, why not go for the classic baked apples? Not only is it a healthy option—especially compared to the heartier desserts on this list—but it's one that all guests can enjoy. From little kids to the elderly who have lost their teeth, they'll all love some baked apples!
Apple Tarts
Speaking of apples (or more specifically, apple pie), you can serve some apple tarts this year too. You're probably thinking why not go for the standard Apple pie instead? After all, it can't get any more American than that! Isn't only natural to serve the classic pie than a tart? Well, you could do that, but don't forget that you and your guests just ate a massive holiday feast. You probably finished an entire turkey too! Even if you still have room for more, an apple tart is much easier to take in than a big slice of pie.
Oreo Cheesecake
Continuing on with classic American desserts for Thanksgiving, an Oreo Cheesecake sounds like a lot of fun, doesn't it? Making use of one of the most famous American products ever made, it's only right to serve it on a uniquely American holiday. There are at least a few people who will happily finish it even if others are too full already: the kids! Plenty of little ones love Oreos and when they see an entire cheesecake made out of their favorite cookie, they'll squeal with delight.
Chocolate Crinkles
Perhaps serving a full-on Oreo Cheesecake is a bit much after a hearty Thanksgiving meal. Not even the kids could finish it even if they want to. So if you're hosting the holiday dinner again next year, what could be a good alternative? Chocolate Crinkles. These soft and chewy cookies are practically like Oreos, only much lighter. You can scarf down as many as you'd like and you won't feel that full yet. You'll even be surprised at how many you've already eaten in one sitting!
Smores
And finally, when all else fails, just trot out the marshmallows and make it a smores party! Like crinkles, marshmallows are soft and chewy treats that are light and airy. They're usually incorporated into other desserts, but if you didn't have enough time to make them, you can always just serve marshmallows instead. You can even make a game out of it. Have everyone gather around the fireplace (or make a small bonfire outside), give them marshmallows on a stick, and voila! You're making smores!
It's important to remember that in your Thanksgiving dinner, the dessert is just as important as the main course. So why not choose from any of these American cuisine staples to delight your holiday dinner guests this year?
