Celebrate with these easy Thanksgiving dessert ideas for kids. From doable pumpkin treats to apple desserts and classic pies, these recipes are festive, delicious, and perfect for sharing with kids of all ages.
Each year I look forward to making a few of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes for kids—which, of course, includes desserts!
Each of these Thanksgiving dessert ideas is easy to make, full of cozy fall flavor, and just sweet enough to satisfy every age at the table!
I’m including recipes that can be made ahead of time, too, to ensure you can make them work with your schedule. Keep reading for yumminess including mini pumpkin pies, cranberry desserts, no-bake cheesecakes, pumpkin bars and cake, and more!
(You may also like my Easy Sugar Cookies, easy Christmas cookies for kids, toddler stocking stuffers, and Salt Dough Ornaments.)
Table of Contents
- Apple Oatmeal Cookies
- Easy Apple Crisp
- Easy Applesauce Cake
- Cranberry Apple Pie
- Spiced Thanksgiving Cookies
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites (No-Bake)
- Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Healthy Pumpkin Cookies
- Mini Pumpkin Pies
- Soft Pumpkin Cookies
- Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Easy Pumpkin Cake
- Easy Pumpkin Pie
- Easy Sweet Potato Brownies
- Soft-Baked Sweet Potato Cookies
- Sweet Potato Baby Cake
- Butternut Squash Pie
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Best Tips For Success
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Apple Oatmeal Cookies
Naturally sweet with a slight crispness around the edges and an easy method, these cookies are a great Thanksgiving dessert idea to share with the kids.
Easy Apple Crisp
I am a huge fan of fruit crisps because they are so much faster than pie and every bit as delicious. And they are an easy way to make a dessert that feeds a lot of people with minimal effort—and the leftovers are just the most delicious breakfast.
Easy Applesauce Cake
This cake has double apple goodness from both applesauce and grated apple, and it has warm spices to complement the fruit flavor. It’s delicious on its own or you can top with Cream Cheese Frosting.
Cranberry Apple Pie
Bake up a tender and flaky double crust that’s bursting with fresh flavor and festive colors to share with the family. This is a delicious twist on a classic apple pie and has been a staple Thanksgiving dessert idea in my house since I was a kid.
Spiced Thanksgiving Cookies
With just enough sweetness from molasses and maple syrup for younger eaters, plus a really simple egg-free dough, these cookies are a holiday favorite.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip
This takes 5 minutes to make and is higher in protein and lower in added sugar than similar recipes.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites (No-Bake)
With just 5 simple ingredients, you can make a yummy no-bake dessert to share with the kids—that’s actually easy for you to execute.
Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
With lower added sugar than other similar recipes, an easy one-bowl method, and a perfectly spiced fluffy texture, these bars are truly delicious.
Healthy Pumpkin Cookies
These are so impressively soft and light—and have a surprisingly small amount of added sweetener for how good they taste.
Mini Pumpkin Pies
We love our Easy Pumpkin Pie and sometimes like to make it in individual portion sizes because it’s just fun! This Thanksgiving recipe for kids is easy to mix up and easy to make, especially if you use refrigerated pie crust from the store.
Soft Pumpkin Cookies
These soft-baked cookies taste like mouthfuls of the most delicious Pumpkin Bread, in cookie form. They are made with just a few ingredients and are perfect to share with the kids.
Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
With classic Cream Cheese Frosting and pumpkin spice flavor, these little beauties are fun to make with the kids (or on your own) and are perfectly pint-sized.
Easy Pumpkin Cake
This recipe needs only a single bowl—no stand mixer required. There is also a full can of pumpkin puree in the batter, which means no concern about potential waste!
Easy Pumpkin Pie
The ingredient list is super short, and there is no need for electric mixers or special tools. Simply grab a bowl and a whisk and you’re set.
Easy Sweet Potato Brownies
The batter comes together easily (and without any fancy equipment!), and the results are so fudgy-perfect. Yum!
Soft-Baked Sweet Potato Cookies
They can be made ahead, adjusted for allergies, and topped with a super simple frosting to make them extra special. And they’re a perfect way to use up leftover sweet potato puree.
Sweet Potato Baby Cake
We often have this in the fall as a seasonal dessert to share with the whole family. It’s a great kid-friendly Thanksgiving recipe!
Butternut Squash Pie
We’ve been making Butternut Squash Pie for years now. It’s an easy dessert to make for the holidays, and we think it has better flavor than pumpkin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Simple, familiar treats—like pumpkin bars, apple crisp, or mini pies—are always a hit. They’re easy to serve and just the right amount of sweet.
Yes! Most pies, bars, and cookies can be made a day or two early. Store them covered in the fridge or at room temperature, depending on the recipe.
No-bake recipes, cookie decorating, or mixing simple batters are great tasks for little helpers—and make the holiday feel extra special.
Best Tips For Success
- Check the Notes on each individual recipe to find the make-ahead information.
- If you have time and want to involve the kids, check my top tips to make baking with kids easier.
- Remember that honey is not safe for kids under age 1, but it’s okay to use after that.
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