25 Thanksgiving Appetizers, Desserts and Holiday Favorites, From Baked Brie to Pumpkin Pie

A roasted Thanksgiving turkey displayed on a platter as part of a holiday meal — Holly Cheng / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Summary

The collection covers Thanksgiving appetizers, a glazed ham centerpiece, classic pies, seasonal desserts and holiday punch.
Creative recipes turn leftover turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes into new meals.
All 25 dishes have complete recipes with exact quantities, timing, yield and numbered instructions.

Thanksgiving appetizers and a glazed ham centerpiece

26. Classic Deviled Eggs: A Complete Thanksgiving Recipe. A mustardy, paprika-dusted deviled egg filling makes a reliable chilled appetizer that can be prepared in stages before Thanksgiving.^[1]

27. Cranberry-Pecan Baked Brie: A Complete Thanksgiving Recipe. Warm brie topped with tart cranberry sauce, maple-toasted pecans and orange zest makes a five-ingredient Thanksgiving appetizer.^[2]

28. Herb-Stuffed Mushrooms: A Complete Thanksgiving Recipe. Cremini caps filled with garlic, herbs, Parmesan and crisp breadcrumbs make a savory two-bite Thanksgiving appetizer.^[3]

29. Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatballs: A Complete Thanksgiving Recipe. Tender turkey meatballs in a glossy cranberry-orange glaze bring a savory-sweet, make-ahead appetizer to the Thanksgiving table.^[4]

30. Brown-Sugar Glazed Ham: A Complete Thanksgiving Recipe. A mustard, cider and brown-sugar glaze gives a fully cooked spiral ham a glossy crust for an American Thanksgiving main dish or turkey alternative.^[5]

Pumpkin, pecan, apple and sweet potato pies

31. Classic Pumpkin Pie With a Silky, Spiced Filling. This make-ahead Thanksgiving pumpkin pie pairs a crisp pastry shell with a smooth pumpkin custard seasoned with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves.^[6]

32. Maple Pecan Pie Without Corn Syrup. Pure maple syrup and brown sugar create a glossy Thanksgiving pecan pie filling with toasted nuts and a clean caramel flavor.^[7]

33. Deep-Dish Apple Pie With a Flaky Lattice Crust. A mix of tart and sweet apples produces a tall Thanksgiving pie with concentrated fruit flavor, warm spice and a crisp lattice top.^[8]

34. Southern-Style Sweet Potato Pie With Brown Sugar and Spice. Roasted sweet potatoes give this Thanksgiving custard pie a naturally rich texture balanced by brown sugar, citrus and warm spices.^[9]

35. Creamy Pumpkin Cheesecake With a Gingersnap Crust. This make-ahead Thanksgiving cheesecake combines pumpkin, cream cheese and warm spices over a crisp gingersnap base.^[10]

Easy Thanksgiving desserts for a crowd

36. Easy Apple Crisp With a Brown Sugar Oat Topping. This crowd-friendly Thanksgiving apple crisp layers tender cinnamon apples beneath a buttery oat and pecan crumble.^[11]

37. Salted Pecan Pie Bars With a Shortbread Crust. These portable Thanksgiving pecan bars deliver a buttery press-in crust, maple-brown-sugar filling and a restrained finish of flaky salt.^[12]

38. Cranberry-Orange Bundt Cake With a Citrus Glaze. Fresh cranberries and orange zest brighten this moist Thanksgiving Bundt cake, finished with a simple tart-sweet glaze.^[13]

39. Bourbon Bread Pudding With Vanilla Custard. Day-old brioche absorbs a vanilla-bourbon custard in this warm Thanksgiving dessert, with crisp edges and a tender center.^[14]

40. Pumpkin Roll With Cream Cheese Filling That Does Not Crack. A flexible spiced pumpkin sponge and smooth cream cheese filling make this make-ahead Thanksgiving roll easier to slice than it looks.^[15]

Best recipes for leftover turkey and stuffing

41. Creamy Leftover Turkey Pot Pie: An Easy Thanksgiving Recipe. Turn Thanksgiving turkey and vegetables into a golden, creamy pot pie with a flaky top and a filling reheated safely to 165°F.^[16]

42. Hot Turkey-Cranberry Thanksgiving Sandwiches: An Easy Thanksgiving Recipe. Layer turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and cheese into crisp skillet sandwiches that turn holiday leftovers into lunch in 20 minutes.^[17]

43. Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup: An Easy Thanksgiving Recipe. A clear, vegetable-rich turkey noodle soup uses the holiday bird efficiently and reaches the table in about 45 minutes.^[18]

44. Crispy Stuffing Waffles With Turkey and Gravy: An Easy Thanksgiving Recipe. Press leftover stuffing into a waffle iron for crisp edges, then top it with hot turkey, gravy and a bright spoonful of cranberry sauce.^[19]

45. Cranberry-Orange Thanksgiving Muffins: An Easy Thanksgiving Recipe. Fresh or leftover cranberry sauce gives these orange-scented muffins tart pockets and a tender crumb in under 40 minutes.^[20]

Thanksgiving leftovers, brunch ideas and holiday punch

46. Fluffy Leftover Sweet Potato Pancakes: An Easy Thanksgiving Recipe. Mashed sweet potatoes make warmly spiced breakfast pancakes with crisp edges, soft centers and a practical use for holiday leftovers.^[21]

47. Cheesy Leftover Turkey Enchiladas: An Easy Thanksgiving Recipe. Roll shredded Thanksgiving turkey into tortillas with black beans and smoky red sauce for a family-size casserole ready in 50 minutes.^[22]

48. Crispy Thanksgiving Mashed-Potato Cakes: An Easy Thanksgiving Recipe. Turn cold mashed potatoes into crisp skillet cakes with scallions and Parmesan for a 25-minute side or brunch plate.^[23]

49. Apple-Walnut Leftover Turkey Salad: An Easy Thanksgiving Recipe. Crisp apple, celery, toasted walnuts and a lemony yogurt dressing make a fresh turkey salad for sandwiches or lettuce cups.^[24]

50. Sparkling Cranberry-Rosemary Thanksgiving Punch: An Easy Thanksgiving Recipe. This nonalcoholic cranberry-citrus punch uses a rosemary syrup and sparkling water for a make-ahead holiday drink that serves a crowd.^[25]

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