54 Mini Thanksgiving Desserts That Are (Almost) Too Cute to Eat

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

Sure, you could eat one normal slice of pie...or you could pop three tiny bites into your mouth at the speed of light. "I recommend making a double batch of your favorite pie crust the day ahead and chilling it in the freezer," former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen writes, "but I know holidays are a time to pull out your favorite cooking shortcuts, so feel free to use a store-bought pie dough instead."

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
• Serves: 24

When in doubt, lean on this timeless crowd-pleaser that will last at the kids' table for 30 seconds, tops. "As an added bonus, this recipe is a one-bowl cookie situation, because I'm far more interested in eating cookies than doing dishes," Gillen adds. Sounds like a hostess's dream.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

Cream cheese and sweet, spiced pumpkin are fall's PB&J. "Call me basic, but I'm certain it's a match made in autumnal heaven," Gillen raves. "Sweet, tangy frosting and gently spiced, fluffy cookies—yep, it's time to don your apron and make a batch." Don't mind if I do.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 12

Swap the frosting for chocolate and vanilla icings, and you've got a New York classic with a seasonal twist. "Make sure you’re using plain canned pumpkin purée, not pie filling," Gillen warns. "The latter contains added sugar and spices, and you'll be adding your own."

• Time Commitment: 4 hours and 20 minutes (includes chilling)
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, kid-friendly
• Serves: 6

These layered delights, starring from-scratch vanilla pudding, are only ten ingredients away. "To keep things quick and easy (and to let the fresh bananas shine), I went with a cornstarch-thickened pudding instead of an egg-based custard," Gillen says. "You could swap the classic vanilla cookies for graham crackers, speculoos or even Oreos if you want to go wild."

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes (plus chilling time)
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 16

Shine on, citrus season. These are made in a muffin tin for easy removal. "You'll notice the recipe calls for regular lime juice, not key lime juice," Gillen points out. "While you can use the two interchangeably, I prefer the taste of freshly squeezed citrus juice to the bottled kind, and squeezing key limes…well, they're tiny. I don't want you to work too hard for your dessert." Thanks, chef.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, no bake
• Serves: 8

Complete with gingersnap crust and red currant jelly (although you can substitute another flavor if you'd prefer, like orange, cranberry or raspberry). Once they're assembled, they only need to chill for about 30 minutes before being served.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Where's my gingham tablecloth? These cuties are picnic- and campfire-ready, but they are every bit as festive on Thanksgiving. The recipe calls for sweet-tart Honeycrisp apples, but you can substitute Granny Smith or McIntosh if that's what you have on hand.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 24

I dare you to have just one (OK, that's impossible—three). Use store-bought cinnamon roll dough for the crust and jarred caramel sauce to save time on the big day. The from-scratch filling is the most important part of this mini Thanksgiving dessert anyway.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6 to 8

Why should chicken get to have all the fun? "The best part about a cranberry filling is that the fruit naturally thickens up a lot on its own," recipe developer Erin McDowell explains, "so you don’t have to add a bunch of other ingredients, and you never have to worry about it being too runny or too juicy."

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 12

Kick off Black Friday brunch with these beauties, which are sneakily made with store-bought pizza dough. They'd also be great after Thanksgiving dinner with a cinnamon-kissed latte or hot apple cider.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6

Use the ring from a mason jar lid to punch out perfect little circles of dough; it's the secret to this mini Thanksgiving dessert's gourmet appearance and uniform size. Did I mention the recipe calls for store-bought pie crust? In the words of Ina Garten, how easy is that?

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, no bake, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Since you're already working overtime for T-Day, why add a fussy dessert to the to-do list? This gem pairs store-bought ginger snap cookies and caramel with fresh whipped cream to create a cheater's treat for the books. Yup, tell your oven to sit this one out.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 6

Your favorite farmers market treat, but bite-size. Even if you serve these doughnuts solo, your guests will happily eat their fill of the poppable fall treasures—especially picky kids. Serve them alongside mulled cider, hot chocolate or pumpkin spice lattes.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 20

Greek yogurt replaces half the cream cheese in this mini Thanksgiving dessert, so the cheesecakes are perfect for serving after a big meal. Oh, and that pretty pomegranate topper? *Chef’s kiss.*

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

This Italian classic has never been easier to prepare at home. Thanks to the single-serve size, everyone gets their own, plus it's made with coffee and booze, so it's sure to keep the party going. Serve it with a cappuccino to counteract all that tryptophan in the turkey.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

Adorable and nostalgic—what more could you ask for? The cakes are ridiculously moist and tender, courtesy of buttermilk in the batter. Feel free to use store-bought whipped topping for the cream exterior, and pair this cake with your favorite holiday casserole for a complete meal worth celebrating.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 10

Lady apples are just the right size for this mini Thanksgiving dessert recipe. And the caramel coating starts with store-bought candies, so this treat is essentially foolproof, even for newbies. Sounds like an easy win to me.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours (includes chilling time)
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, kid-friendly
• Serves: 12

Not on Team Pie? Give these a whirl. You can make the cupcakes and the frosting up to one day in advance. I'd suggest storing them them separately, then topping the cupcakes on Thanksgiving morning for maximum freshness.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 12

I have plans for your leftover Girl Scout cookies. Real-deal Samoas are the base of each cheesecake, which is finished with toasted coconut flakes, gooey caramel and chocolate drizzle for good measure.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Coconut whipped cream, pumpkin butter and cinnamon-maple granola—an epic autumnal trifecta, if you ask me. Bonus? These tiny shooters are naturally vegan and can easily be made gluten free to boot.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 36

Eat your heart out, Oreos. "These cookies are meant to be eaten by the handful," McDowell says. "They're super small, and because they're so small, they bake quickly and have the ideal amount of creamy filling. If you're on a diet, you can eat one. If you're not on a diet…you can eat the whole batch."

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, kid-friendly
• Serves: 36

Have no fear: The doughnuts don't require any special equipment or deep frying. They're baked for minimal mess and fuss. Be sure not to overfill the donut tins; you should only need to go about halfway.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
• Serves: 8

Three layers of creamy, dreamy deliciousness. "I baked the batter in a rimmed cookie sheet, cut out tiny rounds using a cookie cutter, and then stacked them with dollops of rich cream cheese frosting in between," McDowell explains. Smart, huh?

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 12

Little Debbie has nothing on these. The cookies are tender, chewy and very gently spiced, so even the most temperamental eater at the table will have no complaints about this nostalgic mini Thanksgiving dessert.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 18

The easiest last-minute addition to your dessert spread. Greek yogurt keeps these cuties impeccably moist. Use gluten-free oats if someone on the guest list is allergic to wheat, and you'll be in the clear.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6 to 8

They're the next best thing to a fall carnival. You may be worried about the frying process, but take it from me: If you've made pancakes before, this mini Thanksgiving dessert for a non-traditional menu is within reach. Plus, it's kind of fun to pour the swirls of batter into the hot oil and watch it sizzle.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 24

Your post-dinner coffee wants company. "To create the signature shape, simply use a small round cookie cutter or even a shot glass; just coat the rim in flour before cutting into the dough," McDowell advises. (You can use a smaller cookie cutter or even a straw to make the hole in the center.) "Dip 'em in chocolate glaze and add a few sprinkles."

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

Not only is each cupcake crowned with toasted coconut (not to mention chocolate and caramel), but there's also coconut and coconut extract in the batter. It may not be its namesake exactly, but it certainly does it justice.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

Santa dropped this Christmas staple off early. "Light, airy and moist, it reminds me of the best brioche I've ever had," McDowell claims. "Plus, they're fun-sized, so I'm having seconds and thirds."

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
• Serves: 18

Mini meringues + chocolate-hazelnut spread = a mini Thanksgiving dessert no one will see coming. Hot tip: The meringues keep better un-sandwiched, so it's best to assemble the cookies the day you're serving them, even if you bake them ahead.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Who can turn down sugar cookie crust and mascarpone-kissed filling? "They're finished with a meringue that's super fluffy," McDowell adds. "I recommend using a candy thermometer to take the guesswork out of the topping."

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 24

Pepitas, meet Reese's. These two-bite gems are sweet, nutty, crunchy and decidedly fall-friendly. You can even cook the pumpkin seeds yourself, if you're feeling ambitious.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
• Serves: 6

It doesn't get easier than frozen puff pastry, fruit and pantry staples, baked to perfection in a muffin tin. Wait for the cups to cool slightly before topping them with vanilla ice cream, fresh whipped cream or a few glugs of cold cream, straight from the fridge.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Starring homemade, no-churn butter pecan ice cream. However, if you want to get this mini Thanksgiving dessert recipe on the table faster, opt for store-bought. The shortcut will be our little secret.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, kid-friendly
• Serves: 96 pieces

They're as easy as reducing cider, butter and cream, then waiting for it to set. To prevent the caramel from spreading in the pan, refrigerate the mixture once it's cut, especially if you aren't wrapping each caramel individually.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

A taste of summer in the thick of fall? Sounds good to me. Roasting the strawberries really concentrates their sweetness, and it makes these simple sundaes look way fancier than they actually are. Of course, you can substitute a more timely fruit, like pear or apple.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 8

Presenting the ultimate marriage of sweet and salty. Mini pretzels and sour cream in the dough make these handhelds savory and tangy, while blackberries, raspberries and store-bought jam make the filling startlingly delicious.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 10

Made with caramelized condensed milk, aka magic in a can. For a deeper, more caramelly flavor, you can cook the condensed milk further until it turns golden brown. (That's called dulce de leche, friends.)

• Time Commitment: 3 hours
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 12

Cinnamon-vanilla swirl frosting is my happy place. The cupcakes will keep at room temperature in an airtight container for three days or in the fridge for five...but I'm betting there won't be leftovers when all is said and done.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 12

The cream cheese icing only calls for four ingredients. But if you want to make this mini Thanksgiving dessert recipe even more festive, opt for maple, brown sugar or caramel icing instead. Either way, your guests will gobble (get it?) these down.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, gluten free, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 12

The vegans at your table will thank you. Coconut oil and almond milk seamlessly take over for dairy in this plant-based confection. Might I suggest going the extra mile by garnishing them with coconut whipped cream *and* brown sugar pecans?

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 15

Complete with cardamom-spiked cinnamon sugar and chocolate drizzle. To make these cuties gluten-free, use an equal amount of your favorite GF flour blend instead of all-purpose flour. That way, everyone can get in on dessert.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6 to 8

Make a second batch: The first won't last long. The chocolate sauce is a breeze to prepare, but these will also pair like a charm with fruit compote, dulce de leche, guava spread or nothing at all.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 20 to 25

Careful, they're almost too easy to eat. Just sweet enough and teeming with almond flavor, these teeny-tiny cake bites can be whipped up by hand using just a whisk and a single bowl—no stand mixer required.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

The recipe calls for dried cherries, so you can make these mini Bundts any time of year. Alternatively, you can prepare them with dried cranberries instead for some extra Thanksgiving-inspired flair that your guests will appreciate.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 12

Nothing says elegant like cheese for dessert. You could also substitute plums, nectarines, apples, pears, mango or pineapple, if peaches aren't your thing, or if you can't find any perfectly ripe ones in November. (Shaved Brussels sprouts could work instead, too.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 30 to 40 cookies

I'm typically partial to filling these with store-bought fruit jam. But to make them more of a Thanksgiving dessert, you can stuff them with apple butter, Nutella or dulce de leche instead for a fall riff on the original.

• Time Commitment: 4 hours and 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
• Serves: 30 truffles

Be sure to use high-quality semisweet chocolate discs or bars for this mini Thanksgiving dessert recipe, not chocolate chips. The latter are designed to keep their shape—not fully melt—when heated. To make them dairy-free, substitute the heavy cream for two cups of full-fat coconut milk.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <30 minutes, kid-friendly
• Serves: 24 muffins

Soft, buttery and covered in sugar? I'll take a dozen, please. I like this mini dessert because you're more likely to have a muffin tin than a doughnut pan on hand, and I'm all about ease on this stressful food holiday.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 16

The press-in crust is made of coconut shortbread. If you don't have mini tart pans or pie plates, you can use mason jar lids for the crust instead. Just keep in mind the yield might be more or less than the recipe notes (and feel free to swap in banana or apple for apricot).

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 40 bites

You know that one relative who always starts a new diet right before the holidays? They'll love these bites, which are like healthier, chewy oatmeal cookies. Tell them the recipe calls for Greek yogurt instead of butter, in case they need convincing.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours (includes cooling time)
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
• Serves: 4

The cake is equivalent to six cupcakes, so it's just right for a more intimate family feast. This mini Thanksgiving dessert will keep in the fridge for up to five days, so feel free to get it out of the way ahead of time.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
• Serves: 8

Pumpkin mousse meets cream cheese, pecans and graham crackers for this 30-minute gem. Prepare them in advance and keep them in the fridge until serving. That will ensure they stay extra rich and creamy.