By the time your Thanksgiving meal winds down to dessert, chances are the tablescape you worked so hard on is a mess and the kitchen is overrun with dishes from the last-minute rush to finish cooking the meal. It’s been a day and you deserve to sit and enjoy at least a few minutes of it! Do yourself a favor and pre-set a station with easy Thanksgiving desserts your guests will be glad to help themselves to.
Now, if you’ve been a long-time reader, you know I don’t really enjoy baking. If that’s your thing, awesome! I fully support your efforts, and am happy to taste test any time! (haha) But for me – and possibly for many of you – baking is usually feels tedious. Especially on a holiday like Thanksgiving when there are so. many. other. things. to. do!
In this post, I’m going to share with you how I would serve simple and easy store-bought Thanksgiving desserts. With a few cute pieces of serveware, no one has to know your secret.
And in fact, I dare to say don’t keep it a secret. Be proud that you supported your local bakery and other small businesses!
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This post is all about easy Thanksgiving desserts.
Locally Made Pies
For the last several years, we have ordered or Thanksgiving pies from a local coffee shop that happens to also have an amazing bakery. (Ghostlight for my local readers. Can’t go wrong with any of the pies on the menu, but The Lumberjack Pie is especially incredible.) Another local baked goods gem is Dorothy Lane Market, which is where this “Grandma Tobias” pumpkin pie came from. Interested? They have an online store with shipping that offers this exact pie!
You might have something similar in your community? It’s worth a look. Think farmers markets, small boutique grocery stores, and, of course, bakeries.
The trick to “hide the evidence” of store bought (which, again, no shame here), is to decant from the packaging. Instead of serving the pie in the box you picked it up from the store in, take it out and put it on a cake stand or in a pie baking dish. Add a pretty server, and you’re good to pass the pumpkin pie!
Oh, the whipped cream. Decant that too. I’m all for grabbing a container from the freezer section – but to elevate the presentation, scoop it into a small bowl instead of leaving it in the packaging.
Store-Bought Pumpkin Roll
If you have guests at your Thanksgiving gathering who are not pie fans, store-bought pumpkin roll is another easy dessert you can serve. Your local grocery store or bakery will likely stock these gooey, yummy treats in the fall.
They not only taste amazing, but they also look pretty on display. Arrange a few slices on a plate as I did here. This warm-brown plate (2022 version – similar) is from Target and has “Thankful” embossed in script. Pretty and understated. I think it’s fun to have a few pieces like this specific to the Thanksgiving holiday to serve desserts and appetizers on. (In fact, it would also make a perfect small cheese plate!)
Small-Business Chocolates and Sweets
The last easy Thanksgiving dessert recommendation I have to share with you is to seek out local chocolates and sweets. You don’t need a lot of this since you likely already have pies, cookies, etc. But a few seasonal items from a nearby shop are a nice add on.
On this buffet, I served several other locally-made items found at Dorothy Lane Market arranged dessert-board style on a copper tiered tray. Salted caramels, peanut brittle, and yogurt-covered pretzels filled the bottom level. On the top, Ohio readers will likely know this delicacy: Mike-Sells potato chips coated in Esther Price dark chocolate. They are as decadent as they sound. Life-changing good. Seriously. Worth every calorie!
Plates, Napkins, and Forks
If you really want to keep things easy, use small paper plates and disposable forks for your Thanksgiving dessert buffet. I’ll leave a few recommendations for you in the Shop the Post section at the end of this article.
However, I happened to use these small ceramic pumpkin plates recently acquired from Target (sold out but here is a similar option). They are so cute and understated – and only $3 per plate. Such a score!
For napkins, I would not hesitate to use paper. Home Goods is one of my favorite places to find marked-down modern paper napkins for holidays and special occasions. Target and Caspari are also a favorites.
Lastly, forks. Depending on your cutlery set, you may not have enough dessert forks on hand. That’s ok. Use disposable. For a more sustainable option, these bamboo forks are fantastic. I bought a large box almost a year ago, and they’ve lasted through several events. (The box comes with twice the number of forks as spoons and knives, which is just brilliant on their part if you ask me!) Highly recommend!
The forks are displayed in a cute pumpkin mug. Same one used in this pumpkin spice tea latte post. Sadly, they are sold out at Target. Here is a similar option.
Thanksgiving Table Runner and Vase
Last, simple decor was needed for our easy Thanksgiving dessert station. A woven vase (sold out but here is a similar option) filled with burgundy eucalyptus (sold out but here is a similar option) anchored the space. The vase was surrounded by mini white pumpkins I bought from an area farm. Finally, the base of the entire look is a neutral print table runner. Even though the color palette is very Thanksgiving, the ikat print will transcend the holiday. You can use this throughout the fall and winter!
Thanksgiving Printables
Get these free, customizable Thanksgiving printables by tapping the button below. You’ll receive a PDF with links to edit and print an invitation (print or text), menu, and place cards!
Pin these Easy Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas
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I hope these tips for easy Thanksgiving desserts were helpful! If you want more Thanksgiving and hosting the holidays inspiration, you might find these posts useful:
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